Personality analyzer - Patent Review 5696981

It is claimed:

1. A programmed computer system for analyzing the personality of a subject, the computer system including an operator input device, and a program including key word lists, each key word list comprising a plurality of words associated with one of six personality types, where the personality types fall into three sets of pairs, a first personality type of each pair precisely opposing a second personality type of the pair, said program being selectively operable to effect the process of:

receiving a text, the text comprising a plurality of words selected by the subject;

parsing the text for words in each of the six key word lists;

assigning a weight to any parsed words in the text which are found in at least one of the key word lists;

associating each parsed word with a respective personality type based upon the word being in a list of that personality type;

summing for each personality type the weight assigned to each parsed word associated with that personality type; and

assembling a comparison of the sums for the personality types.

2. A programmed computer system as set forth in claim 1, said program being further selectively operable to effect the process of determining the introversion and extroversion of a subject person.

3. An automated personality analyzer for analyzing the personality of a subject utilizing a plurality of key word lists, each list comprising a plurality of words associated with one of six personality types, where the personality types fall into three sets of pairs, a first personality type of each pair precisely opposing a second personality type of the pair, the analyzer comprising:

a first input device adapted to receive a text, the text comprising a plurality of words selected by the subject; and

a computer system having:

means for parsing the text for words in each key word list;

means for assigning a weight to any parsed words in the text which are found in at least one of the key word lists;

means for associating each parsed word with a respective personality type based upon the word being in a list of that personality type;

means for summing for each personality type the weight assigned to each parsed word associated with that personality type;

means for assembling a comparison of the sums for the six personality types.

4. A method for analyzing the personality of a subject utilizing a plurality of key word lists, each list comprising a plurality of words associated with one of six personality types, where the personality types fall into three sets of pairs, a first personality type of each pair precisely opposing a second personality type of the pair, the method comprising:

receiving a text in a computer system, the text comprising a plurality of words selected by the subject;

parsing the text in the computer system for words in each key word list;

assigning a weight in the computer system to any parsed words in the text which are found in at least one of the key word lists;

associating in the computer system each parsed word with a respective personality type based upon the word being in a list of that personality type;

summing in the computer system for each personality type the weight assigned to each parsed word associated with that personality type;

assembling in the computer system a comparison of the sums for the personality types.

5. A method for analyzing the personality of a subject as set forth in claim 4, further comprising the step of, if a parsed word is not found in any of the key word lists, assigning a weight of zero to that word.

6. A method for analyzing the personality of a subject as set forth in claim 4, wherein the assigning step further comprises the steps of, if a parsed word appears in a list,

(a) preliminarily assigning a weight to the parsed word;

(b) if the parsed word was already found in the text, then increasing the weight by a predetermined factor.

7. A method for analyzing the personality of a subject as set forth in claim 4, the key word lists being further subdivided based upon the fit of the word in the list, wherein the assigning step further comprises the steps of, if a parsed word appears in a list,

(a) preliminarily assigning a weight to the parsed word;

(b) increasing the weight by a predetermined factor depending upon the subdivision in which the parsed word is found.

8. A method for analyzing the personality of a subject as set forth in claim 4, the method further comprising:

(a) where data input is from a questionnaire or flashcards, assigning a weight to a subject skipping a question;

(b) where data input is automated, assigning a weight to long pauses in a monologue;

(c) where data input is automated, assigning a weight to a volume increases on a key word; and

(d) factoring the weights obtained in steps a through c into the summed weight for each personality type.

9. A programmed computer system, the computer system comprising a computer program storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for execution by said digital computer, said computer including:

means for receiving a text in the computer, the text comprising a plurality of words selected by the subject;

means for parsing the text for words in each of a plurality of key word lists, each list comprising a plurality of words associated with one of six personality types, where the personality types fall into three sets of pairs, a first personality _type of each pair precisely opposing a second personality type of the pair;

means for assigning a weight to any parsed words in the text which are found in each of the key word lists;

means for associating each parsed word with a respective personality type based upon the word being in a list of that personality type;

means for summing for each personality type the weight assigned to each parsed word associated with that personality type;

means for assembling a comparison of the sums for the personality types.

10. A personality analyzer as set forth in claim 9, the program additionally comprising:

(a) means for assigning a weight to a subject skipping a question, where data is input from a questionnaire or flashcards;

(b) means for assigning a weight to long pauses in a monologue, where data input is automated;

(c) means for assigning a weight to a volume increases on a key word, where data input is automated; and

(d) means for adding the weights of a-c to the weight sum for each personality type.

11. A programmed computer system for classifying words in a text, the computer including an operator input device, and a plurality of key word lists, each comprising a plurality of words associated with one of six personality types, where the personality types fall into three sets of pairs, a first personality type of each pair precisely opposing a second personality type of the pair said program being selectively operable to effect the process of:

parsing a text stored in the computer, the text comprising a plurality of words for words in each key word list;

associating each parsed word with a respective personality type based upon the word being in a list of that personality type.

12. A programmed computer system as set forth in claim 11, wherein a weight is associated with each word in the key word lists, the program further being selectively operable to sum the weights of each associated word, and provide a comparison to the user of the sums.

13. A program as set forth in claim 12 wherein:

(a) for data input from a questionnaire or flashcards, a weight is assigned to a subject skipping a question;

(b) for data input being automated, a weight is assigned to long pauses in a monologue;

(c) for data input being automated, a weight is assigned to a volume increases on a key word; and

(d) the weights of steps a through c are summed together with the weight associated with each word in the key word lists to provide a summed weight for each personality type.

14. A programmed computer system as set forth in claim 11, said program being further selectively operable to effect the process of determining the introversion and extroversion of a subject.

15. A programmed computer system for analyzing the personality of a subject, the computer system including an operator input device and a program including six key word lists, each key word list comprising a plurality of words associated with a personality type from the group of Novism, Mutulism, Competism, Revertism, Endurism or Centrism, where Mutulism precisely opposes Competism, Novism precisely opposes Revertism, and Endurism precisely opposes Centrism, said program being selectively operable to effect the process of:

receiving a text, the text comprising a plurality of words selected by the subject;

parsing the text for words in each key word list;

assigning a weight to any parsed words in the text which are found in at least one of the key word lists;

associating each parsed word with a respective personality type based upon the word being in a list of that personality type;

summing for each personality type the weight assigned to each parsed word associated with that personality type; and

assembling a comparison of the sums for the personality types.

16. A programmed computer system as set forth in claim 15, said program being further selectively operable to effect the process of determining the introversion and extroversion of a subject person.

17. A programmed computer system as set forth in claim 15 effecting a process comprising the additional steps of:

(a) where data input is from a questionnaire or flashcards, assigning a weight to a subject skipping a question;

(b) where data input is automated, assigning a weight to long pauses in a monologue;

(c) where data input is automated, assigning a weight to a volume increases on a key word; and

(d) factoring the weights obtained by steps a through c into the summed weight for each personality type.

18. An automated personality analyzer for analyzing the personality of a subject utilizing six key word lists, each list comprising a plurality of words associated with a personality type from the group of Novism, Mutulism, Competism, Revertism, Endurism and Centrism, where Mutulism precisely opposes Competism, Novism precisely opposes Revertism, and Endurism precisely opposes Centrism, the analyzer comprising:

a first input device adapted to receive a text, the text comprising a plurality of words selected by the subject; and

a computer system having:

means for parsing the text for words in each key word list;

means for assigning a weight to any parsed words in the text which are found in at least one of the key word lists;

means for associating each parsed word with a respective personality type based upon the word being in a list of that personality type;

means for summing for each personality type the weight assigned to each parsed word associated with that personality type;

means for assembling a comparison of the sums for the six personality types.

19. An automated personality analyzer as set forth in claim 18, the computer system additionally comprising:

(a) means for assigning a weight to a subject skipping a question, where data is input from a questionnaire or flashcards;

(b) means for assigning a weight to long pauses in a monologue, where data input is automated;

(c) means for assigning a weight to a volume increases on a key word, where data input is automated; and

(d) means for adding the weights of a-c to the weight sum for each personality type.

20. A method for analyzing the personality of a subject utilizing six key word lists, each list comprising a plurality of words associated with a personality type from the group of Novism, Mutulism, Competism, Revertism, Endurism and Centrism, where Mutulism precisely opposes Competism, Novism precisely opposes Revertism, and Endurism precisely opposes Centrism, the method comprising:

receiving a text in a computer system, the text comprising a plurality of words selected by the subject;

parsing the text in the computer system for words in each key word list;

assigning a weight in the computer system to any parsed words in the text which are found in at least one of the key word lists;

associating in the computer system each parsed word with a respective personality type based upon the word being in a list of that personality type;

summing in the computer system for each personality type the weight assigned to each parsed word associated with that personality type;

assembling in the computer system a comparison of the sums for the personality types.

21. A method for analyzing the personality of a subject as set forth in claim 20, the method further comprising:

(a) where data input is from a questionnaire or flashcards, assigning a weight to a subject skipping a question;

(b) where data input is automated, assigning a weight to long pauses in a monologue;

(c) where data input is automated, assigning a weight to a volume increases on a key word; and

(d) factoring the weights obtained in steps a through c into the summed weight for each personality type.

22. A programmed computer system comprising a computer program storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for execution by said digital computer, said computer including:

means for receiving a text in the computer, the text comprising a plurality of words selected by the subject;

means for parsing the text for words in each of a plurality of key word lists, each list comprising a plurality of words associated with one of six personality types from the group of Novism, Mutulism, Competism, Revertism, Endurism and Centrism, where Mutulism precisely opposes Competism, Novism precisely opposes Revertism, and Endurism precisely opposes Centrism;

means for assigning a weight to any parsed words in the text which are found in each of the key word lists;

means for associating each parsed word with a respective personality type based upon the word being in a list of that personality type;

means for summing for each personality type the weight assigned to each parsed word associated with that personality type;

means for assembling a comparison of the sums for the personality types.

23. A programmed computer system as set forth in claim 22, the computer system further including:

(a) means for assigning a weight to a subject skipping a question, where data is input from a questionnaire or flashcards;

(b) means for assigning a weight to long pauses in a monologue, where data input is automated;

(c) means for assigning a weight to a volume increases on a key word, where data input is automated; and

(d) means for adding the weights of a-c to the weight sum for each personality type.

24. A programmed computer system for classifying words in a text, the computer including an operator input device, and a plurality of key word lists, each list comprising a plurality of words associated with one of six personality types from the group of Novism, Mutulism, Competism, Revertism, Endurism and Centrism, where Mutulism precisely opposes Competism, Novism precisely opposes Revertism, and Endurism precisely opposes Centrism, said program being selectively operable to effect the process of:

parsing a text stored in the computer, the text comprising a plurality of words for words in each key word list;

associating each parsed word with a respective personality type based upon the word being in a list of that personality type.

25. A programmed computer system as set forth in claim 24, wherein a weight is associated with each word in the key word lists, the program further being selectively operable to sum the weights of each associated word, and provide a comparison to the user of the sums.

26. A programmed computer system as set forth in claim 24, said program being further selectively operable to effect the process of determining the introversion and extroversion of a subject.

27. A programmed computer system as set forth in claim 24, wherein:

(a) for data input from a questionnaire or flashcards, a weight is assigned to a subject skipping a question;

(b) for data input being automated, a weight is assigned to long pauses in a monologue;

(c) for data input being automated, a weight is assigned to a volume increases on a key word; and

(d) the weights of steps a through c are summed together with the weight associated with each word in the key word lists to provide a summed weight for each personality type.

Description Submit all comments and votes

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for analyzing the motivational philosophies of a person (what drives him to do whatever he is doing).

2. Description of Related Art

People have long had an interest in understanding our mental processes and behavior. Ancient civilizations, such as those of ancient India, Greece, and China, adopted formalized study of mental processes and behavior. For example, it is believed that in India, as long as three thousand years ago, serious attempts were made to study states of consciousness, dreams, and emotions. The early Greeks attempted to relate thoughts, moods and habits to changes in the physical state of the human body. One of the earliest debates amongst the Greek philosophers was whether human mental processes are inborn or whether they are a product of learning and experience.

Studies of psychology and behavior have continued to the present day. Yet, scientific attempts to classify and predict human mental processes and behavior have generally competed with spiritual and religious explanations. This crossover between science and religion flows naturally from the inseparability of philosophy and psychology.

The basis of much of modem philosophy and psychology arose in Germany, about 100 years ago. Psychologists such as Wundt, Fechner and Ebbinghaus are notable. However, it was not until the late nineteenth century that the science of psychology was introduced into America. Not coincidentally, it was a philosopher, William James, who was most notably active in this. Later, Edward Titchner, a member of the psychology department at Cornell University, argued strongly for the use of introspection as a technique for understanding mental processes.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, an American psychologist, John Watson, founded a movement known as behaviorism. According to the behaviorists, the study of mental processes was not properly the subject matter of psychology. They believed that science could be used to understand behavior, but only as a series of stimuli and responses. Watson himself claimed that consciousness or mental life is so subjective that scientific methods could not be used to study it. Despite the urgings of behaviorists to ignore mental processes, other schools developed. These include psychoanalysis and Gestalt psychology. According to Gestalt psychology, people can understand themselves (and be understood) only by looking at larger patterns of their experiences and actions. That is, Gestalt analysis holds that a person's mental processes are a result of many events that are acting upon a person over a given period of time, not just isolated stimuli.

It is well accepted that individuals trained in psychology have skill in understanding and predicting human nature. These individuals generally rely upon the known theories of human mental processes and behavior to arrive at conclusions regarding a given subject. Yet, the tools which such specialists typically use to analyze the personality of a subject have not changed appreciably in fifty years. Typical methods include conversing with the subject, and posing preconceived questions or a series of questions to the subject (including multiple-choice tests). While these methods are often adequate, they generally lack accuracy, reproducibility, and predictability. In other words, even today, psychology is not very scientific.

Also, the study of psychology itself has become complex, due to the fact that there are now hundreds of competing personality types, creating thousands of various motivational drives, which catalyze the millions of differing activities, among the billions of different hybrid personality types in the world. To understand the motivations behind a particular action done by a specific person, a psychologist would have to take all of the above factors into account (which is understood to be impossible).

Therefore, the inventor has utilized a different approach. The inventor accepts the fact that every "normal" person has a basic philosophy of life (and/or death), a way of relating his own self to other people and to the entire world about him. This basic philosophy or way of relating will be hereinafter referred to as a "personality type." It is one's personality type which provides a person with those basic beliefs that motivate him to do all the wonderful (or horrible) things he will be doing. Whereupon, success or failure in those activities will determine what his future personality type (or future philosophy) will be.

Basically, the Western world recognizes two philosophy types. The first philosophy type may be called the Realist, and the second the Idealist. Because these two belief systems may be identified with a person's behavior, they may also be considered to be personality types. A person of the Realist personality type is rational, pragmatic, materialistic, and active. A person of the Idealist personality type is a spiritual dreamer, concerned with abstract thoughts, and passive behavior. Because of the great dissimilarities in these two personality types, they result in two totally different languages--the preferred verbiage of the Realist and the words that best express the beliefs of the Idealist. A person of a given personality type (Realist or Idealist) will naturally utilize those words which best express his chosen personality type.

However, there is a big problem when we consider only these two personality types as the sole motivational forces behind all human action. For there are many motivations, beliefs, and goals which are not incorporated within these two personality types. Too many ideas and activities simply do not fall precisely into the pure Realist personality type or the pure Idealist personality type. Also, there are numerous overlapping concepts which both a Realist and an Idealist would accept as true.

Each person is believed to automatically select certain words (hereinafter called "key words") which best express the likes, dislikes, fears, and hates of that person, i.e the attitude of his personality type. Due to this, each type of person will develop his very own language. Each societal group also evolves its own ways of expressing its beliefs. Whereupon, each person consistently uses those same preferred key words most often and most emphatically during random speaking or writing.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide systems and methods for determining a subject's personality in an accurate, reproducible, scientific, and predictable manner. It is a further object to provide such a determination in an efficient and economical manner. These objects and others are provided in the personality analyzer of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to devices and methods for analyzing a subject's personality type (leading to an analysis of his personality). In accordance with the invention, there is provided a computer system having a specialized program for analyzing a subject's personality type. Such a personality analyzer in accordance with the invention may base its analysis upon any of four sources of information respecting the subject: a questionnaire completed by the subject, a monograph written by the subject, flashcards, or a monologue by the subject. This information comprises the data input for the personality analyzer.

The invention is founded upon six personality types, which are believed to consider all possible time flames, all personality types, and all goals that humans can conceive. These six pure personality types are fully described in a book soon to be published, entitled Going to Excess, a draft of which is attached as Appendix C. By considering only six personality types, comprehending an individual's personality and behavior becomes both feasible and more precise than the methods presently used by psychologists.

The personality analyzer parses the data input for key words, and based upon the subject's usage of these key words, relates the subject's personality type to the pure personality types. Preferably, the key words are incorporated into the personality analyzer. Because categorizing the subject as either a Realist or Idealist is considered indefinite (with too many overlapping areas), the inventor has defined six personality types. These are the Novist, Revertist, Mutalist, Competist, Endurist and Centrist. The inventor has created six lists of key words which comprise the favorite verbiage for each of these personality types. These six lists are preferably utilized in the personality analyzer of the present invention. The way these words are expressed: favorably, neutrally, or unfavorably, can change the categorization of a found word. Also, repetitive use of a given word is preferably detected, with such repetitions being figured into the weightings. Since some words may be more significant to a particular personality type, words within the lists may have varying weight.

According to a preferred embodiment, when a key word is found in the input data, three context checks are performed to determine its category. In the first context check, the subject's emphasis of the found word is determined, so as to give it more value. Where the found word appears in only one key word list, the second context check is performed. In the second context check, whether the subject likes or dislikes the found word is determined, to determine which category this word should be in. If the found word appears in more than one key word list, the third context check is performed. In the third context check, it is determined which list the context of those found words indicate.

Within each of the context checks, the analyzer compares context words--a number of words immediately preceding and a number of words immediately following the found word--to lists of context-signaling words and their synonyms. By matching the context words to the context lists, the analyzer categorizes the context of the found word. Based upon these matches, the most likely meaning of the found word is determined and the found word is categorized based upon the key word lists.

More than just word usage is preferably considered. For example, where a questionnaire is the basis of data input, whether a question has been skipped by the subject is significant. Multiple usage of a single word is meaningful. Furthermore, long pauses in a monologue is also preferably considered.

Based upon the analysis of the key words, a correlation is made between the selected key words and the six pure personality types. This correlation may be expressed as a percentage, in a bar graph, a pie chart, or otherwise.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the present invention are best understood with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a general flow chart of the method of analyzing a subject's personality type in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a flow chart of the data input routine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a flow chart of an alternative embodiment of the data input routine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a flow chart of the data analysis routine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a flow chart of an alternative embodiment of the data analysis routine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a flow chart of the Questionnaire Analysis: One Question routine shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4B is a flow chart of the Automated Analysis: One Word routine shown in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the Key Word Found routine shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the Analysis: One Key Word routine shown in FIGS. 4B and 5;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the First Context Check routine shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the Second Context Check routine shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the Third Context Check routine shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the Final Weighting routine shown in FIGS. 8 and 9; and

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of the data output routine shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A personality analyzer and related methods according to an embodiment of the invention are described. Throughout this description, the preferred embodiment and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the method and apparatus of the present invention.

While a subject's personality may be partially understood through categorization of Realist or Idealist, it is preferred to use the categorization system unique to the inventor. It is considered that the Realist and Idealist types have considerable overlap and fail to account for all possible pure personality types. These two problems are substantially eliminated through the use of six types: Novism, Mutulism, Competism, Revertism, Endurism, and Centrism. The preferred categorization system is described in a book entitled, "Going to Excess," by Aaron Shovers and attached as Appendix C. Like the conventional system of categorization, each personality type of the preferred six-type system has a separate language. The particular key words of these languages have been placed by the inventor into lists. A first set of five lists are attached as Appendix A. In a second set of lists attached as Appendix B, there are provided three non-overlapping lists. In these three dual-use lists, Mutulism precisely opposes Competism, Novism precisely opposes Revertism, and Endurism precisely opposes Centrism.

Because it has been observed that certain key words are more important to a subject having a given personality than other key words which the subject may use, each key word in a list is preferably assigned a weighting. Also, when a key word fits more precisely into one particular belief system, that key word is preferably assigned a greater weight. In the lists in Appendices A and B, some words are capitalized or bolded, whereas other words are underlined. These differences indicate different weightings associated with such words. In particular, a greater weight is given to the most important and the most pure words for a given pure personality type. Those words which are bolded or capitalized are the most important and pure words, so they receive the greatest weighting. Those words which are underlined are of lesser import, so they are weighted a somewhat less. Those words which are neither capitalized, bolded, nor underlined have only a base weighting.

It has been found that the context of the words, as used by a subject, provides additional information relating to the subject's personality type. For example, the word "cooperate" is a word that a Mutulist may be inclined to use. However, if the same word is used by a subject in a disparaging manner, such use indicates the Competist personality type. Thus, contextual usage of a subject's words provide further important information. Therefore, in accordance with the invention, the preferred personality analyzer may check the context of each word selected by subject at three separate levels.

Within each of the context checks, the analyzer compares context words--a number of words immediately preceding and a number of words immediately following the found word--to lists of context-signaling words and their synonyms. By matching the context words to the context lists, the analyzer categorizes the context of the found word. Based upon these matches, the most likely meaning of the found word is determined and the found word is categorized based upon the key word lists.

At each context check, the five words immediately preceding the found word being analyzed and the five words immediately following the found word are isolated and compared to the words in the context lists. Based upon the correlation between these context words and the context lists, the context of the found word becomes known within a reasonable probability and the found word can be properly classified. If the context words do not provide sufficient correlation to a context list, a prototype meaning for that found word is accepted. The context checks are further described below.

The method for automatically analyzing a person's philosophy (to discover his personality) is now described. The personality analyzer is preferably realized as a general purpose computer system and a computer program for analyzing personality types. However, specialized devices are within the scope of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a flow chart for the personality analyzer in accordance with the present invention. After the program has been started (Step 110), a data input routine (Step 120) is performed. After the data has been inputted, the data is then analyzed in a data analysis step (Step 130). Finally, the analysis is output in a data output step (Step 140), and the program stops (Step 150). Alternatively, the process may be recursive, such that input is made only one or several words at a time, and after analysis of the input is complete, additional data is inputted.

There are two preferred embodiments of the personality analyzer of the present invention. According to the first preferred embodiment, the subject is given a questionnaire (or flashcards may be used), either in writing or orally. In the second preferred embodiment, the personality analyzer performs the analysis of a monologue or monograph of the subject. Because of the similarity of these two embodiments, and the considerable overlap of the data analysis portions, these two embodiments are described together.

As explained above, in Step 120, data is input into the personality analyzer. Referring now to FIG. 2A, where the data is input from a questionnaire or flashcards (Step 210), the analyzer first determines whether the text of the answers has already been stored (Step 220). If the text of the answers is not on line, the text of the answers must be made available to the analyzer. Preferably the answers are entered into a data base, organized by question number (Step 230). Next, the analyzer stores the total number of questions in the questionnaire (Step 240). The subject's answer to the multiple choice quiz are received (Step 250). This quiz may either be in writing, or it may be taken by the subject interactively with the personality analyzer. If the quiz is interactive, the analyzer presents the questions and the subject selects or enters an answer. By performing the quiz interactively, other information may be collected, such as time required to answer. Furthermore, the questionnaire may be changed during the subject's test, based upon the subject's answers. By basing the next question upon the subject's prior responses, the analyzer may focus on the subject's likely personality-type more efficiently and with higher accuracy. If the quiz is not on line, the subject's answers and non-answers must be transferred into the analyzer (Step 270). With the subject's answers and non-answers stored on line, data input from the questionnaire is now complete (Step 280).

Referring now to FIG. 2B, where data input is from a monologue or monograph by the subject (Step 215), data input is achieved simply by loading a data file of the monograph, or a digitized copy of the monologue into the computer (Step 225).

By monograph, it is meant a textual matter written or dictated by the subject, and may comprise, for example, letters, essays, books, and articles. By monologue, it is meant spoken matter by the subject, and may comprise a speech, the subject's part of a conversation, or even the responses to an interview. Preferably, the text is the product of a single person, alone, such that the words have been selected by that person. In contrast, a conversation comprises words selected by more than