Running head: INTERVIEW PROFILE 1

Interview Profile

Miranda Brooks-Jones

BEH225

March 6, 2011

Jeff Kuykendall
 INTERVIEW PROFILE 2

Interview Profile
In this interview report the subject agreed to participate on his own free will. In this

report several aspects of the interviewee’s personality will be covered including learning

adaptations, preferred learning surroundings, results of the Meyers Brigg’s testing, the

interviewee’s reaction to these results, and the interviewee’s ideas about what he believes about

himself, and others in his surroundings. Also covered in this report will be what methods of

motivation drive the interviewee in most of his endeavors.

The subject is a 33 year old male. He is the eldest of three children, one of which-his only

sister- passed away in early childhood. His parents are supportive yet his mother and he share a

stronger bond then he and his father. It has been suggested that his father was physically abusive

in his childhood, although the subject only briefly discusses this aspect of his childhood. The

subject will let out an unpleasant experience, very quickly he then shuts down and changes the

subject, often times using humor as a deflective reaction. It is believed that he makes jokes about

this abuse as a form of self numbing. By laughing about the abuse he suffered he avoids the

unpleasant feelings that are prevalent in this kind of abuse, such as guilt, shame, and emotionally

distressing feelings of fear, anger, and lack of self esteem.

The subject is very intelligent; however he has a learning disability which required IEP

throughout his schooling. The subject has some college education; however he did not receive a

degree, as he did not finish his college education. When asked about this aspect he expresses

regret that he did not finish.

When questioned about his learning habits he says that he learns much more effectively

through the method of hands on learning. The subject will use trial and error for the purpose of

such hands on learning; often times the subject will attempt a project numerous times without
 INTERVIEW PROFILE 3

reaching his desired level of understanding. This however is not a deterrent to the subject; rather

it is a strong driving force to keep trying until he reaches his desired level of comprehension.

The subject is afflicted with Attention Deficit Hyper -Activity Disorder (ADHD), this

condition was diagnosed in early childhood. The subject was on the ADHD medication, Ritalin

for many years, but no longer accepts to be properly medicated. The subject uses forms of self

meditation to assist him in controlling the symptoms of ADHD.

When questioned about his preferred study practices the subject explained that he never

has been able to study in silence, rather he preferred to have numerous things playing at once, for

instance; this subject would study with the television playing, and his radios playing several

compact discs at once, the subject also states that he was capable of following all of these sounds

simultaneously, while maintaining understanding for each separate source of distraction. Further

the subject states that he learned much easier in this kind of atmosphere. It is strongly believed

that this was a coping mechanism that he used to simultaneously engage the several active

thoughts that simultaneously required attention due to his ADHD. This is also apparent in the

subject’s ability to simultaneously watch TV, play a video game, listen to music, and hold a

conversation with someone on the phone. Thus it is would appear that the subject has effectively

self managed his ADHD symptoms by the use of several sources of distraction at any given time.

When further questioned about this the subject stated that when he was in school he was

constantly challenging himself to do only one thing at a time as his teachers would require him to

do, but was unable to focus individually on a given task without his mind jumping from thought

to thought.
 INTERVIEW PROFILE 4

During this interview the subject was given the Meyers Briggs test. It was reiterated to

the subject the importance of open honest answers. The results of the Meyers Briggs test were

quiet impressive.

He is classified as an ENFJ (extraverted intuitive feeling judging) personality type. In

further exploration of this personality type it is interesting to note some of the findings.

Extraverted feeling is the driving force in ENFJ’s. As with most extraverts the subject has a wide

range of contacts. Face-to- face relationships are intense, personable, and warm, however

intimate relationships have rarely been achieved by the subject.

The subject has introverted intuition, which has enabled the subject to win friends, offer

his influence to many people, and it has also assisted in his ability to avoid compromising

entanglements. This sort of intuition also lends to the ability to move from one project to the

next with the knowledge that the first will no doubt turn out perfect when he returns to finish it.

The subject is usually on the lookout for newer and better ways to benefit his extensive family,

friends, and coworkers.

The subject manages details easily when trying to implement his ideas into fruition. The

subject also has a wavering in sensory perception that seems to be heavily influenced by the

extraverted sensing factor of this subject’s personality type. The subject can also be immature

due to this extraverted sensing factor.

Introverted thinking is least apparent in this subject and in fact usually only shows when

summoned by his feeling factors. The subject follows his feelings rather than his thoughts. Often

he will disregard thoughts unless it is accompanied by appropriate feelings in the matter.

The subject agreed with the results of the Meyers Briggs test, and further added, “That is

me to a tee”. When the subject was questioned as to whether he was surprised by the results he

commented that he was not surprised in the slightest manner of speaking.

When questioned about what he thought were the driving influences that contributed to

the development of his personality the subject became somewhat evasive and started dodging the

question by the use of humor, and opened ended answers that offered very little insight. It is

believed that the subject suffered from a number of unpleasant experiences that most certainly

shaped his personality in some form or another.

The subject is very giving and will do whatever it takes to please others, at times to his

own determent. The subject values his friends more than most people. He loves very freely, more

times than not he places the wants and desires of others before his own, and strives to assist in

their achievement.

The subject feels that he is not self monitoring in regards to his attitude. The subject

never tries to act the way he does it just comes natural to him. The subject more often than not

acts without thought to the consequences of his own actions, and thus freely offers his love and

affection to people without fear. Furthermore he believes that he could not force himself to be

anything other than what he truly feels. The subject shows a great comfortableness with his

attitude, and a willingness to share his feelings about his attitude. The subject describes his

attitude as being in love with life and with most of the people in his life.

When asked what he thought had the strongest influence on his attitude the subject

simply stated that he could not be anyone other than who he is, and the fact that his friends

except him for who he is has assisted in the development of his attitude in general. The subject
 INTERVIEW PROFILE 6

appears to be very secure with his attitude. Friendship is very important to the subject, and he

strives to perfect each and every one he has.

When the interview shifted to his thoughts about what influence race, gender, and

ethnicity have on the development of attitudes the subject was quiet for several moments. He

then stated that he believes that race, gender and ethnicity have little or no effect on the

development of a person’s attitude; however he also stated that he believed that some minorities

‘outlook on their past oppressors could greatly be effected by the wrong doing that was

committed against their ancestors and thus assisted in the development of a sense of outrage and

thus contributed in the development of a portion of their personality when in connection to the

majorities.

Further questions led to a conversation regarding intrinsic motivation as opposed to

extrinsic motivation. After detailed explanation was given as to the meaning of these types of

motivations, a test was given to the subject to determine what motivation style he responded to

the best. The results showed that the subject more often than not performs tasks much better

when intrinsically motivated. He has proved that he works better when it is something he truly

enjoys doing as a form of work. The subject stayed at his last job even though his boss was going

bankrupt and could not continue to pay him for his services. This was the case because he was

intrinsically motivated by the enjoyment he achieved when doing his job. The subject also gets

great satisfaction from assisting his friends with all their endeavors. For instance the subject has

helped to move friends several times without want of compensation; instead he offered his

assistance purely because he got great satisfaction from helping a friend in their time of need.

This also is an example of the subjects willingness to do things purely for the enjoyment of the

activity itself, and not because he is going to be rewarded or praised for his actions. This
 INTERVIEW PROFILE 7

willingness to assist those in their time of need has at time proved to be the leading factor in

some people’s ability to take advantage of this subject.

In conclusion this subject shows a lust for life and the desire to live each day as it were

his last. This subject is a valuable friend and mighty asset to any company as he will give his best

effort to do everything that he attempts as close to perfection as humanly possible. This drive for

perfection also shows its self in the form of obsessive behaviors at times. This subject would

most likely benefit from psychological therapies such as; talk therapy, and the learning of more

direct ways to face unpleasant parts of his childhood without the use of numbing activities.