What's happening?

"Hmm. Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes - and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... So where shall I put you?"

It is Harry Potter's first day at HogwartsThe school for witches and wizards attended by Harry Potter in the fictional series by JK Rowling. . He puts on the Sorting Hat, a talking hat that sorts students into houses - Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Slytherin and Ravenclaw. The hat looks into Harry's mind and reads his personalityThe type of person you are, shown by how you behave, feel and think. .

The Sorting Hat is just part of a story. But it is true that people love sorting each other into groups based on their personalities.

Today, many people do quizzes online to find out their Hogwarts house. Others check their star signs or answer big lists of questions about what they would do in different situations.

Some people use personality tests to learn about themselves and try and become a better version of themselves. And some companies use personality tests to work out who to put into which team.

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But not everyone thinks personality types are a good idea. One of thee most popular is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. But the people who made it, Myers and Briggs, did not train in psychologyThe scientific study of the mind and behaviour. or testing.

And not everyone may be honestBeing truthful in what you say and do. with themselves when they take a personality test. If someone does not want to be in SlytherinOne of the four houses at Hogwarts, the fictional school attended by Harry Potter. Slytherin has a reputation for producing evil witches and wizards., for example, they may change their answers. They might even do it without thinking about it.

Are personality tests true? 

Yes! Personality tests may not find a perfect answer for everyone. But they are good enough to help people learn about themselves.

No! People do not fit neatly into boxes. It is not helpful to try to put people into categories when we are all very different.