Your Myers-Briggs type?

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Sat May 21, 2005 10:46 pm

I know I brought this up on the old board, but I'd like to revisit this topic.

For those of you who don't know, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a personality test that basically takes the unique you and pigeon-holes you into one of 16 types (based on four dimensions). You can find tons of info about it online, as well as free tests if you'd like to know your type.

Mine is INTP, which apparently is one of the rarest types. It's the absent-minded professor type, meaning I like to spend a lot of my time in seclusion reading up on things or figuring out complex systems (nerd is the proper term here).

The odd thing is that INTP profiles match my personality really, really close. When I took the test, I thought it was just going to regurgitate everything I told it (you know, telling me I'm an introvert after I answer the question "Do you like working in teams?" with "no"). However, it goes deeper than that, and it was fascinating to read articles that described me so well.

Then I thought maybe it was just being vague and explaining things that apply to everybody, but as I read about the other types, only bits and pieces really applied to me, as opposed to being spot-on like the INTP descriptions.

Given that shmupping is such a niche hobby, I think it should be interesting to see what types are on this board.

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Sat May 21, 2005 11:12 pm

ISFJ here.

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Sun May 22, 2005 12:05 am

kyle d. · Post by **kyle d.** » Sun May 22, 2005 12:24 am

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Sun May 22, 2005 1:53 am

Is there a site where you can be tested for this, or is it something more specialized?

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sun May 22, 2005 3:45 am

Yeah, just search Google and it should give you some annoying LiveJournal-esque test.

ISTJ

First extrovert wins.

mannerbot · Post by **mannerbot** » Sun May 22, 2005 3:58 am

mannerbot · Post by **mannerbot** » Sun May 22, 2005 3:59 am

Wait, what do I win?

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sun May 22, 2005 4:05 am

A social life, I'd bet.

mannerbot · Post by **mannerbot** » Sun May 22, 2005 4:11 am

WTF THAT SUCKS

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sun May 22, 2005 4:32 am

I wouldn't want it either, but I'm an ISTJ.

alpha5099 · Post by **alpha5099** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:31 am

I just checked the Wikipedia page on Myers-Briggs and found two external links to tests based on this personality tests.

The first said I was INFJ, the second said I was INFP. Reading the descriptions, INFP sounds like its more akin to my actual personality. INFJ sounds a lot more bullheaded than I am. Anyway, the famous INFPs are so much better than the famous INFJs.

Nemo · Post by **Nemo** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:37 am

ISTJ.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:42 am

Nemo wrote:ISTJ.

Nemo · Post by **Nemo** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:49 am

Rob wrote:
Nemo wrote:ISTJ.

Scary indeed, relatively same height and weight, and now personality?! Do you want to borrow my Thursday CDs?

Minzoku · Post by **Minzoku** » Sun May 22, 2005 2:41 pm

That is the cutest, goofiest reply ever

They gave us this in college as part of an orientation-type class, and I got INFJ, same as a high school classmate of mine in the same class. Now he's INTJ and I retested as INTP.

Granted, these tests are all different, though I do know I'm not the same person I was in college.

jp · Post by jp » Sun May 22, 2005 3:11 pm

ISTJ here.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Sun May 22, 2005 4:18 pm

INTP on the most recent one, although I have gotten INTJ in the past as well. I think that this particular test is too oriented around a few specific features that don't really express a personality very completely.

Moogs · Post by **Moogs** » Sun May 22, 2005 4:31 pm

INFP

Never changes. Never will.

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:14 pm

alpha5099 wrote:Anyway, the famous INFPs are so much better than the famous INFJs.

Famous INTPs make me feel like such a slacker. Einstein, Isaac Newton, Socrates, Descartes, Pascal... damn. Then again, that's all speculative anyway (although Einstein has been described as the archetypal INTP).

Minzoku wrote:Granted, these tests are all different, though I do know I'm not the same person I was in college.

Yeah, I wish I had taken this in the past. I've changed a lot between high school, college, and now. I was considering going to art school when in high school, now I'm a software developer (and my artistic side has rotted away as a result

).

ISTJ seems to be the popular result here. I would think the SJ's would be better shmuppers since their work ethic is probably better. I like figuring out patterns, but actually practicing enough to get good isn't as interesting to me, so I hop from one game to another when I reach a point where practice becomes more important than improvisation.

And on a final note...

mannerbot wrote:WTF THAT SUCKS

Now that is pure gold.

PaCrappa · Post by **PaCrappa** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:29 pm

My mom took it for me when I was 18 and we weren't speaking. She determined I was a ENTP. I guess that is special or something (or at least she thought it was) and she actually tracked me down to tell me that I had landed this wonderful Myers Briggs status. It was actually pretty interesting so I took it for myself and yep, ENTP. I haven't thought about this stuff for 14 years or so and now that I've taken it again, I am an ENTP. If that means I'll be a zillionaire, I'm pretty excited.

Pa

it290 · Post by **it290** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:37 pm

Yeah, I wish I had taken this in the past. I've changed a lot between high school, college, and now. I was considering going to art school when in high school, now I'm a software developer (and my artistic side has rotted away as a result Confused).

Funny, I wanted to be a software developer when I was a (young) kid, and now I'm preparing to go to art school. It's interesting, I'm the only lefty in my family and yet I'm probably the most 'conservative' and logical-minded out of all of them.

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Sun May 22, 2005 6:01 pm

Yeah, if I could do it all over again, I'd probably go for something that combines the artistic with the technical, like GUI design or something. It would be a good niche, since most programmers have no sense of design and most designers can't code.

EddyMRA · Post by **EddyMRA** » Sun May 22, 2005 6:31 pm

ISFP here, the Dominant Introverted Feeling type.

Nuke · Post by **Nuke** » Sun May 22, 2005 7:36 pm

INFP, the ugly healer duckling prince thingy.....

.......shudders.

Post by **system11** » Sun May 22, 2005 8:42 pm

I just took the test in several different places. I appear to be:

I,SN,T,JP

The second and last letters kept changing. The one that offered a percentage score against the letters showed a pretty low affinity for both, high for the first and third, so I guess I'm a split personality, or a wildcard. It might explain a particularly strange ability I've picked up. I really dislike people and social situations, but when forced into one I fairly quickly adopt the group flow, even to the point sometimes of altering my accent and use of language to suit, while all the time studying them in the back of my mind.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Sun May 22, 2005 9:00 pm

According to one test I found...

ISTJ (Inspector Guardian)

* very expressed introvert
* slightly expressed sensing personality
* moderately expressed thinking personality
* moderately expressed judging personality

Hmm...maybe half right.

EDIT: I took it again amd changed a few answers which could have gone either way, and got INTJ (Mastermind) instead. Even less like me, heh.

shadowstar · Post by **shadowstar** » Sun May 22, 2005 9:18 pm

ISTP

# moderately expressed introvert
# slightly expressed sensing personality
# very expressed thinking personality
# slightly expressed perceiving personality

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Mon May 23, 2005 2:30 am

bloodflowers wrote:I really dislike people and social situations, but when forced into one I fairly quickly adopt the group flow, even to the point sometimes of altering my accent and use of language to suit, while all the time studying them in the back of my mind.

That sounds exactly like an excerpt from this INTP profile:

Friendship with INTPs develops at a pace which depends considerably on the temperament of the other person. INTPs dislike making the first move and tend to mirror the emotional content of the other person. A jolly person will quickly bring the INTP out of his shell, as much as that is possible, while a serious person will find a serious INTP looking back at him. In this sense, INTPs preference for intuitive perception (rather than action) with respect to people results in them resembling a chameleon. The INTP can fit into many different modes of behaviour, even contradictory ones, in order to get into the mindset of the other person. The goal is to gain enough intuitive data to analyse and assess the person. In doing this, the INTP remains somewhat reserved, never wholly identifying himself with his surroundings. As chameleons, INTPs are therefore approachable and open, unless the Ne tells the INTP that the other person is a type he doesn't like, in which case the reserved attitude may become too obvious. The chameleon behaviour can be particularly strong when discussing something. The INTP may even argue something that he doesn't really believe himself. Sometimes it is for the intellectual stimulation that comes with the challenge of arguing from a variety of standpoints. Otherwise, it may be to avoid early conflict before the situation has been fully assessed. Chameleons hide their true selves. INTPs do not do this cynically, or indeed all the time, but it is a result of the strong desire to remain detached and observe.

I used to be more like that a few years ago when I lived in the dorms, since I was around a variety of people all the time. Nowadays, I work with programmers and hang out with IT people and engineers, so my ability to mingle with non-nerds is eroding by the day

I think my fascination with the test comes from the fact that all my preferences are pretty strong, except for being only mildly N, so I fit the type very well. I had my girlfriend try it and she was borderline on a few. None of the profiles really fit her, so she doesn't share the same interest in it that I do. Shows that the test obviously isn't perfect (or that you can't easily group 6 billion people into 16 types).

alpha5099 · Post by **alpha5099** » Mon May 23, 2005 3:02 am

Davey wrote:
bloodflowers wrote:I really dislike people and social situations, but when forced into one I fairly quickly adopt the group flow, even to the point sometimes of altering my accent and use of language to suit, while all the time studying them in the back of my mind.
That sounds exactly like an excerpt from this INTP profile:
Friendship with INTPs develops at a pace which depends considerably on the temperament of the other person. INTPs dislike making the first move and tend to mirror the emotional content of the other person. A jolly person will quickly bring the INTP out of his shell, as much as that is possible, while a serious person will find a serious INTP looking back at him. In this sense, INTPs preference for intuitive perception (rather than action) with respect to people results in them resembling a chameleon. The INTP can fit into many different modes of behaviour, even contradictory ones, in order to get into the mindset of the other person. The goal is to gain enough intuitive data to analyse and assess the person. In doing this, the INTP remains somewhat reserved, never wholly identifying himself with his surroundings. As chameleons, INTPs are therefore approachable and open, unless the Ne tells the INTP that the other person is a type he doesn't like, in which case the reserved attitude may become too obvious. The chameleon behaviour can be particularly strong when discussing something. The INTP may even argue something that he doesn't really believe himself. Sometimes it is for the intellectual stimulation that comes with the challenge of arguing from a variety of standpoints. Otherwise, it may be to avoid early conflict before the situation has been fully assessed. Chameleons hide their true selves. INTPs do not do this cynically, or indeed all the time, but it is a result of the strong desire to remain detached and observe.
I used to be more like that a few years ago when I lived in the dorms, since I was around a variety of people all the time. Nowadays, I work with programmers and hang out with IT people and engineers, so my ability to mingle with non-nerds is eroding by the day

I think my fascination with the test comes from the fact that all my preferences are pretty strong, except for being only mildly N, so I fit the type very well. I had my girlfriend try it and she was borderline on a few. None of the profiles really fit her, so she doesn't share the same interest in it that I do. Shows that the test obviously isn't perfect (or that you can't easily group 6 billion people into 16 types).

That description of INTP fits me to a T. When you first described your results in the first post, I thought that was what I would probably get. I forgot to check how strongly I scored on the Thinking-Feeling axis, perhaps I'm borderline. Oh well, as the test states, it's up to us to say what our personality is, so I'm commandeering INTP as my own.

EDIT:

I felt silly diagnosing myself, so I found another test. INFP again. I know this is ridiculous, taking a personality test with the aim of getting a specific result. I'm still sticking by my INTP decision, the descriptions I've read are uncanny. (But I'm sure I could find things that seemed just as uncanny if I read through the other descriptions.)