Personality Test
While bumming around the blogosphere today (man, I need a hobby!), I came across this personality test, which claims to be based on Carl Jung and analytical psychology. Like I said, I had nothing better to do, so I decided to have a go at it. I usually dislike personality tests, because 1: They never seem to fit me, and 2: I don't see how they could fit me, since my answers are usually based on my current mood, and not the long-term observation that the most truthful answers would require. But the results of this test actually seemed to fit me rather well (not that I particularly like everything they said, but they seem accurate). According to them, I am an "Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging" personality type, also known as an "Inspector." Here are some quotes from the results that stood out:
"As do other Introverted Thinkers, ISTJs often give the initial impression of being aloof and perhaps somewhat cold. Effusive expression of emotional warmth is not something that ISTJs do without considerable energy loss." -- Though I've said before on this blog that I'm "upbeat," this description actually sounds more like me. I mean, I'm an optimist and I'm usually more-or-less happy, but I'm not visibly happy (I get the "Is something wrong?" question a lot, even though nothing usually is) I wouldn't say that I'm "cold," but I'm definitely not one to be easily excited, and it does take me a lot to express emotion.
"ISTJs are easily frustrated by the inconsistencies of others, especially when the second parties don't keep their commitments. But they usually keep their feelings to themselves unless they are asked. And when asked, they don't mince words. Truth wins out over tact." -- Sounds about right. ;-)
"SJ orientation draws the ISTJ into the service of established institutions. Home, social clubs, government, schools, the military, churches -- these are the bastions of the SJ. "We've always done it this way" is often reason enough for many ISTJs. " -- Well, they put schools in there, and I want to be a teacher, so...
And then they give a list of "Famous ISTJs," which includes George Washington, Herbert Hoover, and Christ's disciple, Thomas (which begs the question -- how did any of them take this personality test?) I'm flattered that one of the disciples is my personality type, though. :-) There are also some "Fictional ISTJs," like Eeyore from "Winnie the Pooh" (he was always my favorite), and Fred Mertz from "I Love Lucy." So what about you guys? Anyone feel like taking this test and seeing their personality type?
Comments
I'm an ISFP (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving). I'm not sure how close to me this really is. I almost have a dual personality composed of who I really am and who I think people want me to be. The two are so closely entertwined (but distinctly two seperate personalities) that I don't really know where the real me ends and the perceived me begins.
The one thing I do know is right...I am most definitely introverted!
Test result this year - ISTP Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving
In 2004 I took this test and was ISTJ - Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging
Wonder what I will be in a few years???
That was fun. Thanks, Jay!
Thanks girls. I hear you, Amanda. I made sure in my answers to make sure I was being honest about who I was, not who other people would perceive me to be (most probably don't see me as introverted or tradition-based, but I am, I think).
Susan: Well, two years ago we had the same personality, and maybe two years from now I'll be ISTP and you'll be something else altogether. Who knew personalities changed like that? :-)
Ten years ago I was an ISTP. That was taken at psychologist's office for a job promotion. They dug deep into the four categories, so I found that I was an "I" but just barely.
I took this test just now and I'm an INTJ. Other INTJs are C.S. Lewis and Clarice Starling (FBI agent in Silence of the Lambs)!!
This test is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and if you want learn more about your Type, you could get this book by Renee Baron (or Jay, you could get it at your library, I'm sure). It's not the full work-up you'd get by going to a Myers-Briggs Foundation authorized place, but it's fun and easy to understand.
I learned that 'introverted' isn't the same thing as 'shy or quiet around others'.
I am out-going in a group and I wouldn't be perceived as 'introverted'. But I am.
Anyone correct me if I'm wrong on this. Introverted is someone who needs alone time to 'recharge the batteries' so to speak. An extroverted person is someone who is energized by being with other people.
At the risk of sounding like a know-it-all (I had to study this stuff as part of a job), "introverted" and "extraverted" are used to describe the other parts of the Type, and they can be influenced by the strength of your other Type parts. So, when they are used with the different Types, they don't necessarily mean the same thing as if you told someone you were an introvert or an extrovert (or extravert).
Does that make sense?
Okay, so like on this 'abbreviated' test. I was an ISTP. I was 'moderately' introverted (35%) and 'slightly' sensing (25%), 'moderately' Thinking ?%, and 'slightly' Perceiving ?%. Can you use that to explain what you are saying?
Not without someone's head exploding. I don't know how helpful this is, but maybe visualize a bar chart with 8 bars -- I, E, S, N, T, F, P, and J. Put percentages on the left side of the chart from 0% at bottom and 100% at top. Potentially (albeit weird) 4 bars could be at 100%, one from each pair (I/E, S/N, T/F, P/J). If you increase or decrease one of a pair, the other gets adjusted. But, the other 6 may be affected also. So...if you raised your Sensing from 25% to 35%, your Intuition would go down, but your Introvert might also go down from 35% to something else. Over a period of years, your Sensing might decrease and your Introvert increase.
It's hard (for me) to explain, but a person can be introverted as a Type but be very outgoing in a group because of how they have learned to gather data and interact. We were told that Is need more time by themselves and that Es don't like to be alone, but we didn't see those differences exhibited as much as the S/N and T/F. By the way, as "thinkers", we are in a small group of women. When I played with this stuff, less than 25% of women who tested were "thinkers".
Now my head hurts.
Great explanation and very interesting. As a 'thinker'. I like this stuff. People fascinate me.
Same here, Susan. That was a really interesting explanation, although my head came very close to exploding, Maureen. ;-)