Tell Me About Yourself
By: Lisa Low
Tags: Stereotypes, Personality, Brands, Character Development, Life

Photo by Anna Shvets

A seemingly simple yet complex question, I fumble for adjectives at times. The American Psychological Association describes personality as the ‘individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving’. Everyone is uniquely different, even twins. Lickerman reckons personality is easier to spot whereas character takes time to find out, often during unspecified uncommon situations. It helps to understand and predict the likely behavior and attitude of others. Finding the ‘fit’, self-reflection or communication are probably reasons why homo sapiens are obsessed with personas. We all seek validation of our own qualities (especially strengths), as compared to how others see us as — so much that this turned into a billion-dollar industry.

What is the impact of applying personality traits in our everyday lives?

THE GOOD

If one is to merely scratch the surface, the possibilities of why we think and act the way we do are endless — blood type, astrology, social background etc. Earthlings are naturally curious and forever in search of answers. What does it take to be a lawyer? Why some fought for toilet paper during Covid19? Attract a ‘dominant-type’ mate? Personality-driven marketing helps several businesses tailor messages to their target audiences. It is an easy way to get into the minds and hearts of target audiences. Remember the romcom “My Boyfriend is Type B’’, Lee Dong-gun fans? Brands have personalities too. The Iphone is viewed as multifaceted — a “seductress’’ in Europe and “dreamer’’ in Japan. To stand out, Samsung prides themselves as being anti-Apple and successfully leads the Android-powered gadget market. Matching the right celebrity to endorse brands is key to a winning brand attitude and purchase intention (think: Manny Pacquiao & Nike). Sackett and Walmsley highlighted out of the big 5 personality traits, conscientiousness and agreeableness are the most prized attributes by employers, something for job applicants to note.

THE BAD

Human beings like to think they are nicer than they actually are. Does temperament change over time and in different situations though? Based on the interaction between genetics and the environment, yes. Self-beliefs and habits are some of the control factors. Perceived as “not always accurate’’, corporations, militaries and universities are actively using identity indicators Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Enneagram to recruit talents. Some questioned if individuals are suffering professionally or “type-shamed” with the unconscious labels. More so when judgement is already flawed and biased. Having infectious laughter helps to brighten someone’s day and too much, is considered as a “disorder”. Given gender misconceptions, should women continue to stay out of technology-related sectors? Olivola et al found prominent cheekbones and high eyebrows to be signs of trustworthiness. Do appearances affect our personality? Or personality in fact, outshine looks? What are the determinants then and who sets them?

THE UGLY

Personality tests are frequently seen as a welcome break from the tedious workday or used to make informed decisions. In stark reality, reports suggested Cambridge Analytica uses those predictive profiles to exploit personal information of the Americans and sway votes in the last US election. Even as companies strive to design the best chatbot personalities to improve user experiences, nothing beats real people. Empathy and compassion prevail. Boomers shared more fake news online, not necessarily because they are not digitally savvy. Instead of “derived” stereotypes, allowing voices of employees across ranks and sexual orientations etc to be heard may help organizations build a positive, inclusive workplace.

FINALLY…

I do not have an answer as to what defines strengths, weaknesses or preferences. What might be perceived as a negative trait by Samantha, James sees it positive. Missing out on forming authentic relationships and experiences to learn from or truly enjoy could occur if we choose to take the assessment results seriously. Actors have the best job in the world in my opinion, as they get to experiment and immerse themselves in various roles. Personality analysis has the ability to manipulate behavior for the better or worst — by looking into the thought process, likes, fears etc. Because mankind is a work-in-progress lot, personality types typically give you an idea and do not guarantee the reality.

p.s: So how do you think I am like?