The Problem With Personality Tests
Aside from the accuracy tradeoff that we’ve already mentioned, there is another problem at the very core of how personality tests work, and I briefly mentioned it earlier.
Even if their inventors didn’t intend it, personality tests can very easily box you in.
Once you are labelled as being a certain personality type, this is subconsciously reinforced in your own mind.
The personality test then essentially becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy for you.
Because you ‘know’ that you ‘are’ a certain way, you begin to take on that role more and more.
The traits perpetuate themselves and in some cases they become more exaggerated than they would be if you had never known about the personality test in the first place, or indeed the label that it assigned you.
This lack of flexibility can be dangerous, because the more rigid your thinking is, the less able you are to effectively respond to life.
Interestingly, this also makes you more like a computer, because you stay within the bounds of your assigned personality type.
Even the smartest AI cannot act outside of its bounds, but as a human, being able to do that is your superpower. So it’s crucial to not throw that superpower away!
In the realm of business for example, putting together a sound strategic plan is a highly complex task that demands a broad set of skills and approaches. Without a good level of flexible thinking, it’s simply not possible to achieve such a feat of strategy.
Another great example is having a successful marriage or relationship. Without flexible thinking, you’ll end up pretty stuck trying to achieve that goal as well!
So here’s the real problem with personality tests: They lack the flexibility to be functionally relevant in every situation and challenge that life presents you with.
The question is then, what can we do about that?
Well, there’s actually something hidden underneath all of this. Let’s take a closer look...