PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT TESTS

The personality of a person can be assessed using any of the following methods
1. Behavioural Observation
In this type of test the psychologist observes the behaviour of a person, the way they
talk, respond to questions, how they behave with others, their thinking etc. Based on
the observations made, the psychologist decides the type of personality of the person.
2. Interviews
In interview technique, the psychologist asks a series of questions to the person.
Based on the result of his response, the psychologist determines the person’s
personality.
3. Multiple Choice Questionnaires
The person is given a set of questions of multiple choice type. The responses selected
by the person for each question decides the type of personality of the person.
4. Rating Scale
In this method the person has to assign a value or number to a particular sentence or
question being asked. For e.g.: the person selects a number from 1 to 10 according to
his or her opinion about the question.
5. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) or True or False
Questions
In this test the psychologist asks the person certain questions. The person has to
respond in either “true or False” or “Yes or No” or “Cannot Say”. About 100
questions are asked. Based on the response given by the person, the psychologist
decides the type of personality.
6. Projective tests
These are the type of tests in which the person is shown some pictures, inkblots or
incomplete drawings. The person has to describe what he sees in the image or what it
means to him. Based on the response given by the person the psychologist
determines the personality of the person.
There are 3 types of common projective technique used:
a. Rorschach Inkblot test

The Rorschach test consists of 10 inkblot images or cards, some of which are
black, white, or gray and some of which are color.

The psychologist gives each images to the person one by one and asks him or her
to describe what he or she thinks the card looks like. The person is allowed to
hold the card in any position they want, even if it is upside down.

Based on the responses given by the person, the trained psychologist determines
the personality of the person.

(Rorschach ink blots are created by putting few ink drops on a paper or a card
and then folding it in half. This folding in half creates ink blot on both side of the
paper.)
b. Thematic Aperception Test (TAT)
This test was developed by American Psychologist Henry Murray in 1930. In this
test the person is given a series of images. The person is asked to describe the
image and tell a story about it in as detail as possible. This test is used to identify
a person’s emotions, motives, and problems.
About 15 to 20 images are shown to the person on after another. A well trained
psychologist or psychiatrist is only able to interpret the result of the test.
 c. Sentence Completion Test
In this test the person is given a list of incomplete sentences and is asked to
complete them in any desired manner. The way the person completes the
sentences using his or her own words are analysed by the psychologist and the
personality is decided. About 40 to 50 sentences are usually given to fill.
For example:
 I am ______________
 I like ______________
 I hate ______________
 Most people are_________
 The happiest thing in my life is __________
 I often dream about _____________

IMPORTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE OF PERSONALITY IN NURSING

1. If a nurse has a good understanding of personality then they are able to work well with
mentally ill patients.
2. Understanding personality, helps a nurse to develop his or her own personality.
3. The nurse is able to identify problems and issues in a person that can disturb their
personality.
4. It helps to understand the personality of the patient and the nurse is able to give care
accordingly.
5. It helps a nurse to get positive thinking pattern, gain confidence, improve behaviour,
learn better communication and develop a healthy body and mind.
6. The nurse is able to give psychological counselling and advice to the patient or their
relatives based on their thinking and personality.
7. The nurse is able to identify the psychological problems of a patient in advance and
provide treatment, guidance etc to the patient in time.