Self-Serving Bias Strikes Again!

Recently I read a blog post on Dr. James Fallon, a neuroscientist who discovered that he had the brain imaging pattern of a "full-blown psychopath." After his discovery, he checked in with family and friends to confirm interpersonal patterns that would indicate psychopathy. As a happily married man, father, grandfather, friend to many and successful scientist, he doubted that he had such traits. However, over the next years, he did identify that he lacked certain empathetic traits but these had been offset by a warm and nurturing childhood. As a result he coined a term for his condition - "pro-social psychopath."

This post caused me to reflect on my own self-assessments. Our "self-serving" biases give us a blind spot with regards to our own characteristics. Dr. Fallon took years after his discovery to become comfortable with the image in the brain imaging mirror. I don't think any of us are immune to the same issues.

When I was in college, I took my first Myers-Briggs personality test as part of a leadership program at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC. The test is certainly not scientific, because it is based on ideas of how you perceive yourself and your interactions with others. I tested as I have tested ever since - an Extroverted, iNtuitive (Big Picture), Thinking and Judgmental (Seeking Closure) personality. However, the personality described as The Commander never really resonated with me (although others have at times agreed with the description!).

Since quarantine, I have had increased time for self-introspection and decided to retake the test with my increased level of awareness as well as a willingness to remove my "self-serving" bias. When I retook the test, I did test differently. I shifted to Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, and Judgmental personality. The personality is described as The Counselor which is a much more fitting description of my offline interactions. So how did I get it wrong for nearly 40 years?

I believe that I have consistently defended myself against perceived weaknesses. I think that I believed people who were extroverted were more likely to be successful and popular. In addition, I think that I believed that people who were feelings-based were weak. As a result, I thought myself into these other roles which I could enact. But in my down time, I would naturally gravitate to my true patterns. Was this my personality "preference" or my "orientation"? I have no idea, but clarity on this issue does provide me a greater sense of internal harmony.