The SAPA Project

a personality assessment collaboratory

Your Personality Report

(scroll down to see the full report.)
Here's the full report on your personality profile,
including your scores on the 27 narrow traits of
the SPI-27, your scores on the Big Five traits (the
SPI-5), and your cognition score. Click here for
advice about saving your report.

SPI 27 Factor Trait Scores

This figure provides a visual summary of your

scores on the factors of the SPI-27. The black
line down the middle indicates the average
score for each trait. The colored bars show how
much you scored above the average (the
colored bar extends out to the right from the
mid-line) or below the average (left of the mid-
line). If your score matches the average, you
won't see any color.

SensationSeeking: 54

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The next section gives more detailed

descriptions of each trait and some thoughts
about the meaning of your scores. By default,
we only show the feedback for your 4 most
extreme scores. To see your scores on all of
the factors, click the link at the bottom of
this box.

Trust
Trust measures an individual's comfort at taking
others at their word, and their willingness to
believe things as they are presented. It also
relates to ones' beliefs about the motivations of
others and the extent to which others will treat
them with fairness and objectivity. Individuals
high in Trust are generally more likely to have
an optimistic view of human nature and less
likely to doubt the intentions of others. By
contrast, those who are low in Trust tend to be
hesitant about exposing their vulnerabilities to
others. They're also often reluctant to take
others at their word — they reach their own
conclusions only after careful consideration of
the facts.

Your score of 32 on Trust places you higher

than 4% of previous participants in this
survey.

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Your score on the Trust scale indicates that you

are wary about trusting others to be truthful or
moral. You are aware that many people are
wolves in sheep's clothing, and you may even
get frustrated when others are unable to spot
the insincerity that you find obvious. Moreover,
it is likely that you exercise caution when
hearing new information, and wish to
independently confirm things as a way of
avoiding bias. Others probably recognize that
they will have to prove themselves before
earning your trust. Some people are put off by
this, but those who earn your trust will be
rewarded with your loyalty.

"I've had so many knives stuck in me, when they

hand me a flower, I can't quite tell what it is. It
takes time."
— Charles Bukowski
 Art Appreciation
Art Appreciation involves an individual's interest
in works of art and artistic activities. This
includes one's attitudes towards poetry, the
visual arts, performing arts, literature and more.
A person high in Art Appreciation will seek
exposure to these topics, though they may not
be particularly artistic. Individuals low in Art
Appreciation may not feel that art is
particularly enticing or relevant to their lives,
and likely concern themselves with work or
hobbies of a different nature.

Your score of 62 on Art Appreciation places

you higher than 88% of previous participants
in this survey.

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Your score on the Art Appreciation scale

indicates that you are very high in Art
Appreciation. It is likely that the arts play a key
part in your life. Whether you are an artist
yourself or simply a staunch supporter, you
probably agree with the claim that art is a
defining characteristic of civilized culture. You
probably enjoy learning about art (though this
may only include museum-going, reading
literature, or attending plays/concerts) and you
may even have difficulty envisioning life
without it.

"Art is the only serious thing in the world."

— Oscar Wilde

Impulsivity
The trait of Impulsivity reflects the tendency to
act on a whim, displaying behavior
characterized by little or no forethought,
reflection, or consideration of the
consequences. Attitudes about Impulsivity in
popular culture are often varied and this leads
to a stew of mixed messages. While the
prevailing sentiment in Western pop culture
encourages spontaneity ("carpe diem!"), the
consequences of rash behavior are often really
unpleasant. More impulsive individuals are
more likely to jump into things without
consideration of the consequences and make
decisions very quickly. For some, this tendency
is part of a broader worldview that life is better
lived in the moment, through bold actions and
no regrets.
In light of evidence that "gut" intuitions are
often as good or better than strategic
approaches to decision-making in situations
with many uncontrollable factors, it can be
hard to argue against the Impulsive approach
to life. But only to a point. Less impulsive
individuals tend to be more successful at tasks
that require planning, preparation and
persistence — and these tasks include many of
those needed for a healthy and productive life.
Low impulsivity is also beneficial for social
relationships, as it is associated with greater
reliability, consistency, and consideration of the
consequences of one's behavior on friends and
family.

Your score of 39 on Impulsivity places you

higher than 14% of previous participants in
this survey.

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Your score on the Impulsivity scale indicates

that you are less Impulsive than most people.
It is likely that you rarely make rash decisions
or act without thinking. You probably think
strategically and prefer comprehensive planning.
In social interactions, you are probably among
the most prepared and the voice of reason.
More impulsive friends may sometimes accuse
you of being a bit of a killjoy, but that's
because you are typically thinking about what
is really in everyone's best interests long-term.
You know better than anyone that it's
important not to sacrifice future safety and
happiness for a short moment of fun.

"Every impulse of feeling should be guided by

reason."
— Jane Austen, 'Pride and Prejudice'

Compassion
Individuals who are high in Compassion are
likely to be perceived as warm and caring
individuals who enable others to feel at ease in
their presence. Although the draw to people
high in Compassion is different from the draw
to people who are charismatic or powerful,
compassionate people are welcome friends who
help those around them to feel cared for and
understood. Compassion is particularly
important in the development and maintenance
of positive social relationships and there is a
growing body of evidence that these are crucial
for well-being across the lifespan. For this
reason, Compassion is viewed by many as an
important component of a happy life.

Your score of 59 on Compassion places you

higher than 82% of previous participants in
this survey.

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Your score on the Compassion scale indicates

that you are more compassionate than average.
You may not always be aware of others'
feelings, but you likely feel sympathy and
concern for those worse off. You care about
others and wish the best for them, but are at
the same time skilled at balancing your own
needs with the needs of others. Although you
might often lend a helping hand, you also have
a good idea about when to stand up for
yourself. While other people likely see you as
generally considerate, they may know not to
make unreasonable demands of you.

"We rise by lifting others."

— Robert Ingersoll

Click here to SHOW/HIDE the

rest of your SPI-27 scores.

Big Five (SPI-5) Scores

All 5 of your Big Five (SPI-5) scores are

shown below.

Agreeableness
Features of Agreeableness include compassion,
trust, honesty, and politeness but the defining
characteristic may well be empathy. It seems
that the ability to recognize others' emotions
contributes to all of these underlying traits as
well as many other nuances of personality that
are often associated with agreeable people.
Agreeableness also reflects individual
differences in cooperation and social harmony.
While agreeable people are typically more
popular than those low on Agreeableness, it is
not popularity that motivates them so much as
the desire to avoid (or reduce) conflict in their
immediate environment. While this quality has
several obvious benefits, Agreeableness is not
necessarily useful in situations that are highly
stressful or that frequently involve tough
decisions. As a result, people who feel less
need to be agreeable often make excellent
scientists, critics, or soldiers.

Your score of 44 on Agreeableness places you

higher than 27% of previous participants in
this survey.

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Your score on the Agreeableness scale indicates

that you are somewhat more disagreeable than
most others. You may have less concern with
others' needs than with your own. This likely
reflects an occasional lack of interest in other
people's lives and/or a belief that others should
be more resourceful in dealing with their own
problems. It may also be that your compassion
is limited to some individuals (perhaps friends
and family) without extending to acquaintances
or strangers. You may tend to be somewhat
intolerant of others' shortcomings. The most
disagreeable individuals place self-interest
above getting along with others. They are
generally unconcerned with others' well-being,
and therefore are unlikely to extend themselves
for other people. Sometimes their skepticism
about others' motives causes them to be
suspicious, unfriendly, and uncooperative.

Conscientiousness
By definition, a conscientious individual is
guided by an inner sense of what is "right"
(this inner sense being known as one's
"conscience"). While they may hold dramatically
different opinions about the nature of socially
acceptable behavior, conscientious individuals
typically have reputations for being meticulous,
thorough, and deliberate. Extreme
conscientiousness can lead to unrealistic
expectations and perfectionistic behaviors that
are ultimately unproductive. Conscientiousness
is most highly associated with Industry and
Order, though it is also positively correlated
with low impulsivity, authoritarian views, honest
behavior and strong self-control. Most of these
traits relate to self-discipline in one way or
another, a feature which likely contributes to
the similarity between Conscientiousness and
traditional conceptions of "character." While
some of the traits within Conscientiousness
seem similar enough to be redundant, they
generally have unique relationships with other
aspects of behavior. For example, Impulsivity
relates to the general tendency to act without
thinking while Self-Control is the ability to
resist temptations and cravings.

Your score of 51 on Conscientiousness places

you higher than 54% of previous participants
in this survey.

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Your score on the Conscientiousness scale

suggests that you are somewhat conscientious.
You probably set clear goals on a regular basis
and pursue them with determination. People
likely regard you as reliable and hard-working,
but probably not overzealous or perfectionistic.
You may occasionally prefer to live for the
moment and do what feels good now, instead
of delaying gratification for the sake of longer-
term objectives. You are probably good at
detecting mistakes or inconsistencies in your
environment. The most conscientious
individuals tend to avoid trouble and achieve
high levels of success through purposeful
planning and persistence. On the negative side,
they can be compulsive perfectionists and
workaholics. Extremely conscientious individuals
 y
are also sometimes regarded as boring, due to
their predictability and focus on work.

Extraversion

Extraversion is perhaps the most widely

recognized feature of human personality. The
popularized notion of Extraversion is mainly
limited to the idea that extraverts seek out
social interaction while introverts spend more
time alone. Personality theorists suggest that
the extraversion/introversion dimension is more
accurately framed as a function of stimulation.
Individuals who are more sensitive to outside
stimuli (introverts) tend to prefer interacting in
small groups. They also engage more often in
independent, analytical, and cognitively-
demanding activities. Extraverts are less
sensitive to external stimuli and, as a result,
seek more of it. They tend to enjoy large
gatherings, act more gregariously, and are quick
to assert themselves.

Your score of 46 on Extraversion places you

higher than 34% of previous participants in
this survey.

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Your score on the Extraversion scale indicates

that you are somewhat introverted. You are
probably more reserved and quiet than most
others. You may enjoy solitude and solitary
activities a bit more than others, and your
socializing may be restricted to a small circle of
close friends. While you may occasionally enjoy
large parties and meeting new people, it
probably depends on the circumstances and
your energy level. You are more likely to allow
others to take charge so that you can avoid the
spotlight, which has the advantage of being
seen as less threatening by others. You may not
be known as having a strong personality, but
most likely you can still be effective at
influencing others as long as you have time to
gather your thoughts. The occasional avoidance
of social interaction by introverts does not
necessarily mean they are shy or depressed;
these people simply need less stimulation than
 p p py
those who are more extraverted. This
independence and willingness to be alone can
sometimes be mistaken by others as
unfriendliness or aloofness. However, many
introverts (especially those who score highly on
Agreeableness) are quite pleasant when
approached even though they do not actively
seek out interaction.

Neuroticism

The trait of Neuroticism is marked by elevated

reactivity to stress and the more frequent
experience of emotions that most people view
as negative or unpleasant — anxiety, sadness,
frustration, fear, and anger. Neurotic individuals
view the world as relatively more threatening
and dangerous. Historically, use of the label
neuroticism (or neurotic, as an adjective)
stemmed from the idea that individuals behave
in ways that are more or less affected by
neuroses — nervous disorders. While the term
neurosis is now rarely used by health
professionals, the term Neuroticism is still used
for the personality trait relating to the
persistent tendency to be in a negative mood
state. Some people feel that this label is
unnecessarily negative, though the truth is that
nearly everyone behaves neurotically from time
to time and most neurotic behaviors are within
socially acceptable limits. Individuals with low
levels of neuroticism are less likely to become
upset by stress and spend relatively less time
feeling worried, scared, and angry — but just
about everyone experiences these emotions
sometimes. It's no surprise that highly neurotic
individuals are at risk for a range of mental
health concerns, but more recent research
suggests that these risks also extend to several
physical health concerns.

Your score of 54 on Neuroticism places you

higher than 66% of previous participants in
this survey.

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Your score on the Neuroticism scale indicates

that you are a little less even tempered than
 y p
the average person. This suggests that you
experience slightly more emotional swings
throughout the day than average and that you
react more strongly to stressful events. This
doesn't necessarily mean that you regularly
experience negative emotions (fear/worry,
sadness, irritability, anger), but you likely
experience them more intensely than most
people and you are quicker to react when
facing stressful events. But, take heart — others
likely view you as a passionate individual. If
you are bothered by the experience of strong
emotions, consider learning more about the
many healthy ways to manage them.

Openness

Openness is probably the most broadly

encompassing factor of personality. In fact,
many people are surprised to learn that the
two most widely studied aspects (Intellect and
Openness to New Experiences) are highly
positively correlated. This positive association
can be explained by the fact that both aspects
share the common trait of being willing to
engage with new ideas. Openness is also
associated with traits such as Creativity, Art
Appreciation, Introspection, (low) Conformity,
and Adaptability. Openness is often presented
as healthier or more mature by psychologists,
who are often themselves very open. However,
open and conventional styles of thinking are
useful in different environments. For example,
the intellectual style of an open person may be
useful for endeavors that reward novelty, but
the more conventional approach of an
individual who is low on openness often leads
to superior job performance in occupations that
emphasize procedure and compliance.

Your score of 56 on Openness places you

higher than 73% of previous participants in
this survey.

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Your score on the Openness scale indicates that

you are somewhat open to new experiences
and intellectual pursuits. You may be
comfortable handling quite a bit of information
and you also may enjoy thinking about
complicated problems or issues. You likely have
some appreciation for the arts. You may also
be more interested by unconventional ideas
than most other people. It is also possible that
others consider you to be, at times, both
creative and perhaps a little unusual. Generally
speaking, open people are intellectually curious,
appreciative of art, and sensitive to beauty.
Compared to more conventional people, they
tend to think and act in individualistic and
non-conforming ways. Another characteristic of
the open cognitive style is a tendency to think
in symbols and abstractions far removed from
concrete experience, such as mathematical,
logical, or geometric thinking; artistic and
metaphorical use of language; music
composition or performance; or one of the
many visual or performing arts.

Cognition

While there are several competing theories in

cognitive ability research, there is also growing
consensus that abilities are best organized
hierarchically. In other words, each of the many
different components of cognitive ability involve
different sets of skills and these components
are typically organized according to similarities
among the tasks/skills involved. On the most
narrow level, it is often difficult to distinguish
between the skills used to accomplish a given
task, but on the broadest level (at the top of
the hierarchy), general skill sets are more
plainly evident. For example, the skills required
for different types of verbal tasks are more
similar than those required for verbal and
spatial tasks.

The items given here include several different

types and we are actively working to develop
more. In order to keep the test short, each
participant is only administered a subset of the
question types. Current question types include
Letter and Number Series, Matrix Reasoning,
Three-Dimensional Rotations, Verbal Reasoning
(which includes general knowledge, logic and
arithmetic questions), Figural Analogies, Two-
Dimensional Rotations, Compound Remote
Associates, Additions and Subtractions,
Propositional Reasoning, and Emotion
Recognition.

At this time, we are only giving feedback based

on your responses to the Letter and Number
Series items, the Three-Dimensional Rotation
items, the Matrix Reasoning items, and the
Verbal Reasoning items. This is because we
don't yet have a big enough sample to
generate representative norms for the other
item types. Your responses have contributed to
the development of these norms for future test-
takers.

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Based on the 16 responses you gave for the

item types with norms (see above), your
Cognition score was 62. This means that your
score was higher than 88% of previous
participants in this survey. The average score
for Cognition is 50. While scores on these items
are positively correlated with commercial IQ
measures, we discourage participants from
considering their score to be a proxy for such
measures. This "test" differs from most
commercial tests in terms of brevity and the
fact that it is administered online without a
time limit in an un-proctored setting. It is
important to take these factors into account
when comparing your performance against the
average. We recognize that many participants
would like to know the correct responses for
these cognitive ability items, but we do not
currently make this information available in
order to maintain the validity of the questions.

© Developed by David M. Condon as part of the

Personality Project.