PSY 1001 (Introductory Psychology)

Personality Assessment #1

One of the careers suggested for me that I researched about was ballistics expert. A ballistics expert’s duties include analyzing bullets and bullet fragments, gun powder, and anything else relating to firearms found at crime scenes. They compare evidence found at the crime scene to fabricated evidence made in the lab to learn more about the actual evidence. The fabricated evidence is made by test firing guns. The two evidences are usually compared using a microscope. Ballistic experts also testify in court to show their finding and explain how the suspect used their firearms during the crime.

According to the personality and life value test, it says I tend to think things through before acting and that I like to have a good understanding of the ideas behind a job or situation. I suppose these aspects of my personality would bode for this job. A ballistics expert needs to thoroughly examine all the evidence before making and conclusions. It seems like a meticulous process of going through evidence and testing it against fabricated lab evidence, but I would definitely be able to deal with all of that. I enjoy carefully going through data and analyzing it to come up with a final solution. Doing research and piecing information together for a practical solution is just something that gives me satisfaction.

The personality and life value test also reported that I “…tend to be realistic and practical and are careful with facts and details.” Again, this just emphasizes how I would scrupulously have to examine evidence and data. I am an organized person, so keeping facts straight would not be a problem. The test also said that I “…draw upon past experience and prefer to use proven and established procedures.” This would have to be the case as a ballistics expert because they do not create new techniques for analyzing evidence; they most likely use proven procedures for all examinations. There does not seem to be much room for creativity, but I would be ok with that because I like structure.

Overall I do not think that I would like to actually do this job. Learning about crime scenes may be interesting at first but it could get disheartening after a while. Also the work environment seems like it would be depressing because you are by yourself most of the time firing guns and looking under microscopes. I do not think I would be able to deal with that day in and day out. The job definitely does fit many of my personality traits, but I do not think it would be right for me.

Personality Assessment #2

1. What where your overall results on the Big Five Personality Factor Test?

In regards to the extraversion portion of the test, it reported that I am introverted and that I prefer solitary activities and social with predominantly a few close friends. I scored low on extraversion (16), friendliness (10), gregariousness (5), and excitement seeking (7). I scored average on assertiveness (59), activity level (55), and cheerfulness (36).

In regards to the agreeableness portion, I scored low and the test reported that I show more concern for myself than others and that people see me as tough, critical, and uncompromising. I scored very low on agreeableness (5), trust (7), morality (13), altruism (14), modesty (10), and sympathy (0). I scored highly on cooperation (69).

In regards to the conscientiousness section of the test, I scored very highly. The test reported that I set clear goals and pursue them with determination. It also said that people regard me as reliable and hard-working. I scored very high on conscientiousness (99), self-efficiency (98), orderliness (98), dutifulness (71), achievement striving (80), self-discipline (99), and cautiousness (99).

In regards to the neuroticism section, I scored low, which indicates that I am calm, composed, and unflappable. I scored low on neuroticism (6), anxiety (17), anger (1), depression (21), immoderation (2), and vulnerability (3). I scored high on self-consciousness (81).

Finally, in regards to the openness to experience portion, I scored fairly low which indicates that I like to think in simple terms and that I am down-to-earth and practical. I scored low on openness to experience (8), imagination (4), emotionality (24), adventurousness (1), and intellect (4). I scored average on artistic interests (45) and high on liberalism (73).

2. After reading your profile, what statements about you contained in your profile accurately fit you? Give at least 1 example from your own life for each of the 5 personality factors.

Pretty much everything reported seemed accurate. From the extraversion section, I scored low and it reported that I am introverted which is true. I do not make new friends very easily; it takes me some time before I become comfortable with new people. From the agreeableness section, I scored low which means I have more concern for myself than others. I do not like to admit to that, but it probably is true. I almost always put myself ahead of other people and I have low sympathy for other’s problems. There was a question about your level of sympathy for homeless people on the test and I have absolutely no sympathy for them, I go to the city a lot and I just cannot stand it when they ask me for change.

From the conscientiousness section, I scored very high which means I am a hard worker and that I set goals and purse them with determination. This is definitely very true. Whenever I have a task at hand, I will sit down and work at it until I am finished. For example, I have been working on this assignment straight through without any major time breaks. I want to get it done before I do anything else. From the neuroticism section, I scored very low which indicated that I am very calm and composed. I would have to say this is true. I have a very even keel and I do not overreact emotionally to anything. A lot of my friends have made comments to me about how hard it is to get me riled up about anything. Finally, in regards to the openness to experience section, I scored low which indicates that I like to think in simple terms and that I am down-to-earth. I would say this is true too because I never try to overcomplicate things. Whenever I think, I try to break things down so it is easier for me to analyze events and situations. I never make mountains out of mole-hills.

3. After reading your “Personal Evaluation,” what statements about you contained in your profile were inaccurate? Give at least 1 example from your own life.

Surprisingly, I feel that almost everything reported is dead on about my personality. The only thing that I do not really agree with is my level of artistic interest. I scored a 45 which is average, but I would say I am highly interested in arts. I appreciate artwork and do notice details about art that other people do not notice. I am also really into music and play two instruments. Music is a huge part of my life, and I am pretty sure music counts as part of the arts. That is the only score I had a problem with. I would have to say that all of my other scores seemed very reasonable.

4. Explain how you will be able to apply what you learned from this activity to your own life. That is, in what ways can you use the information learned from this activity?

I pretty much knew all these aspects about my personality, but this test puts them out in the open for me to see. I can use this information to improve my personality. For example, I would like to be less introverted, so I am going to try and work on that aspect of my personality. I am also going to try working on my compassion for other people; this test really showed me how much I put myself ahead of other people.

5. Any other comments about the test or your results?

I felt this was a fairly comprehensive test. It was 120 questions which is a lot, and it also reiterated a few questions to ensure consistency, so I feel that it was a quality questionnaire.

1. What were your overall results?

The results from the test were that I am strongly left-hemisphere dominant with a balance between visual and auditory inputs. The exact results were 52.6% auditory, 47.4% visual, 61.1% left hemisphere, and 38.9% right hemisphere.

2. After reading your “Personal Evaluation”, what statements about you contained in your profile accurately fit you? Give a real example from your own life for each.

The personal evaluation stated that having a strong left hemisphere implies organization, structure, and self-monitoring, which I feel does characterize me fairly well. It also stated that it means I look at situations and problems and analyze them in a very systematic manner. This also holds true to my personality. One of my theories on life is that there are no problems, but only solutions. In any situation, I always look to see how I can get something accomplished in the best manner. One example of how I show left hemisphere dominance in everyday life is that I keep lists of things to do. I have a list for school work I need to get done, I have a list of everyday things I need to do, and I have a list of events coming up that I need to plan for. I make sure to do the first thing on the lists and cross it off before I go on to my next task.

Concerning the auditory and visual input results, I honestly do not agree with anything the personal evaluation said about my personality. The description given did not match me at all. If I were take an alternative test, then maybe the results would have been more accurate in coordinance with my sensory profile.

3. After reading your “Personal Evaluation”, what statements about you contained in your profile inaccurately fit you? Give a real example from your own life for each.

I agreed with most of what was said to come in turn with my strong left hemisphere, except the statement that everything must be a definite since improvisation is less easy for me. I feel that in the past that may have been truer, but I feel that I am a lot more spontaneous now than I have been earlier on in my life. For example, I used to have to plan every single activity I did with my friends at least a day in advance, but now I will do more things on a whim.

In regards to my sensory profile, I do not feel any of the statements given in the personal evaluation fit me. The test reported that I am balanced in auditory and visual perception, but I definitely feel that I am much more a visual than auditory person. The evaluation says that my balance of sensory preferences tends to make me more perceptive than most. I would agree that I am very perceptive visually, but auditorally it is harder for me to pick up on things. For example, in class it is much easier for me to read PowerPoint slides and take notes than it is for me to strictly listen to my teachers lecture and take notes. It is just hard for me to listen and process information at the same time. I learn a lot more by visually seeing the information.

4. Explain how you will be able to apply what you learned from this activity to your own life. That is, in what ways can you use the information learned from this activity.

I can use the information I learned to try and become better in my auditory skills. This is something I know I lack in and have been trying to improve. I know I will probably not reach the level my visual input is at, but I will make a conscious effort to improve my auditory skills. I already knew I was an analytical person, so it does not make much of a difference to me that the test reported this. I will continue to study and live my life pretty much the way I do, except I might try to be a little less structured.

5. Any other comments about your results?

I would like to take any alternate brain function tests to see if they come up with the same results this test reported because the results from this test were slightly surprising to me.