Why do we keep taking all of these quizzes?
A long time ago I took something called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. I think it was way back in 8th grade. It was supposedly a test created to see if generalizations could be made about people from how they answered a battery of questions (maybe 100 or so). It turns out that it after a lot of people took it, they supposedly had enough data to start making some really accurate descriptions of people. Anyway, this personality test has been used by employers, churches, schools, and people like me that think taking tests like that is fun (at last count, this particular test had been taken by millions).
So yeah, what am I?
I'm an INFP (strangely enough, so is shiroihikari ). Also, I haven't changed. I've taken the test in high school, my freshman year in college, and right before I wrote this entry - just to prove to myself that I'm still the same person they said I was back then (at least as far as they described me). Now, the REAL question behind why I haven't changed, is THIS:
Were my results consistent because I WANTED them to be, and I was biased toward those results because I liked what they were?
OR
Were my results consistent because there actually WAS something accurate about this test.
I'm curious to see what you all think of this subject...
What the heck does it mean to be an "INFP?" Well, according to the detailed test results I got my freshman year of college, they can mean a lot). Normally you have to pay for detailed results (it's a scam I tell ya), but I was in an honors class called "Intellectual Networks blah blah," so the school paid for it.
Intrigued?
Well, in entries to come, I'll let you know my supposed "results." But first, I'd like to submit to you guys that maybe, just maybe, all of this personality test fascination, and quiz-addiction that is so popular on the internet (and especially on internet journal sites like Xanga and LJ and the like), might be due to our own inherent need to make sense of ourselves and our world. This need, more than the credibility or intellect of the test creators, might be the REAL reason we come away from these tests CONVINCED that they are accurate. Or...maybe the quizzes really ARE accurate...
So, before you start to respond to this question, and to my results (and YOUR results when you take the same test - links to follow - I promise) I submit to you a little light reading from the Skeptic Dictionary:
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
The Forer Effect
Cold Reading
I'd like to make a polite request for you guys to actually READ the stuff at those links before you start to comment. Also, please, PLEASE comment, even if you don't read...but let me know that you were too lazy to read when you make comments on this stuff (and the stuff to follow). Also, I wouldn't be offended in the slightest if somebody "stole" this idea as a topic for discussion on some forum (say CAA or TWeb or GRG or wherever). It'd be nice if you mentioned that I was the one who started you thinking about all this...but you don't have to if you don't want to.
Anyway yeah: Read the links. Comment. And keep reading, as many of my future journal entries will continue the discussion.
Thanks for reading, all, and God bless you guys (you're in my prayers). I never pray for you guys enough, but I just wanted to let you all know that I've been doing more of that lately, and I intend to keep it up. Hasta luego...