Personality Types: Agree or Disagree?
About the Jung/Myers-Briggs Personality Test.
It's based on Carl Jung's theory that we each have four of eight personality attributes, which mainly describe how we deal with information. We choose the four attributes that most fit our personality, and then combine them to form a type. There are a total of 16 types.
These are the eight attributes, which I tried to describe in the simplest terms (some of the definitions I've read are really abstract). There is also a wide spectrum for each attribute. For example, one can be extremely introverted, extremely extroverted or anywhere in between, including right in the middle (using each attribute equally).
Introversion vs. Extroversion Defines where you gather information.
Introverts focus inward to their thoughts, reflections, and ideas to draw energy. Extraverts focus on the outside world and draw energy from people and their environment.
Sensing vs. Intuition Defines how you perceive and process information.
Sensing types focus on what's there--the objective world. Intuitive types focus on possibilities--the subjective world.
Thinking vs. Feeling Defines how you make decisions based on information.
Thinking types decide based on facts, logic, and the intellect. Feeling types decide based on emotions and ethics.
Judging vs. Perceiving Defines how you implement information.
Judging types plan and organize information systematically. Perceiving types prefer to improvise and are open to alternatives.
The Myers-Briggs Website goes into more detail with better descriptions than I wrote above. This is the best site for type information.
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Here is a free modified version of the Jung/Myers-Briggs test. I've taken similar tests based on the personality theory before, including the Myers-Briggs, and all of them include very general and abstract questions. Because the questions are confusing, people will often answer it based on what they think the question means, rather than the test author's defintion. Here's an example: "You easily see the general principle behind specific occurrences." Answer Yes or No. So, that's what I mean by TOO general.
So answer the best you can and even if your test score assigns you to a specific type, it doesn't necessarily mean that's your correct type. One other thing, there's often a profile after these tests (much like an astrology profile) that describes your type. I found it's easier to gain insight by focusing on each of your four preferences rather than the profiles, even if some of the profiles do seem to fit your personality. These are only four traits out of millions that make up your personality, so no one (and no test) can paint a picture of who you really are. The best they can do is give you some insight.
After you answer the questions you'll get a four-letter type, such as ENTJ (Extroverted, Intuition, Thinking, Judging).
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My Type: INFJ (Introverted, Intuition, Feeling, Judging)
I know that Suk Yee took this and she is an INFP, so that might explain why we seem to think alike. When I first took it, my results were INTJ and I didn't think that sounded anything like me. When I took it again, I thought about consistent traits over my lifetime, and I think INFJ sounds more like me. Here are two of many INFJ profiles on the internet (both are on the same page), that isn't a completely accurate description, but comes very close.
Agree or Disagree?
If you take the test, please comment and tell me your type. Is your type an accurate description of you? Do you agree with the results? If you find a profile you think describes you, please include a link to it too.
