✓Understand how your unique 'personal constructs' shape your first impressions, and see why a limited worldview makes it harder to overcome setbacks like a bad breakup.
✓Discover how the Big Five personality traits influence your professional success, including why high agreeableness might actually result in a lower salary.
✓Learn why neuroticism originally developed as an evolutionary survival tool to spot predators, and how it can unnecessarily trigger modern-day anxiety.
✓Recognize exactly how extraverts and introverts approach tasks differently, helping you navigate workplace dynamics with colleagues who favor speed over thoroughness.
✓Uncover the three core sources of your personality—biogenic, sociogenic, and idiogenic—to find out which of your traits are hardwired and which you can actively change.
Learning Tools
Reinforce what you learned from Me, Myself and Us
Mind Map
Me, Myself and Us
Foundations of Personality+
The Big Five Traits+
Sources & Free Traits+
Social Behavior & Self-Monitoring+
Illusions & Control+
Stress & Hardiness+
Summary & Actionable Advice+
Quiz — Test Your Understanding
Question 1 of 10
According to psychologist George Kelly, what are 'personal constructs'?
A. The complex emotional lenses through which each person views the world.
B. Biologically ingrained instincts that guide human survival.
C. Objective frameworks used to analyze social interactions in the workplace.
D. Defense mechanisms developed during childhood to cope with stress.
Question 2 of 10
Why do psychologists suggest that people with low conscientiousness might be better at playing jazz music?
A. They have higher levels of natural empathy and agreeableness that help them connect with the audience.
B. They are highly disciplined, which helps them practice complex scales for longer periods.
C. They are better suited for unstructured environments that require improvisation and wandering creativity.
D. They tend to prioritize strict technical rules over emotional expression.
Question 3 of 10
How does the trait of agreeableness correlate with professional success according to research?
A. It is the strongest predictor of climbing the corporate ladder rapidly.
B. It is the weakest indicator of professional success, and high agreeableness correlates with lower salaries.
C. It is entirely irrelevant to success, provided the individual is highly conscientious.
D. High agreeableness consistently leads to the highest salaries in competitive fields.
Question 4 of 10
If an extravert and an introvert are assigned the exact same task of writing a report, how are their working styles likely to differ?
A. The extravert will finish faster with acceptable results, while the introvert will work more slowly but produce a thorough report.
B. The extravert will focus heavily on quality over quantity, whereas the introvert will prioritize speed.
C. The extravert will require constant supervision, while the introvert will work well independently.
D. The extravert will struggle due to low conscientiousness, while the introvert will naturally excel at the formatting.
Question 5 of 10
Which source of personality refers to the personal goals and daily choices that can prompt us to use 'free traits' to break away from our stable character?
A. Biogenic sources
B. Neurogenic sources
C. Sociogenic sources
D. Idiogenic sources
Question 6 of 10
How do High Self-Monitors (HSMs) and Low Self-Monitors (LSMs) typically differ when seeking potential romantic partners?
A. HSMs seek partners with similar career goals, while LSMs prioritize emotional support.
B. HSMs focus on shared hobbies, while LSMs focus on financial stability.
C. HSMs pay more attention to a partner's appearance, while LSMs are more interested in a partner's personality traits.
D. HSMs prioritize deep emotional connections, while LSMs focus heavily on outward attractiveness.
Question 7 of 10
According to a Stanford University psychologist, how does the way someone salts their steak reveal whether they are a High Self-Monitor (HSM) or Low Self-Monitor (LSM)?
A. HSMs salt the steak heavily before tasting to mask the flavor, while LSMs never use salt.
B. HSMs taste the steak before salting to assess its condition, while LSMs salt it beforehand based on personal preference.
C. HSMs ask the waiter for recommendations on seasoning, while LSMs strictly follow the chef's preparation.
D. HSMs salt their steak based on what others at the table are doing, while LSMs eat it plain.
Question 8 of 10
When does the author suggest it is most beneficial to rely on positive illusions about your life?
A. During the initial stages of making an important decision like choosing a job or spouse.
B. When evaluating your actual level of professional success compared to peers.
C. Only during childhood, as adults must entirely abandon illusions to remain healthy.
D. After you have made a major decision, as a positive outlook can keep negative thoughts away.
Question 9 of 10
According to researchers, a person's resistance to stress (their 'hardiness') is made up of which three components?
A. Commitment, control, and challenge.
B. Consistency, calmness, and capability.
C. Creativity, compassion, and courage.
D. Conscientiousness, communication, and control.
Question 10 of 10
What is a potential danger for people with 'Type A' personalities who become overly obsessed with commitment, control, and challenge?
A. They eventually lose their ability to adapt and become entirely passive in the workplace.
B. They can suffer from severe health issues like high blood pressure and cardiac problems.
C. They score low on extraversion and become entirely isolated from society.
D. They quickly lose interest in their everyday routines and change careers frequently.
Me, Myself and Us — Full Chapter Overview
1Recommendation
21 — Our first impressions come from personal constructs, which also shape our behavior.
32 — Five major traits define our personalities, including conscientiousness and agreeableness.
43 — Neuroticism, openness, and extraversion make up the remaining Big Five traits.
54 — Free traits let us move beyond the stable Big Five traits.
65 — Your social behavior depends on whether you’re a high or low self-monitor.
76 — Illusions can improve your well-being when you manage them well.
87 — Your personality shapes how you deal with stress.
98 — Final summary
Me, Myself and Us Summary & Overview
Me, Myself and Us (2014) is about what it is that makes you you. These blinks outline the different aspects of personalities, what influences them and how they determine our behavior.
Who Should Listen to Me, Myself and Us?
Psychology and sociology students
Anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of herself or himself
About the Author: Brian R. Little
Dr. Brian Little is a psychology professor who has taught at Carleton University, McGill University, the University of Oxford and Harvard University. He specializes in personality psychology.