Personality testing is very helpful because it
- Tells us about a person’s coping in general with stress and life, sometimes by creating a stressful situation in the act of testing, giving us a chance to watch the person react, make sense of something that is senseless, or assign meaning to things and explain their thoughts.
- Tells us about how a person copes with specific stressful situations or demands, and more about how they are handling matters now (e.g., seriously depressed and suicidal).
- Can answer some question put to us by others, like ability to hold some job, reach some goal, or likelihood of behaving in some way.
- Can guide therapy and provide self-understanding for the client regarding strengths and weaknesses.