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May 10, 2008
Ink Blot - Thought Processing
We now continue with bits of my recent Rorschach test. My comments are in whatever color this is.
Be sure to read the Rorschach Info blurb (Disclaimer) or my less-formal explanation before continuing.
THOUGHT PROCESSING
Processing of Information:
- You spend a great deal of time and energy gathering and putting together information about situations before acting. Rather than taking risks, you want to consider things very thoroughly. If something requires much attention and concentration, this is an asset. If it does not, your cautious and perfectionistic approach can cause you to waste time and energy, put off making decisions, and delay taking needed action.
- Your style of dealing with problems by focusing mainly on the simple facts keeps you from recognizing or experiencing problems with emotions, relationships, or friendships.
- You often pay attention to what is socially correct, conventional or expected.
Regarding the first item I've already stated I'm aware of it and taking steps to correct it. Today, for example, rather than spend too much time agonizing over the minute details of two items I needed to buy I quickly listed the features I wanted and made the purchases. Early in the process I recognized that almost anything I bought would meet far more than the minimum requirements… so why agonize too much?
As for simple facts, I don't see what the problem with that is. Just the other day I had a conversation with a woman in which three unhappy things had come to her family and as she told me about them all I could think of was the simple fact that had she not been sleeping with a married man none of it would have happened. Had she paid attention to what is socially correct, conventional or expected she'd have been better off.
Mostly, I try not to do things that will haunt me for the rest of my life. As luck would have it sticking to those things are socially correct, conventional and expected keep me from feeling too bad about myself.
Motivation:
- You seem willing to think about complex information that you take in to the same degree as most people. You appear to set realistic goals which you can achieve.
- The conclusions you draw from your efforts to understand and assemble information are usually as complex, developed, and mature as most.
- Typically you do not let your feelings have much impact on your decision making and judgments.
Sometimes I let my feelings for my kids impact my decision making as I will give in to things they want (do I need to provide a link to the $110 Nike Shox?).
Perceptual Accuracy: This is a measure of how well people usually see the world, especially when things are somewhat ambiguous, as our world often is. If most other people would not easily be able to see what you see, you would be said to have a "distorted' view or perception because others can't see it the way you do. If most others would easily be able to share your view if they tried, your perception would be called "more accurate". We all distort a little because everyone is unique, but too much distortion causes problems. We can learn to perceive more realistically. Another way that people differ is in how uniquely they view things, ranging from seeing the world in very conventional ways to seeing it in very different or unusual ways.
- You distort reality or misunderstand situations somewhat more than the average person. Seeing things inaccurately to this extent can lead to behavior that is less effective and less appropriate.
- Your distortions or misunderstandings of things around you may not occur often enough to lead to serious problems in everyday living.
This one made me "eek" when I read it as I read too much into the word distort and took it all the way to delusional.
While I wonder about how smart it might be (the appropriateness) to post the results of an Ink Blot test, and have wonderings about whether or not my distortions might keep me from accurately interpreting this item the things I think it applies to might be called a naive outlook on life. I like to think most people are good and have good intentions. I, unfortunately, believe everything I'm told. I'll assume someone has made a mistake before I think they're trying to screw me. I'm suspicious of very few people. I think people like me when they meet me.
I'll give you something before I try to sell you something. I'll lend a hand whenever I can; I won't ask anybody else for help because I don't want to bother them (that is, I am not bothered by people asking me for help, but I don't want to bother them … I think this is an odd way to think).
There have been times when people have suggested something that has left me curious about how they could possibly think what they are thinking as it seemed, while possible, the least likely and less flattering of two possible explanations. Maybe most people follow that path.
I also think people want to be left alone and, until recently, haven't gone out of my way to trouble people with my presence. I wasn't always like this and I'm working on it as well.
Oh, before I sound to insanely trusting: With things involving my children I have a healthy suspicion of everyone.
[I could be way off base with all this. I know it. To refer to Gary Larson cartoon, I could be "just plain nuts."]
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Posted by delmer at May 10, 2008 8:00 AM
Comments
I'm reading this a bit out of order (LOFR = Last Out First Read) but we do have a few similar ways of thinking! It makes me wonder if I'd see what you see (barring Pat Robison (?) and something like what, your Ex wielding a knife???) in the blots.
The Thought Processing was fairly similar - I tend to overthink things and while I can be understanding and empathetic, part of my brain is thinking, "Well, if your diet didn't consist primarily of trans-fats, you wouldn't have this "issue" with your weight..."
I also choose to live a "conventional" life and while I've tried some unconventional things, I usually either am glad that I at least tried but most times, I am not wanting to continuing doing them.
You sound like a really nice man to me. But then, I tend to like people.
Posted by: Ms. Q at May 10, 2008 12:36 PM
"Had she paid attention to what is socially correct, conventional or expected she'd have been better off."
I don't buy into that. Going on just what you have written here, I don't think that being unconventional or not being 'socially correct' *causes* 'bad things to happen.'
Christopher Columbus was not conventional when he he set his sails for newer lands. The people thought he was going to fall off the side of the earth, because it was flat, not round.
Galileo was excommunicated from the Church because he said *GASP* 'The Earth is NOT the center of the Universe.' (FYI - believe it or not, he was just re-instated sometime within the last 50 years!)
Where would technology be today if there weren't the 'Bill Gateses' of our conventional and expected society to push the envelope and discover?
What about Hillary Clinton? It matters very little what one's political views are regarding this, she is still (even by today's standards) VERY unconventional, Correct, or 'expected' regarding running for the Presidency?!
We wouldn't evolve as a society without people being trail-blazers and being unconventional or 'socially correct'.
Many people in this "socially correct, and conventional" Society that we live in, felt that AIDS was given to homosexuals, because it was a sin. The thought often was: "If you weren't homosexual, you wouldn't have gotten AIDS".
That smacks of the same crap of 'If you didn't do such & such, I wouldn't have to Beat you.'
(A Domestic Violence perpetrator's attitude)
And having bad things happen to someone doesn't mean it was because she was sleeping with a married man.
~ZZ
Posted by: Devil's Advocate at May 10, 2008 2:24 PM
Ms Q: I think, or at least my interpretation of, "conventional" and "socially correct" was "moral and right." So being conventional is good.
I don't think either of us are boring despite our conventionalness (and despite the fact I sometimes say I'm a boring old man).
ZZ: I was vague and therefore unclear. I don't think anything happens to anybody due to their lifestyle. One of the bad things that had befallen the woman I was talking about was that the wife of the guy busted them as they were going away for the weekend ... this caused her some embarrassment. The other two things were similar to this.
Posted by: delmer at May 10, 2008 9:29 PM
Wow, we're a lot alike regarding "Thought Processing"...I have always been very "idealistic" and tend to think that people have the best of intentions to a fault. Too trusting. However, in the past 4 years (since the divorce), I've learned a lot (the hard way)...and now I have to fight going to the other end of the spectrum. It's sometimes difficult, but I do strive for a healthy balance in this area.
As for being sometimes overly analytical, it doesn't surprise me when a person who works in technology tends toward this characteristic...I believe it serves you well in your line of work, right?
So, again, it's about balance.
Posted by: Ginger at May 11, 2008 12:10 AM
I like to think the "analytical" part of me serves me well in my job. It helps that I'm surrounded by engineer -- they make me seem more normal.
Posted by: delmer at May 11, 2008 1:53 AM
ha, "normal" is such a relative term... ;)
Posted by: Ginger at May 11, 2008 12:54 PM