A Personality Test
Posted: February 13th, 2009 | Filed under: Pop Culture | 51 Comments »
Of course I’m a sucker for personality tests. Well, hey, I’m a sucker for the fortune in fortune cookies*, for stupid mind puzzles, for the AFLAC trivia question (ask about it at work), for pointless and excessively complicated gadgets, for new blog looks, for warm waffles with strawberries and chocolate chips, for … we’re getting away from the point here.
*“You will be going on a trip soon.” How do they know this stuff?
The point is the other day, I was having lunch with Dancing Queen Holly and her delightful parents, and they mentioned this simple little personality test. It seems to be fairly popular on the Internet and with consultants — I will link to all that in a minute — but, of course, had never heard of it before Thursday. And, of course, being a sucker for such things, I immediately went home and tried it out of my family.
And here’s the thing: It worked PERFECTLY. I mean, eerily so.
So, we’ll try it here on the ol’ blog. I’ll tell you up front that I’m not doing the test right, and my conclusions are not scientific. But, hey, it worked out so well this way at my house. I have sort of reshaped it so it is more of a personality test based on my family. And here we go.
What you will need to do is take out a piece of paper of some kind — full piece of paper is fine, but a scrap will work just as well. If you have a little chalkboard, that would work too. Also those little kids tablets where you can write something and then lift the page up and make what you wrote disappear. Yeah, that would work. An Etch a Sketch isn’t ideal, unless you’re this guy. Really, jut about anything will work.
OK. Now, on your paper or whatever, draw a circle.
OK. Now, on your paper or whatever, draw a square.
OK. Now, on your paper or whatever, draw a triangle.
OK. Now, on your paper, draw a squiggly line.
That’s all. That’s the whole deal. Except for one thing … look at your paper now. And ask yourself … which one are you? Don’t overthink it. Just, simply, which one are you?
And once you’ve chosen, yes, it’s over. Pencils down. Hands up. You have taken the personality test.
So, now the test will tell you, more or less, what you are like based on the shape you chose. I make no promises … this thing might not work for you at all. But as I mentioned above, this thing worked PERFECTLY for my family. There are four of us, and by pure chance each of us chose one of the four shapes. Of course, we are dealing with my wife Margo, our 7-year-old daughter Elizabeth and our 4-year-old daughter Katie.
So here is what the shapes are supposed to mean, at least the way I understand it:
* * *
If you chose the CIRCLE … you are supposed to be a very social person. You are sensitive and do not especially like dealing with conflict. You have a good sense about people, and you have a lot of empathy. You listen well. Elizabeth, our seven year old, chose the circle, and she chose it because she thought the circle looked most like her face. But she chose precisely right. She’s an incredibly sweet person, sensitive and more empathetic than anyone I have ever known. From the day she was old enough to talk, she has spent most of her time complimenting people. I think the first full sentence she ever said was to a complete stranger, and the sentence was, “I love your shoes.”
Daily Express example of a CIRCLE: Helen Mirren.
* * *
If you chose the SQUARE … You are a square. You are extremely well organized. You work hard. You often think it would be more of a pain to explain to someone else how to do it rather than just doing it yourself. You’re not a great delegator. You think in a linear way and because of this you bring a lot of common sense to the table. But you can get flustered in an environment where there isn’t enough order or structure. Margo, my wife, chose the square and frankly the previous few sentences could be her Wikipedia page.
Daily Express example of a SQUARE: Actor Daniel Craig.*
*This, of course, will make Margo absolutely GIDDY because Daniel Craig semi-permanently has moved in as her official marital: “Person I am allowed to run off with should the opportunity arise.” My current PIAATROWSTOA is Tina Fey — not an original choice but I’m OK with that — though Winnie Cooper is always in the running. And lately Amy Adams has been on my mind. And others. You may think it’s somewhat troubling that I keep changing my Run Off Person, but you would be wrong. What’s really disconcerting is that Margo is so adamant about Daniel Craig.
* * *
If you chose the TRIANGLE … You are supposed to be outspoken and forceful. Bossy, is a good word. You take charge of situations and you are confident in your opinions. You are a leader. You can, on occasion, rub people wrong with your aggressive nature, and you do feel like you should get credit for your efforts. My four year old Katie chose the triangle, and she promptly informed us that she would NOT be a triangle at all, that she was NOT bossy, that she would not STAND for people to call her bossy, and that from now on she would be considered a circle, just like her sister.
Daily Express example of a TRIANGLE: Model Kate Moss.
* * *
If you chose the SQUIGGLE … yeah, you’re crazy like I am. Squiggles, I guess, can be creative people who do not have the world’s longest attention span. Frankly, I find that this has no connection to me whatsoever. I mean, it’s, wait, what were we talking about? Squiggles can get bored easily and, unlike the squares, do not do well thinking in any sort of linear way. We supposedly think by association instead. We are outgoing and quirky. I don’t see it at all.
What’s interesting about the squiggle is that — whether you chose the squiggle or not — there are things to be learned about you based on WHAT KIND of squiggle you drew. For instance, horizontal squiggles apparently are a little more detail driven than vertical squiggles. Or something like that. And if you drew a diagonal squiggle, well, hello, you are a nut job. You are WAY out there. You apparently are headed for Belleview. And I can say that because I drew a diagonal squiggle.
Daily Express example of a SQUIGGLE: Elton John.*
*Great.
* * *
Now, I guess, this is not the real test or anything resembling the real test. You can learn about the real test here and here and countless other places. It’s not even the whole test, depending on who you ask. Apparently, there is a rectangle in some versions of the test. I only have four people in the family, so I’m stopping here.
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I think I did it wrong. I used a post-it note.
Awesome. I am a squiggle too. No wonder I love Joe so much!!! PS. Amy Adams is a goddess!!!
Curious — I will definitely have to give it a try. I am guessing “square” for myself (though I could be “squiggle” — interesting choice).
Minor quibble: it’s “Bellevue”, not “Belleview”. I say this with great authority because I live about 2 blocks away, and have been a patient in their ER (no, not diagonal squiggle related) which, as ERs go, is actually pretty good.
Great segue from the “Francoeur Sucks” column to this one, Joe — why I love this blog so much, and either cause or effect (both?) of your being a diagonal squiggle.
I’m usually very skeptical about these kinds of tests, because, most of the time, the “personality” results are so vague they can apply to just about anyone.
These personality types seem to be a bit more concrete, however. I don’t think, if I were to look at the four choices beforehand, that I’d pick anything but the squiggle. It matches me much more closely than any of the others.
Anyway, I took the test, and I picked the squiggle. Without a clue what it was supposed to mean. And I read the squiggle description, and I thought – that’s me!
Of course, I think it’s pretty unlikely that the whole of humanity can be neatly divided into one of four groups. Most of us, I suspect, possess traits that are found in all of the descriptions. I’m also pretty sensitive like a circle, for instance, and a good listener. I can be bossy like a triangle if I think I’m right, which I often do. I’m a pretty linear, logical thinker like the square. But I make intuitive leaps sometimes like the squiggle. So there you go.
When I tried to decide which shape I would be, I had some trouble. I decided, after deliberation, that I would close and open my eyes and then go with the shape that I saw first.
This is what my life has come to. I have to trick myself into picking a shape. Then you give me the results and you throw in the portentous diagonal implications. Tell me something I don’t know, Joe.
I drew them all on top of each other and now I’m out of paper.
I’ve been working for one gigantic global company or another nearly 20 years now, and they have these incessant waves of tests they like to unleash on their employees to measure their personality types. I’ve probably taken a dozen of them over the years, and all the results agree … I’m odd. Without fail, my test results always come back differently than anyone else in my group, class, team, or company. In one case, my results were different than anyone who had ever taken the test. (At least, that’s what they told me. Frankly, I think that means they were either lying or hadn’t administered the test enough yet.) The problem seems to be that I not only have traits that represent each of the various personality types, as most people probably do, but I apparently hold them very strongly, even the ones that seem to be diametrically opposed. My personality traits, and therefore my test answers, are always warring with each other, in effect.
Anyway, this test doesn’t really give me that option, which is nice for a change. I had to choose just one, and I had to do it without thinking, so I chose square, probably because I drew it better than the others. If this test is ever reinvented with four completely different shapes that represent the same four personality types, I’d likely choose something that doesn’t resemble a “square” personality in any way. That’s just me.
Not sure if that makes me nuttier than a diagonal squiggly, but it sure feels like it most days.
What if you chose NOT to do the test? What’s the description of your personality then? Cocky bastard, perhaps?
I picked the square and my wife choose the squiggle line.
Both pretty much match our personalities.
Joe and I could team up for the most boring episode of wife swap ever.
Kate Moss would be a very skinny triangle, I’m assuming.
I think I broke the test… I’m pretty certain that I’m supposed to be a square, but I chose the triangle. That said, your daughter’s reaction to being declared a triangle was perfect.
The best fortune cookie ever was written by Homer Simpson: “You will be aroused by a shampoo commercial.”
second best: “You will find true love on Flag Day.”
I picked triangle and at the last minute thought “maybe I’m a circle?”
And of course reading the summary I realized I’m a circle. Is it possible to be a triangle that lacks confidence?
I chose “triangle” based on the fact that I see myself often displaying 3 different moods within a short period of time (Did I already overthink this?)…1. Glumly depressed 2.Oblivious to much of the rest of the world, head down, working 3. Unreasonably happy
Now, having read your findings I don’t think I’m a “triangle”, Joe. Atleast, I’m like your younger daughter and I don’t want to be or be seen as a triangle. Damn! Now I’m in a lousy mood just because of Joe’s blog. I’d better cut this short and see if I can find a shrink on SATURDAY, VALENTINE”S DAY that will see me! DAMN!
BTW, was this test put to Jeff Francouer prior to his arbitration hearing? My guess is he’s a damn circle – Helen Mirren would no doubt flame out as a ballplayer too, but still be nice to the fans, especially the kids.
Tina Fey is my choice as well, but I have so much in commen with Joe I might have to switch teams.
Anybody else draw a face (with circle/square eyes, triangle nose, and a squiggle mouth)??? Anyway, I picked the nose/triangle, and the description couldn’t be further from the truth. Oh well, I might have broken the test, but at least I have this cute face to look at.
I couldn’t decide between the triangle and the squiggly line. What’s that mean? For what it’s worth, I drew a horizontal squiggle, which does seem to fit me a bit better than the vertical or diagonal squiggle. I actually wound up going with the triangle, and while I do think I can be like that on occasion, it’s not quite me. Somewhere between a triangle and a horizontal squiggle does sound close to correct, though.
That said, I think I can, at times, be all of those things, except probably the circle (though I’m a pretty good listener). I, too, find these sorts of personality tests interesting, and I think it’s largely because I’m never quite satisfied with the results. I’ve taken on-line versions of Myers-Briggs a few times, and each time I got a different result. Which leads me to believe that either a) I’m a total nutcase, or b) this whole “personality” thing is a bit of a psuedoscience. I tend towards the latter, partly because it makes me look better, partly because I think all this stuff vastly underestimates the situational nature of personality. When I’m faced with one of those agree/disagree questions like “I prefer the big picture to the details” or “I don’t really like going to parties” my gut reaction is ALWAYS, every single time, “well, it depends.” But that’s never one of the choices. These things may vaguely capture certain tendencies, but I really think they do a poor job of describing people in full. At least, they do a poor job of describing me.
i’m a circle
But I’m 100% a square. I’d hate to be any of the others.
I’m a triangle according to this test (though I think I’m more square), but the important thing is that I once didn’t get hired at a shoe store because I failed their personality test.
Circle.
Tina Fey and Amy Adams, as I understand it, are both married to decidedly unfamous and seemingly unremarkable guys who are both first ballot locks for the Lucky Bastard Hall Of Fame.
I know these are just supposed to be fun little things, but I know quite a few people who take these things as gospel and use them to an extent that they were never meant to be used. It bothers me quite a bit when people take the results of these things and say, “Oh that means you like this and this, but don’t like this, etc.” I hate it when people get pigeonholed (and no, I’m not a triangle, I picked a square).
These things are fine if they’re just fun and games. Please just don’t take them seriously.
Holy crap – it worked! I am totally a square.
I chose Triangle but for other, geeky reasons. I am not a triangle. I am probably more square with a little bit of circle. So I guess a square with rounded corners.
I am more a square than the others. But I did draw my squiggle diagonally. So I guess I am a square on the verge.
I have never had a run off person. But for 25 years my wife’s has been Pierce Brosnan.
Does it say anything about you if you were too lazy to go get a piece of paper and instead used the auto shapes in PowerPoint?
Mixed result for me. I picked the circle (images in my head of stick figures and the circle-with-a-face people in this old depression med ad). I’m not social and don’t really even attempt to read people, but the avoiding conflict and listening fit.
The squiggle fits me better in my mind, my evidence being I almost got bored and gave up on this comment between the paragraphs and that I think my association even in linear type situations (sitting watching the time tick away while I’m trying to hit the right train of thought to bring a math formula back to mind was always fun).
Now, see, this is strange. For my money, HOW the person drew the figures on the paper is far more telling than which figure they think they “are.” Did they draw them all in a row? A column? Did they draw the square around the circle and the triangle in the circle and the squiggle in the triangle? Did they interlock them in some bizarre Dali-esque spaghetti? Are some of the figures larger than others?
I’m a math teacher so I chose the square because, I guess, I like all the 90 degree angles. And the description fits me perfectly, of course.
Ummm… These descriptions of your personality really are just describing the shape you chose. Which you asked us to take into account when we chose the shape. Sort of an endless loop of logic there. So, of course it works. And since I’m thinking linearly here, of course I was a square. This test really doesn’t reveal anything you don’t know. Try the Jung/Briggs-Meyers test. It has 16 different personality types and while you can pick out the big ones like Introvert/Extrovert, some of the other dimensions may reveal something to you.
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm
In certain social circles (many found in LA), these types of tests are referred to as “chick crack”, as you can chat up just about any woman with this type of test and be fairly assured that she’ll be intrigued. One common one I’ve heard is to ask the person to name their favorite color, then their favorite animal, then their favorite body of water. Once named, the ‘test taker’ is to provide three descriptives for each explaining why they like each. The descriptive is to be articulated in the simple form of “it is (blank)”. For example, if someone chooses the color silver, they would say “silver is my favorite color because it is celebratory, it is shimmering, it is striking”. At the end, the three descriptives of the color are intended to be a reflection of the way a person believes the world views him/herself. The three descriptives of the animal are a reflection of the way a person describes him/herself. The three descriptives of the body of water are analagous to how one views sex.
I drew a circle, then drew a square around it. Then I drew a triangle around both. Then I drew a squiggly line underneath it all. Then I looked, saw the eye in the pyramid and realized the personality test had revealed my long-dormant identity as a member of the Bavarian Illuminati.
Ewige Blumenkraft!
and so fnord.
Joe, you don’t actually believe in this unscientific crap, do you? I guarantee you Bill James and Banny don’t.
@30 Aaron M.
I remember taking that Briggs-Meyer test a few years ago and scoring so that I had an exact split on introvert/extrovert. Needless to say the lady taking the test had never seen a result like that before, although, I think that is about right. Sometimes I’m quiet and thoughtful while at others I enjoy being the “life of the party”, an introverted extrovert as I call it.
I chose square (although it was a close call between that and squiggle) which does sum me up reasonably although I think a combo of squiggle/square is more appropriate.
I chose a squiggle (and of course mine was diagonal). And no, I’m not surprised.
Just for kicks, here’s another website where you can actually answer some personality questions to figure your shape. For those of you in-between folks, there are also hybrid options – such as squiggle/square.
http://www.psychometricshapes.co.uk/questionnaire.php
Diagonal squiggle…well, see you in the wacko basket.
Math major. Computer programmer. Square. Quod erat demonstratum.
Oh, Winnie Cooper, I miss you so…
I couldn’t really complete the exercise at first, because when I drew the shapes on the page, they formed what looked like a Jack-O-Lantern, and I was too distracted by the face looking back at me to be able to accureately choose.
…which tells me, of course, that I’m a Squiggle…
I didn’t have any paper around so I was just trying to do this in my head. Unfortunately, I forgot halfway through the blog what my “imaginary picture” looked like, and which shape I picked. Which shape is for morons. I think it was the octagon. I am an octagon.
I’m holding out for the test with a rhombus in it.
I picked the squiggly line. Unfortunately, it took me a good 30 minutes to figure out if it was me because after drawing the shapes on a piece of paper I got distracted and wandered down to a coworkers cube to see if anything exciting was going on down there (nope). And then I had to check my fantasy hockey teams.
Oh, I also decided to look up pictures of Amy Adams because she is awesome.
Yeah, I’m a squiggle.
Joe, I’ve loved your articles for a long time, this is my first visit to your blog. I want to thank you for an entertaining blog and your readers for the equally entertaining responses!
[...] A Personality Test » Joe Posnanski [...]
I drew a circle, then underneath it a square, then underneath it the triangle (equilateral, apex on top) and then underneath it a squiggle. I then thought “Gee, the whole thing looks rather like me.” I must be highly in touch with my feminine or kilted side today.
Joe! You left out the rectangle! I am a rectangle!
I feel cheated.
Ok fine no hard feelings.
I drew all the figures one inside the other and the squiggly line was drawn diagonally. WTF does that mean?
I voted for the square, but only because I was embarrassed by how badly I drew the circle and triangle. It never crossed my mind for even a second to pick the squiggle.
It’s time for a PIAATROWSTOA poll! I recommend no obvious supermodel/Victoria Secret types allowed…
[...] found the test on Joe Poz’s blog, the worldest greatest sportswriter. He links to the sites where he found the test, one added a rectangle. One or the [...]
This test is golden. I debated between the square and triangle, and settled on the triangle. And in reality, I’m in between a square and triangle personality-wise. Crazy accurate.
I clicked on one of the links (being a squiggle, I got distracted), and found this gem: “Nor is any person a pure shape.” How true.