Young people turn to psychological tests to gain insight into their inner self

OPEN ANY magazine and you will probably find one of those amazingly popular 'personality' tests, which most people do - even if in secret.

Some are fun and others serious, while a few are just downright hilarious. The more serious ones claim a person's favourite colour reflects their personality and can help them to achieve their career goals, while more daring tests claim they can point readers in the right direction in their search for Mr or Ms Right.

The tests might not always be founded on scientific principles, but they often give readers an insight into their inner self. Hoping to find out just how seriously people took the tests, Young Post spoke to some avid fans and an expert.

Ivan Law Fuk-chuen, 20, a university student, says he finds the tests interesting and that they sometimes help him understand himself better. But he never really takes them seriously.

'They satisfy my curiosity about myself,' says Mr Law. 'I don't believe in all the tests, only those that seem sensible.'

He thinks that one of the benefits of doing psychological tests is that they remind a person of his own weaknesses. 'They may tell you that you are a bad-tempered person, so you may be more careful in future about controlling your temper.'

Associate professor Chan Wai from the Department of Psychology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong says that people are attracted to the tests because they want to find out more about themselves.