Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: personality/temperament profile

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous author and creator of Sherlock Holmes, was a real historical figure whose personality and traits can be analyzed. However, since he is not alive to take the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), any analysis of his personality traits and how they might align with the MMPI scales will be speculative and based on what is known about him through historical accounts, his writings, and his personal life. Below is an analysis:

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Traits and Characteristics of Arthur Conan Doyle

Positive Traits:

1. Highly Intelligent: Known for his keen intellect and ability to create complex, logical narratives.
2. Creative: His imagination was evident in his works, particularly in the creation of the highly analytical detective Sherlock Holmes.
3. Persistent: He worked hard to become a successful writer despite setbacks early in his career.
4. Courageous and Adventurous: Participated as a physician during the Boer War and was knighted for his services.
5. Spiritual and Open-Minded: Later in life, Doyle became deeply involved in spiritualism and the paranormal.

Flaws and Vices:

1. Dogmatic: His strong belief in spiritualism caused some to view him as uncritical, particularly in his support of the Cottingley Fairies hoax.
2. Stubborn: He often clashed with critics, especially regarding his spiritual beliefs.
3. Emotional and Impulsive: His passionate support of causes (such as defending George Edalji in a miscarriage of justice) shows deep emotions but also impulsive decision-making at times.

Potential Problems:

• Mental Challenges: No evidence of diagnosable mental health issues, but his obsession with spiritualism in later life suggests a tendency toward escapism or wishful thinking.
• Medical Challenges: No significant medical issues are recorded, though he lived during a time of high mortality rates and endured stress as a physician.
• Physical Challenges: He seemed physically robust, as he lived a full and active life.
• Legal Challenges: No significant legal troubles, but his public conflicts (especially regarding spiritualism) suggest social and reputational challenges.

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Overview of the MMPI and Its Scales

The MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) is a psychological assessment tool that evaluates personality traits and psychopathology. It includes the following scales:

1. Hypochondriasis (Hs): Concern with bodily symptoms.
2. Depression (D): Depressive symptoms.
3. Hysteria (Hy): Emotionality and dramatic behavior.
4. Psychopathic Deviate (Pd): Social deviance, lack of conformity.
5. Masculinity/Femininity (Mf): Stereotypical gender traits.
6. Paranoia (Pa): Suspiciousness and resentment.
7. Psychasthenia (Pt): Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
8. Schizophrenia (Sc): Disorganized thinking, social alienation.
9. Hypomania (Ma): High energy, impulsivity.
10. Social Introversion (Si): Shyness, social withdrawal.

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Doyle's Hypothetical MMPI Results

Based on his known personality traits, here’s how Doyle might score on the MMPI scales:

Scales Doyle Might Score High On:

1. Psychasthenia (Pt): Doyle’s later-life spiritual obsession and openness to the paranormal suggest mild obsessive tendencies or a need for meaning beyond the physical world.
2. Paranoia (Pa): His conflicts with critics, staunch defense of spiritualism, and sensitivity to perceived injustice might lead to a higher-than-average score on this scale.
3. Hypomania (Ma): His boundless creativity, active participation in war efforts, and energetic pursuit of writing suggest high energy and drive.
4. Social Introversion (Si): Though socially active, his introspective nature and time spent writing might indicate a higher Si score.

Scales Doyle Might Score Low On:

1. Hypochondriasis (Hs): Doyle did not seem overly concerned with bodily ailments or illness.
2. Depression (D): While he experienced hardships, Doyle was generally optimistic and driven, suggesting a low depression score.
3. Psychopathic Deviate (Pd): Doyle adhered to strong moral principles, such as defending justice and fairness, which suggests conformity to social norms.

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Summary Table:

MMPI Scale	High/Low	Explanation
Hypochondriasis (Hs)	Low	No significant focus on bodily complaints.
Depression (D)	Low	An optimistic and driven personality.
Hysteria (Hy)	Moderate	Some emotionality but not excessive or dramatic.
Psychopathic Deviate (Pd)	Low	Strong adherence to moral principles and social norms.
Masculinity/Femininity (Mf)	Moderate	Likely scored in line with typical gender norms for the period.
Paranoia (Pa)	High	Sensitivity to criticism and defensiveness about spiritual beliefs.
Psychasthenia (Pt)	High	Obsessive tendencies related to spiritualism and the paranormal.
Schizophrenia (Sc)	Moderate	Open-mindedness and creativity, but not indicative of disorganized thinking.
Hypomania (Ma)	High	High energy, creativity, and adventurousness.
Social Introversion (Si)	Moderate-High	Introspective tendencies due to his writing and personal pursuits.

Additional analysis of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:

Jungian Archetypes: Creator, Sage

Myers-Briggs 4 letter type: INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging)
Myers-Briggs 2 letter type: NT (Rational)

Enneagram: Type 5w6 (The Investigator with Six Wing)

New Personality Self-Portrait Styles:

• Primary: Conscientious, Idiosyncratic, Solitary
• Secondary: Vigilant, Serious

Temperament (4-Humors Theory): Melancholic-Choleric blend

Possible Personality Traits/Concerns:

• Obsessive-Compulsive tendencies
• Schizotypal features (due to strong belief in spiritualism)

Basic Desires Hierarchy:

1. Understanding/Knowledge
2. Order
3. Recognition
4. Justice

Basic Values Hierarchy:

1. Truth
2. Logic
3. Innovation
4. Integrity

Basic Ideals Hierarchy:

1. Intellectual excellence
2. Scientific progress
3. Literary achievement
4. Spiritual truth

Character Flaws:

• Excessive credulity regarding supernatural claims
• Stubborn adherence to beliefs
• Difficulty accepting criticism

Neurotic Defense Mechanisms:

• Rationalization (especially regarding spiritualist beliefs)
• Intellectualization
• Sublimation (channeling drives into writing)

Big Five Dimensions:

• High Openness
• High Conscientiousness
• Moderate Extraversion
• Moderate Agreeableness
• High Neuroticism

NLP Meta-Programs:

• Toward motivation
• Options pattern
• Global processing
• Internal reference
• Possibility focused

For relationship matches:
Good match: ENFP or ENFJ woman (like his second wife Jean Leckie)
Bad match: ESFP or ESTP woman

Celebrity matches:
Good match: Someone like Marie Curie (INTJ)
Bad match: Someone like Mae West (ESFP)

Story ideas for Leslie (with similar personality):

1. Leslie as a modern-day investigative journalist uncovering scientific frauds
2. Leslie as a paranormal researcher trying to bridge science and supernatural
3. Leslie as a brilliant but misunderstood medical researcher fighting establishment views
4. Leslie as a detective fiction writer who gets involved in real mysteries