Apr 6, 2012

Personality Test Disaster

Have you ever taken an online personality test?

I've done the odd Myers Briggs (INTP), a 3-hour psych evaluation for a potential employer, and a couple of tests to diagnose depression when I already knew I had it ("There!", I said petulantly to myself. "I told you!")

Last night while idling on my idle-Pad, I followed some Zite article to a site that does online personality tests to diagnose "personality disorders". And there was a one-stop test to diagnose the ten main types of personality disorder. (Ten!)

Naturally I took the test. What could go wrong, right?

Lots.

I could turn out to have TWO personality disorders, for one.


Actually, I don't really think I have these. We're all on a continuum and I think I have elements of the traits that make up these "disorders" but I have decided the test is flawed (uh oh, is that a narcissistic streak?)

For instance, I am a bit of a loner, but I don't dread social situations (mostly), and I do have a small handful of friends. I don't think I have weak inter-personal skills, or am unresponsive to praise or criticism, and I definitely don't have difficulty expressing anger!

So to any employers or other acquaintances reading this, please take these test results as a sign of my relaxed, cool, not-taking-myself-seriously* personality and my ability to laugh at myself and at online psychology - and NOT as a clinical diagnosis showing I am a basket case!



DisorderRating
Paranoid Disorder:Moderate
Schizoid Disorder:High
Schizotypal Disorder:Low
Antisocial Disorder:Low
Borderline Disorder:Moderate
Histrionic Disorder:Low
Narcissistic Disorder:Moderate
Avoidant Disorder:High
Dependent Disorder:Low
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:Moderate

-- Personality Disorder Test - Take It! --
-- Personality Disorders --




Have you ever taken a psych test? Were you surprised at the result?


*I am none of these things.



Jackie K

9 comments:

  1. Hi Jackie,

    I took it, out of curiosity, and I am moderately narcissistic, dependent and avoidant (whatever that means).

    When I was a student I took a personality test in Amsterdam with a friend and the results were interpreted (for both of us) that we were suicidal. I was amazed - and then I discovered that it was the Dianetics test for L.Ron Hubbards's Scientology cult. And as you can see, 30 years later, I am still here.

    So I take them with a pinch of salt.

    :0)

    Cheers

    PM

    ReplyDelete
  2. Like the PM, I take these things with a grain of salt. Seemed about right to me:

    Paranoid: Moderate
    Schizoid: Moderate
    Schizotypal: Moderate
    Antisocial: Low
    Borderline: Low
    Histrionic: Low
    Narcissistic: Moderate
    Avoidant: Moderate
    Dependent: Low
    Obsessive-Compulsive: Low

    Though I thought the OCD thing would come out - me the woman who has gone home at lunch to check I've turned the iron off.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks guys, that makes me feel better! Of course I did take the test again and must have known what to look for because I made sure I came it as low to moderate in all!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I really think those kind of test just can't be correct, you know it is like you read about a disease and the next minute you start discovering all the symptoms for it. No worries, you are perfectly fine!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I was 'low' on everything and 'high' on histrionic. Does that make it more relevant and precise?? The thing is, I don't mind being 'high' on histrionic.
    Think I just answered my own question!
    :-)
    Licia

    ReplyDelete
  6. That's funny! I had to look up "histrionic" as I wasn't sure what it was - and I see it is basically the opposite of what I am. I have taken this test a few times and come out quite different each time - but I keep coming up as High for Avoidant every time! Think I have to face facts on this one :)
    Histrionic sounds ok to me.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nice to read another INTP blogger :) I've done a few of those tests and according to them I'm completely nuts! lol

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...