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Is it really possible to accurately measure someone’s personality? Why or why not?

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telesco79 | Student, College Freshman | (Level 1) Honors

Posted June 7, 2012 at 11:31 PM via web

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William Delaney | (Level 1) Distinguished Educator

Posted June 8, 2012 at 1:14 PM (Answer #1)

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I think it is not only possible but really essential to measure our own personality because there is nothing more important in life than understanding who we are. As far as measuring other people's personalities, that is probably possible but would require the other person's full cooperation, and that would be hard to get in most cases because people are reluctant to reveal themselves even to close friends. Psychologists have been working hard for much of the past hundred years to develop tests for measuring personalities. They still have a long way to go; nevertheless, there is a lot of valuable information readily available for self-assessment. Some of it can be accessed with ease on the Internet by searching such subjects as "self-testing." Many services offer free tests. The best tests probably are related to the famous Briggs-Meyers Personality test or inventory. Carl Jung in his great work Personality Types identified two basic personality "attitudes," introversion and extraversion. He coined those terms, and they have gotten worldwide acceptance. He further identified four basic conscious "functions," split into two dichotomies--sensing/intuition, and thinking/feeling. One other dichotomy judging/perceiving determines the personality type a person is most susceptible to. Combined, they result in sixteen different personality type combinations (ex. INTJ, which stands for Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging).

I recommend that you refer to C. G. Jung in eNotes and that you look up some personality tests on the Internet. I think we should start with understanding ourselves before we try to understand other people. Maybe understanding ourselves automatically helps us to understand others.


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lover990 | Student, Grade 9 | eNotes Newbie

Posted June 8, 2012 at 1:48 AM (Answer #2)

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No, it is not possible to accurately measure one's personality. From when a child is born to their old age, their personalities can change. Due to this case, it is impossible to accurately measure one's personality. They can go from stubborn, to after hearing a lecture, suddenly be very leinent. People can change over night, and it would be impossible to measure it. 

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weddanever | Student, Undergraduate | (Level 1) Honors

Posted December 30, 2012 at 10:15 AM (Answer #3)

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my answer is not, as personality is a qualitative fact. however there are researches and theories that attempts to quanify each trait or personalities according to some factors but how accurate it is, well maybe just close but never been.

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