GCI Assessment

I feel like I either do not know myself very well or the questions were posed in a way to get certain answers.

Or at least, that is how I felt when we were first going over these in class. When we were told about the social desirability index, my scores made me feel a tad better.


The most significant lesson I learned from this instrument is that "knowing thyself" is a constant process. We are constantly changing and learning, so that we adapt ourselves to a certain mindset or way of doing things. If we can learn from past mistakes and through new experiences and encounters, then this instrument is just a tool to help us enact the change we may recognize we need.

According to GCI (not to make it a black-or-white matter, but to put it in those terms), I seem to be very self-centered, selfish, and exclusive--although I know this to be untrue about myself.

Other aspects, however, seem closer to my true nature than I may like to admit--I realize far from being distant or cautious, I tend to be very trusting and self-disclose a lot (the good vs evil assessment). And although this may seem stubborn, but for me, sometimes it takes 3 or even 4 times for a bad behavior to start dissolving--in short, I may be "narrow-minded" in the sense of changing certain possible damaging behaviors (self-destructive, or detrimental to relationships). This isn't to say that I am negative or crazy in any way--just--for example--I tend to jump to conclusions--A LOT. I still do it, to some capacity, but for the most part, I really do and TRY (I know a lot of times, people say DO don't TRY) to suppress this, or stop and think before engaging in this type of behavior.

For the most part, I think I'm generally fairly good at reading people, but sometimes I can be way off. So the GCI seems to catch this part of my personality.

It relieved me to hear that the Category Inclusiveness component was thrown out in newer tests because the ability to honestly test its subjects was either inaccurate or (perhaps) slightly compromised by human nature.

The GCI (I think) accurately tested my Self-Management. At first I was shocked to read through the scores, but the more I reflect and think rationally through it, I see the validity.

I already try and not be judgmental and (maybe not as strongly, but I DO TRY to) reach out to others who may or may not be different. People who go through life thinking others judge them should look in the mirror--most likely they are doing the same right back.

I LOVE TRAVEL and entering other cultures. I understand the need to adapt and to really immerse oneself in another culture to truly embrace and understand it. If we go with the "American mindset", we are already close-minded, and will not and cannot get the most out of our experience. Sadly, many people go overseas with this mentality and come home with horrible encounters (not always, but often). Really, this is a reflection of the person who went rather than on the people they encountered while away from home. We have to be willing to step outside of our comfort zone and put ourselves out there, otherwise, we'll be met with the same resistance.