Funny thing is, no matter how many times I take the Myers Briggs test, or some variation of it like this short one, I always come out INTJ. Fairly high I, mid N, nearly off the chart T, mid J. Aine over at her new blog Life is Beautiful, has been blogging about Myers Briggs, so if you are interested to learn more about this great personality test, please pop over there and tell her Ello sent you. But when you get there, scroll down so you can see where she starts the whole discussion with her part I on personality tests.
Why do I bring this up? Because personalities are so fascinating. As an INTJ, I know that it is my I (introvert) that makes me anti-social. I hate parties. I dislike talking on the phone, I much prefer emails where I can respond at my convenience and can be as short as I need to be. I hate phone calls because I'm always trying to get off in the middle of the other person trying to tell me something really important like "the number you have dialed has been changed, the new number is..." Seriously, what is wrong with people? Can't you see I don't want to talk to you?
My N (intuitive) is what keeps me always looking at the big picture. So when all 3 of the girls start fighting and arguing about who started it, my big picture trait rises to the occasion and I say, "I don't care who started it, I'm ending it right now!" I am notorious for punishing all 3 kids regardless of who was at fault.
My T (thinking) is what keeps me rational and gives me my thick and shiny rhino hide like skin. This skin is what protects me from rejection and coldly analyzes the logic behind any decision. It has no room for emotion. Crying just irritates me. Like yesterday when Angus started crying hysterically and I said, "Stop crying this instant! I told you if you kept burping like that you would throw up! Serves you right."
And my J (judging) is what keeps me organized against the tides of chaos that is my world. No coddling in my house, that's for sure. If my kid says, "I'm tired, can I do my homework later?" I respond. "You can rest for 15 minutes and then do your homework for 30 minutes. Then practice piano for 15 minutes. Then read for 20 minutes. Then finish off your homework for another 30 minutes. And everything must be done before dinner."
But all joking aside, ultimately, the Myers Brigg Personality Preference Indicator only tells us what we prefer. It doesn't measure how well we can adapt to differences. Like for instance, learning empathy for my children's sake. Handling irrational, illogical behavior from Da Man. Rolling with constant scheduling conflicts and changes for the kids. I think being able to adapt to our environment, regardless of our preference type, is the best measure of someone's personality.
24 comments:
I took the test and I am Hermione Granger ISTJ. I thought I was the only one who tells my kids to make sure everything is done before dinner when they tell me they are tired. It's a good thing John is more easy-going to balance me out.
I'm Remus Lupin: INFP. I wonder what Harry Potter is. Hey, if everyone takes it, maybe we'll find out!
All such tests are really limited. I'm not a big proponent of testing. It can be useful for approximations but becomes a major problem when they are relied on too strongly.
uhhhhhhhhh hahahaha i'm harry potter.
i'm also ISFP--as we already discussed, almost the EXACT opposite of you!!
i remember when i took a more extensive version of the test awhile ago i came up exactly equal E/I.
that must be why we're such good friend--harry and snape get along so well!
INFJ - I'm Albus Dumbledore. Don't worry Ellen I will never ask you to ava kadavra me!
I'm Severus Snape too. But usually I'm an INTP.
I am apparently Molly Weasley, and NOT happy about it. How dull is that?!
I took the test and came out as INFP, which is Remus Lupin, but I've always been INTP over and over when I take these, and that apparently makes me... Voldemort.
I'm an ISTP (Madam Hooch); Practical, loyal & adventurous w/a strong need for their personal space. Often good with mechanical things & prone to risk taking.
Sending you something in e-mail I think you'll enjoy. It intrigued the heck out of me...
I once took one of those length-of-a-novel psychometric tests with umpteen almost similar versions of every question.
The instructions read something like 'don't think about your answers too long — respond instinctively.'
So I went with A for everything and got shot of it in about 5 minutes.
Sadly, there's more and more of this sort of stuff creeping into places where it Might Get To Matter — but I'm Severus Snape and I don't care.
Erm, Voldemort here... INTP.
But, I think you're right, what's important is to be able to adapt and adjust. I also think that we all have some of the personality characteristics in our make up and placed in any given situation, we will respond accordingly. We may tend to one personality type, but I think most of us are generally flexible in order to cope with everything that life throws at us. I've had to do the Myers Briggs on several occasions and although I and N are nearly always there, the other two elements vary from time to place.
I also come up equal E/I on the full test, moonrat!
Good grief! I came up INTP Lord Voldemort. As it happens, I have a "Republicans for Lord Voldemort" bumper sticker; but that's not exactly a ripping endorsement...
this might mean something..but you are reading the comments of the one person that hasn't read a single Potter book.
*hangs head in shame*
Hey, you found my favorite personality test of all! Two of my most adored topics to discuss are personality type and Harry Potter. So how perfect is it that someone took the time to type the characters! :)
I'm Dumbledore and Jason is Voldemort... 'nuff said.
LOL
turns out, today, i'm like spy.... go figger
The quiz says I'm an INFJ - Albus Dumbledore.
Today I appear to be Remus Lupin: INFP.
Me and the spyscribbler!
Another Dumbledore here. This is awesome. What a great post!
Wow we got a huge mix of personalities here! How cool is that!
And I do agree with Charles that these tests are really limited. But I also think they are fun. And I like saying I'm Severus Snape. I love him.
Moonie was the only Harry Potter? Wow!
And Whirl cheated and got Snape. Ha!
And March never read Harry Potter. OMG. I think the world stopped spinning just for a moment there after I read that.
i once spent an entire summer internship studying myers-briggs and then administering workshops to business executives. there's some fun things you can do, like have S's and N's describe a leaf, and like they come up with completely different focuses. or tell J's and P's to construct a construction paper/popsicle stick sailboat in 10 min, and with 2 min left, tell them you changed your mind and now you want them to make a cat. The P's love it and the J's get PISSED. Or give F's and T's tasks to distribute wrapped presents when there's not enough for everyone. T's come up with some logical solution while F's feel bad for things. It's all very fun.
I think I was an ENFJ. The N and S is always very close though I think. I should take this one and see who I end up being because of this! I think the interesting thing is, depending on your environment, you WILL change, so it's hard to say. Like is the "true you" who you are when nobody is around?
Ello, I'm an INTJ too. I recognise myself in many of the things you've written in this post. :-)
Interesting...
Hey, I'm Snape too. But I'm not nearly as confrontational as you, Ell. You're my hero. :)
I'm an INTP: borderline I, strong N, off the charts T (like 100%), strong P.
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