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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Larry Hoover on October 17, 2004, at 10:26:23
In reply to Re: Yet Another Personality Test » Larry Hoover, posted by verne on October 16, 2004, at 23:11:15
> Good point Lar,
>
> One's personality may interfere with the personality testing, skewing the results. Various kinds of denial, shame, and other people's viewpoints may work their way into the test process.I would restate what you said, to say that one's state of mind skews certain types of personality tests. Guilt denial, or shame would certainly skew the outcomes.
> I also thought about what happens when someone who habitually disguises themself and projects a false self, takes the test. Would a narcississtic (can't spell that word, like mississippi for me) sociopath ever admit it in a test?
There are more appropriate psychometric tests for determining those sorts of things. The MMPI, for example, has two distinct embedded scales to determine if someone is trying to outwit the test itself.
> Years ago when I was on a kind of high horse (big ego) I was convinced I was a tortured artist when I took the enneagrams test. I answered the test in a way that gave that impression. But my psychologist who had been seeing me for 2 years said, "no, you are a reformer, you would rather be right than happy". I wrote a long treatise arguing how I couldn't possibly be a reformer type. (besides being a reformer wasn't romantic enough for me)
>
> Years later, I took the ennegrams test again and came out as a reformer. I realize now that an artist type would not have written a paper arguing that they were an artist - but a reformer would.
>
> someday I hope to be a reformed reformer.
>
> verne<grin>
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 17, 2004, at 10:33:39
In reply to Re: Yet Another Personality Test, posted by alesta on October 17, 2004, at 0:11:22
> lar, just curious, have you learned to *give* praise as well? i would think that would be an area someone with narcissistic tendencies (however subtle) might need to work on...perhaps your parents had narcissistic tendencies as well? no need to answer, mate..just tossing it out there. :-)
>
> amy :)There are a variety of subtle forms of childhood abuse, often through the absence of a normal behaviour. My mom, in particular, had a distorted world view that it was nearing sinful to use praise, or to accept it. I call it, for simplicity, The "Yes, but" Syndrome. Somebody says something nice, and you need to argue against it, dismiss their judgment, trivialize their praise..... Believe me, it's a good way to shut down other people.
So, giving praise also became associated with upset feelings. It's not pleasant to have your own offering of praise dismissed and trivialized. I really don't think narcissism had anything to do with it.
I'm 47, and I'm still working on getting over it. Every time I offer praise, I get anxious. That's not at all about my personality, IMHO.
Lar
Posted by Pfinstegg on October 17, 2004, at 10:55:52
In reply to Yet Another Personality Test, posted by verne on October 16, 2004, at 17:52:31
Histrionic moderate, others low.
Posted by Pfinstegg on October 17, 2004, at 11:34:25
In reply to Re: Yet Another Personality Test, posted by Pfinstegg on October 17, 2004, at 10:55:52
I'm actually surprised mine weren't all very high. This made me realize that the, at times, extremely intense pain and anxiety people like me with csa, Complex PTSD and an ego state disorder feel is simply different from a personality disorder. I guess the treatment is pretty much the same, though- psychodynamic psychotherapy, with the therapist-client relationship at its heart.
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 17, 2004, at 13:03:50
In reply to Re: MMPI » Dinah, posted by Larry Hoover on October 17, 2004, at 10:20:18
Larry,
My Therapist wants me to take the MMPI over very soon. I've been one year three months in therapy and took the MMPI within the first month of seeing him. My T is a clinical psychologist and very interested in seeing the differences between the two tests, as am I, as I know there will be differences.
Posted by shortelise on October 17, 2004, at 13:12:41
In reply to Yet Another Personality Test, posted by verne on October 16, 2004, at 17:52:31
Thisis very cool - I did it first describing myself as I was when I went into therapy, and it was bad bad bad.
Then I did it again with how I am now, and I am not so bad! Not even borderline ... does that just mean that I know the right answers now! Just kidding, It makes me feel great.ShortE
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 17, 2004, at 13:15:33
In reply to Yet Another Personality Test, posted by verne on October 16, 2004, at 17:52:31
Scored low on everything except "Histrionic" where I scored high.
Posted by vwoolf on October 17, 2004, at 13:51:39
In reply to Re: Yet Another Personality Test, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 17, 2004, at 13:15:33
What does it mean that I scored so high on just about everything? Can anyone help? I keep feeling crazier and crazier, and it doesn't help that even on tests I come up as seriously disturbed. My T says I'm not, but it doesn't feel that way to me.
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 17, 2004, at 14:07:49
In reply to Re: MMPI » Larry Hoover, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 17, 2004, at 13:03:50
> Larry,
>
> My Therapist wants me to take the MMPI over very soon. I've been one year three months in therapy and took the MMPI within the first month of seeing him. My T is a clinical psychologist and very interested in seeing the differences between the two tests, as am I, as I know there will be differences.It's a reasonable thing to do, if you were particularly unstable when you took it. Not only will it point out where progress has been made, but it will help identify core elements of personality which can be addressed with focussed coping strategies.
Regards,
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 17, 2004, at 14:12:56
In reply to Re: Yet Another Personality Test, posted by vwoolf on October 17, 2004, at 13:51:39
> What does it mean that I scored so high on just about everything? Can anyone help? I keep feeling crazier and crazier, and it doesn't help that even on tests I come up as seriously disturbed. My T says I'm not, but it doesn't feel that way to me.
First off, the sort of test you did there is a screening test. It's not designed to sort out the differences between stable personality, for example, and emotional distress which might temporarily occupy one's mind. The high scores could reflect emotional intensity, and nothing more.
Really, the most useful test of this sort is the 2nd version of the MMPI. It has something like 800 questions. You do it on a computer, and it's scored by the computer. Then, a person trained in interpreting the patterns of scores can make assessments of states (emotional issues) and traits (stable personality), based on the various scores, and also how they cluster together.
Lar
Posted by alesta on October 17, 2004, at 15:17:49
In reply to Re: Yet Another Personality Test, posted by Pfinstegg on October 17, 2004, at 10:55:52
> Histrionic moderate, others low.
same here! i was surprised i even scored moderate for histrionic. they based that on 2 questions i answered yes to..i think they were 'do you like being accepted by your peers' and 'do you like receiving complements' or something..not sure the exact wording of the questions..well, anyway, i thought most people felt that way..interesting. but they said that low and moderate scores don't indicate a problem, only high or very high, so i guess i'm still in the 'normal' range..btw, this test didn't show my social anxiety..probably b/c i wasn't envisioning work situations, which is where my problem lies..
amy:)
Posted by alesta on October 17, 2004, at 15:27:52
In reply to Re: Yet Another Personality Test, posted by vwoolf on October 17, 2004, at 13:51:39
> What does it mean that I scored so high on just about everything? Can anyone help? I keep feeling crazier and crazier, and it doesn't help that even on tests I come up as seriously disturbed. My T says I'm not, but it doesn't feel that way to me.
vwolf, don't worry, sweetie..i agree with larry. also, i would trust your therapist. he/she knows you better than this quiz. for what it's worth, you do not come across as having a bunch of personality disorders. one thing that really bothers me about this test is that it asks, for instance, "have you ever..". i don't agree with those kinds of questions. just b/c a person did or felt a certain way in the past doesn't indicate it in the present. it's like saying once a disorder, always a disorder. i believe this is dead wrong. people can change and overcome their disorders. this is one reason why it's important to take a more true diagnostic measure with many more questions..
amy :)
Posted by AdaGrace on October 17, 2004, at 17:22:27
In reply to Re: Yet Another Personality Test » vwoolf, posted by alesta on October 17, 2004, at 15:27:52
Very High : Borderline & Dependent
High: Paranoid, Histrionic, & Avoidant
Moderate: Schizoid, Schizotypal, Obsessive-Compulsive
Low: Antisocial & NacissisticSomebody please tell me I am not what my husband said "freakin nuts and belong in the luny bin"
Posted by Poet on October 17, 2004, at 17:28:36
In reply to Yet Another Personality Test, posted by verne on October 16, 2004, at 17:52:31
Paranoid: High
Schizoid: Moderate
Schizotypal: Low
Antisocial: Low
Borderline: Moderate
Histrionic: Low
Narcissistic: Low
Avoidant: High
Dependent: Low
Obsessive-Compulsive: HighI must be improving, the last time I did this I was high on schizoid, now I'm moderate. Then again, can I trust the results? Still high on paranoid. I guess I can.
Poet
Posted by zeugma on October 17, 2004, at 17:33:56
In reply to Egads!!!!!!!! I'm Very High, posted by AdaGrace on October 17, 2004, at 17:22:27
> Very High : Borderline & Dependent
> High: Paranoid, Histrionic, & Avoidant
> Moderate: Schizoid, Schizotypal, Obsessive-Compulsive
> Low: Antisocial & Nacissistic
>
> Somebody please tell me I am not what my husband said "freakin nuts and belong in the luny bin"this test is designed to identify personality disorders as defined in DSM-IV. In other words, it's only given to "nuts", and is designed to find out what kind of "nut" you are. It's not designed to figure out where your good side is :)
-z
Posted by AdaGrace on October 17, 2004, at 17:36:47
In reply to Re: Egads!!!!!!!! I'm Very High » AdaGrace, posted by zeugma on October 17, 2004, at 17:33:56
Ohhhh I beg to differ.....apparently I am Low Low on Antisocial and Narcissistic........something to be ever so proud of.
I'm a nut alright. And not even the kind people like.
Posted by Poet on October 17, 2004, at 17:37:05
In reply to Egads!!!!!!!! I'm Very High, posted by AdaGrace on October 17, 2004, at 17:22:27
AdaGrace,
Repeat after me: I am not freakin' nuts. Don't say it ouloud within earshot of your husband.
Get your husband to take the test, his scores might prove very interesting.
Poet
Posted by AdaGrace on October 17, 2004, at 17:38:54
In reply to Re: Egads!!!!!!!! I'm Very High, posted by Poet on October 17, 2004, at 17:37:05
Now there's an interesting thought.....
Posted by zeugma on October 17, 2004, at 17:52:04
In reply to Re: Egads!!!!!!!! I'm Very High » zeugma, posted by AdaGrace on October 17, 2004, at 17:36:47
> Ohhhh I beg to differ.....apparently I am Low Low on Antisocial and Narcissistic........something to be ever so proud of.
>
> I'm a nut alright. And not even the kind people like.beg to differ. dependent types always have mates, and Borderlines have a following due to notable behavior patterns (see also: histrionic). Narcissistics are bores (apologies to those who scored high there, my words are unlikely to change your self-opinions anyway). Antisocial: I'm glad you're not!
-z
Posted by alesta on October 17, 2004, at 18:03:35
In reply to Re: Egads!!!!!!!! I'm Very High » AdaGrace, posted by zeugma on October 17, 2004, at 17:52:04
<Narcissistics are bores (apologies to those who scored high there)
sorry to interrupt, z..
narcissistics are bores? where do you get your info? my mother has narcissistic personality disorder, and, let me tell you, she was anything but boring (although i can't stand her..she's a monster.) narcissists tend to be very charming when they're not ass****s. although i wouldn't wish a narcissist on ANYONE. btw, i'm not referring to ppl who scored moderate for narcissism, as that is still within normal range..:)
amy :)
Posted by alesta on October 17, 2004, at 18:25:12
In reply to Re: Egads!!!!!!!! I'm Very High » zeugma, posted by alesta on October 17, 2004, at 18:03:35
<btw, i'm not referring to ppl who scored moderate for narcissism, as that is still within normal range..:)
i wanted to clarify my statement above by adding that i'm also not referring to those here who may have scored high or very high for narcissism, as i can sniff out a narcissist pretty well, and don't believe anyone here has narcissistic personality disorder..:)
amy
Posted by zeugma on October 17, 2004, at 18:52:48
In reply to Re: Egads!!!!!!!! I'm Very High » zeugma, posted by alesta on October 17, 2004, at 18:03:35
Posted by zeugma on October 17, 2004, at 18:56:52
In reply to i stand corrected (nm) » alesta, posted by zeugma on October 17, 2004, at 18:52:48
this test can trip a lot of wires... could be a good thing, could be a bad thing... depending...
-z
Posted by dazedandconfused on October 17, 2004, at 19:19:16
In reply to Yet Another Personality Test, posted by verne on October 16, 2004, at 17:52:31
Ok, took the test and my computer crashed...not a good omen! I'll just list them below.
My question is how can I change some of these things. I have been in therapy forever...four years with two different therapists. Not to mention the five years of therapy I had when I was younger. Frankly, I don't find it that helpful.
What am I doing wrong??? Would hypnosis help with this stuff? I know it sounds strange, but it seems like a streamlined way to get to your core beliefs.
This is distressing.
Paranoid - High
Schizoid - Very High
Schizotypal - Moderate
Antisocial - Moderate
Borderline - Moderate
Histrinic - Moderate
Narcissistic - Moderate
Avoidant - High
Dependent - Very High
Obsessive Compulsive - High
Posted by Dinah on October 17, 2004, at 19:27:31
In reply to Re: What can you do about this?, posted by dazedandconfused on October 17, 2004, at 19:19:16
And I don't think my personality changed.
With so few questions, how you "read" it any given time might matter a lot.
Maybe I ought to take it ten times or so and average my results. :))
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