Discussion
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becca said: This is very true, Chris. That's actually the difficulty with e.g. personality tests. The 3 people are together so hard to identify your true personality. |
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Ying said: Very interesting point. Any specific suggestions to accomplish this? |
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abbey said: I'm not sure whether this is the right way of describing this. I agree that one should have a integrated internal self. When dealing w/ others, the effective way is probably to tailor the receiver end, i.e. talking w/ an introvert using an aggressive sales strategy might not quite work... |
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amandagittens said: I agree, Becca. Personality tests are very indicative at best and I'd suggest, rather misleading at worst precisely because of the need to extrapolate generalisations from the process. The main problem is that (social and cultural) identity is always contextually specific. To take a simple example, consider our professional roles versus our private roles – that is how we interact with our colleagues and our interactions with our friends/family/partner. Identity is also produced, reproduced and defined through social interaction which means that how the other person(s) reacts to us as individuals, to the content of what we say (not to mention the delivery, e.g. tone of voice) and body language etc all have an impact on how we in turn identify (portray) ourselves (to them and the rest of the world). Therefore, Chris is correct – we are many people all at once! Also, as Abbey suggests, it is as a result of the necessity to differentiate our social interactions: we deal with different people whose personalities, needs and interests are not the same. It’s definitely not a question of one size fits all! Therefore we tend to adapt our communicational and behavioural ‘styles’ according to what we believe to be appropriate for the person we’re addressing as well as the specific situation and circumstances of a given moment. |
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becca said: Agree very much Amanda. I often feel positive feedback helps us to become better, and un-constructive negative feedback can often limit us: there's very strong influence to become what others think we are. (More reasons to hang out with people who can provide positive or constructive feedback.) I read something along this line about how names can influence person's behavior, maybe Freakonomics. Similarly, maybe we can make use the person we think we are to motivate the person we are, so visualize what you want to become? :) |
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samantha said: Have any of you studied handwriting? It is a predictor of personality, characteristics, your health, emotions, and true thoughts. |
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Ying said: Interesting question. I keep a diary recording my thoughts and daily activities. As Chinese is my native language, the diary is written in Chinese. Chinese characters are structured in certain ways, as you mentioned, probably reveal people's inner world more than other languages. When I write on the diary book, I often observe my writing, and find interesting correlation between my state of mind and my writing. If I am calm and happy, the characters are formed more elegant. In Taiwan, Calligraphy is integrated with dance training. Students at dancing school are required to practice calligraphy several hours a day. Not only it unearth our personalities, but in way, the practice can increase our overall well-being. |
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samantha said: I have two books on handwriting and I am fascinated with my own handwriting, signature, and now find myself studying signatures everywhere I go and thinking about that person and who they present to the world, who they are in private life, and their current health. I wonder if studying calligraphy gives one more grace, beauty, and fluidity in dancing? I am guessing that was the intent in Taiwan and calligraphy. |
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Ying said: Yes, because it's believed they are all the training of heart/mind. :) |
