What fraud and mountain biking have in common – the risk taking personality

by Lisa Rydstad 23/11/2012

Recently, a man was jailed seven years for causing one of the biggest frauds in British history. The man lost 1.4 billion of a Swiss bank’s money, risking the entire future of the bank. To others he was known as a knowledgeable, sensible and responsible trader, but behind the façade he was losing control and taking huge financial risks on a daily basis.

Interestingly, research has shown that certain personality traits are associated with risk taking and we have explored this relationship further in our own study. For people like you and me, fraud might not belong to our everyday activities, but we might certainly take other, more legal, risks. In our study we investigated which personality traits that were displayed in people who did extreme sports such as mountain climbing, mountain biking and extreme skiing. This is what we found:

risk personality

Unworried

One of the things we found was that people who are drawn to adventurous sports score low on Anxiety, which means that they tend to be calm and relaxed. These people scored low on tension, indicating that they do not easily get upset about things.

Influence

The adventurers tended to score high on Influence which means that they are likely to be assertive, competitive and that they like challenges. They scored high on Social Boldness which means that they tend to be bold, daring and adventurous. The results also revealed that they scored higher on Openness to Change which indicates that they like to think freely, apply new ideas and enjoy experimenting with different solutions to problems.

Losing control…

Finally, our results showed that people who like taking risks in sports score lower on Self Control than others, meaning that they tend to be carefree, spontaneous and nonconforming. The risk takers scored high on Liveliness, meaning that are enthusiastic and have an overall high energy. They also scored lower on Rule-Consciousness than others.

These results are similar to what research has shown before; risk takers are usually more socially bold and lively than others. Are you also a risk-taker behind the façade? Find out what sort of risk taker you are by signing up to PersonaBubble and taking our latest test.

Into the Den: The personality type of entrepreneurs

by Katie 22/11/2012

We’re coming to the end of the current series of Dragons Den, a show which sees’s budding entrepreneurs pitch for investment in their business ideas.  People who put their careers on hold and their finances in the balance in order to attempt something that could  turn into a masterful success or, as we more commonly see in the Den, a total flop. Is there something that sets these people apart from everyone else? Or is it luck that they stumble across an idea that they believe will turn into a successful business?

personality of entrepreneurs

 

Well, it turns out researchers have found that certain types of people are more likely to consider starting a business than others. These people tend to:

  • be ready to take risks, open to new experiences, likely to do things in new, different ways.
  • have a high need to achieve
  • be independent and sure of themselves,
  • handle high levels of stress,
  • be conscientious, meaning that they want to do things right.

That said, anyone can start their own business.

In fact, it seems like the main reason some types of people are more likely to become entrepreneurs is simply that they’re more likely to think about it seriously. If you never think about starting a business, then there’s not much chance that you will ever will! Once your business is started, personality has much less effect on whether it will be successful.

‘There’s a business in everyone’ states the website of the UK Government’s Business in You campaign and understanding why people are likely to start a business may help you recognise what’s holding you back and see how you can turn these things to your advantage. For instance…

  • if you’re not one to take risks, then careful market research before you begin could help you to identify a project that is highly likely to succeed.
  • Or if you’re not as hung up about achievement as the average entrepreneur, then you may be more willing to start small and let your business grow up around you, rather than throwing everything into a project that can’t be guaranteed to succeed.

On the other hand, if you do fit the entrepreneurial personality profile, then it’s definitely worth considering if you’d be happier working independently.

If you like the idea of working for yourself and are wondering whether it’s time to start your own business take our latest test  and find out if entrepreneurship is the thing for you. A word of warning however from Sir Alan Sugar – ‘Once you decide to work for yourself, you never go back to work for somebody else’.

Can your personality determine your fears?

by Katie 16/11/2012

To celebrate Halloween we released a test to find out what scares our users and to see if there were any links between this and their personality. We have now had a look at the results and have discovered some interesting correlations.

We asked PersonaBubble users to rate their level of fear on the following things:

  • free personality testThe Dark
  • Ghosts
  • Spiders
  • Zombies
  • Public Speaking
  • Heights
  • Small Spaces
  • Blood
  • Flying

 

What we discovered was that People who said there were more scared of any of the items in our test seemed to be less socially confident than those who weren’t scared. People who have lower social confidence tend to dislike having to speak in front of groups and becoming  the centre of attention – which would explain why this trait is particularly found in people who said they were scared of public speaking. People who have lower social confidence also tend to have a well-developed sense of what others are feeling and they are acutely aware of subtle changes in sights sounds or other physical sensations. This sensitivity may cause them to rate their level of fear higher than other people.

We also found that a couple of fears stood out regarding their links with certain personality traits.


People who said they were afraid of Zombies were more warm than people who weren’t afraid of them. People who are warmer seek emotional closeness with others and enjoy people who show their emotions openly. Such people may be uncomfortable in situations in which interpersonal contact is not accessible , as Zombies are humans who have had all emotion and warmth stripped from them, this might explain why people with this trait fear them.

 

free personality test

Of the list of fears we presented our users, the  fear of Heights was probably one of the more rational. This might explain why people who say they are more afraid of heights also tend to be more down-to-earth thinkers. People with this personality trait focus more on obtaining information from their five senses and like concrete factual realities. They tend to struggle with more abstract or conceptual ideas which would explain why they are more likely to find heights scary as there is a real factual reason why this is a threat; the fact they could fall to their death.

Which of the things on the list are you most afraid of and how do they match up with your personality? Take our free personality test and our fears test to find out and let us know what you discover in the comments section below.

Is blood type, an accurate predictor of personality?

by Rob Bailey 07/11/2012

A recent BBC story addresses the Japanese custom linking character to blood type, otherwise known as Ketsueki-gata. Rob Bailey, psychologist and Principal Consultant, Research and Development at OPP discusses the drawbacks of relying on such a system.

free personality test

As with many non-scientific based personality analyses, Ketsueki-gata rings alarm bells with psychologists like myself. While within the psychometrics industry we also claim to be able to make accurate predictions about people’s personalities and characteristics, we use very different methods. A key difference between us and practitioners of pseudoscience is that we continually collect data to check that our methods actually work. Graphologists, Astrologists and blood type enthusiasts don’t tend to collect data – they rely on anecdotes and magical thinking to hoodwink people into accepting the veracity of their ludicrous claims.

 

The popularity of Ketsueki-gata in Japan means that a person’s blood type is believed to determine temperament and personality. ‘What’s your blood type?’ is often a key question in everything from matchmaking to job applications. Many research studies have contradicted these beliefs citing scientific errors, such as including no quantitative data, violating statistical rules, having flawed methodologies and presenting inconsistent results; all contributing to the evidence that no connection exists between a person’s blood type and personality.

Psychometrics makes accurate predictions of behaviour and potential, based on decades of research and application. Persona Bubble is based on the ‘Big Five’ model of personality. It identifies five broad dimensions of personality – a widely accepted model that has influenced the development of many other trait-based assessments.

So before employers or potential partners consider asking for a date’s blood type or a candidate’s blood type during an interview (which, in itself, could result in an uncomfortable situation), perhaps look into a more scientifically proven method of assessing personality type – such as PersonaBubble’s free personality test.

The graph below shows the clear difference between proven methods and the preserve of the charlatan.

free personality test

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key for the graph, which is from Robertston and Smith (2001)
A validity index of 1 would show a perfect fit between the assessment method and what it is predicting; 0 shows no relationship; 0.4 and above is very respectable

 

How can I tell if my personality fits my job?

by Katie 22/10/2012

In our last blog post we explored whether your personality may affect the type of job you enjoy. This week, we give you some tips on how to establish if your job and personality match up

According to a recent study by consulting firm Mercer, fifty percent of employees are checked-out or actively looking to leave their current jobs. This can be the result of a miss-match between an individual’s personality and the job that they are working in, or the company and people they are working with.

personality

 

To uncover whether or not your personality fits your job, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

 

  • Do you feel appropriately challenged or stretched? The right job should challenge and grow you as a professional, but not to the point that you feel uncomfortable all of the time. Try to identify what about the role that is particularly difficult challenging.
  • Do you feel motivated? You can take our poll to shed some light in this area. Some people are naturally more motivated at work than others, but constant lack of motivation could be a sign of trouble.
  • Do you fit in with your colleagues? Discover how you compare to your work colleagues by inviting them to join you on PersonaBubble. If you share some personality traits in common, chances are that you will understand and get along with them more easily.
  • Do you share the same values as your company? Aligning your values and those that the company stands for is critical.
  • Do you feel comfortable in the working environment? Take our poll to find out more about your preferences toward working environment. For example, if you feel like a creative nearly suffocating in a stiff suit, you may not be in the right place.

 

If you answered yes to the questions above, you are a part of the lucky half and probably feel happy and energized at work. However, try not to get too comfortable and continue seeking opportunities to be challenged and building relationships with your colleagues.

 

If you answered no to the questions above, it’s likely that you are constantly feeling stressed, drained or de-motivated (or maybe all of these emotions at once). There are many ways to improve the issue, but diagnosing the source is the first step. Once you have identified the drivers of stress and dissatisfaction, talk to your supervisor about them, as there are likely to be many ways of solving the issue. You may be able to craft your job content to be a better fit with your personality. Next, ensure that you are taking time to build relationships with the people around you at work. Sometimes just having friends around will help keep you motivated. If you have tried all of these things without success, it might be time to consider making a career change.

 

Are certain personalities better suited to certain jobs?

by Katie 11/10/2012

With so many options, how do you make the ‘right’ choice when selecting a new job? There are a plethora of factors to consider, such as your passions, the job location, your income goals, etc. However, one of the most important considerations is how well your personality fits the role, industry, team, and organization you are considering joining.

personality test

 

Finding the right fit with the role and your personality can lead to greater job performance, satisfaction and happiness. For example, here are a few suggestions in terms of fit between personality and roles:

  • Extroverts tend toward jobs that require interaction with others. Roles in sales, marketing and customer service often suit them well.
  • Introverts prefer roles that require less interaction with others as they can find it draining. They may find that technical roles, such as computer engineering, suit them better.
  • Influential types often prefer leadership positions where they are the decision maker. Roles in management often suit them well.
  • Tough Minded types generally prefer roles involving facts and logic. Therefore, roles involving math and science can be good choices for them.
  • Structured types prefer specific plans and precise detail. This is a useful trait for roles such as administrators, solicitors and compliance officers.
  • Reactive types may find it more difficult to deal with stressful jobs than others. Therefore, they may not thrive as an emergency room doctor but prefer roles that involve limited daily stress.

 

It is important to note while certain personality types tend to gravitate toward certain roles, there are no strict right or wrong answers when choosing your career. It is also possible to mold your role around your preferred style.

Discover the Right Fit

By fully understanding your personality, you can make better-informed choices about your career. Taking a personality test is a quick and simple way to do this. Just remember that personality tests results should not be relied on as an absolute assessment of which career or job is best for you since there are many other factors to consider as well. You can review your free personality profile on PersonaBubble and take one of our careers polls for additional insight.

Is your personality suited to your career? Let us know what you think by posting a comment below.

How do I know if we are compatible?

by Katie 26/09/2012

Whether it’s a romantic partner, a friend, prospective housemate or colleague, how can you determine your compatibility with another person?

compatibility

Compatibility doesn’t mean that you are just alike in every way. In fact, on some dimensions it is more the case the opposites attract because you will balance one another’s strengths and weaknesses. However, it is helpful if you share some basic things in common, such as your core values.

Here are a few things you can use to discover your compatibility:

1)    Determine if your values are aligned.

Crack open a bottle of wine or pop the kettle on and give yourselves some time to talk about issues that are most important to you. You could even start by discussing the traits that you appreciate in others. For example, is it better to be humble or to be famous? Is it more important to save the world, or to become wealthy? You’ll then get a good idea if your general values match up or if there might be conflict.

2)    Discover your common interests.

Although having a diverse set of interests allows each of you to maintain a sense of independence, it is helpful to have at least a few common interests and activities that you can enjoy together. For example, do you both enjoy tennis, classical music, cycling or modern art? You can also build new interests together, so try picking up a new activity you can both enjoy.

3)    Understand their personality- and yours.

When your personalities are similar, chances are that you will understand one another easily. For example, introverted types are likely to feel contented in the company of one another while an extrovert may become frustrated with an introvert who doesn’t like to go out to parties. A sensitive type may easily become upset or miss-interpret something from a tough-minded type. A flexible type who loves spontaneity may become frustrated or bored with a structured type who likes everything planned out. While it can be easier having similar personalities, it isn’t necessary for every dimension of your personality to be exactly the same in order to be compatible. Simply understanding one another is the best place to start.

One quick an easy way to establish your compatibility is to get together and take the free personality test on PersonaBubble. You can share and compare your results to uncover and learn more about your compatibility. You can use what you discover to spark a conversation and learn even more about your friends, family or colleagues. Let us know what you discover in the comment section below.

 

Compulsive woodpecker or popular robin? What your emailing style says about you.

by Katie 20/09/2012

How often do you check your email? Are they the bane of your life or can you not live without them? And what does your attitude to emails say about your personality?

email personality

The use of email in business and our everyday lives has increased resulting in the development of particular idiosyncratic patterns of emailing behavior that can either delight or enrage recipients. Researchers at the University of Glasgow and the University of the West of Scotland have examined our different email behaviours and matched them to typical bird-like personalities.

Dr Karen Renaud, senior lecturer in the School of Computing Science at the University of Glasgow, said:

“When we analysed all the findings we realised we could categorise email behaviours and match them to the characteristics of some well-known birds.”

The researchers identified a total of 12 bird-like characteristics of email users, with just one type of bird being associated with perfect email manners: the robin. Robins are people who are admired for not allowing email to dictate their lives and making time to speak to people in person whenever they can.

Dr Renaud added: “What the research really highlights is that email is a great source of stress for many people. Too often, email is used instead of a more suitable means of communication like actually talking to someone.

“It is likely most people will be able to identify some of their email correspondents with these behaviours and perhaps even recognise their own email style.

What type of Bird are you?

Compulsive Woodpecker: Can’t resist reading email at all hours of the day and night.

Hibernating Poorwill: Reads email only occasionally so that senders can never rely on them.

Incommunicado Ostrich: Reads emails but doesn’t reply to them. Often to be seen with the Hibernating Poorwill.

Caterwauling Peacock: Broadcasts emails to all and sundry, claiming that people “need to know” when actually he is grandstanding.

email personality

Pesky Crow: “Leans” on others by means of email, sending multiple versions of the same document, or sending multiple emails about the same topic. This bird inspires fear and loathing in the hearts of other birds.

Buck-Passing Cuckoo: Sends emails to others asking them to carry out some task she should do herself, and then leaves quickly and mimics the Incommunicado Ostrich so that the unfortunate recipient is left carrying the baby.

Back-Covering Emu: Sends emails in order to be able to prove, at a later date, that the information was passed on.

Camouflaging Woodcock: Uses blind copy to send copies of emails to other recipients without the main recipient’s knowledge. Unlike the Back-covering Emu, this bird is seldom seen in all its glory.

Echoing Mynah: Acknowledges all emails. For example engages in exchange something like: “thanks”, then “my pleasure”, then “thanks again”.


Echolalia Mockingbird: A serial forwarder, sending chain emails online petitions and anything else that takes his fancy. Most of these emails have a subject line starting with “FW”. This bird is easily ignored by other birds, but doesn’t know why.Boorish Parrot: Sends abusive or inappropriate emails and fails to understand why others get upset by them.

Night Owl: The midnight emailer, who fails to understand that others do wish to have “time out”. This bird flocks with the Lightning Response Hummingbird.

Hoarding Magpie: Keeps hundreds of emails in the inbox but can never find exactly the one they are looking for.

Lightning-Response Hummingbird: Responds immediately to email, and expects an immediate response in return.

Popular Robin: Simply does not allow email to dictate. They take the time to speak to people whenever possible and do not let email to take over their lives. This bird is the, favourite amongst all the birds.

Can you spot yourself in the 12 bird types above or perhaps you can identify a certain colleague. Let us know what type you are in the comments section below.

How can I improve my relationships at work?

by Katie 11/09/2012

Your relationship with your supervisor, peers and staff have a major impact on motivation, performance and engagement at work and ultimately could affect whether you decide to change jobs or stay where you are.  If you’re unhappy in your current job it might be that improving your work relationships can help improve things for you.

How can I improve my relationships at work

Building stronger relationships with your work colleagues will make you happier and have a positive impact on the people who work around you. The majority of us spend more time with our colleagues at work than we do with our families at home, so building positive relationships is worth the effort!

Here are a few tips:

  • Our top tip for improving your relationships at work is to make time to get to know one another, have fun and bond over shared experiences. This may sound obvious, but many people don’t take the time to look up from their work to do this. If it is not possible during work hours, try to meet outside of the office, such as for coffee before or after work. If possible, organise time away from the office for your entire team. It could be as simple as regularly scheduled Friday afternoon lunches at the local pub or as wacky as a day out learning circus skills!
  • Build trust and lean on one another for support when needed. Going through a rough period together can be an incredibly bonding experience. For example, if you are facing a department re-organisation, talk to your colleague about your anxieties and fears. They may be able to offer some advice, but most importantly a listening ear.
  • Understand and respect your personality similarities and differences. When your personalities are similar, chances are that you will understand one another easily. However, it is more often the case that your team members come with a wide variety of perspectives and approaches, and it can be fun to uncover those differences. PersonaBubble’s personality test allows you to uncover useful insights about your own personality as well as compare that with others.
  • Finally, be flexible and willing to change your approach. For example, if you are extroverted and like to speak out and make key decisions during meetings, recognize that your colleagues who are more introverted will appreciate more time to reflect after the meeting before coming to a conclusion. Instead of insisting that you resolve everything during the meeting, try to give them the time they need to think through an issue before expecting an answer.

Through mutual understanding, investing time to get to know one another personally and building trust, you can dramatically improve your motivation and performance, as well as have a bit more fun at work, too!

How similar are you and your colleagues? Invite them to PersonaBubble and compare personalities to find out how to make the most your differences and similarities. Let us know what you discover in the comments section below.

Brand new features give you an even deeper insight into your personality.

by Katie 31/08/2012

Last week we added some fab new features to the PersonaBubble site all aimed at helping you gain even more insight into your personality and giving you a better understanding of the people around you.

The Dashboard

understanding people better with the new PersonaBubble dashboard

The brand new dashboard is where you’ll find up to date information about what’s happening in PersonaBubble. In just once glance you’ll be able to see your personality results, how others see you, the latest mini tests and which of your friends you are most like.

New Tests

understanding people better with the personabubble mini-tests

We’ve added a whole new section of the site which contains more tests to help you explore your personality further. Our mini-tests are shorter tests that cover specific topics; whether you want to find out if it’s time to change jobs, discover whether you’re truly happy or find out what sort of friend you are, there’s a test to give you insight into every part of your life. We’ll be adding new tests all the time so make sure you keep coming back a check out what’s new.

On top of these main changes we’ve also tweaked other elements of the site so you should find it easier to compare personalities with your friends and invite new ones to join you on PersonaBubble.

Login to your PersonaBubble account to see the changes and take the new mini tests and let us know what you think in the comments section below.