Understanding Your Personality Assessment

What the Personality Survey Measures

The personality assessment measures stable patterns in how you think, feel, and behave. It uses eight established frameworks side by side to capture different facets of your personality, giving you a multi-dimensional picture rather than a single label.

Scores reflect your typical tendencies — how you usually are, not how you behave in every situation. Personality traits are relatively stable across time but can shift gradually with major life experiences.

All scales in this assessment come from the AMBI (Analytical Multidimensional Battery of Inventories) public-domain version. Every scale is reported on a 0–50 scale, with a percentile showing how your score compares to a reference population.

How Scores Are Calculated

Score (0–50): Derived from multiple survey items. 25 is the population average.
Percentile (0–100): Where your score falls in the reference distribution. A percentile of 70 means you scored higher than 70% of reference respondents.
Band: Each score is grouped as Low (≤ 19), Middle (20–30), or High (≥ 31).

Neither high nor low scores are inherently better. Each profile has strengths and challenges depending on context.

Dashboard Structure

The dashboard presents your results in three ways:

Your Scores overview — Highest and lowest scales by score and by percentile, with a written narrative for the most distinctive traits.
Ranked lists — Every scale across every framework, ranked both by raw score and by percentile (toggle Highest / Lowest).
Framework tabs — Detailed breakdowns within each of the eight frameworks, with main dimensions shown as gauges and facets shown as segmented score rows.

Framework 1 — NEO (Revised NEO Personality Inventory)

The NEO-PI-R is the most widely cited Big Five inventory in psychology research. It measures personality across 5 broad domains, each containing 6 underlying facets (30 facets total).

Big Five Domains (gauges)

Neuroticism — Tendency to experience various negative emotions (anxiety, sadness, anger) as well as frequent or strong changes in emotions.
Extraversion — Tendency to be sociable, talkative, assertive, and energetic.
Openness to Experience — Tendency to pursue and enjoy new experiences, including unfamiliar topics, art, and complex or intellectual pursuits.
Agreeableness — Tendency to be affiliative, compassionate, sympathetic, and caring toward others.
Conscientiousness — Tendency to be responsible, hard-working, organized, and achievement-oriented.

NEO Facets (30 sub-scales, 6 per domain)

Neuroticism facets:

Anxiety — Tendency to feel fear over anticipated (or possible) future events.
Angry/Hostility — Tendency to have strong negative reactions to perceived harm or threat.
Low Mood — Tendency to feel sadness, negative mood, and/or low interest in activities.
Self-Consciousness — Tendency to be shy or embarrassed about one's behavior or appearance.
Impulsiveness — Tendency to act without thinking of the consequences.
Vulnerability — Tendency to lose composure when faced with stressful circumstances.

Extraversion facets:

Warmth — Tendency to make connections with others by showing interest and kindness.
Gregariousness — Tendency to prefer (and seek out) stimulating social activities.
Assertiveness — Tendency to take charge and to make one's opinions known.
Activity — Tendency to have a lot of energy and to prefer an active lifestyle.
Excitement-Seeking — Tendency to prefer stimulating activities.
Positive Emotions — Tendency to be happy and enthusiastic.

Openness facets:

Fantasy — Tendency to have an active imagination and capacity for creativity.
Aesthetics — Tendency to appreciate art (of various types) and natural beauty.
Feelings — Capacity to understand and recognize emotions (in oneself and others).
Actions — Tendency to prefer new experiences over familiar ones.
Ideas — Tendency to be intellectually curious.
Values — Tendency to be liberal and tolerant.

Agreeableness facets:

Trust — Tendency to trust others and expect good intentions.
Straightforwardness — Tendency to be honest and act with transparency.
Altruism — Tendency to be helpful, selfless, and generous.
Compliance — Tendency to be cooperative.
Low Attention-Seeking — Tendency to avoid attention and not make one's strengths known to others.
Tender-Mindedness — Tendency to be compassionate and empathetic.

Conscientiousness facets:

Competence — Capacity to handle tasks successfully.
Order — Tendency to stay organized.
Dutifulness — Tendency to meet one's obligations.
Achievement-Striving — Tendency to be ambitiously goal oriented.
Self-Discipline — Capacity to resist temptations for the sake of long-term goals.
Deliberation — Tendency to use careful judgment and to plan before proceeding.

Framework 2 — HEXACO (HEXACO Personality Inventory)

A 6-factor alternative to the Big Five. HEXACO shares Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Openness with the Big Five, but introduces Honesty-Humility as a sixth dimension and reframes Neuroticism as Emotionality. Each of the 6 dimensions has 4 facets (24 facets total).

HEXACO Dimensions (gauges)

Honesty-Humility — Tendency to be fair, open, and humble in interpersonal interactions.
Emotionality — Tendency to experience various negative emotions, especially worry, fear, and depressed mood.
Socially Extraverted (Extraversion) — Tendency to be lively, sociable, and active, typically associated with higher enthusiasm and cheerfulness.
Agreeable Emotions (Agreeableness) — Tendency to be compassionate and caring, patient with others, and forgiving.
Conscientiousness — Tendency to be diligent, well-organized, and interested in doing tasks promptly and well.
Intellectual Openness — Tendency to be unconventional, intellectual, curious, and interested in creative pursuits.

Honesty-Humility:

Sincerity — Tendency to be genuine and straightforward.
Fairness — Tendency to be open and equitable when dealing with others.
Greed Avoidance — Tendency to avoid prioritizing one's own (material) interests.
Modesty — Tendency to be humble instead of boastful or attention-seeking.

Emotionality:

Fearfulness — Tendency to find stressful or challenging situations frightening.
Worry — Tendency to worry about things (especially future events).
Dependence — Tendency to be reliant on others and to need frequent reassurance.
Sentimentality — Tendency to be emotionally sensitive and empathetic.

Extraversion:

Expressiveness — Tendency to be talkative, especially about emotions and personal experiences.
Social Boldness — Tendency to be assertive and confident in social interactions.
Sociability — Tendency to enjoy the company of others (including large group activities).
Liveliness — Tendency to be energetic and enthusiastic.

Agreeableness:

Forgiveness — Tendency to forgive and maintain a positive view of others.
Gentleness — Tendency to accept people and avoid being judgmental of others.
Flexibility — Capacity to be adaptable and take input from others.
Patience — Tendency to remain calm and avoid feeling irritated.

Conscientiousness:

Organization — Tendency to keep things tidy and orderly.
Diligence — Tendency to be industrious and goal oriented.
Perfectionism — Desire for precision and thoroughness.
Prudence — Tendency to plan ahead and proceed carefully.

Openness:

Art Appreciation — Tendency to enjoy (and engage with) nature and the arts.
Inquisitiveness — Tendency to be curious.
Creativity — Tendency to imagine, create, and be innovative.
Unconventionality — Willingness to resist norms and be eccentric.

Framework 3 — MPQ (Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire)

The MPQ assesses 3 broad dimensions of temperament plus an additional Other traits section. It is unique among AMBI frameworks in being closely aligned with clinical psychology research.

MPQ Dimensions (gauges)

Positive Emotionality — Tendency to engage positively with rewarding stimuli, especially people and ideas. High values are associated with joy and enthusiasm; low values with low mood and energy.
Negative Emotionality — Tendency to experience strong negative mood states like stress, anxiety, and anger. Low values indicate emotional stability and low aggression.
Constraint — Tendency for more controlled behaviour: less impulsivity and risk-seeking, more conformity and conventionality.

MPQ Sub-scales

Positive Emotionality:

Well-Being — Tendency to feel happy, satisfied with one's life, and optimistic about the future.
Social Potency — Capacity for influencing and leading others.
Achievement — Tendency to be ambitious, hard-working, and goal-oriented.
Social Closeness — Interest in developing and maintaining social relationships.

Negative Emotionality:

Stress Reaction — Tendency to be reactive to stress, worry, and feel anxious.
Aggression — Tendency to initiate conflicts, intimidate, and be confrontational.
Alienation — Tendency to feel taken advantage of by others, expecting negative outcomes.

Constraint:

Control — Tendency for low impulsivity, more planning, and more self-control.
Harm Avoidance — Tendency and preference for avoiding dangerous activities.
Traditionalism — Tendency to hold more traditional and conservative worldviews.

Other traits:

Absorption — Tendency to become deeply involved in cognitive and/or sensory experiences (not grouped under any of the 3 broad dimensions).

Framework 4 — CPI (California Personality Inventory)

The CPI is the oldest framework in the AMBI (introduced in 1956). It is displayed as a ranked list of 30 scales — no overarching dimensions are scored, because the underlying categories are too diverse to be meaningfully aggregated.

CPI Scales (30 total)

Social Dominance — Tendency to take charge and be assertive.
Capacity for Status — Tendency to think and engage in higher-level discussions and tasks.
Social Skill — Tendency to seek out social interactions and be comfortable with them.
Social Presence — Tendency to be charismatic, personable, and socially adept.
Self Acceptance — Tendency to be willing to take chances, make mistakes, and play with new ideas.
Self-Reliance — Capacity to be self-reliant, especially in dealing with complex problems.
Social Fluency — Tendency to be interested in and concerned about other people's circumstances.
Compliance — Tendency to be conscientious, cooperative, and respectful of others.
Socialization — Tendency to be socially trusting, collaborative, and fair.
Self-Control — Capacity to remain emotionally regulated and resist rash or impulsive reactions.
Personable — Tendency to be even-tempered (resisting temptations and impropriety).
Communality — Tendency to conform to socially accepted patterns of behavior and to be conventional.
Low Vulnerability — Tendency to feel satisfied with one's circumstances and optimistic about the future.
Composure — Tendency to be open-minded, compassionate, and sympathetic.
Valuing Traditional Achievements — Tendency to pursue success by adhering to rules and guidelines.
Valuing Unique Achievements — Tendency to pursue success by exploring new or unconventional paths.
Intellectual Efficiency — Tendency to learn or use advanced skills, be well-informed, and behave in an educated manner.
Psychological Mindedness — Tendency to have (or seek) insight into others' behavior.
Tolerance for Ambiguity — Tendency to be adaptable and open to adopting new ways of thinking.
Sensitivity — Tendency to be sympathetic and emotional about the difficulties of others.
Creative Temperament — Tendency to be interested in creative and innovative pursuits.
Leadership — Capacity to lead others effectively and productively.
Amicability — Tendency to be easy to get along with, understanding, and friendly.
Tough-Mindedness — Tendency to be poised, objective, and resilient.
Vector 1, Vector 2, Vector 3, Managerial Potential, Work Orientation, Law Enforcement Orientation — Additional AMBI-derived CPI scales.

Framework 5 — JPIR (Jackson Personality Inventory — Revised)

The JPI-R measures 15 scales representing topics from personality and social psychology that don't always map cleanly onto the Big Five. Shown as a ranked list with no higher-order grouping.

JPIR Scales (15 total)

Complexity — Tendency to prefer intellectually stimulating topics.
Breadth of Interest — Preference for a wide variety of cognitive interests and activities.
Innovation — Tendency to come up with new and creative ideas.
Tolerance — Tendency to be open to other ways of thinking and doing things.
Empathy — Tendency to share/feel the emotions of others.
Anxiety — Tendency to worry and become stressed easily.
Cooperativeness — Tendency to go along with the ideas and opinions of others.
Connection — Tendency to enjoy the company of others.
Social Confidence — Capacity to be comfortable interacting with others.
Energy Level — Tendency to be highly active, always doing things.
Social Astuteness — Capacity to influence others (sometimes for one's own benefit).
Risk-Taking — Tendency to be comfortable with activities that others consider dangerous.
Organization — Tendency to prefer (and maintain) order.
Traditional Values — Tendency to hold conservative worldviews.
Responsibility — Tendency to fulfill one's obligations.

Framework 6 — 6FPQ (Six Factor Personality Questionnaire)

The 6FPQ measures 6 broad dimensions, each with 3 underlying scales (18 facets total). It descends from Murray's "manifest needs" framework and was reorganized in the 1990s.

6FPQ Dimensions (gauges)

Assertive Social Presence (Extraversion) — Tendency to be outgoing, talkative, comfortable in social interactions, and assertive.
Kindness (Agreeableness) — Tendency to be forgiving, tolerant, kind, and compassionate.
Independence — Tendency to be less concerned with the approval and opinion of others.
Openness to Experience — Tendency to engage with new topics, complex and abstract concepts.
Methodicalness — Tendency to be careful, planful, and orderly.
Industriousness — Tendency to have a strong work ethic and stay busy and productive.

6FPQ Sub-scales (3 per dimension)

Assertive Social Presence:

Affiliation — Tendency to seek community with others by building and maintaining close personal relationships.
Dominance — Tendency to prefer having authority over others, whether as part of a leadership role or in a more manipulative, self-interested manner.
Exhibition — Tendency to be attention-seeking, including a desire to show off and entertain others.

Kindness:

Deference — Tendency to be submissive, often associated with lower self-esteem and a relatively higher tolerance for being taken advantage of.
Mild-Mannered — Tendency to have a stable demeanor (rarely becoming irritable or upset).
Good-Natured — Tendency to be cooperative, tolerant, and open to feedback from others.

Methodicalness:

Cognitive Structure — Tendency to prefer traditional values and authoritarian worldviews.
Planfulness — Tendency to resist impulsive and thoughtless behavior.
Order — Tendency to prefer organization, tidiness, as well as to carry out activities in a planful, methodical manner.

Independence:

Autonomy — Tendency to prefer doing things alone, including working independently.
Individualism — Tendency to be unconcerned by the opinions and preferences of others.
Self-Reliance — Tendency to get things done for oneself, without needing (or bothering) to consult with others.

Openness to Experience:

Change — Tendency to be adaptable and open to new ways of doing things rather than highly habitual.
Understanding — Tendency to be intellectual and motivated to learn.
Curiosity — Tendency to prefer having a wide variety of pursuits (hobbies and interests) including those that are new and unfamiliar.

Industriousness:

Goal-orientation — Tendency to prioritize productivity, dedication to one's goals, and to go above and beyond the expectations of others.
Endurance — Tendency to be resilient and perseverant, even when dealing with complex challenges.
Seriousness — Tendency to avoid opportunities for creativity and playfulness, including an avoidance of spontaneity and silly fun.

Framework 7 — TCI (Temperament & Character Inventory)

The TCI measures 7 broad dimensions — 4 considered "temperament" (Novelty-Seeking, Harm Avoidance, Reward Dependence, Persistence) and 3 considered "character" (Self-Directedness, Cooperativeness, Self-Transcendence) — each containing 3–5 lower-level sub-scales.

TCI Dimensions (gauges)

Novelty-Seeking — Tendency to pursue new experiences, especially those that are emotionally or cognitively stimulating.
Harm Avoidance — Tendency to avoid risk and distress (physical, social, and emotional).
Sensitivity to Rewards (Reward Dependence) — Tendency to be highly sensitive to rewards, including intangible social and emotional reward cues.
Persistence — Tendency to be productive, goal-oriented, and resilient when managing challenges.
Self-Directedness — Capacity to adapt oneself to situational demands.
Cooperativeness — Capacity to collaborate and work well with others (typically associated with empathy, compassion, tolerance).
Self-Transcendence — Capacity to see oneself as part of something that extends beyond one's personal experience.

TCI Sub-scales

Novelty-Seeking:

Sensation-Seeking — Tendency to seek out and enjoy new and thrilling experiences.
Impulsiveness — Tendency to act quickly without considering the consequences.
Extravagance — Tendency to spend money freely and prioritize immediate enjoyment.
Disorderliness — Tendency to prefer flexibility and spontaneity over adherence to rules and order.

Harm Avoidance:

Worry and Pessimism — Tendency to frequently and excessively worry about potential future problems.
Fear of Uncertainty — Tendency to feel anxious in situations where most others perceive little risk.
Shyness — Tendency to feel discomfort or lack of confidence in social situations (especially with strangers).
Fatigability — Tendency to get fatigued more quickly and recover more slowly than most others.

Sensitivity to Rewards:

Sentimentality — Tendency to be guided by emotions and experience nostalgia about past events.
Social Engagement — Tendency to be genuinely interested in people and to enjoy social interactions.
Attachment — Tendency to be open about one's feelings and interested in close relationships.
Conformity — Tendency to seek approval, support, and direction from others.

Persistence:

Initiative — Tendency to be enthusiastic about starting and completing projects.
Work-Hardened — Tendency to persistently and competently handle challenging tasks.
Ambitious — Tendency to be goal oriented and industrious.
Perfectionist — Tendency to set and pursue high standards, often at the expense of more immediate rewards.

Self-Directedness:

Resilience — Capacity to stay focused on duties and obligations, especially those affecting others.
Purposefulness — Capacity to maintain a strong sense of purpose and meaning in life.
Resourcefulness — Capacity to draw on a wide range of skills rather than give up on hard problems.
Self-Acceptance — Capacity to maintain a healthy and realistic view of oneself.
Restraint — Capacity for self-control (resisting temptations and bad habits).

Cooperativeness:

Social Acceptance — Capacity to remain open and respectful of multiple diverse perspectives.
Empathy — Capacity to feel and understand the emotions of others.
Helpfulness — Capacity to enjoy helping others and to value their contributions.
Compassion — Capacity to accept others and to forgive their mistakes.
Morality — Capacity to adhere to moral standards.

Self-Transcendence:

Self-Forgetful — Tendency to become absorbed in thoughts and experiences.
Sensitive to Beauty — Capacity to appreciate beauty and profound experiences.
Spiritual Acceptance — Tendency to have spiritual experiences or to feel supernatural connections.

Framework 8 — HPI (Hogan Personality Inventory)

The HPI is one of the most well-validated personality frameworks. The AMBI estimates scores for 44 lower-level scales. Displayed as a ranked list — no higher-order dimensions are scored within this version.

The HPI is widely used in occupational settings to predict aspects of job performance (e.g., suitability for managerial, clerical, or technical roles).

HPI Scales (44 total)

Low Irritability — Capacity to understand others' feelings and respond with compassion.
Steadiness — Tendency to remain calm and worry-free.
Self-Assured — Tendency to be comfortable with oneself and to have little regret for previous actions.
Calmness — Tendency to remain calm and composed (especially under pressure).
Even-Tempered — Tendency to rarely get upset.
Vitality — Tendency to experience few physical symptoms (especially ones related to stress).
Trusting — Tendency to trust other people and their intentions.
Secure Attachment — Tendency to expect stability in relationships.
Competitive — Tendency to be willing to accept challenges and to expect success.
Self-Confidence — Tendency to maintain positive self-regard and assuredness.
Stability — Capacity to avoid experiencing low mood and disinterest.
Self-Directed — Tendency to be willing to take charge and influence or direct others.
Identity — Capacity for self-awareness and a sense of direction in life.
Social Self-Esteem — Tendency to be comfortable with and skilled at social situations.
Liking Parties — Tendency to enjoy social gatherings.
Liking Crowds — Tendency to enjoy large public events (sporting events, concerts).
Experience-Seeking — Tendency to enjoy trying new things.
Exhibitionistic — Tendency to enjoy attention from others.
Entertaining — Tendency to enjoy amusing others.
Affable — Tendency to be accepting of others and easy going.
Sensitive — Tendency to feel strong emotions about the experiences of others.
Caring — Tendency to feel concern for others.
Liking People — Tendency to be interested in the experiences of others.
Forgiving — Tendency to forgive easily and forget disagreements.
Moralistic — Tendency to be judgmental of the behavior of others.
Mastery — Tendency to persevere until expert performance is routinely achieved.
Virtuous — Tendency to behave with high moral standards and goodness.
Approval Seeking — Tendency to be dependent on others and approval seeking.
Grounded — Tendency to prefer routines.
Impulse Control — Tendency to avoid being thoughtless or reckless.
Avoiding Trouble — Tendency to be agreeable and respect authority.
Science Ability — Capacity and preference for analytical and data-informed thinking.
Curiosity — Tendency to want to understand how things work.
Thrill-Seeking — Tendency to prefer exciting and sometimes dangerous activities.
Intellectual Games — Preference for complex activities and games of strategy.
Generates Ideas — Tendency to come up with novel and innovative ideas.
Culture — Tendency to appreciate artistic activities and/or unfamiliar ways of living.
Education — Tendency to be knowledgeable in terms of facts and skills.
Math Ability — Capacity to be capable of advanced math.
Good Memory — Capacity to recall and/or recognize lots of information.
Reading — Capacity to read sophisticated texts with high literacy vocabulary terms.
Self-Focus — Tendency to be introspective and reflective.
Impression Management — Tendency to be concerned with the opinions of others, especially about oneself.
Appearance — Tendency to be concerned about one's physical appearance, especially clothes and grooming.

Score Bands

Scores across every framework are grouped into three bands to simplify interpretation:

High (score ≥ 31): clearly above the population average for this scale.
Middle (score 20–30): near the population average.
Low (score ≤ 19): clearly below the population average.

What Scores Are Not

Personality scores are not fixed diagnoses. They describe tendencies, not certainties. A high Neuroticism score means you tend to experience stress more intensely — it does not mean you cannot cope well or that you have a mental health condition.

Scores can vary slightly depending on your current life circumstances. If you took the survey during an unusually stressful period, your Neuroticism / Emotionality scores may be higher than usual.

Interpreting Your Profile as a Whole

Traits interact with each other. For example:

High Openness + High Conscientiousness often produces effective, innovative professionals.
High Agreeableness + Low Assertiveness may mean you avoid conflict even when speaking up would serve you well.
High Neuroticism + Low Conscientiousness can create a pattern of stress without effective coping strategies.

Look for combinations across frameworks. Convergence (e.g., Big Five Extraversion + HEXACO Socially Extraverted + 6FPQ Assertive Social Presence + TCI Reward Dependence) is more diagnostic than any single scale.

Source

Yarkoni, T. (2010). The abbreviation of personality, or how to measure 200 personality scales with 200 items. Journal of Research in Personality, 44(2), 180–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2010.01.002