The Psych Blogger

Do you sometimes wonder why your approach towards life is a little different from others? You may have noticed sometimes that your friends thrive in social settings, whereas you feel more energised after a quiet night in. Or perhaps, when everyone seems stuck on the details, you are the one who sees the bigger picture. A lot of it can be traced back to your personality type – and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment has a great way of explaining it. MBTI is based on theories put forward by Carl Jung, and it classifies people into 16 different personality types. Each personality type has a unique combination of traits – while some are quite common, few are extremely rare, and only a small percentage of people worldwide share them. In this article, we will be delving into the five rarest personality types, and I’m curious to know if you identify with any of these! Be sure to leave a comment below and share what it's like for you. Image by Freepik This assessment is desig...

In the early 2000s, psychologists Delroy Paulhus and Kevin Williams coined the term ‘Dark Triad’ which refers to three types of personality traits: Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy. The first things that may come to your mind when you think about these personality traits are movie villains or callous CEOs, but you’d be surprised to know that individuals with these traits exist in our everyday work settings, hiding behind affable faces, and sometimes, even the demurest coworker can have an underlying shady side to them which others might be unaware of.  Well, it’s all a part of the intricate tapestry of human behaviour at the end. Understanding of how these Dark Triad personality traits play a role in workplace dynamics can help deal with the challenges posed by these personalities. Recognising these traits can help foster a more positive and healthy work environment, which will provide a place for collaboration and cooperation to thrive. It’s important to remember th...

Leadership. The word alone can conjure images of corner offices, power suits, and boardrooms. Leaders create a vision of the future and then align people by communicating it, establishing direction, and inspiring them to overcome obstacles. People often look for the “best” leadership style. However, evidence suggests that leadership styles are not one-size-fits-all. Effective leaders are adaptive – they adapt their leadership style to meet the demands of specific situations while ensuring that their subordinates’ needs are not overlooked. Image by Freepik What is Leadership? House and Shamir (1993) define leadership as ‘the ability of an individual to motivate others to forego self-interest in the interest of a collective vision, and to the collective by making significant personal self-sacrifices over and above the call of duty, willingly’ This definition highlights the following elements: Motivating Others: A good leader has the ability to inspire others. This means making peo...

American Psychologist, David McClelland developed the Needs Theory back in 1960. He explained that people feel motivated at work due to the influence of three main needs: Achievement, Power and Affiliation. The theory states that these specific needs are acquired over time and are shaped by the experiences that one has. Each need exists in everyone, regardless of one's organizational level. However, the degree to which it drives us varies, from person to person.  Image by Freepik Knowing your dominant need can help you make smarter career moves - from setting professional goals to fostering a more motivated team. Organizations can also provide a more supportive work environment for employees to thrive. So, let's explore how the theory can help both individuals and organizations thrive. Need for Achievement Need for achievement means that one has the drive to complete tasks and challenges that they set for themself or someone else sets for them.  Individual Characteristi...