All people often "delve" into themselves, trying to find answers to many questions about their personality. Sometimes it takes months or even years of time. However, there are methods to facilitate the search for "yourself", and help to better know the loved one. This is the methodology of the personal differential, which will be discussed in the article.
The essence of the method of determining personality
The method of personal differential implies a semantic assessment of individuality. It was created on the basis of the Russian language.
It is used mainly in clinical and psychological psychodiagnostics and contributes to the study of relationships.
This technique was developed using the Ozhegov dictionary. From it were selected 120 definitions reflecting personality traits. Subsequently, employees of the Psychoneurological Institute. V. M. Bekhterev, the methodology of personal differential adapted to a concise version, suitable for the analysis of personality structure and interpersonal relationships.
This method of studying relationships may be useful when undergoing family psychotherapy. A positive point is the opportunity to analyze mutual understanding between family members, to identify different points of view in relation to the child. In the same way, you can determine the status of the main and subordinate spouse, consider the reasons for their possible discontent. This approach helps to establish the correct model of behavior in the family and to understand the role of the child in a family conflict.
Subject examination of the methodology
Visually, a personality test is a table that contains words that characterize negative and positive character traits. Each of the 21 questions represents a gradation from negative to positive reference. For a detailed study of certain personality traits, a person needs to evaluate his belonging to one of them on the proposed scale.
To do this, you need to choose the degree of manifestation of one of the opposite character traits, measured in points from 0 to 3. Next, the results are calculated and belong to the categories. After the work done, you can study the result.
The test consists of personal qualities that are formed and develop in society through socialization. These words characterize 3 main factors of the personal semantic differential technique, which are the basis of a certain personality model. They can manifest themselves at high (17-21 points), average (8-16 points) and low (up to 7 points) quality levels. These factors are:
- assessment;
- force;
- activity.
Decryption of the assessment factor
Shows the degree of self-worth inherent in the subject. High indicators indicate that a person is satisfied with himself and fully accepts his individuality. Also at this height, the testee positions himself as the owner of positive characteristics approved by society.
The average indicators of this factor reveal a fairly self-critical person who does not fully accept himself. Understated indicators usually characterize an individual suffering from neurotic problems. Such people do not feel the sufficient authority of the individual in society.
If the method of personal differential is used to study relationships, then this factor determines the degree of attractiveness and sympathy with which one particular person perceives another. Positive traits are proportional to those that the object prefers, and negative traits are proportional to those that they reject.
Decryption of the force factor
In the study of his own assessment, it tells about the volitional aspects of the personality and how the subject is aware of and develops them. Oversized indices characterize an independent person with a strong character. He is inclined to remain calm in a stressful environment and rely solely on his strength.
The average values indicate that the subject is in the grip of the influence of external factors, which causes insufficient self-control. Such people tend to pay attention to the opinions of others, from which the already accepted model of behavior changes. Too low indicators indicate a person’s anxiety, as well as possible difficulties in the functioning of the nervous system and mental health complications.
In relationships, this factor characterizes the dominant-subordinate relationship and their perception by the subjects themselves.
Decryption of the activity factor
This indicator of the personal differential technique calculates extroverts and introverts. Positive traits characterize a person who is open and sociable, perhaps even impulsive. Negative values are inherent in introverts, people are calm and passive.
Assessing the relationship of this factor expresses how people perceive each other's individual characteristics.
Conclusion
The technique of personal semantic differential is especially useful when you need to identify the true position of a particular person to himself and his disposition to others. Such a test allows you to clearly determine the degree of self-control and respect, dominance, anxiety, openness and isolation.
This approach can be a pretty significant indicator in the recognition of neurosis, differential diagnosis, investigations of changes in well-being during the rehabilitation period, as well as during the testing of the effectiveness of psychotherapy. Due to laconicism, such a technique can be used both independently and in combination with other diagnostic procedures.