The Personality Self-Portrait: Why You Think, Work, Love and Act the Way You Do [Paperback]

John Oldham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1991

The New Personality Self -portrait  is the only guide to personality types based on  the American Psychiatric Association's  just-published official diagnostic system -- the DSM  -IV -- and written by one of today's  leading personality researchers. A long-time  backlist bestseller in its previous edition, it has now  been completely updated to include all the  fascinating new information about how we become who we  are-and how we can change. The self-test in  The New Personality Self -portrait is  already used extensively in mental health and  business settings. It reveals a profile so personal,  so accurate, that it's as individual as a  fingerprint. Readers discover their unique mix of 14  distinct personality styles -- and learn how those  traits impact their relationships, work and home  life. Fascinating case histories show each style in  action, with tips on how to live and work with  every type, and exercises for turning  vulnerabilities into strengths -- plus warnings about when  individual differences develop into personality  disorders.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Beginning with a questionnaire based on the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IIIR, published in 1987, the authors have the reader chart his or her profile according to 13 individual personality styles. Each following chapter describes a dominant character pattern, what jobs that person may be most suited for, appropriate personality-type mates, parenting styles, and ways of capitalizing on strengths and minimizing weaknesses. Advice is given the reader on how to deal with different styles, and a page or two describes the mental illness associated with the extremes of each dominant trait. Case histories and anecdotes make the personalities come alive to create an enjoyable and informative analysis of personality types.
- Marguerite Mroz, Baltimore Cty .
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"You cannot read this book without  attaining a deeper and clearer understanding of  yourself and the people you care about." --  Herbert Pardes, M.D., Dean of the Faculty of  Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and  Surgeons.

"Brilliantly transforms a wealth  of scientific information into an exciting and  easy-to-follow format." -- Stuart C.Yudofsky,  M.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of  Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of  Medicine. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 438 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; Rei edition (July 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553353365
• ISBN-13: 978-0553353365
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,117,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the Meiers-Briggs, February 6, 2000

By 

yarden "yarden" (portland, or) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Personality Self-Portrait: Why You Think, Work, Love and Act the Way You Do (Paperback)

I've taken the Meiers-Briggs test a few times, and the results have never stuck (which is why I've taken it so many times). Not so with this book.

Instead of focusing on ONE dominant personality style (such as Meiers-Briggs 'ENTP'), the Self-Portrait graphs your personality traits, which provides a way to visualize the way your personality works. Instead of being shoved into one of twenty personality types, you can see the different categories that are more dominant in your personality. This way, you are shown a more accurate portrayal of yourself, and the results are more individualized than a test which gives you ONE category that explains your WHOLE SELF.

Useful in each chapter: "tips" for living with persons in each category, "tips" for making the most of your personality style, and warning signs for each style's potential personality disorder (as detailed by the DSM-IV).

I was very happy with the questions in the test, with the descriptions of the personality types, and the way the book doesn't just lump you into one category. Also, I appreciated the Personality Disorder section in each category (simply as a matter of interest, if nothing else).

The only thing I missed in the book was the treatment of spirituality/religion (only slightly touched upon in ONE personality category).

Overall, I now understand my personality much more fully!

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing! Brilliant! Highly Useful!, July 2, 2005

By 

R. Johnson "Billionaire" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Personality Self-Portrait: Why You Think, Work, Love and Act the Way You Do (Paperback)

WOW! At first I thought this would be a run-of-the-mill psych book, but it is actually outstanding! I've read about personality from some other sources, but this is by far the best I've seen. It is a goldmine of useful information. You will find out exactly what kind of person you really are. You will find the answers to the mysteries of your life. You will find out why you behaved the ways you did and why your life has turned out the way it has. You will find out how to get the best out of your particular set of personality traits. You will find out how to best deal with other people of different personalities. I found out why my parents were unnurturing - it's because that's just how the workaholic types are. This book describes 13 different personality styles which everyone has to varying degrees. This book shows you how they affect things like your work and love life. It shows you how to best cope with and minimize your weaknesses. This book enabled me to accept who I am and make the best of it. This book answered so many questions that have been a vexing mystery to me all my life. I think there are a few therapists here poo-pooing this book because it is very helpful and THEY are NOT! They're jealous! Truth is that most therapists and psychiatrists are incompetent and just waste your time. Many people like me know that from bitter experience. This book is VALID because it perfectly nailed down my personality traits and explained them like nothing else ever has and gave me tons of very helpful info and advice that I didn't even dream existed.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent underrated psych. system, February 16, 2000

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Personality Self-Portrait: Why You Think, Work, Love and Act the Way You Do (Paperback)

I found this book to be very accurate of my personality type. I am also quite familiar with the Myers-Briggs and Enneagram system, but in those they pretty much give you One type, and that leaves out a lot of information about yourself. This one however highlights the importance of your overall personality - your dominant personality style (also known as type), your leading styles, even the styles you are low on play an important role. I guess it is more so diagnosis than self-help, although it does give a good number of tips. Still, these two authors could possibly put out a book on this, except emphasizing helping yourself overcome your faults and weaknesses as presented in this book.

All and all, I highly recommend this book if you are interested in and take an appreciation for personality psychology.