Chapter 2

This Chapter is an excerpt from the 9 Chapters of your 100-page Personality Report

Rajesh, how you compare to the average person

Knowing how you compare to the average person can give you insight into which parts of your personality stand out when you interact with other people.

Personality Measurement Is Relative

When reading your Personality Report, it is important to understand that personality measurements are what scientists call 'relative' measurements. For example, think about the statement: "Sarah B. is a talkative person." What does this statement mean? We are all talkative when we compare ourselves to a goldfish, but perhaps less talkative when we compare ourselves to a gossip journalist. The question is: 'Sarah B. is talkative, compared to whom?' The answer is: 'Compared to the average person in the population.' Researchers from the Institute for Personality Assessment in California have revealed interesting findings about the way our personality compares to the average. By carefully tracking the personality traits of hundreds of individuals from preschool through adulthood, researchers have concluded that people, on average, can and do change in predictable ways over time. Our activity level, for example, slowly decreases as we grow older. We also tend to become less emotional, less extroverted, and more thorough as we get older. On a relative basis, though, people's comparison to the average tends to remain stable. That is, although you might become less active as you get older, if your activity level at the age of 20 was 1

above average when compared to your peers, you will most likely still be above average when compared to your peers at the age of 70. Personality studies show, for example, that 3-year-olds who were more afraid than average of unfamiliar objects (a metallic robot) also tended to be shyer than average at the age of 18. Although the children became less afraid with age, so did their peers. To see where your personality stands out, compare yourself to the average. It is this relative nature of personality measurements that tells us what can be predicted from a personality test. A personality test cannot predict how you will act in each and every situation. On some days you will be more active, while on other days you will be less. But a personality test can predict how you will act on average, on an average day, compared to the average person. On the following pages, you will find a graphical description of how you compare to the average male and female in each of the eight personality areas. In the case of personality measurement, it is important to remember that 'average' does not mean 'good' or 'bad', or even 'normal', it simply tells you the 'most common' score. You can consider the areas in which you deviate most from the average to be the areas of your personality that stand out the most when you interact with other people. These areas are the guiding parts of your character.

Your Comparison to the Average

Extroversion

Average Male Average Female Your Score 0 20 40

51 67 70 60 80 100

Score

You are more outgoing than the average male is. When people interact with you, they immediately notice that you are not shy about meeting and greeting new people. This is one of the most influential parts of your personality. The average female is also quite extroverted. Like you, she prefers to be surrounded by movement and activity. This aspect of your personality works very well with females. When it comes to partnership and friendship, most females prefer a male that is moderate to high in his extroversion level.

Emotionality

Average Male Average Female Your Score 0 20 36 40 60

74 76

80

100

Score

You are more relaxed and calm than the average male and female are when it comes to stress and feeling intense emotions. The average male and female are more reactive to their feelings and mood swings than you are. Your balanced way of dealing with emotions is a guiding part of your personality. The average male and female are similar in their level of emotionality. Women, however, tend to talk about their feelings and emotions more than men do. Starting in early childhood, girls are encouraged to express their feelings more than boys are.

Thoroughness

Average Male Average Female Your Score 0 20 40 60

63 72 81 80 100

Score

You are more organized and focused than most males and females are. This part of your personality will stand out when you interact with other people. This is a guiding part of your personality. The average male is slightly less focused than the average female is, but with the positive side that he tends to be more flexible than the average female. One the whole, both the average male and the average female are fairly organized and reliable.

Openness

Average Male Average Female Your Score 0 20 35 40

51 53

60

80

100

Score

You are more interested in patterns and predictability than most males and females are. You prefer to have a set routine in the way you go about your activities. You are more loyal to the things you believe in than most people are. This is one of the guiding parts of your personality.

Agreeableness

Average Male Average Female Your Score 0 20

40 56 43 40 60 80 100

Score

You are similar to most males in your level of agreeableness. Like you, most males are caring and empathetic, but prefer to keep some space between themselves and other people's problems. Males and females differ slightly in their levels of agreeableness. The average female is more agreeable than the average male is.

Your Thinking-Mode Preferences and the Average

Sensing vs. Intuiting

Average Male Average Female Your Score 45

18 19

Sensing

0 Score

Intuiting

Most males follow the same brain path that you do when thinking about a topic. Like you, most males are more interested in hearing the main point of a message before hearing about all the topics that connect to it. The average male and female differ in the type of information they are attracted to. Most males prefer to focus on facts in the 'here and now'. Most females prefer to focus on what can be inferred or speculated on.

Thinking vs. Feeling

Average Male Average Female Your Score

36

48 47 7

Thinking

0 Score

Feeling

Males are an interesting case when it comes to thinking vs. feeling: 50 percent of males are 'thinkers', making decisions based mostly on logic, while the other 50 percent are extreme 'feelers' - making decisions based fully on their heart. Your tendency is in the direction of the thinkers. For you, clear thinking and rational explanations are important. The majority of females are feelers. They place less emphasis on logic and rational explanations.

Judging vs. Perceiving

Average Male Average Female Your Score 19 Judging

9 7

0 Score

Perceiving

The average female and male feel most comfortable in an environment that is semi-structured and stable. They enjoy finishing a project more than they enjoy beginning a project. You are similar in this regard.

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We hope you enjoyed reading this chapter from your Personality Report. You can order your complete 100-page Personality Report for $29.95 at www.personality100.com. It will be emailed to you immediately. Table of Contents Your detailed Personality Measurement How do you compare to the average person? Your Ideal Role in Society Where does your personality come from? Your Childhood Influences: Birth Order Your 5 Needs: The Meaning of Relationships What can you improve about yourself? How You Approach Relationships: Your Attachment Style Conclusion: Your 3 Tools for a New Era

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