since I should be writing a paper....Quiz!

[ljgeoff]

My Personality

Neuroticism	1
Extraversion	97
Openness to Experience	99
Agreeableness	87
Conscientiousness	14

You are a calm person who is considered almost fearless by some, however you often resist any cravings or urges that you have, but sometimes you give in. You are an active group participant but usually prefer to let someone else be the group leader. You have good access to and awareness of your own feelings. You are tenderhearted and compassionate, feeling the pain of others vicariously and are easily moved to pity, however you feel superior to those around you and sometimes tend to be seen as arrogant by other people. Mostly you work towards achieving your best, although in some areas you are content just to get the job done.

Take a Personality Test now or view the full Personality Report. The best ugg Boots.

This is a "Big Five" personality test. Huh; I wrote a paper on this last semester. I took another test, and got the same results:

I'm a O96-C17-E96-A96-N1 Big Five!!

Early researchers characterized the Big Five factors as distinct or isolated. However, the Big Five factors are highly intercorrelated. Over the past several decades, research has been gathered that groups thousands of personality characteristics into meaningful, interrelated personality styles or factors. It has been shown that these interrelated clusters are hierarchically organized. (Blackburn 2004)

Extraversion and introversion are personality traits that look to be related to brain structure or function. Recent research has shown that the brains of extraverts are more responsive to dopamine than those of introverts, and introverts react more strongly in response physical stimuli, such as a drop of lemon juice on the tongue. Dr. Debra Johnson studied blood flow in various structures of the brain and found a difference in brain function between introverts and extraverts. Introverts have more blood flow to their frontal lobes and frontal thalamus, areas which deal with internal processing, such as problem solving and planning. Extraverts have more blood flow in their temporal lobes, anterior cingulated gyrus and posterior thalamus, areas which process emotional experience and sensory data. (Johnson 1999)

In a factor analysis of fourteen matrices reporting intercorrelations among the Big Five factors, Dr. John Digman found that two higher levels were supported. The first, “factor alpha”, was a higher order construct of socialization. He interpreted factor Alpha, which involves the common elements of Agreeableness (versus Hostility), Conscientiousness (versus Heedlessness), and Emotional Stability (versus Neuroticism). Digman referred to factor alpha as “getting along”, or operating easily within the rules, norms and conventions of society. The second, “factor beta”, was referred to as “getting ahead.” Factor beta was defined by the combination of Extraversion, with descriptors such as outgoing, adventurous, and active, and Openness to Experience, with descriptors of creative, imaginative, and open to new ideas and change. Factor beta is seen as involving personal growth. Dr. Ronald Blackburn, et al, labeled these two “meta-factors” as Impulsivity and Withdrawal: “The two factors can be interpreted in terms of the metaconcepts of agency and communion, and it is suggested that the Impulsivity and Withdrawal dimensions reflect basic motivational concerns about power, status, and intimacy.”

Workers who might be categorized as “factor alphas” are at their best when there are clearly defined rules and responsibilities. Factor alphas play by the book and don’t like to rock the boat. Dr. Deniz Ones conducted a meta-analysis of the Big Five factors in 1993, and more in depth in 1996. The second study found strong correlations among three of the factors, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness and Emotional Stability, reproducing Digman’s correlations that imply the presence of psychologically meaningful higher order factors. Ones suggests that factor alpha may be the most important personality trait that should be measured by personnel managers, as scoring high in factor alpha “would predict a whole spectrum of work behaviors, from avoiding drug and alcohol use to engaging in appropriate customer service behaviors, from dealing with stress well to not stealing, from avoiding absenteeism to actually being a stellar overall performer on the job.”

On the other hand, “factor betas” are characterized as being especially good at thinking “outside the box” and getting around obstacles. Factor betas are the innovators and explorers. Gregarious and ambitious, they roll with the punches and can turn on a dime. Dr. Kenneth Olsen suggests the term Engagement: “Individuals who exhibit high levels of engagement are likely to demonstrate intense and vital involvement in activities… involving deep commitment and purposive attention and as being accompanied by elevated mood.”

I'm a "factor beta": (for those who didn't feel like reading all of that)

On the other hand, “factor betas” are characterized as being especially good at thinking “outside the box” and getting around obstacles. Factor betas are the innovators and explorers. Gregarious and ambitious, they roll with the punches and can turn on a dime. Dr. Kenneth Olsen suggests the term Engagement: “Individuals who exhibit high levels of engagement are likely to demonstrate intense and vital involvement in activities… involving deep commitment and purposive attention and as being accompanied by elevated mood.”