Who Am I????

Every once in a while, it is very interesting to pull yourself out of your body, mind and soul and look at  who you truly are as a person from an outsider’s perspective.

One great way to achieve this goal is to put yourself through a hardcore personality assessment test. As part of the Indian School of Business (ISB) Class of 2013, I was lucky enough to be able to get a complete personality profile assessment of myself. ISB paid lakhs of rupees to get this done for each student in order to help us realize our strengths and weaknesses so we can use that awareness to devise plans for our personal growth and become better leaders in the future. Thanks to this expensive and comprehensive initiative by ISB, I have a detailed NEO Personality Inventory of myself done by Paul T. Costa. Jr., PhD and Robert R. McCrae, PhD that tells me what makes me unique in my ways of thinking, feeling and interacting with others. It gives me an idea of how my personality can be described especially compared to other adults of my age and gender across the world.

So, for those of you, who are wondering or have ever wondered as to who I (Harneet Chawla) truly am, here is a summary of my NEO Personality Inventory in the words of Costa and McCrae:

Harneet Chawla

NEO-PI-3 Summary

The N Domain (Neuroticism)

Traits in the N domain reflect different ways of reacting emotionally to distressing circumstances. Low scorers are resilient, rarely experience negative emotions; high scorers often have strong emotional reactions. Overall, you are low in this factor. Specifically, you are calm, relaxed, and generally free of worry. You seldom feel frustrated, irritable, and angry at others and you have only the occasional periods of unhappiness that most people experience. Embarrassment or shyness when dealing with people, especially strangers, is not a problem for you. You report being poor at controlling your impulses and desires, but you are able to cope well with stress.

The E Domain (Extraversion)

The E domain measures traits related to energy and enthusiasm, especially when dealing with people. Low scores are serious and introverted; high scores are outgoing extraverts. Your total score puts you in the very high range on this factor. You are very warm and affectionate toward others and you usually enjoy large and noisy crowds or parties. You are forceful and dominant, preferring to be a group leader rather than a follower. You have a high level of energy and like to keep active and busy. Excitement, stimulation, and thrills have great appeal to you and you frequently experience strong feelings of happiness and joy.

The O Domain (Openness)

The facets of this domain measure responses to various kinds of experience. Low scores are down to earth and conventional; they prefer the familiar and the tried-and-true. High scores are imaginative and open-minded. You score in the very high range. Your responses suggest that you are generally open. You have a vivid imagination and an active fantasy life. You are particularly responsive to beauty as found in music, art, poetry, or nature, and your feelings and emotional reactions are varied and important to you. You enjoy new and different activities and high need for variety in life. You are interested in intellectual challenges and in unusual ideas and perspectives and you are generally liberal in your social, political, and moral beliefs.

The A Domain (Agreeableness)

This domain is concerned with styles of interpersonal interaction. Low scores are hard-headed and competitive; high scores compassionate and co-operative. Across the six facets in this domain, you score average. In particular, you easily trust others and usually assume the best about anyone you meet. You are very candid and sincere and would find it difficult to deceive or manipulate others, and you go out of your way to be thoughtful and helpful to others; you are quite generous. You hold your own in conflicts with others, but you are also willing to forgive and forget. You are quite proud of yourself and your accomplishments, and happy to take credit for them. Compared to other people, you are hard-headed and tough-minded, and your social and political attitudes reflect your pragmatic realism.

The C Domain (Conscientiousness)

Traits in this domain describe differences in motivation and persistence. Low scorers are easy going and not inclined to make plans or schedules. High scorers are conscientious and well organized. Compared to other adults your score falls in average range on this factor. You are rational, prudent, practical, resourceful, and well-prepared. You can be sloppy and disorganized, but you are highly conscientious, adhering strictly to your ethical principles. You have a high aspiration level and strive for excellence in whatever you do. You are determined, persistent, and able to force yourself to do what is necessary. You are occasionally hasty or impetuous and sometimes act without considering all the consequences.

Global Description of Your Personality

The most distinctive feature of this individual’s personality is her standing on the factor of Openness. Very high scores like her have a strong interest in experience for its own sake. They seek out novelty and variety, and have a marked preference for complexity. They have a heightened awareness of their own feelings and are perceptive in recognizing the emotions of others. They are very responsive to beauty in art and nature. Their attraction to new ideas and alternative value systems may make them especially tolerant of others, and may lead them to adopt unconventional attitudes. Peers rate such people as imaginative, daring, independent, and creative.

This person is very high in Extraversion. Such people greatly enjoy the company of others and the stimulation of social interaction. They prefer large parties and events to more intimate gatherings. They are often group leaders and take the responsibility for initiating group activities. They are typically forceful, energetic, and fast-paced in style, and cheerful and enthusiastic in mood. They like excitement. Those who know them would describe them as sociable, fun-loving, affectionate, and talkative.

Next, consider the individual’s level of Neuroticism. Individuals scoring in this range are emotionally well-adjusted and infrequently experience episodes of psychological distress. They are not sensitive or moody, and have few complaints about life. They feel secure and have a generally high level of self esteem. Friends and neighbors of such individuals might characterize them as calm and even-tempered in comparison with the average person.

This person is average in Conscientiousness. Women who score in this range have a normal level of need for achievement. They are able to set work/school aside in pursuit of pleasure or recreation. They are moderately well organized and fairly reliable, and have an average amount of self-discipline.

Finally, the individual scores in the average range in Agreeableness. People who score in this range are about as good-natured as the average person. They can be sympathetic, but can also be firm. They are trusting but not gullible, and ready to compete as well as to cooperate with others.

Stability of Profile

Given the individual’s age, some changes in personality are possible over the next few years. However, this profile is likely to be useful as a rough guide to the individual’s personality through adulthood.

Broad personality factors are pervasive influences on thoughts, feelings, and actions, and combinations of factors provide insight into major aspects of people’s lives, defining what can be called personality styles.

Styles of Well-Being

1.       Gloomy Pessimists
2.      Strongly Emotional
3.       Upbeat Optimists
4.       Low-Keyed

This individual is an upbeat optimist. Such individuals are usually cheerful because they are not unduly troubled by problems and they have a keen appreciation for life’s pleasures. When faced with frustration or disappointment, they may become angry or sad, but they quickly put these feelings behind them. They prefer to concentrate on the future, which they view with eager anticipation.

Styles of Defense

1.      Maladaptive
2.       Hypersensitive
3.      Adaptive
4.      Unconcerned

This individual is adaptive. Adaptive individuals are keenly aware of conflict, stress, and threat, but use these situations to stimulate creative adaptations. They grapple intellectually with their own intrapsychic problems and they may react to life stress as a source of humor or artistic inspiration.

Styles of Anger Control

1.      Temperamental
2.      Timid
3.      Easy-Going
4.      Cold-Blooded

This individual lies between being easy-going and cold-blooded. Easy-going individuals are slow to anger and reluctant to express it when it arises. They know when they have been insulted and may raise objections, but they would prefer to forgive and forget. They understand there are two sides to every issue and try to work towards a common ground in resolving disputes. On the other hand, cold-blooded individuals “don’t get mad, they get even.” They often take offense, but they are not overpowered by feelings of anger. Instead, they keep accounts and express their animosity at a time and in a way that suits them. They may seek revenge.

Styles of Impulse Control

1.      Undercontrolled
2.      Overcontrolled
3.      Directed
4.       Relaxed

This individual has a directed style of impulse control. Such individuals have a clear sense of their own goals and the ability to work towards them even under unfavorable conditions. They take setbacks and frustrations in stride, and they are able to tolerate unsatisfied needs without abandoning their plan of action.

Styles of Interests

1.      Mainstream Consumers
2.      Creative Interactors
3.      Homebodies
4.      Introspectors

This individual is a very high creative interactor. The interests of these individuals revolve around the new and different, and they like to share their discoveries with others. They enjoy public speaking and teaching, and they fit in well in discussion groups. They enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds.

Styles of Interactions

1.      Leaders
2.      Welcomers
3.      Competitors
4.      The Unassuming

The style of interaction of this individual is between a leader and a welcomer. Leaders enjoy social situations as an arena in which they can shine. They prefer giving orders versus taking them and believe they are particularly well-suited to making decisions. They may be boastful and vain, but they also know how to get people to work together. On the other hand, welcomers sincerely enjoy the company of others. They are deeply attached to their old friends and reach out freely to new ones. They are good-natured and sympathetic, willing to lend an ear and happy to chat about their own ideas. They are easy to get along with and popular.

Styles of Activity

1.      Fun-lovers
2.      Go-Getters
3.      Plodders
4.      The Lethargic

This individual is a go-getter. These individuals are productive and efficient and work with a rapid tempo. They know exactly what needs to be done and are eager to pitch in. They might design their own self-improvement program and follow it with zeal. They may seem pushy if they try to impose their style on others.

Styles of Attitudes

1.      Free-Thinkers
2.      Progressives
3.     Traditionalists
4.      Resolute Believers

This individual lies between being a free-thinker and a progressive. Free-thinkers are critical thinkers who are swayed neither by tradition nor by sentimentality. They consider all views, but then make their own judgments about right and wrong. They are willing to disregard others’ feelings to pursue their own idea of the truth. On the other hand, progressives are individuals who take a thoughtful approach to social problems and willing to try new solutions. They have faith in human nature and are confident that society can be improved through education, innovation, and co-operation. They believe in reason and being reasonable.

Styles of Learning

1.      Dreamers
2.      Good Students
3.      By-the-bookers
4.      Reluctant Scholars

This individual has a good student style of learning. Although these individuals are not necessarily more intelligent than others, they combine a real love of learning with the diligence and organization to excel. They have a high aspiration level and are often creative in their approach to solving problems. They are likely to go as far academically as their gifts allow.

Styles of Character

1.      Well-Intentioned
2.      Effective Altruists
3.      Self-Promoters
4.      Undistinguished

None of the descriptions is especially relevant to this individual. More data will be needed for further study.

So, that was a summary of my personality profile. I personally think that this assessment is bang on. There is nothing in this assessment that I would contest. Truly a real reflection of me! Thanks a bunch to ISB for getting us all such detailed studies of our own selves. I hope this will help you understand a little bit more about who I truly am as a person. Chao! :)