PSYC FPX 2900 Assessment 3 Personality Test

Student Name

Capella University

PSYC FPX 2900 Introduction to Psychology of Personality

Prof. Name:

Date

Personality Test

Larsen and Buss (2018) state that personality tests and assessments are utilized to measure and describe an individual’s distinct patterns of personality traits or character. These tests provide valuable data to therapists, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals, aiding in the evaluation and formulation of effective therapeutic treatments for a patient’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Additionally, personality tests can be applied in the selection of candidates for employment, assessing their qualifications. The Sapa Project is an objective collaboration that offers a self-report personality test representing stable personality traits aligned with the Five-Factor Model of personality (Capella University, n.d.). This assessment focuses on the Five-Factor Model, which includes: openness (a willingness to engage with new ideas), conscientiousness (guided by an inner sense of doing what is right), extraversion (referring to an individual’s functional level of stimulation), agreeableness (the ability to recognize others’ emotions), and neuroticism (an individual’s heightened reaction to stress or emotional mood swings) (Capella University, n.d.). The self-report personality assessment is an online questionnaire that asks participants to indicate their level of agreement with 250 statements, comparing and estimating each response against prior participants (Capella University, n.d.). Both I and my daughter Marie, aged twenty-two, completed two personality assessments using the Sapa Project (Capella University, n.d.).

Personality Assessment Reflection

My experience completing the self-report personality test was one of relief upon reaching the end of the many questions, as I was eager to discover the results. The test engaged my interest as the questions unfolded, and although most were straightforward, the cognitive puzzles were somewhat more challenging. I answered each question truthfully. The test accurately reflected the Five-Factor Model (Capella University, n.d.) of my personality, and I found the results to be accurate.

My personality test results indicated high agreeableness, suggesting that I am generally pleasant, sympathetic, and less prone to annoyance by others. Friends and family often describe me as a workaholic with a tendency toward perfectionism, both in myself and others. This aligns with my conscientious trait, which involves setting clear goals and pursuing them with determination and persistence. However, I have learned over time that expecting perfection can hinder personal growth and strain relationships. This realization has allowed me to think and act more practically, reflecting my trait of openness. The test also identified me as an extroverted person, which did not surprise me, as I am social and outgoing, depending on the circumstances. Regarding neuroticism, I am considered to have a calm demeanor, with an even temper and fewer emotional mood swings. The validity of the test presented by the Sapa Project Assessment (Capella University, n.d.) accurately measured what it intended to. The reliability of the test was demonstrated by the consistent results of my personality dimensions.

Marie, aged 22, found the personality test to be detailed, easy to understand, and simple to answer. She did not find the test challenging, as the questions were reflective of her personality, which piqued her curiosity to answer honestly. However, she did not expect her trait of openness to categorize her as somewhat conventional. Marie perceives herself as more adventurous, often encouraging her close-knit friends to engage in spontaneous activities. She also believes that her conscientious trait supports her non-conservative tendencies, as the test results describe her as laid back, careless, and inclined to live in the moment. Marie agrees with the assessment that she is an introverted person who prefers interacting with a smaller circle of close friends and family. She is more disagreeable than most and is generally unconcerned with people who are not close to her. The neuroticism results provided Marie with deeper insight into her tendency to be less even-tempered and to have intense emotional reactions to stressful events. She now understands why her friends and family perceive her as overly dramatic in various situations.

Both my and Marie’s responses to the personality test highlighted behaviors, tendencies, or attitudes aligned with the Five-Factor Model of personality: agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, openness, and neuroticism (Capella University, n.d.). The results were reviewed individually by the participants.

Accuracy and Implications of Personality Test Results

Larsen and Buss (2018) assert that once personality assessments identify specific personality traits, it is essential to evaluate their accuracy and reliability. The accuracy and validity of the personality assessment were established by completing a self-report assessment, which revealed several relevant behavioral cues about one’s personality. For instance, Marie agreed with four out of five assessments describing the Five-Factor Model of personality, finding them accurate and consistent. Her assessment of conscientiousness, based on her responses, described her as laid back, with goals, ambition, and order being low priorities for her, which she acknowledges as true. However, she disagrees with being labeled as conservative, as it does not align with how she views herself.

Larsen and Buss (2018) emphasized that the reliability of a personality assessment lies in its ability to consistently represent the true level of the trait being measured. Common methods of evaluating reliability include repeating the measurement over time or obtaining measurements from multiple observers. The reliability of the Sapa Project assessment relied on a self-reported measurement, dependent on the participants’ willingness to be honest. This method, however, does not eliminate susceptibility to desirability bias (Plouffe et al., 2017), where individuals may present a flattering image of themselves to avoid undesirable perceptions from others (Plouffe et al., 2017). The Sapa Project personality assessment (Capella University, n.d.) completed by me and Marie revealed that we both possess awareness of our psychological processes and past behaviors, allowing us to make accurate judgments about our personality characteristics (Plouffe et al., 2017). The accuracy and reliability of my personality assessment reflected existing trait-relevant behaviors, while Marie’s assessment effectively measured contradictory results and heightened her awareness of emotions that influence her thinking, decision-making, and coping mechanisms.

Relationship Between Personality Traits and Stages of Development

The American Psychological Association (2021) defines personality as an individual’s unique set of characteristics related to cognition, emotion, and behavior. These unique characteristics influence how an individual thinks and acts (Cherry, 2020). An individual’s distinct personality traits represent consistent and long-term patterns of emotion, mannerisms, and behavior that remain stable across different situations and over time (Larsen & Buss, 2018). Personality development refers to how the structured pattern of behavior that forms an individual’s personality unfolds over time (Cherry, 2020). The relationship between personality traits and stages of development involves the ongoing interaction of genetic, interpersonal, social, and environmental influences throughout childhood, which predict important biological, social, and health outcomes in adulthood (Cherry, 2020; Soto & Tackett, 2015).

Erik Erikson’s theory of social relationships across the lifespan offers a framework for understanding the connection between personality traits and stages of development (Cherry, 2020; Larsen & Buss, 2018). Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development consist of eight stages: trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame and doubt, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. role confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. stagnation, and ego integrity vs. despair (Larsen & Buss, 2018). Each stage builds upon the previous one, from birth through old age, potentially impacting personality traits that shape personality development over time (Cherry, 2020).

Although personality traits tend to be consistent and stable over time and across situations (Larsen & Buss, 2018), Cherry (2021) suggests that individuals can consciously change certain aspects of their personality by altering their thinking and behavior. To change aspects of one’s personality, one can practice new behaviors until they become habitual, such as setting goals and developing coping strategies. Other methods for experiencing personality change and growth include shifting from a fixed mindset to an open mindset that embraces positive growth. Additionally, individuals can act the part they aspire to be, eventually adopting those traits naturally. For example, an introverted person might place themselves in social situations to become more extroverted.

Conclusion

The American Psychological Association (2021) defines personality as an individual’s unique set of characteristics related to cognition, emotion, and behavior. These characteristics influence how an individual thinks and acts (Cherry, 2020). The relationship between personality traits and stages of development involves the ongoing interaction of genetic, interpersonal, social, and environmental factors throughout childhood, which predict significant biological, social, and health outcomes in adulthood (Cherry, 2020; Soto & Tackett, 2015). To change aspects of one’s personality, practicing new behaviors until they become habitual is essential (Cherry, 2021). Personality tests and assessments are used to measure distinct patterns of personality traits, providing valuable data on behaviors and personality that can be utilized by healthcare professionals and in selecting employment candidates (Larsen & Buss, 2018).

The Sapa Project offers a self-report personality assessment representing stable personality traits associated with the Five-Factor Model of personality (Capella University, n.d.). According to Larsen and Buss (2018), once personality assessments identify specific personality traits, it is crucial to measure their accuracy and reliability. They emphasized that the reliability of a personality assessment lies in its ability to consistently represent the true level of the trait being measured. Personality tests can be beneficial in identifying one’s strengths and weaknesses, but the individual must be honest and open to produce accurate and consistent results.

References

American Psychological Association. (2021). Personality. https://www.apa.org/topics/personality

Cherry, K. (2021, February 22). Can You Change Your Personality? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/can-you-change-your-personality-2795428

Cherry, K. (2020, May 11). The

ories of Personality. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/theories-of-personality-2795957

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2018). Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

Plouffe, R. A., Saklofske, D. H., & Smith, M. M. (2017). The role of personality in predicting positive and negative emotionality: A meta-analysis. Personality and Individual Differences, 109, 42-47.