Question

In your own words, define personality and describe how well you think objective and projective tests measure and describe the elements of personality. In your opinion, is one test or type of test better than another?

Answer 1

Personality is defined as the differences in individual characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. Our personalities are determinants as to how we interact with the world.

Objective Personality Tests: The objective eprsonality tests are self reported tests hich measure various dimensions of personality. These personality tests are standardized and measures:

• Personality traits are stable and long lasting behaviors and feelings.
• Personality states are temporary and dependent on that particular situation.

Objective Tests Include:

The NEO Personality Inventory: Consists of five basic personality traits:

i. Openness to experience, ii. conscientiousness, iii.agreeableness iv. extraversion, v. neuroticism

16 personality factors test

Raymond B Cattell through factor analysis, came up with with sixteen personality traits, which make up an individuals personality.

MMPI and MMPI -2

The MMPI tests is used to help in diagnosis of psychological disorders and has fourteen subscales. The cores on various subscales are taken and interpretation of ones personality or pychological disorders could be done.

Projective Tests

The projective tests are tests in which subjects respond to ambigous stimlui. The projective tests are used to measure the unconscious part of the person. It is understood that these ambigous stimuli are interpreted by clienets which reaveal their inner conflicts and desire.

The rorschach ink blot test and thematic apperception test are examples of projective.

The objective personality test is better tha the projective tets as the objective tests are standardzed and yeild accurate reults which are easy to interpret and are also less time consuming. The objective ests are not effecting by bias of the experimenter and the subjects. with regards to projective tests, the major problem lies in the fact that reliability and validity is questionable in these kinds of tetsts.