Interesting Links for 19-09-2013

[andrewducker]

• France to ban child beauty pageants
  (tags: children france beauty )
• Grand Theft Auto V: game’s dig at Edinburgh trams
  (tags: trams games edinburgh gta )
• Grand Theft Auto Vmakes $800 Million in one day.
  (tags: money gta )
• The truth about socks
  (tags: comic funny socks )
• Google's New Project to Solve Death
  (tags: google death LifeExpectancy )

Comments

MBTI

[gwendally]

I agree that MBTI is pseudo science. But here's the thing: it's useful.

It's useful in two different ways. One is that I've discovered that I really like having "caregiver" types working for me when I'm in the hiring process, but that their personality types end up making it really traumatic in tax season. I'm a strong TJ and I find that people who are strongly F don't understand me, and the strong FJs don't understand me and can't bring me solace and end up hating me.

Once I figured this out that the thing in common with some past disasters was the FJ trait, I no longer hire FJs. (If they came in and said "I'm a mess of inarticulate emotions and strongly opinionated based on them" I wouldn't hire them, either.)

The other way is in better understanding that people just come in different flavors. Introverts aren't snubbing you when they don't chatter back. People who just marvel at the beauty in the world and can't make up their minds about anything are wonderful in their own ways. We have different skills, it's good for teaching me to appreciate people for what they're good at and forgive them for what they're bad at. It gives me language.

Re: MBTI

[andrewducker]

I agree that it's a good conversation starter, and gives people language for discussing differences.

The Big Five has more of a scientific background, and is worth taking a look at. The MB types map somewhat onto them too:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator#Big_Five

Extroversion results were moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity.

Orderliness results were moderately low which suggests you are, at times, overly flexible, random, scattered, and fun seeking at the expense of structure, reliability, work ethic, and long term accomplishment.

Emotional Stability results were moderately low which suggests you are worrying, insecure, emotional, and anxious.

Accommodation results were moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly kind natured, trusting, and helpful at the expense of your own individual development (martyr complex).

Inquisitiveness results were high which suggests you are very intellectual, curious, imaginative but possibly not very practical.

Extroversion: 58%
Orderliness: 38%
Emotional Stability: 36%
Accommodation: 60%
Inquisitiveness: 74%

http://similarminds.com/cgi-bin/newbig5.pl

Re: MBTI

[gwendally]

Is this related in any way to the DISC method? Because I'm being trained on that starting next month as part of a training program on how to be a decent supervisor.

I'm fine with abandoning MBTI if I don't have to abandon somewhat hard-won knowledge; my Human Resources toolkit is really small and I hate to lose what little help I've had.

Re: MBTI

[andrewducker]

Big Five is a grouping that's been consistently replicated by psyhcology researchers. It has actual scientific backing.

Whereas DiSC is run by a company, and I'm not aware of any independent verification that it's actually valid/useful. Some good stuff here:
http://www.ere.net/2008/12/10/dissecting-the-disc/
and
http://hr.toolbox.com/blogs/ira-wolfe/why-disc-doesnt-work-for-employee-screening-49119

And don't throw away your hard-won experience! If you've found something that seems to work for you then just keep refining it and making it work better.