A reader wonders if a personality test exists to check for potential relationship problems.
QUESTION:
I had to pass a personality test for a job.
It made me think how good it would be to put potential life partners through a similar examination. You could weed out the crazy ones before getting hurt. Does such a test exist? If not, why not?
Perhaps the panel could suggest a few pertinent questions to drop into conversation during the dating process.
ANSWER:
More and more employers are using “personality tests” as part of their recruitment process. However, it is important to note that they are only one part of the way used to decide who would be a good employee within their company.
Many other factors and assessments are also important elements of any decision to employ or reject an applicant, such as suitability for the role, previous experience and interpersonal skills. The same is true when selecting a potential partner for a relationship.
The reality is that personality tests may be useful in a general sense but they are not infallible yardsticks of a person’s qualities and suitability. The panel believes the most important factor when dating someone who is unknown to you is to follow the safety rules that most such dating sites outline.
Some of the problem warning signs are if the person spends most of the time talking about themselves, if they over-disclose personal details too soon and if they appear to want to control your behaviour.
You should also meet in public places, at least initially.
All relationships involve a degree of risk even if it is only of rejection. There is no guaranteed measure or predictor of success.
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Relationships Australia (SA) appoints panels of general practitioners, medical specialists, lawyers, therapeutic and financial counsellors to discuss each letter before the appropriate professional answers it.
