Questions and Answers: Planet Phase Personality Inventory (PPPI)
P1. WHAT IS THE PPPI?
The PPPI categorizes individuals into five distinct Planet Personalities, each characterized by unique dimensions such as default emotion, compassion, communication style, conflict resolution approach, boundaries, control, stress management, compassion style, and relationship dynamics.
2.WHAT IS THE PPPI BASED ON?
The Planet Phase Personality Inventory is a psychological assessment tool developed by Roland Kim, Ph.D., based on decades of research in psychology and psychoanalysis. Through his investigation of personality traits, Dr. Kim discovered that individuals’ personalities can be classified into five distinct types, collectively referred to as Planet Personalities.
3. IS THE PPPI TEST OR A DIMENSIONAL TEST?
The PPPI identifies five distinct personality types, each comprising both bright and dark sides. Each type reflects a unique combination of the two core dimensions, Individuality and Emotionality, along with multiple sub-dimensional elements that shape the overall personality structure.
4.WHAT ARE THE DIMENSIONS OF PLANET PHASE PRSONALITY BASED ON?
The Planet Phase Personality Inventory is built upon two core dynamic dimensions: Individuality and Emotionality. These dimensions branch out into 17 positive, or Bright, personality sub-dimensions and 17 negative, or Dark, personality sub-dimensions, which Dr. Kim has identified as fundamental to shaping our individual personality makeup.
The 17 Bright personality sub-dimensions are:
- Default Emotion
- Interpersonal Boundaries
- Communication Style
- Compassion Style
- Self vs. Others for concern
- Thinking Feeling Action in order
- Leadership Style
- Relationship dynamics
- Conflict Resolution Style
- Belief in Gender Role
- Emotional Expression Style
- Daily Life Goals
- Attitude on Tradition
- Attitude on Offering and Seeking Help
- Attitude Toward Relationship with Extended Family
- Degree of Privacy Concern
- Reality Perception
The 17 Dark personality sub-dimensions are:
- Stress Coping Style
- Anger management Style
- Attribution style
- Typical Negative Emotion in Relationship
- Type of Insecurity
- Friendship Management Style
- Type of Dark Psychology Used
- Prejudice
- Relationship Control Style
- Emotional, Cognitive, and Behavioral Reactions to Injury
- Emotional, Cognitive, and Behavioral Reaction to Judgment/Rejection/Abandonment
- Level of Trust in Relationship
- Emotional Management
- Boundaries Management
- Communication difficulty
- Empathy Management
- Concern for Self vs. Other
These sub-dimensional personality traits influence an individual’s emotions, cognition, behavior, and interpersonal dynamics. Each trait is hypothesized to be distinct and independent from the other sub-dimensions, contributing uniquely to the overall personality structure.
5. Does your test believe there are real personalities to the planets you chose to represent these personalities?
Planets are used as symbolic representations of the personalities we aim to describe. Additionally, the use of planetary names has been discussed in popular works, such as John Gray’s book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus.
6. I have taken MBTI and Enneagram before, and I heard they are not to be applied in our real life situations such as relationships or career decision. Is PPPI effective in applying to our real life?
After many decades of research in psychological and psychoanalytic studies, the PPPI is highly relevant to various aspects of life, including relationships, career decisions, parenting, business objectives, artistic motivations, and many other areas. However, its predictive power lies in the hands of future researchers who can further strengthen its applicability.
7. Many existing personality models are based on empirical study. Is your theory based on empirical study as others?
The PPPI was initially developed by integrating insights from the past hundred years of psychology and psychoanalysis. Although it requires further empirical research for full validation, there is already sufficient empirical evidence supporting its effectiveness.
8. How much is it’s reliability and validity empirically proven?
Most personality tests, such as the MBTI and Enneagram, have struggled to achieve empirical validation. The only personality theory that has been empirically supported is the Big Five Theory (or Five-Factor Model); however, it is not considered a comprehensive personality model because it uses five broad personality factors to describe traits rather than categorizing personalities directly. In contrast, the PPPI classifies personalities using a single dominant ‘planet,’ with distinct bright and dark sides.
An encouraging empirical result comes from a 2018 study by Gerlach and his colleagues, which analyzed data from 1.5 million participants in the U.S. and U.K. They identified four distinct personality types that closely resemble those in the PPPI model—except our model suggests an additional personality type. Despite criticism from researchers like Katahira and his colleagues in Japan (2019), who questioned the robustness of Gerlach’s findings, even their critique seems to support our model by suggesting that there may be more than four personality types.
Moreover, while the study approached personality categorically, our model integrates both categorical and dimensional factors as core influences on personality structure. We believe that future research, particularly with more diverse samples from regions such as Asia, Latin America, or the Middle East, could reveal additional personality types in line with our predictions.
9. I would like to try the test but how do I know if I need the test for my bright side or dark side?
The PPPI is based on the belief that our fundamental personality structure, or framework, is inherently shaped by a bright side. The dark side develops when this bright-side personality is influenced by external factors such as genetic predispositions, parenting styles, or childhood traumas. If you suspect that these external influences have affected you, you may consider taking a dark side personality test. However, our model assumes that all personalities naturally possess bright-side traits, which allow us to engage with others without raising concerns—such as during courtship in romantic relationships—unless the personality becomes affected by dark-side forces under internal or external stressors.
10. How many questions are there in your full version tests?
There are two free versions of the test: Mini-Test A, which contains 12 questions, and Mini-Test B, which contains 5 questions.
The full versions include three Likert-Scale types – Bright Side (175), Dark Side (175), and Comprehensive (350) questions, Yes/No Questions- Bright Side (134) and Dark Side (134), and two multiple-choice tests for the bright side and one for the dark side, each consisting of 30 questions.
11. How can you provide the results based on so few questions answered?
Test takers of the free version will receive a simple result accompanied by a brief description. While the short version may not provide a fully accurate assessment, it offers a rough estimate of the individual’s personality, represented by the corresponding planetary classification.
Currently, we are collecting additional data from participants who are willing to take the test for free during this data-gathering phase. This will help us refine and improve the accuracy of the test.
For those who complete the full version, more detailed results will be provided via email. These results will include insights into how their personality has developed, its strengths and weaknesses, and personalized advice for growth. While the results are not tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual, they can offer general guidance to help improve relationships and personal development—especially for those who may not seek psychotherapy for more in-depth support.
12. Is your testing price going to stay as it is now, including your free versions, or is there any chance it may go up later?
We are currently in a testing phase, gathering additional data through participant feedback. As we continue to strengthen the test’s reliability and validity through further research, the cost of taking the test may increase in the future.