Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1992 18:05:14 GMT


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A Charter to Alt.Psychology.Personality
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The newsgroup alt.psychology.personality was created to discuss all aspects
of human personality, including systems to map personality, such as Myers-
Briggs, Enneagram, NEO-PI, VALS 2, MMPI, etc.

It is intended that this newsgroup be welcome to all who are interested in
the various aspects of human personality.  Based on my evaluation of private
e-mail as well as discussion during the CFD period on alt.config, I believe
that a majority of a.p.p readership will not have much formal training in
psychology.  Thus it is important that we strive to keep discussion in plain
English (though it may take more verbage to express a point), and avoid as
much as possible the use of specialized "jargon" such as we see on
sci.psychology (which is appropriate for that group).

Some topics that would be appropriate to discuss include (but are not
limited to):

1) What is human personality?

2) How much of our personality is inborn?

3) A description and comparison between the various typing systems used to map
   human personality, such as Myers-Briggs, etc.

4) How to determine ones personality type using these such systems, and the
   value of "knowing thyself".  

5) How accurate are such personality typing systems?  Both pros and cons 
   would be welcome, even from psychologists.  :^)  Do such systems have
   hidden dangers?

6) Sharing personal stories and anecdotes.

7) Using an understanding of human personalities to explain differing Usenet
   writing/posting styles (one of great interest to me).

8) Relating education and career choices to personality types.

etc.,etc.


Anyway, it is difficult to write a charter which contains a complete
description of what is appropriate to discuss and what is not.  Thus,
I will leave it to the regular readership to "police" itself on this
matter.  It is somewhat analogous to the famous quote on pornography by
a Supreme Court Justice: "It is hard to define pornography, but I know it
when I see it."  So keep your eyes open!  And, of course, remember, this
is an alt.* group, so we can expect some amount of "chaos" to occasionally
creep in.

I look forward to the discussion!

Jon Noring