Identity Crisis

Who Am I?

    

image source: character art of ISFJ, ISFP, INFJ from 16 personalities

    Who does not love taking a personality test? Similar to zodiac signs in Astrology, the idea of being able to neatly categorize ourselves into labels that will offer insights about oneself and others is very appealing. Over the last few weeks I have taken three personality tests. Five Thirty Eight, Five Factor Test, and 16 Personalities.

Five Thirty Eight Test

image source: author's results from Five Thirty Eight

Openness to experience 50 out of 100

I honestly thought I would score much higher on this category. "People on the high end are curious, experimental, and probably artsy," is the brief description of openness to experience that the Five Thirty Eight test gives - which are traits that I feel I personally identify with. I am well known among friends to be spontaneous and always up to try something new.

Conscientious 50 out of 100

This category I agree with. It states, "people on the high end of conscientiousness tend to be productive at home and lean towards not being religious, people on the low end tend to smoke and drink and tend not to finish the chores they said they would get done." I feel I don't quite match up on either end, which is why I would fit perfectly in the middle.

Negative emotionality 42 out of 100

The sub-traits of this category is ranked me high on the depression scale, which I agree with unfortunately. This is a part I have been working on myself for years to fix and continue to strive for a better mental state. On my journey, during my graduate courses this year I came across an exercise where I examined my digital dependency. I examined my relationship with certain technologies and feel that my excessive use of social media is a contributing factor that carries along side with my depression. Especially when there have been studies to show higher use contributes to lower mental health. Since then I continue to monitor my usage and try to incorporate additional hobbies, such as reading, into my downtime hours.

Five Factor Test

Extraversion 55%

When you compare this result to where I land on the graphic from the Five Thirty Eight test, these are two completely different scores on extraversion. I am not sure which one I feel I resonate with more. If I had to pick a number, I think I would be closer to a 40% or 40 out of 100 of the extroversion scale. I definitely identify more with introverts but not on an extreme end.

Openness to Experience 76%

This score I agree with more than the Five Thirty Eight test result on openness to experience. "Open people are intellectually curious, appreciative of art, and sensitive to beauty," states the Five Factor test.

Conscientiousness 79%

I do not agree with how high I scored in this category. "People with high conscientiousness are workaholics and be regarded as stuffy and boring," this is something I have never identified with nor anyone in my family and friends would ever associate me with.

Agreeableness 62%

Neuroticism 49%

This score was close to my score on the other test. However, the definitions seem to be different from each other. "Those who score high may experience on specific negative emotion such as anxiety, anger or depression," says the Five Factor test. Since the previous test said I experience negative emotions higher, I thought I would have scored higher on this test. The Five Factor test also says, "people who score low are easily less upset and less emotionally reactive. They tend to be calm and emotionally stable." I do think by this definition I do fit somewhere in the middle but feel I should lean closer to a lower-end score. I tend to be calm and can regulate my emotions when distressing things occur to me. 

16 Personalities

    This is the famous Myers-Briggs test. An assessment that categorizes an individual as one of 16 personality types. Before undergrad, after undergrad, and even at a team-building exercise at work two years ago, I have taken this test and always scored the same personality: INFJ (Introvert, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging) - The Advocate. A few weeks ago a retook this test and was surprised when I came up with a new personality: ISFP (Introvert, Observant, Feeling, Prospecting) - The Adventurer. 

image source: author's test results from 16 Personalities - ISFP

    I felt like I no longer knew who I was anymore but my results seemed to hover around a 50% mark so I thought, "I will re-take this test a few weeks later and see if my results go back to an INFJ." Fast-forward to a few days ago, I retook it again and wound up with a completely different personality than the last two! An ISFJ (Introvert, Observant, Feeling, Judging) - The Defender.

image source: author's results from retake of test from 16 Personalities - ISFJ

    When I reflect on my scores INFJ, ISFP, and ISFJ, there are two characteristics that have held up. The traits I(Introvert) and F(Feeling). The test says that as an introvert, "You likely prefer fewer, yet deep and meaningful, social interactions and feel drawn to calmer environments." For the trait of feeling is says, "You likely value emotional expression and sensitivity, prioritizing empathy, social harmony, and cooperation." 

    Since my scores seem to hover around the 50% range is most likely why my results differ each time. Talking among my coworkers, one of them shared with me an experience in her psychology undergrad course where she learned your mood, stress factors, and current self-esteem can impact results. As humans, we are complex and have the capability to change many times in our life, so why do we memorize results and share with others? Simply put, taking quizzes that involve self-exploration are fun.