The Uchida-Kraepelin Test and Personality

The Uchida-Kraepelin Test was not originally developed as a personality test.
The relationship between examinees’ clinical profiles and the working curves produced by the <25-minute method> (15 minutes of work, a 5-minute break, and 10 minutes of work), and later by the <30-minute method> (15 minutes of work, a 5-minute break, and 15 minutes of work), was studied. The research showed that characteristics of an examinee’s personality and behavior appear in the working curve, and the test consequently came to be used as a personality assessment as well.

The Uchida-Kraepelin Test result describes an examinee’s personality using five traits related to behavior and personality.

Five traits related to behavior and personality

Adaptability
A trait related to getting started on tasks and adapting to the environment
Flexibility
A trait related to changes in mood and flexibility in responding to situations (part of Variability in the former assessment system)
Sensitivity
A trait related to inner sensitivity and receptiveness (part of Variability in the former assessment system)
Resistance
A trait related to persistence and insistence when working on tasks (Excitability in the former assessment system)
Resilience
A trait related to recovery from fatigue and endurance

Each of the five traits is rated on a five-level scale, from the lowest tendency for that trait to the highest: “low (−−),” “slightly low (−),” “medium (no symbol),” “slightly high (+),” and “high (++).”

Even when examinees are rated in the same zone on the basic indicators, examining these five traits provides a deeper understanding of their personalities.

It is important to note that “low” and “high” do not mean good or bad.
When a situation calls for the relevant personality or behavioral characteristic, the person may be considered a good fit; when it does not, the result may indicate a mismatch.
Any personality or behavioral characteristic can be a merit or a demerit depending on the circumstances.

Quick reference: Five traits related to behavior and personality

	Low trend	High trend
Adaptability	Merits: Careful; strong-willed; firm Demerits: Reluctant to get started; particular about things; obstinate	Merits: Straightforward; adapts quickly to new environments Demerits: Rash; focused only on the immediate situation; over-attentive
Flexibility	Merits: Calm; composed; steady Demerits: Doing things at one’s own pace; indifferent; insensitive	Merits: Flexible behavior; sensitive; expressive Demerits: Prone to fluctuations; superficial; volatile
Sensitivity		Merits: Sensitive to situations; attentive Demerits: Inconsistent; hypersensitive; easily upset
Resistance	Merits: Takes things easy; easy-going; not particular about things Demerits: Lacks tenacity; too ready to compromise; easily discouraged	Merits: Tenacious; strong-willed; perseverant Demerits: Stubborn; defensive; pushy
Resilience	Possible decline in condition or motivation	Merits: Quick to bounce back Demerits: Reluctant to get started (the same meaning as low Adaptability); slow in getting used to things

Traits to look out for

Results that warrant particular attention are called “traits to look out for.”
The eight traits should not be interpreted simply as personality. They may indicate problematic behavioral tendencies or reflect a deterioration in the examinee’s condition or their attitude toward the test, including deliberate manipulation.

The five traits related to behavior and personality can be regarded as individual characteristics that have both merits and demerits. By contrast, these eight traits to look out for indicate pronounced imbalance or abnormal tendencies.
They are also indicators in which a decline in the examinee’s condition or problems with their approach to the test, including deliberate manipulation, may readily appear.

Quick reference: Eight traits to look out for

	Trait to look out for
Many mistakes	Attention is needed regarding action control and accuracy. The control required to perform work may not be functioning properly. This could be compared to a car with faulty brakes. There are also cases in which mistakes temporarily increase sharply due to extreme fatigue or immediately after release from a tough situation.
Large drop	Attention is needed regarding a temporary interruption in concentration. Concentration may be interrupted temporarily, or the person’s hand may stop moving even while mental calculation continues. It is like gears temporarily disengaging during operation. Care is required when assigning the person to work that demands sustained concentration, such as driving a vehicle or operating machinery.
Large spike	Attention is needed regarding sudden excitement and erratic behavior. Mood or drive may temporarily rise, and behavior that is unexpected or unlike the person’s usual impression may appear. The behavior may be impulsive and could sometimes appear as an intense outburst.
Extreme fluctuation	Attention is needed regarding unstable mood and behavior. Large fluctuations in mood and behavior can make it difficult to demonstrate the person’s underlying ability consistently. At times, the person may appear inconsistent or may give the impression that their changing moods keep those around them off balance (Flexibility: high). In other cases, the person may be greatly unsettled internally while showing little of it in behavior (Sensitivity: high).
Lack of fluctuation	Attention is needed regarding rigid behavior and limited emotional expression. The person may lack flexibility and find it difficult to change their working method or pace to suit those around them. Because emotional expression and emotional change are also flat, the person may sometimes appear indifferent or extremely calm, even cold.
Extremely slow start for the test’s latter half	Attention is needed regarding embarking on things and adaptability. The person may have difficulty getting started smoothly and may take a very long time to adapt to a new environment or respond to a change in circumstances. They may have strong likes, dislikes, and fixations, while finding it difficult to express their own views or feelings openly, which can make relationships with others awkward.
Decline in workload during the test’s latter half	Attention is needed regarding a fatigue-related decline in physical strength or motivation. Physical fatigue or a decline in drive may be strongly present. Motivation for work may have decreased, or there may be a temporary change in condition caused by lack of sleep, including dozing during the test, extreme fatigue, alcohol, or medication. Sufficient rest may be necessary.
Extremely low workload	Attention is needed regarding slow working speed or a delay in basic capability. Working speed is extremely slow, and learning or achieving proficiency may therefore take time. The person may have difficulty coping with complex work, non-routine work, or work that requires speed.

Trait to look out for

Many mistakes

Attention is needed regarding action control and accuracy.

The control required to perform work may not be functioning properly.
This could be compared to a car with faulty brakes.
There are also cases in which mistakes temporarily increase sharply due to extreme fatigue or immediately after release from a tough situation.

Large drop

Attention is needed regarding a temporary interruption in concentration.

Concentration may be interrupted temporarily, or the person’s hand may stop moving even while mental calculation continues.
It is like gears temporarily disengaging during operation.
Care is required when assigning the person to work that demands sustained concentration, such as driving a vehicle or operating machinery.

Large spike

Attention is needed regarding sudden excitement and erratic behavior.

Mood or drive may temporarily rise, and behavior that is unexpected or unlike the person’s usual impression may appear.
The behavior may be impulsive and could sometimes appear as an intense outburst.

Extreme fluctuation

Attention is needed regarding unstable mood and behavior.

Large fluctuations in mood and behavior can make it difficult to demonstrate the person’s underlying ability consistently. At times, the person may appear inconsistent or may give the impression that their changing moods keep those around them off balance (Flexibility: high).
In other cases, the person may be greatly unsettled internally while showing little of it in behavior (Sensitivity: high).

Lack of fluctuation

Attention is needed regarding rigid behavior and limited emotional expression.

The person may lack flexibility and find it difficult to change their working method or pace to suit those around them.
Because emotional expression and emotional change are also flat, the person may sometimes appear indifferent or extremely calm, even cold.

Extremely slow start for the test’s latter half

Attention is needed regarding embarking on things and adaptability.

The person may have difficulty getting started smoothly and may take a very long time to adapt to a new environment or respond to a change in circumstances.
They may have strong likes, dislikes, and fixations, while finding it difficult to express their own views or feelings openly, which can make relationships with others awkward.

Decline in workload during the test’s latter half

Attention is needed regarding a fatigue-related decline in physical strength or motivation.

Physical fatigue or a decline in drive may be strongly present. Motivation for work may have decreased, or there may be a temporary change in condition caused by lack of sleep, including dozing during the test, extreme fatigue, alcohol, or medication.
Sufficient rest may be necessary.

Extremely low workload

Attention is needed regarding slow working speed or a delay in basic capability.

Working speed is extremely slow, and learning or achieving proficiency may therefore take time. The person may have difficulty coping with complex work, non-routine work, or work that requires speed.

To arrange the Uchida-Kraepelin Test, a work-based aptitude and personality test that can be used in the same way in Japan and overseas, please contact your nearest distributor in your country or region.

Distributors in East Asia

South Korea
- Korea Management Association
  - Main areas served: Seoul, Daegu, Busan, Gwangju, Jeju
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Management consulting
  - Languages supported: Korean
Mainland China
- Shanghai Oracle Bay Enterprise Group, Co., Ltd.
  - Main areas served: Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, Zhenjiang, Yancheng, Nantong, Nanning, Ningbo, Bengbu, Xining, Yinchuan
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Human resource development
  - Languages supported: Chinese
- NINGBO NAPU TRADE CO., LTD.
  - Main areas served: Ningbo, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Dongguan
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Manufacturing consulting, Fabless manufacturing
  - Languages supported: Chinese, Japanese
Hong Kong
- N-ERVE TECHNOLOGY
  - Main areas served: Hong Kong
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Manufacturing consulting, Fabless manufacturing, Recruitment
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Chinese
Taiwan
- Pasona Taiwan
  - Main areas served: Taipei, Hsinchu, Kaohsiung
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: HR consulting, Human resource development, Recruitment
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Chinese

Distributors in Southeast Asia

Thailand
- Krung Asia Insight
  - Main areas served: Bangkok, nationwide Thailand
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Thailand market entry consulting
  - Languages supported: Thai, Japanese
- Waguri
  - Main areas served: Bangkok, Chon Buri, Rayong, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai, Lamphun
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: HR consulting
  - Languages supported: Japanese
- Pasona HR Consulting Recruitment (Thailand)
  - Main areas served: Bangkok
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment, HR consulting
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Thai
- TRAINING AND SEMINAR KOTSUKOTSU
  - Main areas served: Bangkok
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Human resource development, Recruitment
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Thai
Vietnam
- Kosaido HR Vietnam
  - Main areas served: Hanoi (on-site visits available for Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and other locations)
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment, Human resource development, Vietnam market entry consulting
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Vietnamese
- Success Partner
  - Main areas served: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Organizational development
  - Languages supported: Vietnamese
Myanmar
- J-SAT CONSULTING
  - Main areas served: Yangon, Mandalay
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment, Myanmar market entry consulting, Japanese language education
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Burmese
Cambodia
- Creative Diamond Links
  - Main areas served: Phnom Penh
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Khmer
Malaysia
- Pasona HR MALAYSIA
  - Main areas served: Kuala Lumpur
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Malay, English
Laos
- Lao-Japan Gateway
  - Main areas served: Vientiane
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Cybozu Kintone, Laos market entry consulting
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Lao
Indonesia
- Bruggen Batavia Indonesia
  - Main areas served: Jakarta, Bekasi
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: HR consulting, Legal consulting, Visa consulting
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Indonesian, English
- Japan Asia Consultants
  - Main areas served: Jakarta, Bekasi
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Indonesia market entry and company incorporation, Accounting and bookkeeping, Tax services, Labor affairs, Legal services, Visa services
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Indonesian, English
Philippines
- One World Human Resources Development
  - Main areas served: Manila, Quezon
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Japanese language education, Human resource development
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Tagalog, English
Singapore
- Pasona Singapore
  - Main areas served: Singapore
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment, HR consulting
  - Languages supported: English

Distributors in South Asia

India
- Pasona India
  - Main areas served: Delhi, Gurugram, Chennai, Bengaluru
  - Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment
  - Languages supported: Japanese, Hindi, English

If you cannot find a nearby distributor or would like to arrange testing in multiple regions, please contact us using the contact form.