What's the universal self-description?

January 17, 2012 10:23 AM

Sometime in the last century, a psychologist came up with a personality description designed so that the vast majority of people who read it would agree that it fit them. Who was he, and what was the description?

I know this has been asked here before (or maybe it was on MeTa), but my Google-fu is failing me.

posted by asterix to Human Relations (8 answers total)

Best answer: The Forer Effect.
posted by tel3path at 10:24 AM on January 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The Forer effect.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:24 AM on January 17, 2012

Best answer: You're probably referring to the Forer Effect
posted by griphus at 10:24 AM on January 17, 2012

Response by poster: Damn that was fast. Thanks y'all!
posted by asterix at 10:25 AM on January 17, 2012

You have a great need for other people to dislike and revile you. You have a tendency to praise yourself. You have used all of your resources to your advantage. You have some personality strengths and your weaknesses do not compensate for them. Disciplined and self-controlled on the inside, you pretend to be worrisome and insecure outside. Rarely do you doubt whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing. You prefer a great deal of change and variety and are only satisfied when hemmed in your own restrictions and limitations. You pride yourself as a dependent thinker yet never accept others' statements for any reason. You have found it wise to be as frank as possible. At all times you are extroverted, affable, sociable while at the same time you are introverted, wary, reserved. All of your aspirations are unrealistic, but only to other people. Security is the last thing you want in life.
posted by michaelh at 10:34 AM on January 17, 2012 [9 favorites]

Interesting! Has there been research done on if this varies across cultures? Some of those statements strike me as being viewed more positively in Western cultures that value individual over group. I suppose the general theory probably still applies, but the specific statements seem like they would have to change in different cultural contexts.
posted by postel's law at 11:05 AM on January 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

Mod note: I am not sure why you think it is time for jokes. It is not time for jokes. Thank you.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:12 AM on January 17, 2012 [3 favorites]

Here's the actual description:

You have a great need for other people to like and admire you. You have a tendency to be critical of yourself. You have a great deal of unused capacity which you have not turned to your advantage. While you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them. Disciplined and self-controlled outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure inside. At times you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations. You pride yourself as an independent thinker and do not accept others' statements without satisfactory proof. You have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others. At times you are extroverted, affable, sociable, while at other times you are introverted, wary, reserved. Some of your aspirations tend to be pretty unrealistic. Security is one of your major goals in life.

posted by taz at 1:10 AM on January 18, 2012