Published Dec 5, 2017

The Sorting Hat

Shankar Vedantam delves into the allure and validity of personality tests by drawing parallels to the Hogwarts sorting hat, while exploring how cultural beliefs like China's zodiac system shape identity and success, and questioning the reliability of the Myers-Briggs test in shaping careers and self-perceptions.

Episode Highlights

Topics covered

Episode Highlights

Related Episodes

The Sorting Hat
Answers 383 questions
Guessing Games
Answers 383 questions
Revealing Your Unconscious: Part 1
Answers 383 questions
Where Happiness Hides
Answers 383 questions
Revealing Your Unconscious: Part 2
Answers 383 questions
Putting Our Assumptions to the Test
Answers 383 questions
Why You're Smarter Than You Think
Answers 383 questions
Spoiler Alert!
Answers 383 questions
What's Not On The Test
Answers 383 questions
What Your Online Self Reveals About You
Answers 383 questions
Be The Change
Answers 383 questions
Group Think
Answers 383 questions
Episode 25: Dream Jobs
Answers 383 questions
The Secret to Gift-Giving
Answers 383 questions
Mind Reading 2.0: How others see you
Answers 383 questions

Dexa/Shankar Vedantam

The Sorting Hat

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Personality and Predictions

Personality Tests Unpacked

Hogwarts House Identity

Dragon Baby Dreams

Personality Tests Unveiled

Personality Test Pitfalls

The Power of Expectations

Personality Test Insights

Personality Tests Unpacked

Personality Assessments

Personality Insights

Finding Your Tribe

Personality Insights

Dragon Parents' Beliefs

Episode Highlights

Harry Potter Sorting

Cultural Belief Systems

Personality Test Criticism

Related Episodes

The Sorting Hat

Guessing Games

Revealing Your Unconscious: Part 1

Where Happiness Hides

Revealing Your Unconscious: Part 2

Putting Our Assumptions to the Test

Why You're Smarter Than You Think

Spoiler Alert!

What's Not On The Test

What Your Online Self Reveals About You

Be The Change

Group Think

Episode 25: Dream Jobs

The Secret to Gift-Giving

Mind Reading 2.0: How others see you

The Sorting Hat

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Episode Highlights

Harry Potter SortingShankar Vedantam examines the fascination with personality tests, comparing them to the Hogwarts sorting hat from Harry Potter. He questions their scientific validity while exploring how they fulfill our desire for identity and belonging.

Harry Potter Sorting

Cultural Belief SystemsThe influence of zodiac beliefs, particularly the Year of the Dragon, on educational outcomes in China is profound. These beliefs, driven by parental expectations, create a self-fulfilling prophecy of success for dragon children.

Cultural Belief Systems

Personality Test CriticismThe Myers-Briggs test, a staple in personality assessment, is scrutinized for its scientific reliability and real-world application. Shankar Vedantam explores how such tests are misused in workplaces, impacting careers and self-perception.

Personality Test Criticism

Related Episodes