If you clicked on this article hoping to actually take a quiz that will tell you about yourself in what seems to be a specific but is actually a very vague description of you, I’m sorry to say that you’ve just been conned.
But stick around because I’ll actually try to explain what makes people, especially those in the younger generations, enjoy anything personalized.
This is how we do it
So what exactly do I mean by “anything personalized”? Let’s start with what we’ve got on the internet: The best example would probably be personality tests. There are tons you can choose from, be it those that are actually backed by psychology, or those that you randomly find on Buzzfeed or Uquiz. Wherever it’s from, it’s probably very fun to take.
Then there are the Spotify playlists and Netflix recommendations made for you. Those are all personalized.
Aside from those things, we like anything customized, too.
These days, I and a bunch of other people on the internet are also really into picrews, which are essentially dress-up dolls and/or icon makers. On this site, there are thousands of picrews to choose from, and people usually make icons of themselves, free to make themselves look any way they desire.
Video games where you get to design your own character, such as RPGs, are another thing that people like. At least, I know I do. In fact, if a game has that sort of feature (be it Sims or Monster Hunter), I’m excited about it.
This is real, this is me
Though personality tests and other similar personalized games aren’t necessarily accurate, we can’t deny that we’re drawn to them. But why?
For starters, people quite like to learn about themselves. We all want to have our Demi-Lovato-in-Camp-Rock moments, and sing songs about our true selves. Sort of. Even if these quizzes don’t give exact results, we still get a sense of learning from them.
People also like being in control. When you have something that’s personalized or customized, like your own video game character, you get something that’s made just for you, and that gives you a feeling of control. Having that sense of control internally helps you believe that you have control over other parts of your life.
If you find yourself drawn to taking and sharing quizzes with your friends or you’re the type of person who looks forward to their Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify every Monday, then hopefully, you’ve got your answer as to why.
And sorry again if you were expecting to take a quiz when you clicked on this link.
