You might want to think twice before you take that personality quiz on your next lunch break.
HBO Max and CNN have teamed up for a new documentary called Persona: The Dark Truth Behind Personality Tests, which will explore the history of the Myers–Briggs personality assessment and examine how it became a potentially dangerous tool. Fortunately for fans, we've already got a trailer—and it's making us question every personality test we've ever taken.
According to HBO's press release, Persona "explores the unexpected origin story of America’s great obsession with personality testing, uncovering the intriguing history behind the world-famous Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, while raising a slew of ethical questions and demonstrating how some personality tests may do more harm than good—like impacting online dating matches or job prospects. This eye-opening documentary reveals the profound ways that ideas about personality have shaped our society."
For those who are unfamiliar with the famous personality test, it was developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers, during the 1940s. The questionnaire, which classifies people into one of sixteen personality types, was designed to help people better understand their personalities and career preferences. But over time, the test evolved into a powerful tool that actually shapes many aspects of people's lives.
Persona, which is inspired by Merve Emre's The Personality Brokers, was directed by Tim Travers Hawkins (best known for XY Chelsea).
The new doc hits HBO Max on March 4.
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