Personality tests like the MBTI tend to oversimplify complex human traits and place individuals into rigid categories, while the Big Five personality traits offer a more scientifically-backed approach to understanding personality.
Contrary to the belief that personality is fixed, studies show that personality can change and evolve over time, reflecting a process of maturity and influenced by life events and experiences.
Deep dives
Personality tests and their popularity
Personality tests, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), have gained significant popularity, with many individuals and companies using them. These tests categorize people based on various factors like extroversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving. However, studies have shown that the reliability of these tests is questionable, as individuals often get different results when taking them multiple times.
The limitations of personality tests
Personality tests like the MBTI tend to oversimplify complex human traits and place individuals into rigid categories. This black-and-white approach fails to account for the nuances and complexities of human personalities. Additionally, the statements and descriptions provided by these tests often sound profound and insightful, leading people to believe they are accurate representations of their true selves. However, research suggests that people tend to identify with vague statements and assign deeper meaning to them.
The Big Five personality traits
In contrast to categorizing individuals into specific types, the Big Five personality traits offer a more scientifically-backed approach to understanding personality. These traits include agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, extraversion, and neuroticism. Research indicates that these traits can provide insights into various aspects of life, such as relationship satisfaction, longevity, and even the likelihood of developing certain health conditions.
Flexibility and change in personality
Contrary to the belief that personality is fixed, studies show that personality can change and evolve over time. For instance, individuals tend to become more conscientious and agreeable as they grow older, reflecting a process of maturity. Life events and experiences can also influence personality, with significant events potentially leading to shifts in traits. Moreover, interventions and focused efforts to change certain traits can yield successful results, indicating that personality is not entirely fixed.
Personality tests like the MBTI are all over the internet, the workplace, and dating apps — but some say it’s all a bunch of baloney. So are any of these tests legit? And what can science actually tell us about personality? We talk to psychologists Dr. Alexander Swan, Dr. Emorie Beck, and Dr. Ted Schwaba.
(00:00) Chapter 1: Personality tests and their impact
(05:49) Chapter 2: Personality and the MBTI
(13:21) Chapter 3: Why personality ‘types’ flop
(24:52) Chapter 4: The scientist’s personality test
(30:05) Chapter 5: What personality can predict
(33:24) Chapter 6: Can you change your personality?
This episode was produced by Michelle Dang, with help from Wendy Zukerman, Nick DelRose, Rose Rimler, and Joel Werner. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Eva Dasher. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Emma Munger, Peter Leonard, So Wylie and Bobby Lord. Special thanks to all the researchers we spoke to for this episode, including Dr. Nicholas Turiano, Prof. Howard Friedman, and Prof. Paul Duberstein. And special thanks to the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson.
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