so from the "don't date these people" question, i was brought back to my early college days as a psych major...the whole kiersey personality evaluations brou ha ha. i have taken these tests numerous times and each and every time, i come out as an EFSP...so i was wondering if anyone else is consistent, or is even interested in these sorts of tests? the validity of this test seems much greater than most of those "what type of tree are you" tests that are out there, yet i take those too. apparently i am an oak. anyways.

so did you go to http://keirsey.com ? what is your type? what do you think about these sort of tests?

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

Answers

I am apparently an eNFj. I'm not sure how much stock I put into these sorts of tests, I know there is an entire industry of self help tests, quizzes in magazines like Cosmo and that, but I'm not sure how much I buy the simple categorization, any more than I am sure how much I buy astrology. Not that I am some hyperindividualist "we all do everything soley out of individual freewill and can't be classified" guy either.

I think the existence of such a self-help industry, the omnipresence of tests and quizzes in women's magazines is, itself, interesting sociologically.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

The test says I'm a ESTJ. I don't pay any attention to them.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

Carl Jung started catagorizing personalities when he realized that all people couldn't conform to one standard of lifestyle (which sounds simple to you and me, but try making this clear to the nuclear-packing Hindus and Muslims who live at the Pakistan/India border, home of I cannot hurt a fly vegetarianism). I've noticed in various posts that those who question the importance of this kind of catagorization tend to claim an extroverted personality. I tend to think of the distinction between extroversion and introversion as I call it as it is vs. I call it like I see it. Everyone has extroverted and introverted functions, so it's not like you're a bad person if one function is dominant over the other (which is probably the most important thing to understand from this kind of study). For myself, I lean heavily toward I call it like I see it, and when I address people I mostly know how to address them only in this capacity. I've noticed that this pisses off the I call it as it is crowd, because, as an extreme introvert, I'm always questioning people's perceptions, which looks like I'm questioning the value of the [extroverted] individual (lots of people complaining that I'm arguing semantics). So for me, this kind of catagorization gives me some clue as to which direction I need to go to learn to get along better in the world (unless I win the lottery, in which case I can buy a vehicle so heavily armored, I can go on a rampage of crashing into banks, robbing and bombing them, causing mayhem, and taking hostages to force the authorities to back off when they become too close to capturing me; and we're talking about those round, black bombs you see in cartoons that you have to light the fuses to ignite).

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

It says I'm an ISFJ, I took the Myers-Brigg a couple years ago and came out as an INFJ I think. The description at Keirsey for ISFJ is extremely accurate for me. I think this particular test is pretty valid, not that one need base his/her life around the results but it's interesting if nothing else. I've also become very interested in the personality testing at http://ansir.com, where I am a Diligent/Empath/Empath.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

Well, I have already forgotten the little 4-letter code for my personality type, but I am basically a VERY reserved (though you would never know it here in the forums) idealistic counselor.

So, I have a very optimistic outlook on life, and love to help people, but I'm way too shy to talk to anyone, so I think it really just boils down to the fact that I'm a lost cause.

What do I think about these tests? Well, I don't put too much stock in them, but I think they're fun. I would probably like them a whole lot more if they revealed that I was a beautiful genious with a sparkling personality. Oh well.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

Alas, I don't suppose a genius would mispell the word genius, would they? damn.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

OK, I already announced in the other forum that I'm an ENFP, which I think is about as true to form as humanly possible. Woo hoo. I love this sort of psychological thing...so many other personality deals are way off base. For example, astrology charts oftentimes depress me because they're so unlike who I really *am*, if that makes sense. According to my sign, I'm supposed to be insanely jealous. Right. I digress.

I had to comment on Mike's explanation of introversion vs. extroversion. I don't think it has anything to do with how others are perceived, it's more about how you energize yourself. For me, when I'm drowning in the blahs, nothing is greater than surrounding myself with a bunch of people and playing the social parasite - feeding off their energy. Not exactly a textbook definition of extroversion, but it does its job. Introverted people are the types that have to get away from it all to regroup and re-energize, so to speak (sorry to sound so New Age-y). Just my opinion....

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

Or would they misspell the word 'misspell.' ;)

I'm just teasing, Lisa. Good Lord I'm bored. Slow day at the office, I apologize for the frenetic postings.

Must...find...something...constructive...to...do.....

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

every single time i take the myers-briggs test i end up as an infp. every single time. and i've taken it it about a bazillion times -- in countless psych classes as an undergrad and in countless seminars in the work world (you know, those rah-rah go-team learn-how-to-work-with-each-other sessions)i'm sadly consistent.


in fact, i just buzzed through the test at keirsey.com again and yup...shoor enough....infp

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

okay, i've done two personality tests today, and i'm destined to be a teacher.

i'm an enfj.

i think these are interesting, but... well, how far can these tests give results that are truly accurate?

i'd just rather have lunch with a buddy and have them tell me how screwed up i am... :)

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

ESFJ is the result that mine came up with. I don't really trust this kind of test as to tell a persons personality. These forms of test are too generalized and when compared to a more comprehensive test, I can't remember the name of the one I am thinking of right now, but I took several different ones in college. As a test to show us that ones like these are not as correct or effective as more in depth tests, my professor had us take a variety of different personality tests. The results were as follows, the "quick tests" like this one saw similar results between other like test, while the more indepth tests that ask many more questions and are much longer also had similar result between them, but very different results comparatively to the "quick" ones. Just some interesting food for thought.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

Either INFP or INFJ, depending. Idealist/Healer/Counselor. (Sometimes in the past I got Artisan.)

From keirsey.com:

"The NFs--On the introspective side, Myers had NFs as friendly to the core in dreaming up how to give meaning and wholeness to people's lives. Conflict in those around them is painful for NFs, something they must deal with in a very personal way, and so they care deeply about keeping morale high in their membership groups, and about nurturing the positive self-image of their loved ones. Indeed, while they might differ from each other on how important judging schedules (J) or probing for options (P) is in acting on their friendly feelings, and while their social address can be expressive (E) or reserved (I), all NFs consider it vitally important to have everyone in their circle -- their family, friends, and colleagues -- feeling good about themselves and getting along with each other. Thus Myers, an INFP herself, saw her fellow NFs as "humane" and "sympathetic" -- as "enthusiastic" and "religious" -- as "creative" and "intuitive" -- and as "insightful" and "subjective." Again this is a distinct picture of attitude and action, showing NFs to be very much like each other and greatly different from SPs, SJs, and NTs."

Also: "IDEALIST NFs, being ABSTRACT in communicating and COOPERATIVE in implementing goals, can become highly skilled in DIPLOMATIC INTEGRATION. Thus their most practiced and developed intelligent operations are usually teaching and counseling (NFJ mentoring), or conferring and tutoring (NFP advocating). And they would if they could be sages in one of these forms of social development. The Idealist temperament have an instinct for interpersonal integration, learn ethics with ever increasing zeal, sometimes become diplomatic leaders, and often speak interpretively and metaphorically of the abstract world of their imagination.

They are proud of themselves in the degree they are empathic in action, respect themselves in the degree they are benevolent, and feel confident of themselves in the degree they are authentic. Idealist types search for their unique identity, hunger for deep and meaningful relationships, wish for a little romance each day, trust their intuitive feelings implicitly, aspire for profundity. This is the "Identity Seeking Personality" -- credulous about the future, mystical about the past, and their preferred time and place are the future and the pathway. Educationally they go for the humanities, avocationally for ethics, and vocationally for personnel work.

Social relationships: In their family interactions they strive for mutuality, provide spiritual intimacy for the mates, opportunity for fantasy for their children, and for themselves continuous self- renewal. Idealists do not abound, being as few as 8% and nor more than 10% of the population."

You think it's hard for theatre people to get a date? :) Try being one of only 8-10% of th epopulation at large. Finding mutuality and understanding w/ others isn't an easy task.

Unpleasant metaphor, but I've got a hard shell on the outside and a lot of goodness within, but I don't let just anyone near me with the nutcracker. :) Most mistakes I've made are emotion-based...not letting couteous and respectful good people in enough soon enough, and letting pushy and charismatic bad people get too close too fast...but I've not made any fatal errors, so it's hard to change my ways. If anything, I'd probably become more self-protective and less open, which is the opposite pole from what my goal and efforts have been recently (to be more open and less private).

(Whispered commentary:"Did that person just call herself a nut?"

"I think so."

"Ew. Run away.") :)

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

I am an iNTp according to the test. the architect?? hmm...I never thought of myself like that. I always turn out different when I take these tests. I hardly remember how I answered before, but most things change for me so I'm a pile of contradictions. who knows. I might be a totally different personality type tomorrow..haha.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

Milla, I'm right there with you. I'm an eNFj. I don't even really know what that means.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

I'm an INTJ...the only one around here it seems. The first time I took the test I thought it was bullshit, but I took it again this fall because an office-mate is really into Myers-Briggs, and the more I learn the more it fits. The only piece that doesn't entirely is the Introvert - I'm right on the I/E border and change to fit the situation.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

No, I'm an INTJ. I just didn't want everyone's first INTJ to be me.

Pamie, I figured you were too guilt-ridden (or sensible) to be an intuitive type. (Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong.) For ENFJ's I picture Frasier Crane in that episode where he insists on confronting Carlos and the Chicken on the air, even after his father reminds him about how the other kids made fun of him and Niles for wearing bowler hats and umbrellas, as if they were members of TV's The Avengers.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

I'm an infp/intp/entp... Uh. Yeah.

It all depends on my mood, or maybe I've found my inner schizo... I don't know.

But, hey, I was born in the year of the monkey, which is good 'nuff for me. : )

m_l

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

Every time I've taken the Myers-Briggs test or any test based on it, I have been soooooooo INFP that it's scary. People don't get more "I" than me, if you know what I mean. I'm always interested to hear from other INFPs because we're so few and far between (or maybe it just seems like we're few and far between because we hesitate to jump into conversations - online or otherwise - and start talking about ourselves).

None of these tests have ever really told me something I didn't already know - but maybe that's because, as an INFP, I have a tendency to sit around and think about myself all the time anyway. :)

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

Heehee!

You too, Jessica?

Went through a phase where I hunted down all the personality tests I could find, just 'cause I enjoyed trying to figure out where I was coming from.

Now I feel very very swollen-headed.

Oooh, there was a cool one - a medieval-type thing that told you what you'd be if you lived back in the day. I was a minstrel, I think. It was... oh. I already said cool. Fun, too.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

jessica, i was an INFP for years, as "I" as they came. then, after i'd graduated college and started making some big life changes, i jumped onto the I/E border. i'm a little more "E" now. but you're right -- so few INFPs, but once you cross that line, everyone's your twin...

leigh anne

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

ENTP. The inventor. I always get that one.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

eNFp! The Champion Idealist!

Apparently, people like Katherine (hey there temperament-twin!) and I are very rare, according to the description. Champions are like 3% of the population, and idealists are around 8% but no more than 10%.

It was very accurate. I always knew I was an extrovert and a gut- follower. I didn't know that made me a champion ;)

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

Melissa, we may be rare, but there seem to be a hell of a lot of us on squishy! I wonder what that means.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

I think the extrovert/introvert description is silly, because it claims some people are "energized" by people and others are "drained" by being around people and need to step back and be alone to recharge... For me at least, when I'm with people I feel comfortable with I feel energized and happy, to the point that I get miserable without them... whereas when I'm in a social situation with people I don't feel comfortable, the opposite is true... and I'll bet this is true for the majority of the population... I mean who (besides you actor freaks) really feels good being with a bunch of strangers?

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

Ok.. this /is/ getting creepy! ENFPs are supposed to be among the rarest personality type... and I'm one too. :) Or INFP, depending on my mood for the day.

So... what is it about Pamie and draws us all in...? :)

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

How interesting. I'm an ENFJ, I have been since I took the test years ago. Even when the questions change the letters are always the same. This test (and the explanations I have read) always fit me to a T. (where does that phrase come from anyways? Hunh.) I always think that I'm going to turn out as a performer because that's what I live to do, but naaah, always ENFJ.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

OK, does anybody else have the Queen song stuck in their head now (weeeeee are the chaaaaaampions....), or is it just a me thing? Guh.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

ISTJ. The only one here, I think.

(So very lonely....)


-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

The Keirsey Character Sorter I has pegged me as an iNFj (Counselor, placing me in such esteemed company as Gandhi and Eleanor Roosevelt), though the Keirsey Character Sorter II says I'm an eNFj (Teacher, which puts me in with Mikhael Gorbachev and Margaret Mead).

The confusion over whether I'm an introvert ot extrovert isn't surprising. I used to be painfully shy, but eventually got over most of it, due to working in the theater. There are actually people I know that refuse to believe that I was ever shy. However, I still occasionally retreat into my old shell. I do think I'm more iNFj, though, which means I'm only 2% of the population. I'm a rare bird.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

I've taken this test (and others like it) several times. I am XXTX. I'm (usually) rational and that is about all that you can say about me. Everything else is evenly split.

I have also taken a test that demonstrates right or left brain dominance. I am 50/50.

My opinion of the tests: Typically, they are of no practical value. They are useful entertainments (as this forum clearly demonstrates). The exception would be if someone began correlating ratings with individuals (say, starting with this forum). Then it might be used for carefully targeted advertising.

In fact, here is a scenario where these tests could be very lucrative: create a web portal for personality related issues and articles. Have the focus be the Keirsey Test. You can sign up and have your own account (MyId? MyEgo? MySuperEgo?). Create forums and activities for each of the personality catagories and types. Do some market research to determine how different types respond to different products and styles of advertising. Target the advertising. Better ad response equals more money. Your market research data is valuable: sell it. Note: DON'T sell info correlating individuals to their type; that would be a privacy no-no. There are several other ways to increase revenue.

If there are any venture capitalists out there reading this who think it is a great idea, send me some money. If it has already been done, oh well. All material Copyright ) 2000 Jon Wiley. All Rights Reserved.

Can I still post here if I am insanely rich? I'm not sure my 1,000 node Beowulf cluster that I will use as my personal machine (once my IPO clears) will be able to lower itself to a text-only interface.

Oh, I guess that is something Pam left out about actors: they routinely fantasize about having obscene amounts of cash, all the while complaining about how those who do have it have no inkling as to how to properly spend it.

Don't worry Pam, you'll get your cut.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

I've heard that the most difficult difference between people that are close is the last letter: the P (percieving) and J (Judging). Generally, Ps like change and accept it readily/easily. They go through life without as many pre-conceived notions about the way things should be. Js don't like to bend rules. They really don't like to see other people "getting away" with rule-breaking, unless it supports their personal belief system. It's very difficult for the Percieving personality to function happily/healthily if it is in close contact with a Judging personality, especially if the Judging personality is in a place of power (boss, parent). Often the Judging personality has difficulty respecting the Perciever. And often has difficulty accepting the validity of tests like this, unless it has already been integrated into their beliefs.

Of course, this is a skewed perspective, perhaps. I am a P in a family full of Js.

I think these tests are valid in that they are a tool of insight/introspection. The Enneagram is also good, and really basically very interesting if you are interested in figuring out why people don't respond to the same events in the same way.

However, I've found them sorely lacking in any real insight into what sort of actual character you have, what kind of job you'd be best at, etc.

It is always interesting (to me), and this test is one of the more accepted ones in the psychological community. I think one of the happiest outcomes of the acceptance of tests like this is realizing that different things make us tick. We aren't all alike and there isn't just one healthy model for living. I think many of us may look at life as a sliding scale. Good<==>Bad. But sometimes Good is bad for somebody else. What's good for the goose may or may not be good for the gander.

Natalie -INFP

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

Uhmm..Apparently my personality is so obscure that it hasn't yet been identified. A bit too ambiguous to differentiate statistically I guess. At least we can nail down Introverted Prober. Oh well.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

i am an infp, always have been. strange, how we are supposed to be so rare and yet so many of us are on this board...

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

I'm INFP too. I've re-taken the test a few times in the last ten years, and I'm *always* as INFP as I could possibly be. If I remember right, we are the personality type that most enjoys personality tests and introspection of any kind, right? So it makes sense that we would all jump at the chance to contribute to this forum.

People sometimes confuse the introvert/extrovert attributes, I think. Introverted behavior doesn't necessarily mean being unsocial. When I tell people I test high in introvertedness, they usually don't believe me. I like people and communicate well, but I need time to re-coup and be by myself quite a bit.

Has anyone ever read anything about any correlations between ADD/ADHD and the M/Briggs types (or any personality types)? Just wondering. Both my husband and I joke about our mutual ADD-like tendencies. He's ENFJ, though.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

And now I'm an INFJ. I'm feeling more settled in myself now. So it prob'ly makes more sense... the last time I took it was a few years ago.

Am I the only one with such big jumps from personality to personality?

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

ISFP. Hee hee. Who would think a naked boy with a mohawk (actually, it's gone now) would be introverted. I think what it comes down to is what Laural said- in the appropriate situation I'm extroverted, but when I enter a new environment, I usually lie low until I feel comfortable. I like being called a Composer. The only thing I think is wrong is that they are comparing me to Barbra; though I am like butter.

Eww, I can't believe I just typed that.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

Maybe the distinction between extroversion and introversion (I find the comments here informative on how people are perceiving the distinction) can be imagined as different as the child who constantly asks why? and the adult who can only replies because! For example, Jerry Seinfeld gets up on stage and makes people laugh, and for the longest time, was known as a man who liked first dates. Yet he has also been known to dismiss the lies that the tabloids were printing about him (there are some people who deserve to be lied to), so superficially, it is hard to nail down if he is introverted or extroverted.

I think that he is best described as siding on the introverted side. For example, I remember one interview he did with Katie Couric were, perhaps in an effort of friendly mocking, began to excessively ask him observational questions. As frustrated as Seinfeld got, he never resorted in any form to a because answer to her questions, but, instead, began to answer her questions with questions of his own, forcing her to begin answering his questions, until it broke down into "...and where do trees come from?" and Couric finally answering "God?" (translation: because?)

In Andy's case, where he's a punk, nudist, ISFP, it wouldn't be inconsistant at all if it turns out that he is best described as a sensation-junkie with a strong attention to detail. As far as I know, Mozart was a party animal who could finely express himself in his musical compositions.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

I always get INFP, even though every time I think I'm not going to. I swear I get more and more extroverted, realistic, judgmental and dull every year.

Oh well. I guess I'm still the fairytale-princess healer. La la la la.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000

I'm an eNFp, Champion Idealist, like Katherine and Melissa, 3% of society according to many studies. Journalists, preachers, teachers, counselors. Also tough to live with, apparently (according to outside sources who wish to remain anonymous, for some cowardly reason). Someone mentioned whether the results change over time. I've been an eNFp for more than a decade.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000

I'm the type who took the Myers- Briggs personality test and didn't stick around fo r the results, though reading the descriptions people give sound awfully close to my own personality. I'm also a little scatterbrained and I've got to be juggling different activities at once or else I don't get anything done.

I do remember once when I worked at a YMCA we all had some big employee feelgood session and for some reason I wound up standing in the corner alone holding a piece of green construction paper and waiting for someone - anyone - to join me after we answered a bunch of questions. No one did.

I also remember another personality test I took when I was teaching where we had to find people who did different activities which would expose their personalities. The activities were stuff like keep journals, display artwork they've done, changed tires or fixed a car, tied their own ties, quote poems from memory and recall movies and tv shows from way back when with some accuracy. I was in the cross-section group that I think were known as "liberal arts majors." No surprises there. It was the same crowd I lunched with.

On another, unrelated subject, does anyone know what the expression "waltzing matilda" means? I've got the Eric Bogle song in my head and I 've never thought that much about that phrase until today. Help!?

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2000

Never mind. I found it AND the original lyrics to the folk song, and downloaded a .mid file of the melody.

It means "to tramp about with a swag." A swag is a bedroll.

Now I understand everything.

I love the internet.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2000