Observing or Reading the Behavior - Essay Example

Interview Profile The interview is conducted with a 38 year old who gave his time so that we make an assessment of his personality and attitudes. Observing or Reading the Behavior In response to this question the interviewee becomes confused and fails to make one definite choice. However he gives more weight to the second option as reading about how the behavior is performed helps him more than mere observation. He is able to remember the information better if he reads about the behavior being performed. Most of the time observation does not work for him because of other distractions in the surroundings. Sometimes if he remains focused then observing the behavior he is able to remember all the information. Library or Home When interviewer was asked about his preference for studying in a library, or at home where there are background noises and some distractions, he mentioned home. According to him home makes him feel more relaxed and studies can be done in relaxed and calm environment. The peace of mind that he gets at home could not be available anywhere else. He is able to concentrate better in the familiar and relaxed surrounding of his home rather than a public place like library where people keep on moving around. Movement of people can be a cause of distraction. Since people in a library are mostly strangers and strangers make him self conscious. At home the presence of siblings does not matter as they keep themselves busy with their own chores. He also acknowledged that there might not be other books and references available at home instantly if he needs them. However, he can make use of Internet for the references and other relevant material at home. Also he thinks he could easily take a break from say continuous study of two hours and watch TV or listen to his favorite songs and resume his studies. At library continuous studies can cause exhaustion as mind needs breaks every now and then. He also considers the fact the one can sit in a relaxed easy manner at home while at library one has to sit in a well-mannered and socially acceptable way. Myers Briggs Test Isabel Briggs Myers and Katharine Cook Briggs devised this method commonly called Myers Briggs Test based on the work of Carl Jung. This method has emerged as the widely used test for personality assessment. Like millions of Americans the interviewee has also taken Myers Briggs Test. The test presents a summary of personality. A person's type might be INTJ or ESFP, or some other combination. Like other he was also forced choice questionnaire. The test uses two basic orientations that is E and I for extraversion and introversion two choices for information uptake that is S for sensing and N for intuition, two choices for judgment that is T for thinking and F for feeling, and two choices for decision making that is J for judgment and P for perception. So according to this model people could be extrovert or introvert. The results shoed that the interviewee is an introvert as his model started with I. Te rest of his combination turned out to be INFP. The result therefore finally showed that the interviewee is an introvert and mostly makes his decisions on the basis of his intuition. The person is sensitive and feeling and impulsiveness dominates his personality. Accuracy of Myers Briggs Test Results According to Myers Briggs Test the results were INFP. The interviewee mostly agrees with the overall picture or assessment done as a result of test taken. He himself considers an introvert and Myers Briggs Test also confirm his own views. However for other indicators he has his own reservation. Despite agreeing to his introversion he does not totally agree with other results. For example, he was asked whether he would like to plan an evening beforehand or not. This question could be asked to determine Judgment or Perception traits of a person based on their inclination for planning or impulsiveness. The interviewee though plans well in advance but sometimes remains unable to enjoy or execute his plans due to his spontaneous or impulsive responses based on the subsequent circumstances. Mostly he would like to plan but at times end up making impulsive decisions. So, it is quite possible that he would lie somewhere in the middle. The interviewee has his main objection in giving two choices to most questions as sometimes like in the example just mentioned people lie somewhere in a continuum. Influences on personality According to interviewee there are many things that affect the development of personality and in his case it was his relationship with his parents and schooling that mainly affected that way he is today. Some parents are friendly while some parents have a traditional relationship in which parents maintain a distance. Like all traditional parents his parents also maintained a reasonable distance. They were neither too friendly nor too distant with not just but other siblings as well. The emphasis at home was on doing the right thing and moral values of truthfulness, honesty & respect for elders etc. was given a lot of importance. Similarly, studies were given a lot of importance. Failure to get good grades or doing poorly in any school test could mean a stern attitude of parents. Due to these factors interviewee developed a strong sense of right & wrong but in his own way. He does not agree with the moral standards of parents most of the time yet seeing things from a moral practice became a norm with him. Also he was not dependent on parents all the time as they maintained a reasonable distance: this helped him develop his own thinking and points of views. If he had been too dependent on parents for everything he would not have developed as independent and thinking individual. The school he attended was a middle standard school neither too expensive nor a typical public school. The teachers also allowed him the freedom of speaking his own mind. The schooling allowed him to look at things from a broader perspective. For example, if he had been at an ultra expensive private school than he would have become a snob. Experiences There different experiences that molded the way he is today. The experiences at high school according to interviewee affected him the most. The way life takes a turn at high school influenced him a great deal. All of a sudden everything becomes larger than life and there is more independence than in any other phase of your life. The experience of new relationships and adrenalin rush of youth change the complete outlook to him. The prospects of future life ahead also give individuals a thrill and instill a passion to do something. Many at this point go berserk but a good family support system made him strong and he kept his feet firmly on the ground. However, there are many experiences at this stage like trying out drugs for the heck of it or reckless driving made him aware of thrills as well as dangers in life. The association with opposite gender is also something that affects a person's life. Like all others he also developed strong & loving relationship at high school. Even though the relationship could not be sustained for a long time but the strong bond created at the point in time made him realize the importance of a stable relationship. Other than high school real life experience in the workplace also influenced and changed his views in many ways. Self-Monitoring When asked he is self-monitoring in regards to his attitudes the answer came in affirmative that he is self monitoring. He supported his argument with his strong right & wrong concepts instilled in him since his childhood. He considers himself as his worst critic. Since he is thinking individual he always analyzes his actions according to his own standards. If he finds any anomalies to his attitude he tries to philosophically justify them but if he is unable to do so than he takes corrective actions. He also listens to what other have to say about him or his attitudes but it is eventually his inner voice that he pays complete heed to. Role of a Person's Race, Gender, or Ethnicity In an ideal world an individual should not be judged on the basis of race gender or ethnicity but in real world these biases exist. These factors also play important role in the formulation of one's personality. The interviewee also agrees that in his case also these factors played some role in influencing his personality and attitude but not predominantly. In a society that discriminates whites and blacks or Hispanics and Asians these factors do influence the attitude but as the person matures he realizes that these factors should not be of any influence at all. Similarly males and females also have certain peculiar attitudes and personality traits that come naturally and so in his case also some natural gender based attitude and personality traits are present. Intrinsically or Extrinsically Motivated In response to this particular question interviewee does not give an absolute answer rather he thinks that he lies somewhere in the middle. He thinks that both external and internal factors influence him. There are certain situations in which he is more extrinsically motivated. However there are moments and phases in which his intrinsic feelings become more dominated and become a source of motivation. So the situation varies from time to time sometime he performs tasks better when he is extrinsically motivated while the opposite holds true in certain cases. Comparison The purpose of interviewing a person of 38 year old was also to make comparison to the answers given by me. There are differences also: for example I am able to remember information better if I observe rather than both the cases working for me. I also prefer to study at home rather in the library as home provides more relaxed environment to me than library. My Myers Briggs Test tells me that I am INTP to which I mostly agree. However I think that I am not a complete introvert and am also outgoing. My friends and mates have influenced my personality and attitude and expedition with them have been the best experiences of my life. Like interviewee parents, school and work life also become influencing factors but in my case it friends and mates who influenced me and my personality and attitudes a great deal. I totally agree with interviewee that experiences of high school stay with you all your life. At this mature age I am also more self monitoring and take responsibility for my own actions. The other replies also match with the interviewee's answers. No two people can be exactly same as there are always individual differences so is the case here. Reference: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Retrieved February 21, 2007, from Wikipedia Encyclopedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator Read More