THE PERSONALITY-ASSESSMENT SYSTEM - A RADICAL HYPOTHESIS

Two stories are presented. The first story is about a clinical practit ioner developing an assessment method beginning with a connection of t est ''signs'' with behavior, and proceeding to a system that could mys tify observers. The second story is about the application of scientifi c methods to explain how the system could work. Together the stories a re an example of practice informing science, and science informing pra ctice. The basic hypothesis used is that much of what we call personal ity is ''caused'' by differential aptitudes as modified by long-term l earning. It is also assumed that people would prefer to use those apti tudes they feel are their better ones and avoid those in which they fe el weaker.