Personality Psychometrics as Reductionist

Question: Discuss about the Personality Psychometrics as Reductionist. Answer: Introduction: The methodological study of personality psychometrics has been termed as reductionist and therefore unworthy studying because it reduces the conventional complex structure. In the field of psychology therefore, when a phenomenon is broken down (through test), it ceases to hold the necessary weight for meaningful study. In this case, personality is simplified by exposing the phenomena to a series of evaluations that yield a wide range of reactions. Consequently, the entire phenomenon is significantly reduced (Rust., et al, 2014). The 16 Personalities test is designed to portray different pictures from within the same person. This can be understood better via Freuds personality model which depicts man as possessing conflicting egos (Ewen, 2014). As such, the test reduces the respondent into a pretentious tool whose value for study has been severely limited. The person under study can decide to reduce a certain personality since it is not verifiable. However, by so doing, the study is seen to have lost meaning. The test is presented in terms of a questionnaire and whereas the outcome remains open depending on the respondent, in the facet of personality studies this is futile. The personality test as a reductionist however does not imply that the all such tests cannot replicate the expected outcome (Rust., et al, 2014).. For instance, it is imperative that one can feel superior to other people. However, when one responds positively to the question, it can be termed as a distortion. Therefore, in such scenario, the person has ceded the real value and character. This self-delusion that comes up within such a test is seen to isolate the person from reality and thus rendering him unfit for study. References Rust, J., Golombok, S., Kosinski, M., Stillwell, D. (2014).Modern psychometrics: The science of psychological assessment. Routledge. Ewen, R. (2014).An introduction to theories of personality. Psychology Press.