Research Related to the Personality Styles

I would like to start off by saying that I scored relatively low in the majority of the personality styles. The book states, however, "A low score in any style does not indicate a deficiency in personality." (Oldham, J., & Morris, L.B., 2012). The traits I scored the lowest in were solitary, idiosyncratic, mercurial, sensitive, devoted, leisurely, aggressive, and serious. The trait in which I scored the highest was the conscientious-style, followed by (still marked by a low score), self-sacrificing, and then a tie between dramatic and self-confident.

Psychopathological personalities related to my highest three personality styles are OCPD, self-defeating, and a tie between NPD and HPD. I am fortunate to have a psychologist mother. It is a blessing to have been raised in my family where I was taught to be confident and self-aware. I personally believe that many of the statements were exaggerated, to which I had to respond with a "no". To me, being confident means being self-aware and not being preoccupied with what most people think. To my surprise with the assessment, I cannot agree that self-confidence means skipping lines, being dominant in relationships, imagining oneself as being rich and famous, and being arrogant, as most of these statements from the questionnaire are considered maladaptive and narcissistic. Of course, all that I mentioned should be taken with a grain of salt because, as I noted, this questionnaire comes from Dr. Oldham, who also happens to be the author of the textbook for this course. In my opinion, I have gained so much knowledge from reading the literature, but I would have to say that this questionnaire is not an accurate representation of one's personality. For a more accurate personality test, I'm an MBTI fan. However, for the sake of this project, I will base my opinion and answers on this book.

With that being said, I feel that the description of each personality style in this book reflects an individual who qualifies on the higher end of the spectrum. While each description is consistent with the DSM-5 Section II of Personality Disorders, if a person qualifies for all the traits specific to each of their dominant personality styles, then this individual struggles to adapt in healthy self and interpersonal functioning. My highest score was for the conscientiousness style, which was at a low-moderate level. I couldn’t agree more that hard work and perseverance are the hallmarks of this personality style. Growing up biracial in America definitely had its quirks, which were both rewarding and challenging. I gained a better appreciation of how this "conscientiousness" is a highly desirable trait in both American and Chinese cultures. Being self-disciplined and organized does not make me inflexible when it comes to leisure time. As a "treat-yourself" reward, I plan to travel for a month after graduation. In the meantime, I will be preparing for medical school with a science-related job on the side. I am willing to put as much effort into being flexible as I am into maintaining sincerity in the workplace. According to the book, individuals with a conscientious style are well-known for respecting authority. As a full-time student, I show my respect for my professors by attending lectures, visiting office hours, studying the material, and giving my best effort to perform well in class. In group projects, I always make sure that everyone is collaborating and meeting their deadlines. I like to keep an open mind in the workplace, as this correlates with active listening and a willingness to express receptivity to potential changes in tasks and schedules.

Even though I am reticent and conscientious by nature, this does not make me any less emotional. In fact, I do have a strong sense of reciprocating my emotions at an intimate level. Yes, the MCAT could be the first taste of what it means to be dating a pre-med student, but that does not mean that healthy, conscientious individuals, like myself, do not crave intimacy. In fact, maintaining healthy relationships with significant others encourages spiritual growth and mutual love. The book also describes that we could be our worst critics, but this isn’t necessarily true because over time, I have learned to appreciate my failures not as a sign of weakness but as a sign of courage and willingness to change. Hoarding is a prevalent aspect among high conscientious-style individuals as well as those with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). This isn’t true in my case since my family keeps some of the Chinese tradition of Feng Shui in our home. Culturally speaking, clutter disrupts the interior environment by sabotaging success, so we like to throw away everything that we haven't used in a year or two and donate clothes on a yearly basis.

The assessment shows that I have a self-sacrificing streak. However, looking back at the statements 33 - 36 that fall under this category, I had to answer “no.” These statements show an individual that has difficulties maintaining relationships because they “keep getting involved with people who end up treating them badly,” “can be difficult to be with lots of times,” and are “uninterested” when a person demonstrates interest or affection. All of these reflect a self-defeating maladaptive behavior. I wish the assessment had included statements that related to a healthier or more relevant self-sacrificing individual, as described later in Chapter 15. In relation to this personality style, I learned that I tend to deflect attention away from myself. I’ve been raised to foster friendships and ask for nothing in return. This is a prominent aspect of my personality. Talking about myself - especially in this assignment - and boasting about my achievements is not something I am comfortable doing. However, I do need to feel appreciated, as stated in the chapter. I used to dislike discord so much that I would go out of my way to please others. However, as I have grown older, I've learned that expressing disagreement respectfully is appropriate. The book mentions that it “can be very difficult for people to know where to draw the line” (Oldham, J., & Morris, L.B., 2012). Learning about the dark side of self-sacrificing individuals has given me a better understanding of why I used to value others' opinions of me so highly. Promoting myself without bragging remains a challenge because I dislike the idea of being lionized for my efforts. Another weakness I have learned from this personality style is a tendency to feel resentment when not appreciated or loved despite all the effort I make for those I cherish. This has been a life-long journey for me and I am starting to slowly embrace the idea that I don’t have anything to prove to anyone but myself. The simplest way is to avoid people who fail to appreciate me and adjust my behavior and actions accordingly to prevent disappointment. Practicing mindfulness on a daily basis has shown me that I can still be committed to helping others and remain self-aware of my thoughts, as life is a result of our actions.

Did you like this example?

306

16