What are your feelings about online psych tests? Did you take the one I linked to today? Do you think the results are accurate? Do you think any of these tests are accurate? Do you think they're dangerous, or helpful?

Do you think the internet in general is a useful source of health information, or does it contain too much dangerously inaccurate info? Do you personally put more faith in stuff you read on the internet than in what your doctor tells you?

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Answers

I'm schizotypal, histrionic, narcissistic, and dependent. I quibble only with the histrionic bit. The way that test is set up, is it possible to have "normal" results, and what would that be? Low in everything? What a dull person that would make.

I think taking any such test seriously is dangerous. I was expecting to be diagnosed as schizotypal, paranoid, and self- centered, and woohoo! it doesn't say I'm but I am everything else I expected to be.

The internet in general is as reliable as stuff in print is in general, except: more professional and thus reliable stuff is disseminated more widely in print but is less accessible online, whereas quack medical information is obvious in print but everywhere online. I guess the danger comes with self-diagnosis, with not being able to judge the trustworthiness of information you find, with believing only what you wish to believe and dismissing what doesn't fit or isn't convenient.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Okay, I only got moderates or lows on everything, but my moderates were Schizotypal,Borderline, Histrionic, Avoidant, and Dependent. So I'm an isolated, angry, attention seeking, socially anxious, dependant? There's a lot of paradoxes there, eh? Bunk test!

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I scored Low across the board. Guess sane people are really dull.

I think these tests are only really helpful in identifying potentially harmful situations. If you've ever taken a psych course, you know that everybody has all the problems to some (usually small) degree. These tests aren't too good at the low end of the scale; they're mostly set up to identify people who would say, "why, yes, I do relish the idea of running people off the road when they cut me off. Why do you ask?"

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Great: histrionic and narcissistic -- high; schizotype -- medium. Everything else, low. So I'm a self-centered drama queen.

I don't put a lot of stock in online personality tests, but I do take them. I think one should be skeptical about health information found on the web, as with any other research. Who is the source of the info? What are their qualifications -- why should you believe them? And what do they stand to gain from convincing you of one thing or the other?

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I made a mistake in the journal entry today ... I said the test said I was antisocial, which it didn't. I scored low on that one. I got that mixed up with avoidant, on which I scored high. I only scored high on that one and the schizotypal. Those two seem to be contradictory, though.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Eh. Crap test. Even if I didn't quibble with it's results (which I do), I quibble with the definitions. I am more than a little obsessive-compulsive, but be damned if I am "overly focused on orderliness and perfection." I work well with others, lend people money all the time, and make my own decisions. So much for their definition. I also, however, obsess over such things as blueberries, small plastic animals, and removed teeth--and feel the compulsion to sometimes consume only blueberries for a week or two, stack and talk to my animals and go to different zoos to find more, and collect bags of removed wisdom teeth, puppy teeth, and cat teeth. As far as I can tell, that counts. So sayeth the mental health experts as well.

But organized? Psshah.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

My favorite question, which I believe was one of the ones that led to my schizotypal diagnosis, was the one about people not understanding me when I talk. As I said to Jeremy, "Yeah, but sometimes people are dumb."

I answered no to the one about E.S.P., and I'm STILL schizotypal, damn it.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I'm avoidant, narcissistic, histrionic and schizoid.

IE5 or the code in the test has a flaw. While using my middle 'scroll' button on the mouse I noticed that if I didn't change focus (the little dotted box) before scrolling down, if I had checked 'no' the button jumped to 'yes'.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

h, obsessing on blueberries is a sign of the purest state of mental health. Blueberries are the best. (I even thought this before I met Jessie.)

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I'm histrionic (no), avoidant (yes), dependent (ha, ha. no) and obsessive-compulsive (borderline).

I like some of the tests that I've run across but purely for entertainment. I read on this forum (or 3WA) someone who stated that personality test results (and horoscopes) are just general enough that you can always find something that fits you. I agree with that statement.

I take anything I read on the Internet with a grain of salt. But I apply that philosphy to all things, including what my doctor has to say. No source is infallible. Oops, am I showing my paranoia?

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

It was obvious the way the questions were written that they BEGGED for you to have mental health issues. The only thing that would have made that site worse would have been if they had a link, "talk to a live psychiatrist, only 2.99 a minute!" underneath it.

You can always count on me to bring you the quality links.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I took this last week and got low on everything except antisocial, which was a moderate.

Today I scored low on everything, excepting the two moderates in paranoid and narcissistic.

I think it's complete bullshit, but then I'm also on psych medication.

:)

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I showed this to two of the guys I work with who are both psychiatrists, and they thought it was funny. I was going to take it myself, but got bored after about 4 questions.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Since the test is worthless, we may as well just diagnose each other. Since I've got most of you pegged by now maybe I should start.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Hmm. Do you think you can take a smack-down from a histrionic, antisocial narcissist? If so, go right ahead.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I'm avoidant, apparently.

Mostly right now I'm hungry.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

OK, I went back and took it for real. Lump me in with the boring group--I scored "low" for everything!

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I scored low on everything except "histrionic," on which I scored "moderate." Isn't that an oxymoron?

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Dear lord, apparently I am in need of serious therapy. Or a big ole glass of sweet, sweet alcohol.

Histrionic, high; narcisstic, avoidant, dependent, moderate.

I think the narcissistic thing is way off. Dependent, in the past sure, not so much now. Avoidant? Not socially, I think that's way off.

I took this one last week: Internet Mental Health . That one said I'm histrionic too. I suppose I am but I really dislike that word, it's so "Victorian woman falling on the fainting couch." Let's call it what it is - middle child syndrome. Define me! Love me! It's all about me!

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

That one is much more comprehensive, and THEY don't think I'm schizotypal. They do, however, concur with the avoidant thing, and they add in ADHD and potential agoraphobia. Yay.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

According to this I'm a mess (which may be entirely accurate) - high histrionic and narcissistic, with moderate avoidant and paranoid.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

DISORDERS DIAGNOSED: * Nicotine Dependence * Panic Disorder

Gee, tell me something I don't already know.

That was a good one though, much more comprehensive and non- bullshitty than the other one.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Test #1 said that I'm high histrionic and narcisistic. The second test said I have panic disorder. Strung out self-absorbed drama queens unite! While these probably aren't entirely correct. They still hold a grain of truth I believe, because I can see some of the traits in myself and I do have panic attacks when I'm stressed. But hey, why be normal when being a histrionic, narcissistic, anxious drama queen is sooooooo much more fun!

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

According to the second one, I have no disorders.

Obviously it doesn't work right.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I'm mildly Avoidant, which means that even though I didn't want to answer this question I did so anyway.

They don't have a category for Asperger's Syndrome? Dude, that's MUCH more like me! (A little knowledge and a lot of access to psych texts is probably a bad thing. I only hopw that what They say is true--i.e., if you think youy might be nuts, you probably aren't.)

Oooh...shiny thing! Gotta go.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I'm narcissistic and dependent. What a combination.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I rated high for antisocial, moderate for narcissistic and histrionic, low for everything else. My main complaint was that all of the questions allow only yes or no answers ... no room for "sometimes" or "depends on the reasons," which was my first thought on reading some of them. I also didn't like the way they linked some things, like the question Are you quiet in social situations, often out of fear of saying something stupid? Well, I often am quiet, but not always, and when I am, that's not the reason.

On the whole, though, to answer the second part of Beth's question, I do think the Internet provides a lot of accurate and useful health information, as long as you are well-informed enough to sort of the misinformation. That's the key, though, you have to know enough going in to recognize when something is just way off base.



-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Well, I think it got me rather well, as it said that I am both Histrionic (always needs to be the centre of attention, loud, obnoxious, high confidence) and Avoidant (hides from being the centre of attention, quiet, shy, low confidence), both of which are actually true. I'm also Obsessive-Compulsive, but that was an easy one.

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

So what's the personality disorder that causes one to ABANDON one's faithful readers because of some stupid disk space issue? Because that's the one I want.

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

I'm highly avoidant, and just a teeny smidge schizotypal! It's like they looked into my soul!

I hate these tests. They're nonsense. I mean, I can't tell you how many times I've self-diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic hysterical personality disordered ovarian cancer patient with emphezema and a limp. And then I worry about it! Man.

Me and a medical dictionary alone in a room, late at night, is also a recipe for disaster.

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

The first one was just dying for something to be wrong with everyone, and the questions were pretty vague. The second one, though. My Lord, it took me an hour to complete. I also felt as if I was answering the same questions over and over again, which was annoying, but the second test is accurate in assessing my Post-Traumatic Stress disorder, and apparently I have an OCD of some type, but I don't know what that could possibly be.

Anyone up for some hand-washing with me?

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

Keli, the fact that you were determined to finish the second test is what they evaluate as evidence of OCD. If you wade through an hour's worth of repetitive questions, they figure you must have some obsessive/compulsive tendencies.

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

Narcissistic histrionic?

As if.

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

Ha!

Maybe the gist of it is that I'm obsessed with what surveys think I am. Though I usually take the results with a grain of salt, I keep taking these things as if I might find some insight regarding myself that I didn't know. But... every time the results are something I don't believe, I dismiss it, and maybe that is part of the kernel of my true self I keep ignoring. Maybe I *am* a person who loves Glenfiddich and smooth jazz, and I'm just not listening to my inner voice. Maybe I'm obsessed with not paying attention to who I really am, ignoring my deepest desires at all costs. Maybe yellow *is* my signature color. Maybe Carrot Top *is* my best chance at E-list celebrity romance.

Nah.

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

"So what's the personality disorder that causes one to ABANDON one's faithful readers because of some stupid disk space issue? Because that's the one I want."

Well, I believe that would be the lazy slut personality disorder, which people who voluntarily get up at 6a don't have, so I'm afraid that you are just going to have to keep writing your journal. In fact, you need to get back to writing it every day. in fact, I think twice a day would be best.

Off you go.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2001

ok, the next step is to find out how much you are worth. I heard about this today on the radio. I'm worth $1.9 million, just higher than the average female. if I had gone by my results from online psych test (which said I had a little bit of everything), I wouldn't have expected to be worth "above the average female."

who comes up with these things?

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2001

I'm worth 2.3 million dollars! Where can I cash in?

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2001

I'm 1.7 mil. What was my downturn? My high school GPA, my bra cup size? My proclivity for gambling and drinking? The fact that I didn't just come out and admit that I really have a 200 IQ?

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2001

The gambling. I'm sure it was the gambling.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2001

Damn. I'm not worth much.

You are worth exactly: $1,879,288.00.

Or maybe I am, considering I make bupkiss and didn't take the SATs or graduate from HS.

My man is worth exactly: $1,579,000.00, but that's probably because I don't know what his IQ is or his SAT score or his high school GPA.

I don't like that test. I feel worthless now. :P

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2001

Same as Beth, 2.3 million dollars. I can't believe it, since I don't even have college degree, and she's a lawyer. I know part of it is the inherent cultural bias, i.e., men are worth more (check out their "Most Expensive" links. Males are higher by about 400,000). That and the fact that I rounded up on 'penis size.'

-- Anonymous, July 28, 2001

I'm worth $1.9 mil too. I just wish I could get a loan on that.

But did you check out the list of most expensive women and/or men? There are a hella lot of people lying about their IQ.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2001

Hm. Other than my amphetamine dependence disorder, I'm a clean bill of mental health.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2001

But apparently I'm worthless. Sigh.

You are worth exactly: $1,636,444.00.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2001

Good to know Daisy can put me in a fine nursing home when my 1.6 mil runs out... she's worth a lot more than most people and she doesn't even have an education yet. lol

You are worth exactly: $2,140,070.00

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2001