How many personalities do you have?

Deus Ex Machina · 03-05-2010 03:47PM #1

It isn't something I like about myself, but I act completely differently depending on the people I am around. The words I use, the way I speak, everything changes when I am around particular groups of people. I'd say I have three or four distinct personalities, and some of them I don't like.

When I try to let my true self out in situations where I would usually apply on of my other personas it feels completely out of place and weird, so I revert quickly to the artifice.

I realise this is common, but is everyone like this, or can some people act basically the same regardless of who they are with?

Edit: When I say different personalities, I suppose I mean personas, or apparent personalities, my core personality remains the same, but how I act is entirely different depending on the situation. I can still judge the way I am acting based on how it differs from my true self, so I don't think it is a case of multiple personality disorder.

Rabies · 03-05-2010 03:52PM

I'm the one personality
No reason to try to fit in with others by changing

Love me or hate me.

dlofnep · 03-05-2010 03:52PM

I have 2 personalities.

Intelligent, articulate dlofnep.

Scanger dlofnep.

Both are extremely satisfying.

Thomas828 · 03-05-2010 03:52PM

I've only got the one personality, mate, and it's one that I like. I'm not changing it for anybody. And if you don't like it, tough!

Corkfeen · 03-05-2010 03:53PM

I act like a smarmy and cynical Bastard to people I don't actually like.... Then to friends I act like a vulgar sexist pig. But around people I really like I seem like a saint. :eek: Probably another 30 different versions of my personality though.

Its not any form of an act, I assume its just comfort levels more than anything.

Rented Mule · 03-05-2010 03:53PM

I am the God of Hell Fire.

The_Minister · 03-05-2010 03:54PM

I think I understand what the OP is getting at.

If I'm with friends, I tend to be relaxed and joking, if with strangers more uptight and serious, if conveying information I speak in a lecturing tone etc.

L.Jenkins · 03-05-2010 03:58PM

Not fond of mulitiple personality disorder as one is enough for me. If people don't like me for who I am, then they can suck on my big fat one!

pickarooney · 03-05-2010 04:00PM

I clicked on this while watching United States of Tara. True story, bro.

Killer Pigeon · 03-05-2010 04:00PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder

genericguy · 03-05-2010 04:01PM

i'm always the same me. except when I'm hungry. you won't like me when I'm hungry.

Goldenquick · 03-05-2010 04:01PM

It may be more a way of adapting your persona to each given situation.

Dean820 · 03-05-2010 04:02PM

Its always funny when you are in a situation where two personailities have to intercept.

L.Jenkins · 03-05-2010 04:05PM

Apparently a record was set a few years back by a woman, who had been observed to have around 1200 seperate personalities in her lifetime. I bet she'd be fun on a night out, never knowing what you're going to get out of her.

Conor108 · 03-05-2010 04:06PM

My name is URL · 03-05-2010 04:08PM

I reckon it's odder to have only 1 fixed personality in every situation than it is to differ between scenarios. Personally I act differently depending on the enviroment.. when I'm with mates I'm relaxed and jokey etc, and when I'm with strangers I'm more reserved.

Seachmall · 03-05-2010 04:09PM

At home I'm fairly outspoken and talk a lot of ****, with friends I'm very similar but more restrained (although they probably wouldn't believe it). Among strangers and others I'm less comfortable with I can be quite conservative (you can't be too outspoken when you're not sure how others will we react).

BBDBB · 03-05-2010 04:10PM

Deus Ex Machina wrote: »

It isn't something I like about myself, but I act completely differently depending on the people I am around. The words I use, the way I speak, everything changes when I am around particular groups of people. I'd say I have three or four distinct personalities, and some of them I don't like.

When I try to let my true self out in situations where I would usually apply on of my other personas it feels completely out of place and weird, so I revert quickly to the artifice.

I realise this is common, but is everyone like this, or can some people act basically the same regardless of who they are with?

I think I know what you mean Deus,

I had to develop a different "personality" at work for a job I used to do, it was a fairly senior position in a big company. At first it was about survival, being managed in a very tough way, I had to toughen up and take criticism less to heart. I found I developed a different "personality" for work, much more assertive and dominant and a lot less caring. Ultimately one of the reasons I decided to leave was because I didnt like the person I had become, ie that work "personality" started to become me at home with my family and I didnt like who that person was.

L.Jenkins · 03-05-2010 04:13PM

My name is URL wrote: »

I reckon it's odder to have only 1 fixed personality in every situation than it is to differ between scenarios. Personally I act differently depending on the enviroment.. when I'm with mates I'm relaxed and jokey etc, and when I'm with strangers I'm more reserved.

That's not necessarily having multiple personalities, as opposed to reacting to certain situations differently, which is apart of your personality. To clarify, due to your personality you react differently, outing with friends and reserved in the presence of strangers.

AnonoBoy · 03-05-2010 04:14PM

My personalities got together, formed a union and voted me out.

Bastards.

Scarinae · 03-05-2010 04:17PM

I think everyone does it to a certain extent - there's some things you'd talk about with your friends that you wouldn't talk about in front of your granny, for example. Generally people have to be a bit more serious and professional in work as well... I don't know if I would go as far as calling it different personalities though

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 03-05-2010 04:18PM

The_Minister wrote: »

I think I understand what the OP is getting at.

If I'm with friends, I tend to be relaxed and joking, if with strangers more uptight and serious, if conveying information I speak in a lecturing tone etc.

I think that is pretty normal for humans to react that way. Change your personality to suit the scenario.

Can those who say they won't change for anybody (I think it's out of pride?), say they act the same way on a night out with mates as they would towards a potential employer in an interview? I understand that people don't want to think they have multiple personalities, as the media and society portray this as being a bad thing, there's stigma surrounding this and it's only natural people don't want to be assosiated with it.

However subtle it is, I don't think anybody stays the same and acts the same towards everyone they meet.

I talk to my good friends and act towards them differently than I would to strangers. I talk differently towards certain people. I don't consider any of this to be the same as the dreaded "split personality disorder" the media talk about when describing serial killers and psychopaths.

I guess your personality changes in order for you to get what you want in the current situation.

L.Jenkins · 03-05-2010 04:21PM

Jamari Nervous Clip wrote: »

I think that is pretty normal for humans to react that way. Change your personality to suit the scenario.

It's not necessarily changing your personality. It's mainly how you condition yourself to react to a situation and the front up put on to suss someone or something out, before they know the real you. Everyone does it all the time.

Deus Ex Machina · 03-05-2010 04:23PM

BBDBB wrote: »

I think I know what you mean Deus,

I had to develop a different "personality" at work for a job I used to do, it was a fairly senior position in a big company. At first it was about survival, being managed in a very tough way, I had to toughen up and take criticism less to heart. I found I developed a different "personality" for work, much more assertive and dominant and a lot less caring. Ultimately one of the reasons I decided to leave was because I didnt like the person I had become, ie that work "personality" started to become me at home with my family and I didnt like who that person was.

Yes that is what I am getting at alright. I have groups of friends who don't know each other at all and are quite different from each other. The way I appear is very different between these groups. I don't like being this way, and I am not sure how it came about, I didn't make a conscious decision to act in a particular way around one group, and then completely differently with another, it just developed by itself and I'll be damned if I can change it now.

BBDBB · 03-05-2010 04:39PM

Deus Ex Machina wrote: »

Yes that is what I am getting at alright. I have groups of friends who don't know each other at all and are quite different from each other. The way I appear is very different between these groups. I don't like being this way, and I am not sure how it came about, I didn't make a conscious decision to act in a particular way around one group, and then completely differently with another, it just developed by itself and I'll be damned if I can change it now.

why is it a problem to be different with different people? in itself I had no issue with that, still dont, Im now self employed and much happier, Im very different with friends and family than I am with clients.

which bits do you want to change and why?

orourkeda · 03-05-2010 05:05PM

Corkfeen wrote: »

I act like a smarmy and cynical Bastard to people I don't actually like.... Then to friends I act like a vulgar sexist pig. But around people I really like I seem like a saint. :eek: Probably another 30 different versions of my personality though. Its not any form of an act, I assume its just comfort levels more than anything.

Thats cork people for you.

RolandIRL · 03-05-2010 05:31PM

i'd say i've got about, maybe 10 altogether.
my boardsie personality

, 3/4 personalities for each of my brothers and parents, a good few for friends, and another one for acting the bollocks to annoying people

i'm mostly the same person, just acting differently around people. i'm nowhere near as bad as Jim Carrey in me, myself and irene.

Hank_Jones · 03-05-2010 05:55PM

I would think that I probably used to have a few personalities.
Now I find that as I get older I probably just have one, little bit of a smarmy fcuker he is as well.

I suppose as I got older I just began to act like myself and if people don't like that, tough shit.
They can kiss my shiny metal etc etc.

Professey Chin · 03-05-2010 06:03PM

I dunno.Ask him -->>.........................hello!

karlog · 03-05-2010 06:03PM

I have three personality's one before, during and after drinking.

sheesh · 03-05-2010 06:11PM

yeah op I know what you mean

there is professional Sheesh he appears very focused motivated and cares about what he's doing (note appears)

there is 'out with friends' sheesh who sits happily in the corner with a pint.

and there is looking for directions Sheesh who appears (i hope) likeable and middleclass.

there are a couple more variations on those most of them seem to focus on appearing non threatening and likeable, Which I think is an irish thing.

often the persona can depend on the situation and/or the energy level confidence and a few other factors.

How many personalities do you have?

Comments