Your Brain: The Missing Manual

A Personality Test

Before you take a closer look at the five factor model, it's time to see where your own personality falls on the scale.

Note

To download a printable copy of this test, visit the "Missing CD" page for this book at www.missingmanuals.com. If you prefer to take an online test that does the scoring for you automatically, you can find a similar tool online at www.outofservice.com/bigfive.

The following quiz lists 50 statements. Next to each one, write a number from 1 to 5, as follows:

1. Very Inaccurate

2. Moderately Inaccurate

3. Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate

4. Moderately Accurate

5. Very Accurate

The goal is to describe yourself as you are now, in relation to other people you know of roughly the same age—not how you wish to be in the future.

1. I don't mind being the center of attention.

2. I feel little concern for others.

3. I'm always prepared.

4. I get stressed out easily.

5. I have a rich vocabulary.

6. I don't talk a lot.

7. I make people feel at ease.

8. I leave my belongings lying around.

9. I'm relaxed most of the time.

10. I have difficulty understanding abstract ideas.

11. I feel comfortable around people.

12. I insult people.

13. I pay attention to details.

14. I worry about things.

15. I have a vivid imagination.

16. I keep in the background.

17. I sympathize with others' feelings.

18. I tend to make a mess of things.

19. I seldom feel blue.

20. I'm not interested in unrealistic ideas.

21. I start conversations.

22. I'm not interested in other people's problems.

23. I follow a schedule.

24. I'm easily disturbed.

25. I have excellent ideas.

26. I keep quiet around strangers.

27. I have a soft ...