If you surf the web often, you have probably come across personality assessment tests.

You may ignore personality assessment tests because they seem trite. However, they are likely more accurate than you believe. So, to give knowledge about them, here are ten that are the rage today.

Why use personality assessment tests?

Personality assessment tests may seem like a gamble, but they have their merits. Employers rely on them to discover the personal strengths of their employees. Therefore, they ease the hiring process. Also, these tests are useful because they help people find life partners. Understanding your personality type may help you find your match.

10 Most Popular Personality Tests

1. The Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

First of all is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Created by Katherine Briggs and daughter Isabel Myers, the MBTI is one of the most popular personality assessment tests to date.

They based it on the ideas of psychoanalyst Carl Jung, who thought that people understood the world through sensation, intuition, feeling and thinking. Jung suggested that only one of these psychological functions is powerful most of the time. They also show if people are introverts or extroverts. While intuition and sensing help perception, feeling and thinking support judgment.

A test meant for the working population, the MBTI considers personality differences. It has flaws but is one of the most reliable assessments.

2. Disc Assessment

Next on the list is DISC. Based on the ideas of psychologists William Marston and Walter Clarke, it evaluates behavior. It focuses on the traits of dominance, inducement, submission, and compliance (DISC). Some companies rely on it to hire staff, while others use it to gauge an employee’s suitability for a job. It may put you on the right career path for you.

3. The Winslow Personality Profile

This personality assessment test measures career success and happiness. It evaluates 24 personality traits and helps a person find their strengths. This test is well-received because it is user-friendly. It has helped celebrities such as football star John Elway make critical career decisions. You may want to take a Winslow Profile to boost your career or relationships.

4. Process Communication Model

The brainchild of NASA, the Process Communication Model (PCM) personality tool helps it screen astronauts for its missions. This assessment groups people into six personality types. People are either harmonizers, thinkers, rebels, imagineers, persisters, or promoters. Since this test assesses personal strengths, it may show yours and lead you to the perfect career.

5. The Holtzman Inkblot Technique

The Holtzman Inkblot Technique, created by Walter H. Holtzman, assesses personalities with ink blots. It addresses issues in the Rorschach test, a similar type of assessment. The Rorschach test faced criticism because it did not include specific criteria. Therefore, skeptics felt that it was pseudoscience.

Unlike its predecessor, the Holtzman test considered criteria such as the reaction time, rejection, place, space, and form of ink blots. The improvements have made it a popular personality assessment.

6. Hexaco Personality Inventory

As its name suggests, the Hexaco Personality Inventory tests six characteristics of Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to experience. It assesses a person based on the adjectives that fall under these categories. They are as follows:

  • Humility (H): Fairness, Sincerity, Greed Avoidance
  • Emotionality(E): Courage, Anxiety, Sentimentality, and dependence
  • Extraversion (X): Social self-esteem, boldness, liveliness
  • Agreeableness (A) Willingness to forgive, Flexibility, Gentleness, and Patience
  • Conscientiousness(C): Organization, Perfectionism, Diligence, and Prudence
  • Openness to Experience (O): Appreciation, Inquisitiveness, and Creativity

Critics say that this test is inaccurate because it does not consider cultural differences. Nevertheless, it still makes a reliable tool for companies and people.

7. The Revised Neo Personality Inventory (Neo Pi-R)

Also on the list is the Neo Pi-R, a revised version of the Neo Personality Theory developed by Paul Costa and Robert McCrae. It evaluates people based on the traits of Extraversion, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, and Openness to Experience. Almost like the Hexaco theory, it assesses descriptive adjectives that fall under categories:

  • Neuroticism: Anxiety, Hostility, Depression, Self-consciousness, Impulsiveness and Vulnerability to Stress
  • Extraversion: Gregaropismess. Assertiveness, Activity, Excitement-seeking and Positivism
  • Openness to Experience: Fantasy, Aesthetics, Feelings, Actions, Ideas and Values
  • Agreeableness: Trust, Straightforwardness, Altruism, Compliance, Modesty, and Tenderness
  • Conscientiousness: Competence, Order, Dutifulness, Achievement Striving, Self-Discipline, and Deliberation

While this test considers many factors, it does not address social bias. It assumes that people are honest at all times, but this is untrue. In high stakes situations like job interviews,  most people present themselves in a better light than usual. That said, you may want to try it yourself because it is comprehensive.

8. The Personality Assessment System

Developed by former CIA psychologist John W. Gittinger, the Personality Assessment System (PAS) assesses personality profiles.

Unlike other personality assessment tests, it uses the Wechsler Scales subtests to decide a person’s intelligence and skills. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale gathers character information. It also considers character formation and development. Companies find it useful because it provides psychological information.

9. The Birkman Method

Another test is the Birkman Method. Developed by Roger Birkman, it measures a person’s reaction to stress. It also considers strengths and social behavior. Studies like the Classical Test Theory and the Item Response Theory support its reliability. Because it is quite detailed, you may want to try it for yourself.

10. The Enneagram

Enneagram Types

The last test the Enneagram, a model of 9 personality types. Based on the work of Oscar Ichazo and Claudio Naranjo, it represents these personality types in a geometric figure. They include:

  • Reformers
  • Helpers
  • Achievers
  • Individualists
  • Investigators
  • Loyalists
  • Enthusiasts
  • Challengers
  • and Peacemakers.

The Enneagram has a circle, an inner triangle, and a hexagon. The ring explains how the different personalities unite while the triangle shows how three nearby characters may influence each character. The hexagon, in arithmetic, is the decimal figure derived from dividing one by seven. It is a well-received assessment because it is thorough. Consequently, knowing your Enneagram type may boost your career.

In conclusion, give these personality tests a try, because they may improve your life in ways that you do not realize.


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This Post Has 11 Comments

  1. Bethany

    This is just amazing. One of the best things about personality tests is that they make seem life so simple and granular. They even give you the benefit of doubt is some cases.

  2. Linda Binns

    Thank you for including the Enneagram in your list. I think it’s one of the most underrated tests, but it’s the one I’ve found to be the most helpful.

  3. Sofia

    That’s a great collection of tests. Some of them I even haven’t known. Thanks for sharing.

  4. Mallikarjuna Rao Jami

    Enneagram circle gave me a more information about different kinds of personalities. Thanks for shearing information.

  5. Hellen Wellford

    You know the Plus-32 employment testing system was the first computerized system on the market 35 years ago but you passed it by…. They still have the best system on the market today.

  6. Paul

    What about Real Colors Personality Instrument? I’ve gone through this and found it extremely interesting and enjoyable.

  7. Parth

    Thanks for sharing this article with us.If you surf the web often, you have probably come across personality assessment tests this is very great blog.

  8. Dan

    Great list of tests!
    But how about Cattell’s 16PF, Big 5 and Dark Triad?

  9. Noufal

    Thank you for including Enneagram too….
    I found the best results in it

  10. Dawn Champagne

    Thank you for all of this information about all the different tests! Great list!

  11. Wendy Buckingham

    I would also include the Kolbe™ A Index. Unlike many other tests it shows you how to identify and use your natural instinctive behaviours to best advantage, rather than try and change.

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