MBTI personality types

[Clues_Of_Blue]

I have had an ongoing fascination with analysing personality, and what makes myself and others tick, and have found the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to be a surprisingly accurate measure of such things. I have catalogued the types of many of the people in my life, and probably driven them nuts with my project. It's an interesting study, though, observing consistent traits among the types, how they relate to life skills, coping strategies, how they function in different settings and why.

If you know your type, feel free to share, and things you may have discovered about yourself or that have helped you relate to others using resources about it. If you don't know your type, and want to, I found the site 16 Personalities pretty good for testing and dissecting the types.

If it's of any interest, I am an INTP, and the information about my type on that site is pretty spot-on. I've only used that as a starting point for my research. There is so much information out there on the types, and the differences between them that actually goes a long way to breaking down the core of otherwise confusing conflicts, or getting the most out of a person at work or in a friendship, etc.

Anyway, it's a bit of a project of mine, and I wanted to open it up to anyone who wants to contribute.

[james1]

Hey Blue,

I love that joke. It's actually...very me, haha. I've caught myself on multiple occasions telling people "I like to think I'm decisive. Well, most of the time. Sometimes I'm not, but...oh damn."

Yep! Here are some of my thoughts on how I fit the INFJ and INFP types:

INFJ:

"INFJs absorb other people’s emotional energy whether they want to or not. If it’s powerful and there – friend or foe, intimate or stranger – your pain is in their heart."

Completely me. I can't help but feel others' emotions.

"Maybe you’ve been going for months or years without attending to your own desires or needs. Maybe you don’t even remember what those needs and desires are anymore."

And because I can't help but feel others' emotions, I neglect myself.

"INFJs – using the Perspectives process – often solve problems and persuade others by offering alternative perspectives. In fact, they generally solve problems by shifting perspectives until the solution becomes clear."

Me at work. It's almost a carbon copy of some of my performance reviews.

INFP:

"It’s common for INFPs to daydream and allow their heads to float in the clouds of imagination. An INFP’s imagination is super-charged, rich in color, texture and detail. The dreamland of the mind is amazing to an INFP and feels just as real as a walk along a sunny beach."

Someone tell me to stop dreaming. Actually don't. It's my only escape.

"As an INFP you have so many nuanced and unexplained emotions that feel absolutely real. And when you articulate them – it feels like no one understands what you are actually feeling or expressing."

Yep. My life.

---

So overall, I think I sit somewhere in that spectrum, but I don't know where. I mean, both are very similar in how they deal with other people...the difference seems to be more internal and that's where my little personality quirks rear their head and tell me that I'm X today, Y tomorrow and Z the day after.

But what's definitely true about me? I'm a dreamer, an emotional sponge, and completely okay with that!

What were your thoughts on the INTP? Very logic driven...I have a great friend who's an INTP 🙂

James

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Interesting that you've found bits that fit both types. I have read in another thread you may have Borderline Personality Disorder. If you'll forgive me for making the link, do you think that may be affecting your certainty or clarity from one day to the next? I am still learning about it myself, and it's taking a while to build up a
comprehensive understanding. It's just a thought. Apologies if I'm touching on a sensitive spot. I'm glad to see that you are perfectly content with the aspects of your personality you've positively identified, by the way.

As for me, I very much identify with the INTP profile. Logical to a fault, and typically more interested in facts
than emotions, I have been known to frustrate my peers and inadvertently step on toes. There was a bit on the Personality Hacker page about the internal processing of an INTP which I very much identified with:

"Accuracy is a decision-making function (technically called a “judging function”), and works by creating a
framework and then sifting through all the data within that framework, scanning for incongruities and inconsistencies. Its ultimate goal is to find things that make ‘sense’ to the user, and once clarity is gained
then the INTP knows the right course of action to take."

The other thing it came up with that really resonated with me was the INTP inclination toward "radical honesty". It has been said that re The Emperor's New Clothes, it's the INTP who will be entirely unconcerned with the whole idea of being considered an idiot for being unable to see his special new outfit, and will be the one to say "yep, that's one naked emperor". It's so true of me, I'm always the one pointing out the elephant in the room, whether or not everyone else has been flat out denying that it's there. That sort of thing can get me in trouble sometimes, but meh. Doesn't concern me at all, I'd rather be honest. I'm a proud INTP, very happy to be what I am.

Blue.

[james1]

Yes, very perceptive Blue 🙂 It's not sensitive for me to talk about even if it is causing me a bit of grief. I described it somewhere as making me create whole new identities and personalities for different people. (Actually, I wrote a poem/story in the poetry corner about that) And because I keep doing this...I don't actually know much about myself. And I get mega confused if I've got one skin on for friend a, but friend b comes along and my usual skin for them is completely different!

The only things I know about myself? Those two things: dreamer and sponge. And they sit firmly in the xNFx space, but where I don't know!

Aha I like the Emperor's New Clothes analogy. I would be so uncomfortable in that situation...not just for the emperor because it must be awkward, but for the "tailor" for not creating anything and surely he must feel terrible!, and for everyone standing around because it must be awkward for them! It's kind of tiring actually...

Have you heard of Keirsey's temperaments? They take the middle two letters (e.g. NT for you) and have some really great insights as well. Your temperament is called "Rationalist":

"As Abstract Utilitarians, Rationals speak mostly of what new problems intrigue them and what new solutions they envision, and always pragmatic, they act as efficiently as possible to achieve their objectives, ignoring arbitrary rules and conventions if need be."

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Oh dear, that does sound pretty confusing. I think we all have different "skins" to an extent, though I put that in the basket of "register"; that is, there's a time and a place for everything. I'll pick up a chop with my hands at a barbecue, but eat it with a knife and fork at a restaurant, it's that sort of thing. Identity is the same, I just trot out different aspects of it to suit the situation. I guess that falls into filtering through the data and using what's relevant, as is my nature. I gather it's a bit more complex than that for you.

I've touched on Keirsey's temperaments, though haven't gone into it in great depth. I guess with your floating identity, having those two letters to work with makes the temperaments more immediately relevant to you. I have seen the description of "Rationalist" before, and I fit it. Bollocks to arbitrary rules and conventions, I do tend to chuck them on the scrap heap. 🙂

It's funny how we have such different perspectives on The Emperor's New Clothes. I easily regard the tailor as a jerk, everyone else in the situation as idiots, and feel nothing for any of them. Put your pants on, Emperor, no-one wants to see that!

[james1]

Yes, I think we all do as well and I always thought what I did was normal. Until my friend (the INTP one I was talking about) told me that he didn't create new personas - he just...adapted himself.

And he also thought it was strange that I also adapted my feelings, moods, thoughts and not just behaviours. So for him it was talking more at parties, trying to start conversations, etc. For me its, talking more, actually making myself feel happier (lest they see what's inside!), thinking that I'm more extroverted (but am I?!?) and as soon as I leave the party, everything flips, not just my actions but my mood, thoughts...everything. And then the self-doubt creeps in - what am I? Do I like parties or not? That kind of thing 🙂

My friend recommended the book Please Understand Me II to me. He said it fit him really really well and when I read parts of "Idealist", I thought those fit me really well too. And not just the general statements, but specific statements as well. Fascinating too how the book basically predicted to the T exactly how my relationships broke down, haha.

James

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Nothing like an INTP for being logical and throwing research at you. 😉 Might have to give that book a look (if I remember - we're notoriously muddle-headed, too).

[blondguy]

Hey Bluguru.....what personality do I have again? Besides being a long blond haired dude with an XR8 😉

Hoping you are well and thankyou for caring too BG

Paul xx

[Clues_Of_Blue]

You're an ENFJ, Paul. If you've forgotten the details, the letters mean Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling and Judging. Also known as a fun guy with a social conscience.

I'm still a bit of a snot monster with this cold I've got, but I'm generally okay. Always here for you, my friend. 🙂

Bluguru.

[dark_unicorn]

I got INFP-T which is kinda weird because I think most people consider me an extrovert...? But I got something like 72% Introverted so...idk

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Humans are social creatures by nature. Even an introvert can enjoy the company of others, and be outgoing at times. The difference is where your energy comes from. An extrovert needs to be around loved ones to recharge, whereas an introvert will find people time takes a fair bit of energy and will retreat for some solitude when in need of down time. When you come to the end of a long day, are you thinking about spending time with someone, or curling up with a good book/movie/alone activity?