Interview about Personality

I have conducted an interview with regards to someone’s personality. This paper intends to compare the interviewee’s answers to that of mine. It also aims to ask questions that are related to cognition, effects of culture on emotions, effects of gender on emotions, intelligence, learning, memory, motivation, personality, as well as, problem solving.
Allow me to first post the question, my friend’s response, and the last one to be placed is mine.
1) Question: Do you remember information more accurately if you observe the behavior? Or do you prefer to read how the behavior is performed?

My Friend’s Answer: “I am more likely to remember if I have personally observed what happened” (White, 2008). “I cannot really explain it but I can better remember things that I have seen than if I only read it” (White, 2008).
My Response: I am not very sure how to weigh it. My memory is extremely sharp that I can remember very well an occurrence that I have observed, as well as, a behavior that I have merely read.
2) Question: Do you prefer to study in the library? Or at home where it is noisy and distractions are present?
My Friend’s Answer: “I prefer to study in places where I can concentrate a lot better, so yes, I prefer the library” (White, 2008). “I never really study at home because it is too noisy: first of all, there’s my brother who never seems to know how to tone down the volume of his computer’s speakers, television, or stereo; second, my younger sister and brother who always seem to be in an argument; and last but not least, my mom and dad who always discusses about several issues that interest them” (White, 2008).
My Response: I prefer to stay at home. Although, there may be distractions at home, like the television, the radio, or the computers, and my family, I still prefer to study at home. I do not like it when it is too quite. For instance, in the library, not hearing anything at all, makes me go crazy, I will probably even fall asleep in there. I just feel so much better studying at home.
3) Question: Have you taken the Myers Briggs test? Would you mind sharing the result/s?
My Friend’s Answer: Yes I already did take that test, the results stated that, “I am a slightly expressed introvert, that I have a slightly expressed sensing personality, a slightly expressed thinking personality, and a slightly expressed judging personality” (Humanmetrics, 2008). “According to the test, it means that I am an introvert, not sensible, not a thinker, and quite judging” (White, 2008).
My Response: Yes, I took that test as well and the results were the following, “I am a slightly expressed extrovert, a slightly expressed sensing personality, a slightly expressed thinking personality, and a slightly expressed judging personality” (Humanmetrics, 2008). Simply put, it means that, I am an extravert somehow, not sensible, a bit of a thinker, and not a judging person (Humanmetrics, 2008).
4) Question: Do you feel that the Myers Briggs test results are accurate? Why/Why not?
My Friend’s Answer: “For me, it was not accurate as the results did not actually match with my personality” (White, 2008).
My Response: I can only agree with the interviewee’s claim. Mine did not match my personality as well.
5) Question: Which experiences do you feel contributed most in the development of your personality?
My Friend’s Answer: “There are times when I am exceedingly impatient. There are also times when I would lash out at other people. I get irritated easily and get mad over trivial issues” (White, 2008). “Such personality of mine developed because I grew up with a terrible and violent grandfather, who actually lived with us for quite some time” (White, 2008). “I have witnessed how she would yell at my mom (his daughter) if money is being discussed about, for instance if he asks from her and my mom says no because she knows that the money will only be spent at the casino and other forms of gambling” (White, 2008). “When I was young, I even saw him hit my mother and my elder sister” (White, 2008).
“When he lost his job, he began to borrow money from all sorts of people, and when he was not able to pay, these people pressed charges and that was also when he showed more aggression to everyone around him including my parents, sister, brother, and I (White, 2008). “This is why I turned emotionally unstable; there are times when I am extremely nervous and easily frustrated” (Meyers, 2004). The aforementioned experiences made me “disagreeable”, meaning, “ruthless, irritable, as well as, uncooperative” (Ticao, 2001). “Not to mention, the fact that I don’t seem to have enough drive and discipline; I felt hopeless about life every time I remember my grandfather” (White, 2008).
My Response: I have encountered violence in my home as I grew up as well. But I never let myself get too engaged with such a negative occurrence. I did not allow myself to feel exceedingly fearful of such happenings. Lucky, I had the “ability to make a coping response”, if not I will probably become aggressive, impatient, irritable, uncertain, etc as well (Ticao, 2001). What I actually did was to make myself avoid thinking about my dark past and move on to the brighter side of everything.
6) Question: Do you feel that you are self-monitoring when it comes to attitude? How or how not?
My Friend’s Answer: “I believe that I am not self-monitoring, this is because, I am sure that I won’t have a terrible personality and set of attitudes if I was actually one” (White, 2008). I could have watched myself better, regulated or controlled myself, and became a better individual if I only became self-monitoring” (White, 2008).
My Response: I have always been monitoring myself. I weigh things, reflect on whatever happened to me, and learn from it. I use my experiences instead to do something about myself and avoid turning into a terrible individual.
7) Question: What was the strongest influence to your attitude?
My Friend’s Answer: “I believe that the person who played a large role in molding the attitude/s that I possess now is my grandfather” (White, 2008).
My Response: For me, all the people who showed aggression towards me played a role in who I am today and in what attitudes I now possess. I owe it to them how courageous and strong I am now. I have learned so much because of them. For instance, I am disciplined, driven, and motivated to improve the standards of my life because of the negative experiences that I have been faced with.
8) Question: What role does a person’s race, gender, or ethnicity play when forming that person’s personality and attitudes?
My Friend’s Answer: “I believe that the aforementioned elements may have an effect on one’s personality and attitude” (Carson et. al., 1992). “For example, we all know that observing the behaviors of a particular race, gender, and ethnicity will already affect one’s attitude through what is known as “observational learning” (Carson et. al., 1992). Merely observing will infuse an attitude to the observer (Carson et. al., 1992).
My Response: I feel that because the elements are stereo-typing inclined then it really means that it has the capability of affecting one’s personality/attitude (Carson et. al., 1992).
9) Question: Do you feel that you are better at tasks which are intrinsically motivated or extrinsically motivated?
My Friend’s Answer: “I am not driven to carry out things. In fact, there are times when I do it only for the money; thus I am extrinsically motivated” (Brophy, 1998).
My Response: I am just the opposite though, I do things without anything in exchange (Morris et. al., 2005).
References

Brophy, J. (1998). Motivation. Burr Ridge, IL: McGraw-Hill.
Carson, R.C. & Butcher, J.N. (1992). The World of Abnormal Psychology. New York: Harper Collins.
Humanmetrics. (2007). Jung Typology Test. Retrieved March 13, 2008 from http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm
Meyers, D. (2004). Psychology: Seventh Edition. New York: Worth Publishers.
Morris, C.G. & Maisto, A.A. (2005). Psychology: An Introduction, 12th Ed. New York: Prentice-Hall.
Ticao, C. J. (2001). Introduction to Psychology. Quezon City: UP Press. White, U.P. (2008). Personal Interview.