Leave the weekly horoscope alone and turn to a scientific personality test to know yourself better

“Who am I?” is probably the most frequently asked question after “Let’s eat?” and of course “Where’s your mask?” (at least in the given scenario).

And many times, you turn to the faceless clairvoyant that is page number four of the local newspaper to find out if the answer to finally finding your Prince Charming is wearing a pink scarf every third Tuesday of the month or if eating bhajia could come in the way of your next promotion.

We suggest, make better use of the newspaper by using it to wrap the said bhajia to munch on while you go about doing better things with your life.

If entertainment is all you are looking for, then might we suggest the sexpert column that is no more than a couple of inches to the right (at least you’ll walk away with a basket full of “non-veg” dad jokes).

But if knowing yourself better is actually what you’re looking to do, then personality tests might just be the talking mirrors to your Snow White.

Personality tests on the internet are a way more accessible version of the best friend, who gives it to you like it is, but also backed with psychological theories.

Why have you been snapping at your mum? Why can’t you fall asleep even after rewatching the entire season of Indian Matchmaking? Why do parties seem more painful than getting on a fast local to Dadar?

These are some of the questions that a personality test might help you answer.

Also, it might just give you that final nudge you need to turn your hobby into a career during lockdown or maybe just a little reassurance on days the gloomy weather begins to rub off on your mood.

It’s also just a really fun substitute for lying in your bed and staring at your fan.

Personality tests that help you get to know yourself better

16 Personalities Test

This test is based on the popular Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) model. This model was developed by a mother-daughter duo in the late 1800s, and the surprising thing about this test wasn’t just how accurate it was, but also the fact that neither mother Katharine Cook Briggs nor daughter Isabel Briggs Myers had any formal training in psychology or psychiatry, but they put close to 80 years of their lives to develop what they believed would help the world be happier and work more efficiently.

The MBTI makes the respondent answer a series of questions, and based on these answers, they are assigned a personality type. Your personality is categorised based on four aspects – how much of an extrovert or introvert you are, do you rely more on your senses or intuition, do you make decisions based on what you think or feel, and whether you organise your life based on judgement or perception.

The result is presented to you in the form of four letters, each letter indicative of a trait you possess.

This is also one of the most popular personality tests in the world. Said to be taken by over two million people every year, it is used in various countries to assess an employee’s abilities, and by Fortune 500 companies and universities as well.

P.S. Comparing personality types is a surprisingly undiscovered ice breaker, this might just be your solution to rescuing a really sad game night.

Big Five Personality Test by Psychology Today

The Big Five personality test, based on the AMPM personality profile or the Advanced Multi-dimensional Personality Matrix, operates on the theory that all human traits are indicative of five broad dimensions of personality – extroversion, openness, agreeableness, emotional stability, and conscientiousness.

The questions are designed in a way that you have to express the degree to which you would be likely to think, do or align with the statements presented – how you handle stress, are you likely to break promises, how much you procrastinate at work and other such questions. The result is a summary of the dominant traits that dictate your day-to-day habits, and help you move past barriers that you might be unaware of.

The detailed version of the analysis can be accessed by paying USD 6.95.

The Visual DNA personality test

This is one of the few personality tests that uses visual cues to help determine your personality type.

Each question is accompanied by a series of photographs. You have to choose one photograph that best describes your response.

The result assesses your level of openness, neuroticism, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness.

It also touches upon aspects such as your overall outlook, self-control, composure, sociability, and resilience that helps you set realistic goals and make the most of your strengths.