PART-I

INTRODUCTION
1 Introduction:

Personality is a term used to describe the unique set of characteristics, qualities, and patterns
of behaviour that distinguish one individual from another. Personality refers to the unique and
relatively stable pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that distinguish individuals
from one another. It encompasses a broad range of psychological traits, including thoughts,
emotions, attitudes, values, temperament, cognitive style, motivation, emotionality, and
interpersonal orientation. It is the totality of one's behaviour towards oneself and others as
well. It includes everything about the person, his physical, emotional, social, mental and
spiritual make-up. It is all that a person has about him. Personality is influenced by a complex
interplay of genetic, biological, social, and environmental factors, and it develops over the
course of a person's life.

1.1 Definition of Personality:

i) According to Watson, "Personality is the sum of activities that can be discovered by
actual observations over a long enough period of time to give reliable information." In
this manner Watson gives emphasis upon the behaviour of an individual and say that
personality is nothing but the useful effect one makes upon the person coming into his
close contact.
ii) According to Morton Prince, "Personality is the sum total of all the biological innate
dispositions, impulses, tendencies, appetites and instincts of the individual and the
dispositions and tendencies acquired by experience.
iii) According to Allport, "Personality is a dynamic organisation within the individual of
those Psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustment to his
environment."
iv) According to R.B. Cattell, "Personality is that which permits a prediction of what a
person will do in a given situation."

1.2 Aspects of Personality:

Personality is a complex construct that encompasses many different aspects. Some of the key
aspects of personality include:
 i) Traits: Personality traits are stable patterns of behaviour, emotion, and thought that
are relatively consistent across time and situations. Examples of personality traits
include extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism.
ii) Cognitive and Perceptual Processes: Personality influences the way individuals
perceive and interpret information. This includes cognitive processes like attention,
memory, and decision-making, as well as perceptual processes like the interpretation
of social cues.
iii) Motivation: Personality is closely tied to motivation, with different personality traits
influencing the kinds of goals and rewards that are most motivating for individuals.
iv) Emotionality: Personality influences the way individuals experience and express
emotions. Some people are more prone to experiencing intense emotions, while others
are more stoic and less likely to show their emotions.
v) Social Orientation: Personality influences the way individuals interact with others
and navigate social situations. This includes factors like interpersonal style,
communication style, and social skills.
vi) Self-Concept and Self-Esteem: Personality is closely tied to an individual's sense of
self-concept and self-esteem. People with different personality traits may have
different self-concepts and may be more or less confident in their abilities.
vii) Temperament: The individual responds with enthusiasm and aversion, energy level,
prevailing mood, and general style of life not only toward activities but also to social
groups, social institutions, and the other aspects of his world.

The nature of personality is complex and multifaceted, with many different factors
contributing to its development and expression. These factors can include genetics,
environmental influences, and individual experiences. For example, some personality traits
may have a strong genetic component, while others may be shaped by childhood experiences
or cultural norms.

1.3 Assessment of Personality

Personality assessment refers to the process of measuring and evaluating an individual's

personality traits, characteristics, and behaviours. It can be used for a variety of purposes,
such as understanding oneself better, making career decisions, selecting employees,
diagnosing mental health disorders, and conducting research on personality.
Personality assessment serves two purposes – theoretical and practical. Theoretically
personality assessment provides knowledge about different dimensions and aspects of
personality development and provides information about its nature. Practical purposes of
personality assessment is to know the strength and weaknesses of a person. It tells which
traits in a person are lacking and which one acts negatively creating problems to the
adjustment of the individual. It provides help in developing intervention program for persons
who need help to overcome some of their personality-based difficulties.

1.4 Methods of Personality Assessment.

1. Self-Report Measures:
These are questionnaires or surveys that individuals complete to describe their own
personality. Self-report measures are easy to administer and can assess a broad range
of personality traits, but may be subject to response biases or lack of insight.
2. Observer Ratings:
These involve having other people (such as family members, friends, or co-workers)
rate an individual's personality traits. Observer ratings provide an external perspective
on personality, but may be influenced by the ratter’s biases or relationship with the
individual.
3. Projective Tests:
These are assessments that present ambiguous stimuli (such as inkblots) and ask
individuals to describe what they see. Projective tests can reveal unconscious aspects
of personality, but may lack reliability or validity.
4. Behavioural Measures:
5. These involve observing an individual's behaviour in specific situations or using
behavioural tasks (such as reaction time or decision-making tasks) to assess
personality traits. Behavioural measures provide direct evidence of personality, but
may be influenced by situational factors or lack ecological validity.
6. Physiological Measures:
These involve measuring physiological responses (such as heart rate, skin
conductance, or brain activity) to assess personality traits. Physiological measures can
provide objective evidence of personality, but may be invasive or require specialized
equipment.
Each method of personality assessment has its own strengths and limitations, and the choice
of assessment method should depend on the specific research or clinical question being
addressed. It is also important to consider cultural and social factors that may influence
personality assessment, as well as ethical considerations such as confidentiality and informed
consent.

2 The 16PF Personality Test

The 16PF Personality Test, also known as the 16 Personality Factors Test, is a widely used
personality assessment tool that measures an individual's personality traits across 16 different
factors. Developed by Raymond Cattell in the 1940s, the test is based on his 16-factor theory
of personality, which posits that all personality traits can be categorized into 16 fundamental
dimensions. The 16 factors measured by the test are:

 Warmth
 Reasoning
 Emotional Stability
 Dominance
 Liveliness
 Rule-Consciousness
 Social Boldness
 Sensitivity
 Vigilance
 Abstractedness
 Privateness
 Apprehension
 Openness to Change
 Self-Reliance
 Perfectionism
 Tension

Each of these factors represents a dimension of personality that can be used to describe an
individual's behaviour, thoughts, and feelings. For example, high scores on the warmth factor
indicate that an individual is friendly, empathetic, and approachable, while low scores
suggest that the individual is more distant and reserved.
The 16PF Personality Test is often used in various settings, including clinical psychology,
counselling, education, and organizational development. It is often used to gain insights into
an individual's personality traits and to inform decisions related to hiring, career
development, and personal growth.

2.1 Methodology

This personality test consists of 164 statements (The detail of Questionnaire is given in the
Appendix-A). about yourself, for each indicate how accurate it is on the scale of (1) disagree
(2) slightly disagree (3) neither agree nor disagree (4) slightly agree (5) agree. It will take
most people around ten minutes to complete. The test is administered online with the help of
Subject Teachers. The online version of the test is given to the test-taker through a link to
access the test. Respondent asked to rate on a scale from 1 to 5 the extent to which they agree
or disagree with each item.