The Cult of Personality

If you are of a certain age, you might remember this song: a delightfully vibrant rock song from the band Living Colour released in 1988. If you don’t know this song, follow the link, because it’s just as relevant today as it was then. But honestly, this is also a catchy title to entice you to read this post! 

Have you ever taken a personality test? You know the ones. Where everyone spouts off a mouthful of letters which all mean something significant. I can’t keep the letters straight. But I do enjoy a good quiz. It reminds me of another relic of the late 80’s: all of those quizzes from the teen magazines. 

But let me get to the idea for this post. As we were driving back home from the beach last weekend, my daughter got a text from her college roommates asking her what her “16 Personalities” type is. As I was bored and gratefully a passenger, I looked up the test and took it. 

From what I can gather, it’s essentially a reworked version of the popular Myers Briggs test with which you might be familiar. According to one article, the test was developed as a free version of the longer MBTI. Recruiters often use some elements of these questions in the hiring process for a new job. (I clearly recall answering very strange questions for at least one of my jobs in the past.) And according to another article, the test is a bunch of hogwash with no research to back up its purpose or results. But still, it’s highly entertaining. 

While my daughter is a mediator, I am an advocate, which is apparently one of the rarest personality types. But reading the description, it certainly sounds like me. 

Advocates are supposedly quiet, idealistic, and inspiring. They tend to be creative and stand up for what is right. Advocates enjoy speaking out against the wrongs in this world. They see helping others as their purpose in life and feel compelled to seek their life’s mission. But they are also prone to burnout from taking on these roles. 

I think all of these things are true about me, from my choice in occupation as a physical therapist and the settings in which I choose to practice to using this blog as a creative outlet, not only to help others with adopting a vegan lifestyle, running, and overall wellness, but also speaking out for social justice. And I guess it’s fitting that I find myself in this role, as I often wished for an advocate for myself as a child. 

Thinking about my career as a physical therapist, one of the great sources of pride for me in my practice is not only helping my patients regain their independence, but also for serving as an advocate for them, helping them navigate this ever complex healthcare system. So when I saw this as my personality type, I chuckled a bit to myself. Of course it’s me: the advocate. 

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Have you ever taken a personality test? In the 90’s, it was all about the long Myers-Briggs test. This one was new to me, but the 16 personalities test was a lot of fun, proving that I know myself pretty well! If you try it, let me know!

As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.