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.

download the image

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.

Anxiety

Anxiety is something that many people struggle with. It's difficult to escape entirely, as most people
typically feel anxiety when put into stressful situations. A little anxiety has been shown to provide a useful
boost in motivating people to perform well or to change their behavior if necessary. But at its most
extreme, anxiety can get in the way of daily living and make an individual fearful of engaging in various
situations. Anxiety can be generalized (involving a more distributed sense of foreboding or malaise) or
specific to certain conditions, such as social engagement or test-taking. For individuals who find that anxiety
creates problems in living, various therapies and interventions are available to encourage more positive
thinking and make it easier to understand, process, and manage anxious feelings.

Your score of 32 on Anxiety places you higher than 4% of previous participants in this survey.

click for more info about reading this image

Your score on the Anxiety scale indicates that you rarely feel anxious. It is likely that others view you as
unflappable, even in situations that might render most people nervous or worried. Even when put on the
spot, you probably handle yourself quite well. You may therefore be much more comfortable than the
average person when it comes to shouldering responsibility and pressure or navigating tricky situations.

"My philosophy is that worrying means you suffer twice."

— Newt Scamander, 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'

Perfectionism

The Perfectionism factor is one of the most intuitive to understand — it can be explained simply as an
individual's desire for perfection. An individual high in Perfectionism will likely set high expectations and
then expect those to be met, by themselves and others. Perfectionists notice many errors and flaws, and are
therefore often hard to satisfy. Their work may be of an especially high standard, but those around them
feel pressured as they strive to meet expectations. At its most extreme, Perfectionism has the potential to
feel pressured as they strive to meet expectations. At its most extreme, Perfectionism has the potential to
cause difficulties in relationships. Individuals low in Perfectionism feel less need to aspire to lofty standards,
and are more content with getting to the point of "good enough" and leaving it at that. They may have
more ease in letting go of one project and moving on to the next than those high in Perfectionism.

Your score of 39 on Perfectionism places you higher than 14% of previous participants in this survey.

click for more info about reading this image

Your score on the Perfectionism scale indicates that you are low in Perfectionism. You are much more
comfortable with imperfection (you may not even perceive it as imperfection!), and flexible when things fall
through. You may have a more pragmatic understanding of the world and realize that some things are out
of your hands, no matter how much a person strains for things to turn out a certain way. Most likely, you
have a good idea of when to let something go, when to forgive others, and when to move on. Others are
probably much less inhibited in sharing their weaknesses with you. You are likely fairly easy to please,
though others around you who are higher in Perfectionism may at times be frustrated with what they
perceive as your lack of attention to detail.

"Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order."

— Anne Wilson Schaef

Creativity

The Creativity scale measures one's tendency to come up with new and different ideas, as well as one's
interest in breaking from the mold and following less trodden paths, whether through work or hobbies.
Creativity is not the same thing as intelligence, but rather a particular mode of thinking and expression.
Individuals high in Creativity may be better at more creative jobs that allow room for creative expression
than those which are heavily structured. They may also be better at divergent thinking, which entails
coming up with multiple solutions to a single problem. This is distinguished from convergent thinking, which
involves finding the single correct answer to a problem. Individual's lower in Creativity are by no means
necessarily less smart, but may simply have more respect for previously established modes of thinking and
an appreciation for simplicity and tradition.

Your score of 61 on Creativity places you higher than 86% of previous participants in this survey.
 click for more info about reading this image

Your score on the Creativity scale indicates that you are very high in Creativity. It is likely that you are often
bursting with interesting ideas, and that you tend to bring fresh insight to discussions. You may find new
and exciting ideas frequently springing to mind even when simply going about your day. People may admire
this ability to think out of the box and turn to you when new ideas are needed. Depending on your level of
Sociability, it is possible that when you are with the right conversation partner(s), the interaction is rich and
exciting as innovative ideas flow freely. At the same time, your penchant for novel thinking may make it
more frustrating for you to perform mundane tasks or to do work that doesn't allow for creative expression.

"Creative thinking inspires ideas. Ideas inspire change."

— Barbara Januszkiewicz

Well-Being

Well-Being is something that many people around the world covet and even see as life's ultimate goal —
countless self-help materials have been developed with the intention of aiding people in this respect.
Individuals who are high in Well-Being tend to feel good about themselves and their lives. They typically feel
comfortable with who they are, and rarely experience feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness. This
positive attitude towards oneself may confer a variety of benefits, including better relationships, better
health, and less stress. Research shows that having perspective and gratitude can result in greater Well-
Being. Those scoring low in Well-Being may have more difficulty enjoying what life has to offer.

Your score of 60 on Well-Being places you higher than 84% of previous participants in this survey.
 click for more info about reading this image

Your score on the Well-Being scale indicates that you are very high in Well-Being. It is likely that you see
yourself in a very positive light and these feelings are not limited to your self-image. You generally enjoy life,
despite the ups and downs. Those around you probably appreciate your pleasing disposition though some
who struggle with their own Well-Being may find it exasperating. In either case, others may wish to learn
the secret of your happiness despite all of life's daily stressors.

"Happiness is letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like and celebrating it for everything
that it is."
— Mandy Hale

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 45 on Agreeableness places you higher than 31% of previous participants in this survey.
 click for more info about reading this image

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 50 on Conscientiousness places you higher than 50% of previous participants in this
survey.

click for more info about reading this image

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 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 57 on Extraversion places you higher than 76% of previous participants in this survey.

click for more info about reading this image

Your score on the Extraversion scale indicates that you are somewhat extraverted. You probably prefer to be
around people a lot of the time and are sociable, outgoing, energetic, and lively. Most likely, you do not
often keep others at a distance and you probably spend a good amount of time chatting, even with people
you've never met. You probably enjoy large parties and meeting new people, but it may depend on the
circumstances and your energy level. It may also seem that you have more energy than most others. You
probably like to take charge more than the average person, and are more willing than most to make
speeches or toasts in front of a large crowd (though you don't necessarily enjoy it).
 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 43 on Neuroticism places you higher than 24% of previous participants in this survey.

click for more info about reading this image

Your score on the Neuroticism scale indicates that you are more even tempered than most people. This
suggests that you generally experience fewer emotional swings throughout the day and that you react less
strongly to stressful events. While you regularly feel negative emotions (fear/worry, sadness, irritability,
anger), you likely experience them less often and less intensely than most people. You may still get very
upset on rare occasions, but others probably appreciate your relatively calm demeanor.

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 59 on Openness places you higher than 82% of previous participants in this survey.

click for more info about reading this image

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.

click for more info about reading this image

Based on the 16 responses you gave for the item types with norms (see above), your Cognition score
was 54. This means that your score was higher than 66% 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.