There’s so much about the human mind that we don’t understand. Psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience are continually exploring how different aspects of how our brains work, and much remains unanswered. It can be hard to understand our own behaviors and personalities, let alone those of others.
Taking a personality test can be a fun way to learn more about your own personality and how you relate to others. A personality test can also be a great activity with friends, partners, or family members. Learning about your personalities can spark discussions on the differences and similarities in your thoughts and behaviors.
16 Personalities
The 16 Personalities test is a popular free online test that can tell you a lot about your personality type. With some simple questions, this test can categorize your personality into a type that can help you understand your values, thought processes, and how you relate to others.
This personality test combines ideas from the famous Myers-Briggs personality test with Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types, which is the basis for our concepts of introversion and extroversion. The test breaks personalities into types categorized by the Myers-Briggs acronyms, with an extra letter at the end to indicate an additional personality spectrum.
Myers-Briggs Test
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the most famous methods of categorizing personalities. This test is also based on Carl Jung’s theories and was created to make these complex theories more accessible so that people could use them in their everyday lives.
The famous four-letter acronyms of the MBTI categorize personalities based on four different factors:
- Whether you prefer to focus on your inner world (I) or the external world (E).
- Whether you focus on the basic information you sense (S) or add meaning through intuition (I).
- Whether you make decisions by thinking (T) or feeling (F).
- Whether you prefer to make quick judgments (J) or stay open to new information and perceptions (P).
Gardner Multiple Intelligence Test
The Gardner Multiple Intelligence test is similar to an IQ test but meant to measure multiple types of aptitude. The test was developed by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner, who theorized that people have different types of intelligence. The test is popular in education, where it can be used to evaluate children’s differing abilities.
Gardner’s seven types of intelligence are:
- Linguistic intelligence (good with words)
- Logical intelligence (good at math)
- Kinesthetic intelligence (physical smarts)
- Musical intelligence
- Interpersonal intelligence (good at understanding others)
- Intrapersonal intelligence (good with understanding yourself)
- Spatial intelligence (visual smarts)
These categories can be beneficial in understanding your own strengths and those of others.
Emotional Intelligence Test
The idea of emotional intelligence has recently become more common in popular culture and discourse. Basically, emotional intelligence describes your ability to understand your own emotions and those of others. This can include the ability to name emotions, channel them into problem-solving, and manage emotions when they come up.
An emotional intelligence test can help you understand how well you can recognize and regulate emotions, both within and outside of yourself. This can help explain your behavioral patterns, skills, and even difficulties you may have in your relationships with other people.
Introvert vs. Extrovert Test
The idea of introversion and extroversion is one of the most common ways of understanding personalities. Many people have a general idea of which type they fit into, and it’s commonly discussed in popular culture and social situations. While you may already know which type you are, a personality test can help you understand your type more deeply.
Additionally, if you feel as though you may be struggling with a mental illness or personality disorder, talking to a professional and getting a diagnosis can be the first step in getting the help you need. For Bipolar disorder specifically, BetterHelp is a great resource to learn more about signs and symptoms, and how to get the treatment you need.
The Limits of Online Tests
While online personality tests can be helpful, it’s important to remember that they don’t have all the answers. There are so many things that can affect a person’s behavior, from past experiences to family dynamics and even mental disorders.
There is rarely an easy answer when it comes to understanding yourself and others. We recommend using personality tests as tools, giving you new perspectives to think about behaviors you’re wondering about and ask questions.