Personality Assessment Tests.docx

PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT TESTS The personality of a person can be assessed using any of the following methods 1. Behavioural Observation In this type of test the psychologist observes the behaviour of a person, the way they talk, respond to questions, how they behave with others, their thinking etc. Based on the observations made, the psychologist decides the type of personality of the person. 2. Interviews In interview technique, the psychologist asks a series of questions to the person. Based on the result of his response, the psychologist determines the person’s personality. 3. Multiple Choice Questionnaires The person is given a set of questions of multiple choice type. The responses selected by the person for each question decides the type of personality of the person. 4. Rating Scale In this method the person has to assign a value or number to a particular sentence or question being asked. For e.g.: the person selects a number from 1 to 10 according to his or her opinion about the question. 5. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) or True or False Questions In this test the psychologist asks the person certain questions. The person has to respond in either “true or False” or “Yes or No” or “Cannot Say”. About 100 questions are asked. Based on the response given by the person, the psychologist decides the type of personality. 6. Projective tests These are the type of tests in which the person is shown some pictures, inkblots or incomplete drawings. The person has to describe what he sees in the image or what it means to him. Based on the response given by the person the psychologist determines the personality of the person. There are 3 types of common projective technique used: a. Rorschach Inkblot test The Rorschach test consists of 10 inkblot images or cards, some of which are black, white, or gray and some of which are color. The psychologist gives each images to the person one by one and asks him or her to describe what he or she thinks the card looks like. The person is allowed to hold the card in any position they want, even if it is upside down. Based on the responses given by the person, the trained psychologist determines the personality of the person. (Rorschach ink blots are created by putting few ink drops on a paper or a card and then folding it in half. This folding in half creates ink blot on both side of the paper.)

b. Thematic Aperception Test (TAT) This test was developed by American Psychologist Henry Murray in 1930. In this test the person is given a series of images. The person is asked to describe the image and tell a story about it in as detail as possible. This test is used to identify a person’s emotions, motives, and problems. About 15 to 20 images are shown to the person on after another. A well trained psychologist or psychiatrist is only able to interpret the result of the test.

c. Sentence Completion Test In this test the person is given a list of incomplete sentences and is asked to complete them in any desired manner. The way the person completes the sentences using his or her own words are analysed by the psychologist and the personality is decided. About 40 to 50 sentences are usually given to fill. For example:  I am ______________  I like ______________  I hate ______________  Most people are_________  The happiest thing in my life is __________  I often dream about _____________

IMPORTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE OF PERSONALITY IN NURSING 1. If a nurse has a good understanding of personality then they are able to work well with mentally ill patients. 2. Understanding personality, helps a nurse to develop his or her own personality. 3. The nurse is able to identify problems and issues in a person that can disturb their personality. 4. It helps to understand the personality of the patient and the nurse is able to give care accordingly. 5. It helps a nurse to get positive thinking pattern, gain confidence, improve behaviour, learn better communication and develop a healthy body and mind. 6. The nurse is able to give psychological counselling and advice to the patient or their relatives based on their thinking and personality. 7. The nurse is able to identify the psychological problems of a patient in advance and provide treatment, guidance etc to the patient in time.