The media appearances and science communication keep on rolling… I was featured in Science Vs‘s podcast episode on Personality Assessment, as the guy with harsh things to say about the MBTI!
Check out this link for the transcript to find what I had to say!
Filed under My Updates, Personality Assessment
Off another appearance on the Korean English-radio show Morning Wave in Busan, I had the opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), much like a character in a movie, offers a simple and relatable way to categorize personalities into 16 types. Its widespread appeal lies in its ability to provide a framework for understanding ourselves and others. However, this popularity is shadowed by significant criticisms about its scientific validity, particularly its oversimplified binary approach to the complex spectrum of human personality.
Despite these concerns, the MBTI has found a place in various societal contexts, including job interviews in countries like Korea. While it can be a useful tool for self-awareness and understanding interpersonal dynamics, it’s crucial to use it cautiously, especially in professional settings. The MBTI, like a captivating movie, should be enjoyed for its insights while being mindful of its limitations in accurately representing the full scope of human behavior.
Here’s the video interview (it’s linked to the right timecode):
Filed under My Updates, Personality Assessment
Who’s fooling who?
Just off a 10-minute expert segment on Morning Wave in Busan, I dove into the world of con artists and their psychological tactics. These modern-day illusionists blend a mix of confidence, social skills, and an air of authority to build trust and credibility. They skillfully exploit cognitive biases to connect with their targets, often using the Barnum Effect to make us feel understood on a personal level.
Gaslighting and conning, while different in approach—one destabilizes, the other deceives—both play on our vulnerabilities. Our emotional needs and life transitions can make us prime targets for their schemes. Yet, with awareness and skepticism, we can fend off these deceptive advances.
Here’s the video interview:
Knowledge is our best defense. Stay sharp, stay skeptical, and keep questioning.
Filed under My Updates
Back in August 2023, I appeared on the Colin McEnroe show, an NPR show through their member station affiliate at Connecticut Public Radio. I had the pleasure of delving into the intricate world of personality assessments with host Colin McEnroe.
MBTI, a widely recognized and frequently used personality assessment tool, often comes under scrutiny in the academic sphere. Alongside my writing partner, Randy Stein, we tackled the ambitious task of measuring the validity of MBTI using three distinct metrics. The goal was to dissect the theory that forms the backbone of the assessment — an essential step to ensuring that the instrument’s measurements are transparent, assumption-based, and prediction-ready.
During the conversation, we also touched upon the reasons why MBTI remains popular despite academic criticism. It’s an interesting phenomenon that may tie into the self-validation and self-esteem boost that people experience when their personality is seemingly encapsulated in a neat, four-letter type.
As the conversation wrapped up, I reflected on the human tendency to find comfort in categorization — whether through MBTI types, Hogwarts houses, or even our favorite ‘Sex and the City’ character archetypes.
Here’s the link the episode: https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2023-08-03/are-you-an-enfp-an-istj-a-look-at-the-history-validity-and-potential-of-myers-briggs
Filed under My Updates, Personality Assessment
I am pleased to share the release of my new course, “Understanding Cognitive Biases,” now available on Wondrium. This course explores the fascinating world of cognitive biases and their impact on our daily decisions and interactions, illustrated with practical examples from our everyday lives and the cinematic world.
Whether you’re delving into psychology or just curious about the workings of the mind, this course offers a thoughtful exploration into a core aspect of cognitive psychology.
Explore the course here.
Filed under My Updates
