Are there a set number of human personality types or are we all different in our own unique way?

From WIKI

Personality type refers to the psychological classification of different types of people. Personality types are distinguished from personality traits, which come in different levels or degrees. According to type theories, for example, there are two types of people, introverts and extraverts. According to trait theories, introversion and extraversion are part of a continuous dimension, with many people in the middle. The idea of psychological types originated in the theoretical work of Carl Jung.

Because personality test scores usually fall on a bell curve rather than in distinct categories,[1] personality type theories have received considerable criticism among psychometric researchers. The developmental psychologist, Jerome Kagan, however, is a prominent, contemporary defender of type theory.

That doesn't answer my question.

Even though there are certain types we are all different and unique.

Yes and yes.
This relates to Spurious' thread about colours of a rainbow - there's a continuous spectrum that's made discontinuous because of the way humans see things.
Box A, box B, box C, not "sort box A with a bit of B and a smidgeon of C"

So despite the human population rising continuously there are still enough personalities 'to go around'?

One personality type per person? :shrug:
Or there's only so many personalities "allowed"?
How far do you have to go in any direction (pyschologically speaking) before you're a different "type"?
How many variables are there?

So despite the human population rising continuously there are still enough personalities 'to go around'?

Yes, for everyone sees things in their own way and reacts to things in their own ways also.

You tell me Mr Personality.

Yes, for everyone sees things in their own way and reacts to things in their own ways also.

Can there not be a limited set of responses?

So despite the human population rising continuously there are still enough personalities 'to go around'?


Do you think we might run out then?

LOL!

Perhaps we should put an advanced order in just in case?

http://www.personalitypage.com/high-level.html
Supposedly 16 personality types - on that system of "measurement" which is merely a categorisation/ description.
I score as INTP AND INTJ, depending on what I had for breakfast (or something equally facile).
So am I both? Neither? Half-and-half? Uncategorisable?

DT I notice that certain 'groups' tend to behave in a similar way. Hasn't that also been one of your more recent 'observations'?

So am I both? Neither? Half-and-half? Uncategorisable?

Unique I'd say.

DT I notice that certain 'groups' tend to behave in a similar way. Hasn't that also been one of your more recent 'observations'?
Because "like minds" flock together or because "group think"/ consensus/ conformity takes over?

Unique I'd say.
Duh!
Of course. :D

DT I notice that certain 'groups' tend to behave in a similar way. Hasn't that also been one of your more recent 'observations'?


Sniffy,

Of course.

I try to avoid groups though and retain my intellectual autonomy.

If humans interact groups will inevitably form... like puddles collecting in the rain.

Humans have to interact it is an evolutionary imperative.

Humans have to interact it is an evolutionary imperative.


What about hermits?

You talking about yourself again? Hermits will find their genes stay in the wardrobe.

What about hermits?

Dead ends, evolutionarily speaking...

You talking about yourself again? Hermits will find their genes stay in the wardrobe.


Do genes determine whether we are hermits or not?

If not then their exclusion from the gene pool cannot really affect 'hermitness'.

Perhaps their dead end genes have determined their propensity to hermitness. Humans are genetically predisposed to not being hermits therefore hermit genes not passed on.

Yes and yes.
This relates to Spurious' thread about colours of a rainbow - there's a continuous spectrum that's made discontinuous because of the way humans see things.
Box A, box B, box C, not "sort box A with a bit of B and a smidgeon of C"

Yes. And it's more accurate to think of there being a number of different personality factors/spectrums. The best known probably being introversion-extroversion (the other common ones are openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness & neuroticism) but there are probably 100's of ones that could be devised. People who try to come up with systems of personality types, these days at least, tend to test a number of different personality factors and look for common groupings--it's a pretty crude system though.

So you are saying there are an Infinite number of personalities? I suspect there are not.

So you are saying there are an Infinite number of personalities? I suspect there are not.

Suspect? On what evidence?
There can't be an infinite number since the spectrum isn't of infinite length, but there will be an infinite number of points on that spectrum, mostly indistinguishable from those nearest on either side... When does one "personality" become another?
(I'm asking 'cos I'm thinking of getting one and I'd like to know what's available).

Personalities for sale....! Queue here.

Perhaps their dead end genes have determined their propensity to hermitness. Humans are genetically predisposed to not being hermits therefore hermit genes not passed on.


Dead end genes?

What about homosexuals and people who choose not to have children - the sterile and impotent?

Is there a connection between them and hermitness?

If humans are genetically predisposed to not being hermits then the causes of their hermitness must lie elsewhere...

The leaf that falls from the tree or the rock that rolls away from the mountain... are these examples of nature's natural 'hermitivity'?

Dead end genes?

[QUOTE]What about homosexuals and people who choose not to have children - the sterile and impotent?

Homosexuals can and do have children.

Is there a connection between them and hermitness?
There may be.

If humans are genetically predisposed to not being hermits then the causes of their hermitness must lie elsewhere...

Why must it? Faulty genes.

The leaf that falls from the tree or the rock that rolls away from the mountain... are these examples of nature's natural 'hermitivity'?

Irrelevant to the discussion.

Homosexuals can and do have children.

Really... please post evidence of a gay couple producing children... by themselves.

Why must it? Faulty genes.

So you think the way we behave socially is determined by our genes?

[QUOTE=DeepThought;1618488]Really... please post evidence of a gay couple producing children... by themselves.

Why? Homosexuals do produce children. That's something you will have to live with.



So you think the way we behave socially is determined by our genes?

To a large extent yes.

Really... please post evidence of a gay couple producing children... by themselves.
No-one has children by themselves, you, umm, sorta need someone else at some point.
As happened with the homosexuals that have kids...

So you think the way we behave socially is determined by our genes?
There's a genetic component in there certainly.

Why? Homosexuals do produce children. That's something you will have to live with.

Biology would disagree.

Never in human history have a homosexual couple produced children.

To a large extent yes.

I notice the slight reservation there.

If something as vague as social behavior can be determined by our genes so can many other attributes of the personality I expect.

Biology would disagree.
Never in human history have a homosexual couple produced children.
Nothing was said about COUPLES, homosexuals have had and still do have children in the "normal" way - they're still homosexual and they have children..

I notice the slight reservation there.
No reservation: it's unknown to what extent it occurs.

If something as vague as social behavior can be determined by our genes so can many other attributes of the personality I expect.
Of course.

Biology would disagree.

How?

Never in human history have a homosexual couple produced children.

And your point is?



I notice the slight reservation there.

If something as vague as social behavior can be determined by our genes so can many other attributes of the personality I expect.

Social behaviour is not vague. It is necessary to survival. Yes that's what I've been implying glad you caught up.

Nothing was said about COUPLES, homosexuals have had and still do have children in the "normal" way - they're still homosexual and they have children..


Oli,

Practically speaking very few homosexuals have children in the way you speak of I think.

The original comment was simply a response to Sniffys claim that dead-end genes cause 'hermitness'.

How?

Just for you Sniffy:

Anatomy of the Penis, Mechanics of Intercourse

http://www.cirp.org/pages/anat/

:)

DT In your view what might cause someone to become a hermit?

Just for you Sniffy:

Anatomy of the Penis, Mechanics of Intercourse

http://www.cirp.org/pages/anat/

:)

Thanks for that notsodeep I'm quite familiar with the mechanics of the penis. (I will make an aside point that not all homosexuals are male which you seem to have assumed here). Penile mechanics is irrelevent to the discussion, as is the fact that homosexuals do indeed have children. You seem to have a problem accepting that and I'm wondering why that might be?

You seem to have a problem accepting that and I'm wondering why that might be?


Sniffy,

The problem is all yours.

When you figure out why two women or two men are incapable of producing children you let me know otherwise it's all in the link I posted.

When you say homosexuals do have children you are making a political statement. This is not a forum for political science.

DT In your view what might cause someone to become a hermit?


Perhaps hermits are sensitive and gifted individuals who see the stupidity of the human herd and wish to avoid it at all costs?

If a homosexual has a child/children then his/her genes have been passed on to the next generation. What is political about that? A male regardless of his sexual orientation and fully functioning penis cannot have a child alone. He usually needs a woman to help him with that! By the same token a woman cannot have a child without the involvement of a man at some point, although she at least can use an artificial form of insemination.

Perhaps hermits are sensitive and gifted individuals who see the stupidity of the human herd and wish to avoid it at all costs?

And the rest of the world will be deprived of their sensitive and gifted genes forever unless, of course, they chose to have children before they cordoned themselves off.

So you are saying there are an Infinite number of personalities? I suspect there are not.

Based on your experience do you know 2 people who have exactly the same personality?

some identical twins?

some identical twins?

I still doubt they have the EXACT personality.

I know some twins (not identical) and they are SOOOOOOO different.

some identical twins?

The identical twins I've known had pretty distinct personalities, although they may share certain traits.

Based on your experience do you know 2 people who have exactly the same personality?

I certainly know people who have very similar personalities who might well fit within a range of a particular personality type. I was the one who asked the question remember? I was wondering if there is any scientific data on the subject apart from 'intorvert/extrovert'.

I certainly know people who have very similar personalities who might well fit within a range of a particular personality type. I was the one who asked the question remember? I was wondering if there is any scientific data on the subject apart from 'intorvert/extrovert'.

Yes there's a lot--I get over 1300 hits on PubMed for Personality Testing/Assessment. There's a whole society for personality assessment (http://www.personality.org/). And you can even get a number of tests online: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Applications__CVs_and_interviews/Tests_and_exercises/Test_yourself/Personality_assessments/p!eagcF

But I think, as with a lot of psychological testing, these assessments are making broad generalizations.