Article 10: What is your personality?
A little bit of history and the different personality types
Psychological services, including those of guidance and counselling are generally scarce in African schools. In fact, they almost do not exist. All the research that I have read in the past five years shows that career counselling should be freely available to all school learners in SA. And I don’t mean career counselling as in tertiary institutions coming to your school and giving you brochures about the careers they offer – this is career advice. Also, career counselling is not someone looking at your results and telling you which career you can fit in – this is career planning.
What I am after is having a person (or an object) who will use psychological instruments like psychometric tests, aptitude tests or intelligence quotient (IQ) test to measure your capabilities, character, feelings, or motivations. Using these instruments, the counsellor then prescribes what career is suitable to you. But this is impossible at the moment because:
1. The average ratio of educational psychologist to pupils in black education departments is approximately 1:30000; Indians have 1:8800, coloureds 1:9000; and whites 1:2750. Hence the one-on-one counselling paradigm may work well in first world countries, it is not a viable model for South Africa.
2. These services are very expensive. A session costs about R2500 to R3000. Already 90% of the population is wiped out at this cost.
What is needed is a paradigm that is appropriate for and applicable to the large majority of the country’s population that remains in desperate need of any form of career counselling.
We have an online psychometric test that we have done by using the research of Dr John Holland. We did this to prove all learners can do such tests online. The Ethekwini Municipality sponsored us by getting a psychologist who reviewed the test. You can go to our website and check it out.
John Holland’s vocational personality theory has transformed career counselling practice and research. Holland’s theory is considered to be the most popular and practical approach to career counselling, as the majority of his propositions have been operationally defined and empirically evaluated
He argued that the more individuals resemble these personality types, the more likely they will exhibit the behaviour and beliefs associated with the types. Each personality type has a characteristic pattern of behaviour and is associated with specific values. Hence, an individual is categorised in terms of which personality type they resemble most.
According to Holland, the development of these vocational personality types is the result of the interaction between the
· individual’s physical environment
· parental interaction
· hereditary and personal factors
· cultural influences.
From Hollands theory below (Holland hexagon), the distance between the six personality types is relative to the relationship between them. The characteristics next to each other, such as the Realistic and Investigative, will have more in common. Characteristics opposite to each other, such as conventional and artistic will have opposite characteristics. Furthermore, different personalities have different interests. These interests are either in people, ideas, things or data.
Below are explanations of the six personality types and their explanations. Remember that you can go to our website and find out what personality you have.
The Realistic personality type
Holland postulated that individuals are categorised as a realistic personality type when they exhibit a preference for activities involving animals or the manipulation of mechanical objects, while also displaying an aversion to social activities, such as education or therapy. These preferences will ultimately result in competencies in manual, mechanical, agricultural or technical activities. Accordingly, individuals scoring higher on the realistic type will have a greater disposition to engage in realistic type occupations, such as a mechanic, electrician or carpenter. Furthermore, realistic personalities have a proclivity to function according to a value-system that can be described as conservative, practical and rigid.
The Investigative personality type
The investigative personality type refers to individuals who exhibit a preference to engage in scientific activities, in order execute their intellectual and analytical abilities. Investigative personalities tend to examine biological, physical or cultural phenomena in order to acquire the skills to understand and control these factors. As a result, these individuals have a greater tendency to work in occupational environments where investigative activities are pursued. Investigative personalities are usually associated with mathematical and scientific occupations. In terms of their value-system, investigative individuals are more inclined to be self-determined, logical, ambitious and theoretical. The acquisition of knowledge and skills is frequently valued over social activities among investigative personalities.
The Artistic personality type
The artistic personality type relates to individuals who prefer activities and environments that enable self-expression through the arts. Furthermore, artistic individuals have a penchant for liberating, ambiguous and unsystematic activities performed in aesthetic environments. This personality type can best be described as introspective, unconventional, intuitive and idealistic. Accordingly, these individuals have a proclivity for creative, musical and literary occupations, while simultaneously exhibiting an aversion to conventional occupations, such as clerical work. Artistic individuals value self-expression and equality, and employ their creative competencies to solve problems.
The Social personality type
Individual personalities categorised as social have a preference for social and interpersonal interaction and competencies in human relations. The social personality type is characterised by its enthusiasm, generosity, sincerity and persuasive nature. Social individuals prefer to engage in activities that allow for the manipulation of other individuals, to provide information, training, development and rehabilitation. Individuals scoring higher on the social personality type have a greater tendency to engage in social occupations, such as teaching or nursing, and show disinclination towards realistic occupations, such as manual labour. These individuals are concerned with social issues and are orientated towards providing community service. Social personality types function according to a value-system driven by empathy, patience, equality and service to others.
The Enterprising personality type
Enterprising personality types have a tendency to acquire persuasive and interpersonal skills in order to achieve certain organisational and/or economic objectives. These individuals are often found in leadership positions. argue that enterprising individuals are characterised as extroverted, sociable, self-confident, optimistic and ambitious. Individuals scoring higher in the enterprising scale have a tendency to be materialistically inclined, and value social status and the control of others. Conversely, these individuals show a deficiency in scientific and analytical abilities.
The Conventional personality type
The conventional personality type can be described as practical, well-controlled and conservative. Holland postulated that conventional individuals prefer activities involving the categorical, systematic and ordered manipulation of data, while simultaneously showing an aversion to liberating, ambiguous and unsystematic activities. Accordingly, these preferences lead to competencies in clerical, computing and business system activities. Conventional individuals have a proclivity to establish and maintain order, and demonstrate materialistic tendencies towards obtaining financial wealth. These individuals value structure, obedience, docility and precision in their lives, and often thrive in a business environment.