8 Values

I completed the 8 Values political quiz (linked) on 21JAN2023.

The eight values are placed on four axes.

Economic

• Equality - those with higher equality scores believe the economy should distribute value evenly among the populace. They tend to support progressive tax codes, social programs, and at high values, socialism.
• Markets - those with higher market scores believe the economy should be focused on rapid growth. They tend to support lower taxes, privatization, deregulation, and at high values, laissez-faire capitalism.

Diplomatic

• Nation - those with higher nation scores are patriotic and nationalist. They often believe in an aggressive foreign policy, valuing the military, strength, sovereignty, and at high values, territorial expansion.
• Globe - those with higher globe scores are cosmopolitan and globalist. They often believe in a peaceful foreign policy, emphasizing diplomacy, cooperation, integration, and at high values, a world government.

Civil

• Liberty - those with higher liberty scores believe in strong civil liberties. They tend to support democracy and oppose state intervention in personal lives. Note that this refers to civil liberties, not economic liberties.
• Authority - those with higher authority scores believe in strong state power. They tend to support state intervention in personal lives, government surveillance, and at high values, censorship or autocracy.

Society

• Tradition - those with higher tradition scores believe in traditional values and strict adherence to a moral code. Though not always, they are usually religious, and support the status quo or the status quo ante.
• Progress - those with higher progress scores believe in social change and rationality. Though not always, they are usually secular or atheist, and support environmental action and scientific or technological research.

Results

Analysis to follow.

OCEAN Analysis

Regarding my OCEAN results.

Reminder: O - Openness, C - Conscientiousness, E - Extroversion, A - Agreeableness, N - Neuroticism

Self scoring - this was not the first time I attempted the OCEAN quiz. My original attempt resulted in high OC and extremely low (single digit) AN scores. The previous results likely contributed to how I recently generated the near-100% OC scores; this may be a form of confirmation bias. Perhaps I subconsciously thought "I scored high OC and low AN. How confusing and uncomfortable different results in a half-year would be! I will answer in a way that confirms the previous results." I hope and trust this is not the case.

Friend's scoring - the only directional difference than my own scoring and the scoring of my friends is E. I understand and appreciate my friends' scoring and their perception of me. I think the most likely analysis is their perception of a higher E score is based on the amount of effort I place into maintaining friendships.

My current understanding of myself is "high OC, low AN, flexible E." The actual numbers have no weight in my understanding.

No score is "bad" or "good." It is how these elements of personality are utilized to make a man great. I humbly accept any positive words from encouragement from the results. Each personality dimension can be utilized with negative consequences. I can identify weaknesses for each of my scores: with high O I do not possess many opinions that I hold extremely strongly - I admire some who believe something to their very core. With high C I sometimes find myself dissatisfied with simply relaxing or may pursue a goal longer than is necessary. With low A I find myself always ready for a healthy debate - some may find a constant debate exhausting. With low N I do not typically focus on self-reflection - imagine the growth potential on more self-reflection!

Consider the limitations of the test. The test is only useful in understanding a small snapshot of one's five tenancies in life. The test consists of only a few questions answered by the test taker. The most relevant test is life itself. A better test would be an analysis of day-to-day analysis of circumstances relevant to the five personality traits. Another test more relevant to an online self-evaluation would be an evaluation with a competent professional.

The scores do not define the taker. Scores can change over the course of one's life and even day-to-day (within some reasonable limit).

The OCEAN test is one step in the journey of  the concept of "know thyself." "Know thyself" is wisdom given to the present time from multiple ancient cultures. All present should listen.

OCEAN

The Big Five assessment measures scores on five major dimensions of personality: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (sometimes abbreviated OCEAN).

Definitions (copied from Truity)

Openness: describes a person’s tendency to think in abstract, complex ways. High scorers tend to be creative, adventurous, and intellectual. They enjoy playing with ideas and discovering novel experiences. Low scorers tend to be practical, conventional, and focused on the concrete. They tend to avoid the unknown and follow traditional ways.

Conscientiousness: describes a person’s ability to exercise self-discipline and control in order to pursue their goals. High scorers are organized and determined, and are able to forego immediate gratification for the sake of long-term achievement. Low scorers are impulsive and easily sidetracked.

Extroversion: describes a person’s inclination to seek stimulation from the outside world, especially in the form of attention from other people. Extroverts engage actively with others to earn friendship, admiration, power, status, excitement, and romance. Introverts, on the other hand, conserve their energy, and do not work as hard to earn these social rewards.

Agreeableness describes a person’s tendency to put others’ needs ahead of their own, and to cooperate rather than compete with others. People who are high in Agreeableness experience a great deal of empathy and tend to get pleasure out of serving and taking care of others. They are usually trusting and forgiving. People who are low in Agreeableness tend to experience less empathy and put their own concerns ahead of others.

Neuroticism describes a person’s tendency to experience negative emotions, including fear, sadness, anxiety, guilt, and shame. While everyone experiences these emotions from time to time, some people are more prone to them than others. High Neuroticism scorers are more likely to react to a situation with fear, anger, sadness, and the like. Low Neuroticism scorers are more likely to brush off their misfortune and move on.

I completed an OCEAN quiz on 07JAN2023(via Truity) and scored myself (left); two of my close friends collaborated (via Truity) in 08JUL2022 to generate the following scores (right):

O: 98% | 79%

C: 98% | 81%

E: 46% | 69%

A: 46% | 35%

N: 04% | 10%

The scores from the self-assessment and the assessment from my friends generally align. I possess high openness and conscientiousness. I exhibit low neuroticism. Agreeableness values are 'low' but not drastically so. There is a disconnect between my perception of my extroversion and the extroversion observed by my friends.

Principles

While reading the book "Principles (of Life and Work)" the author issued the prompt to write down my own principles and compare to the author's. Here is my brief attempt at the prompt. The list I generated is incomplete, imperfect, unordered, and poorly worded. The list I generated is mostly true and most of all I am satisfied with my effort.

• Keep a faith of God in heaven

• Do not rely on others for your own happiness

• Do not lie

• Do not worry about what other people think of you

• Ask ‘Why’ and ‘How’ as much as appropriate

• Problem solving - gather as much information as possible

• Be on the lookout for feedback/criticism/advice; then seek to understand that wisdom

• Receive wisdom; then seek to understand that wisdom

• Have fun

• Frick social media

• Don’t worry about politics or the news in general

• Friends are important; friendships take effort

• Work hard

• Keep organized

• Do not keep things that are unnecessary

• Effective communication is brief

• Be thankful for everything

• Everything you know was given to you - you did not discover anything new

• Utilize time as a tool (patience): problem solving, decision making, emotional judgment

• Be nice

I see now how the author wrote a book on his own principles - I feel as if I could do the same.

-Quack

First!

 First post to break the ice!