Just My Type: Understanding Personality Profiles

For thousands of years, philosophers and scientists have searched for the keys to human personality. Today, personality testing is a multibillion-dollar business. Many people take personality tests online just for fun. Whether silly or serious, personality testing can be an eye-opening way to better understand yourself, your family, and your friends. Just My Type introduces readers to the history of personality profiling, ranging from ancient Chinese astrology, to Freud and Jung, to the modern-day Myers-Briggs and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) assessments. Examine the world of online personality assessments through mini self-administered quizzes. Learn how to distinguish useful applications from biased typecasting.

"This surprisingly comprehensive guide to personality profiling examines the history and psychology behind such tests. This begins with a brief glance at ancient perspectives on bodily humors, before continuing on with an overview of major theories of psychology and psychiatry. The usual suspects are all here--Rorschach blots, the Myers-Briggs test, and zodiac signs make an appearance--and a discussion on how personality tests can be applied to both the workplace and an individual's personal life is informative. A look at the derivation of some of the tests is intriguing as well: during WWI, intelligence tests were originally used to screen soldiers for the U.S. Army. Examples are sprinkled liberally throughout the text, giving readers an opportunity to perform tests on themselves and their friends, adding an appealing level of interaction. But this is also careful to warn of the inexact nature of a personality profile, cautioning readers against employers who rely on the tests too heavily. Ultimately, a fascinating guide to a high-interest topic."--Booklist

"A guided tour through the ages demonstrates how philosophers, scientists, and doctors have tried to understand 'the workings of human personality.' What makes people tick? What is personality? Can your favorite flavor of ice cream tell something about your personality? Can the positions of stars and planets affect earthly affairs? Astrology, humorology, the nature-vs.-nurture debate, Freudian theories of the unconscious, and various modern means of personality testing have all been ways to gain insight into human personality. Rosen's slight and engaging text would make a fine unit in philosophy or life skills classes, where students--natives of a social media-dominated culture 'so fascinated with personality profiling'--would be interested and amused by historical explanations of personality. Colorful diagrams, sidebars, and 'Try It' exercises relieve the dense text, though the format still feels jam-packed. The tone is light yet serious, and the information is unexpectedly fascinating. Though a lively introduction sets up the tour, the volume ends abruptly, with no conclusion to point out lessons learned and the relevance of personality profiling. A serviceable exploration of the role of personality in science and pop culture."--Kirkus Reviews

"An introduction to personality traits and a history of personality psychology, from ancient times to the present. The book examines the hypotheses and research of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, John B. Watson, and others. The authors describe the history of psychology and antiquated ideas that have been replaced by modern research. Each point is countered with leading criticisms, encouraging readers to weigh information to draw personal conclusions. Pseudo-psychology is also addressed, and students are reminded to think critically. Prompts and activities throughout make the content more relatable. The pages are colorful and peppered with images, charts, and diagrams that help teens understand the material. VERDICT: A helpful introductory resource to the topic."--School Library Journal