Identity, Values, and Strengths Exploration

September 2025

Personality Data Collation

VIA Character Strengths (Top 5)

• Humour (Transcendence): bringing smiles, seeing the light side, easing tension
• Bravery (Courage): facing challenges, standing up for what is right, acting on convictions
• Love (Humanity): valuing close, reciprocal relationships, caring and intimacy
• Creativity (Wisdom): thinking of novel solutions, artistic and problem-solving creativity
• Love of Learning (Wisdom): mastering skills and knowledge systematically, self-education

DOPE Personality Quiz

• Primary: Eagle -> direct, decisive, goal-oriented, leadership energy, risk-taking
• Secondary: Owl -> analytical, detail-oriented, logical, values knowledge and accuracy

Big Five Personality Traits

Neuroticism: High

• Sensitive, emotional, easily upset
• Anxiety: high -> tense, expecting danger
• Anger: high -> strong response to unfairness
• Depression: high -> discouragement, low energy
• Self-Consciousness: high -> easily embarrassed, concerned with others' opinions
• Immoderation: high -> strong cravings, struggles with control
• Vulnerability: low -> poised under stress despite sensitivity

Extraversion: Low (Introverted)

• Reserved, enjoys solitude and close friendships
• Friendliness: high -> warm when engaged
• Gregariousness: low -> dislikes crowds, values privacy
• Assertiveness: high -> willing to speak up, take charge
• Activity Level: low -> slower pace, prefers less busyness
• Excitement-Seeking: high -> craves stimulation and risk
• Cheerfulness: low -> less frequent positive mood

Openness to Experience: High

• Curious, imaginative, values novelty and creativity
• Imagination: high -> fantasy, abstract thinking
• Artistic Interests: high -> aesthetic sensitivity
• Emotionality: high -> deep awareness of feelings
• Adventurousness: low -> prefers routine, cautious with change
• Intellect: high -> enjoys ideas, debates, puzzles
• Liberalism: high -> challenges rules, embraces ambiguity and change

Agreeableness: Low

• Critical, uncompromising, prioritises self over harmony
• Trust: low -> skeptical of others' intentions
• Morality: neutral -> sometimes straightforward, sometimes guarded
• Altruism: high -> enjoys helping others
• Cooperation: low -> more confrontational, less willing to compromise
• Modesty: low -> comfortable claiming strengths
• Sympathy: high -> compassionate, easily moved by others' suffering

Conscientiousness: Low

• Spontaneous, sometimes careless or disorganised
• Self-Efficacy: high -> confident in abilities
• Orderliness: high -> likes structure, lists, routines
• Dutifulness: neutral -> some sense of obligation, flexible
• Achievement-Striving: low -> content without constant ambition
• Self-Discipline: low -> procrastination, difficulty following through
• Cautiousness: low -> acts quickly without overthinking

Cross-Patterns Across All Three Tests

• Core strengths: humour, bravery, creativity, love of learning -> align with Eagle's boldness, Owl's analysis, and Big Five openness
• Relational style: values intimacy and compassion (love, altruism, sympathy), but skeptical and uncompromising with broader trust and cooperation
• Energy/focus: introverted but assertive -> prefers solo or small groups, but can take charge when needed
• Challenges: high neuroticism + low self-discipline -> stress, procrastination, sensitivity may disrupt productivity
• Driving force: strong mix of imagination, emotional awareness, and justice-seeking

These tests give me a good sense of where my values and strengths sit, and what patterns carry across different models.

Reflection Questions

Ethical Decision

When I recently got a very negative comment on Reddit, instead of replying reactively I decided to correct the misinformation and fairly defend myself without giving the person any fuel for their anger. They tried to reply to me again but once again I shut their argument down politely, corrected the confusion in their response, and went on with my business. Typically I would react, engage, and get more stressed from a situation like this, but I decided to step away.

Culture and Values

I come from a Romanian and Hungarian background. I definitely (alongside trauma) inherited a strong work ethic and the habit of standing up for myself and what is right. Currently my second family and friends around me keep me humbled and in check, which allows us to grow together and communicate and live healthily in community.

Strengths Supporting Learning

My biggest 3 strengths are Humour, Bravery, and Love of Learning. I think humour will help me cope with things that don't make sense or that I will struggle with, but my bravery will keep me going even against all odds. My love of learning will sustain me on this path, as my curiosity combined with genuine interest in how everything works (likely related to ADHD/autism) keeps me moving on to the next thing while staying mindful and taking care of myself to prevent burnout.

Limitations

My main limitations are emotional sensitivity at times due to ongoing trauma healing, which can still be triggered. My assertiveness and tendency to take control of the narrative could also prevent me from gaining knowledge from others or might intimidate people unintentionally. My spontaneity may come across as unserious or scattered, but that is just part of my neurotic self. I also have self-esteem issues I am working on, which I know will be challenged by this course, but I am ready to improve on all of these limitations.

Working With Others

In my last flat there were some flatmates who would not do any of the weekly cleaning chores, so we tried very passive gentle nudges and then more expectation-style rigidity, but nothing really worked. Direct communication, understanding why the individual may not be able to perform at the time, and talking one on one has been the most effective way to get everyone on board. I would also probably try to nip the issue in the bud earlier and be more clear and direct while staying less intimidating, so the message comes across better.