Do you know your Myers-Briggs Personality Type? I am an ENFP. I learned this by taking a personality test administered by my therapist, but I have also taken some for free on the Internet. Knowing your personality type can be fun and insightful. So you can better understand what this personality test is, let me give an overview:
Myers-Briggs Personality Test provides an indication of where your personality lies within four scales. Each of the four scales has two possibilities for your personality. Based on your answers to a test of 50-100 questions, you will be one of 16 profiles. Each profile consists of for letters taken from the area in each scale that you lean toward.
The four scales are: (1) extraversion/introversion, (2) sensing/intuition, (3) thinking/feeling, and (4) judgment/perception.
E - Extraversion - focuses on the outer world of people and things, enjoy being in social situations, like to be the center of attention, and are revived by being around people.
OR
I - Introversion - focuses on the inner world of ideas and impressions, prefer small group settings, need time alone to revive.
---
S- Sensing - focuses on the present and the concrete information gained from their senses.
OR
N- iNtuition - focuses on the future, with a view toward patterns and possibilities. "N" types take what they see and play it out to what may happen in the future. Some "N' types are quite good at this and are called "psychics."
---
T - Thinking - base their decisions on logic and objective analysis of cause and effect. "T" type people are a "believe it when I see it" type person, and rely heavily on facts and figures.
OR
F - Feeling - base their decisions primarily on values and on subjective evaluation of person-centered concerns.
---
J - Judgment - tend to like a planned and organized approach to life and prefer to have things settled. They are more scheduling with their activities and are uncomfortable with vague scheduling – sometime, soon, next week. J types prefer "the destination" rather than "the journey".
OR
P - Perception - tend to like a flexible and spontaneous approach to life. They are less scheduling with their activities and prefer to keep their options open. They are more probing with their activities and are suited to do things as it suits them rather than by schedule. They would rather not set definitive timetable and would rather work as they perceive it fit. "P" types prefer "the journey" rather than "the destination".
Okay, so now you have a basic understanding of the test. As I stated before, knowing your personality profile can be fun and insightful. For instance, I am ENFP - Extraversion/iNtuition/Feeling/Perception. Here is a summary for my profile according to http://www.knowyourtype.com/enfp.html:
"Theme is inspiration, both of themselves and others. Talents lie in grasping profound significance, revealing truths, and motivating others. Very perspective of others' hidden motives and purposes. Interested in everything about individual and their stories as long as they are genuine. Contagious enthusiasm for 'causes' that further good and develop latent potential and the same zeal for discovering dishonesty and inauthenticity. Frequently moved to enthusiastically communicate their 'message.'"
Sounds pretty good, eh? Don't worry, the summary points out all the good traits about your personality type, so it is not like if you go look up ISTJ (opposite of my type) it says that you are a really big dummy or anything like that - they all have flattering things that make you feel good about yourself. Knowing your good traits is a good thing. It helps you know and understand how you like to work and how you interact with others. But it is not only your good traits that you need to know and understand. What I have perhaps gained the most from is understanding my personality type's downfalls. For example, here are some quotes on ENFP downfalls taken from http://www.personalitypage.com/ENFP.html:
"Because ENFP's live in the world of exciting possibilities, the details of everyday life are seen as trivial drudgery. They place no importance on detailed, maintenance-type tasks, and will frequently remain oblivious to these types of concerns. When they do have to perform these tasks, they do not enjoy themselves. This is a challenging area of life for most ENFP's, and can be frustrating for ENFP's family members."
"ENFP's sometimes make serious errors in judgment. They have an amazing ability to intuitively perceive the truth about a person or situation, but when they apply judgment to their perception, they may jump to the wrong conclusions."
Okay, so wait a minute - this touches home and gives me a big "ah ha" moment! I can totally relate to these two less than desirable attributes to my personality. I HATE doing dishes, and it shows! I am also very bad about jumping to conclusions - relying heavily on my intuition that is frequently right. But then sometimes it is wrong. Err! Maybe it is equally right and equally wrong? I like to think it is frequently right, and it gets me into trouble! Knowing this about my personality has helped a lot.
Now for the fun part - which famous people share the same personality type?
Taken from http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/academic/psychology/alt.psychology.personality/profiles/enfp.html:
Famous ENFP's
Franz Joseph Haydn, composer
Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)
Will Rogers, humorist
Buster Keaton
Theodore "Dr." Seuss Geisel, children's author (The Cat in the Hat)
Mickey Rooney, actor
James Dobson, "Focus on the Family"
Andy Rooney, television news commentator
Carol Burnett, comedian
Paul Harvey, radio announcer
Elizabeth Montgomery, actor (Bewitched)
Bill Cosby, comedian, actor (Ghost Dad)
Dom Delouise, actor
Dave Thomas, owner of Wendy's hamburger chain
Lewis Grizzard, newspaper columnist
I. King Jordan, president of Gallaudet University
Martin Short, actor-comedian
Meg Ryan, actor (When Harry Met Sally)
Robin Williams, actor, comedian (Dead Poet's Society, Mrs. Doubtfire)
Sandra Bullock, actor (Speed, While You Were Sleeping)
Robert Downey (Heart and Souls)
Alicia Silverstone (Clueless)
Sinbad
Andy Kaufman
Fictional:
Dr. Doug Ross (ER)
Balkie (Perfect Strangers)
Ariel (The Little Mermaid)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Steve Irkle
Want to learn your type? Well it is best to take the official test with a therapist who is trained . . . yada yada yada, . . . or you can take it online for free and for fun at one of these sites:
http://similarminds.com/jung.html (short)
http://similarminds.com/embj.html (long)
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
If you choose to take the test, tell us what you came out as and what you learned about yourself. Most of the links I have given in this article will also have information about the 15 other personality types. Learning about your personality is a good thing and can be helpful and fun. I challenge you to learn more about yourself today.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 37
ESFP - "Entertainer". Radiates attractive warmth and optimism. Smooth, witty, charming, clever. Fun to be with. Very generous. 8.5% of the total population.
ESTP - "Promotor". Action! When present, things begin to happen. Fiercely competitive. Entrepreneur. Often uses shock effect to get attention. Negotiator par excellence. 4.3% of total population.
All is accurate except for negotiator part. I am not a good negotiator and I hate doing it. My husband on the other hand is an excellent negotiator, so I'm trying to learn. Its an important skill and I admire people that do it with ease.
INFPs' talents lie in helping people clarify issues, values, and identity. Interests include contemplating life's mysteries, virtues, and vices in their search for wholeness.
Those who know me well like to argue that I'm not introvert, but I've never tested otherwise. (Being an introvert doesn't mean I'm quiet, because that's surely not the case!) :)
Unlike Maria, I know I am an introvert. Funny that we got the same "personality trait thingie" This is what the site with Jung's test said:
"Questor". High capacity for caring. Emotional face to the world. High sense of honor derived from internal values. 4.4% of total population.
Nines are calm, laid back and optimistic. They are ble to see everyone's point of view and have a natural desire for peace. Nines are effective mediators. fearful of conflit and seperation from others, they can be to accomidating.
I don't that I fear seperation from others.
Interesting expereince.
"ISTP - "Engineer". Values freedom of action and following interests and impulses. Independent, concise in speech, master of tools. 5.4% of total population"
Says I'm a type 3 as well. Interesting.
I do, howeve, have a fear of reviewing my thoughts before posting, and of writing complete
Job wise, if you try to be someone you aren't, you are doomed to fail. If a company demands only one way to do something, they become rigid and the opportunities to grow may never be taken - so they become stale. This ideas comes from my attempts in the past with taking in an extroverted personality with strangers . . . with very bad results.
The test has given me a lot of insight, though. I was first tested 20+ years ago.
thanks for the article.
Kat-- That would be interesting -- I think in my case, we would both still come out the same because we are both ENFP's lol!
Gary - This si a good point too -- my therapist was surprised to hear I was an E becuase I was so depressed at the time I seemed very introverted. I am a big people person though, and the ENFP fits me perfectly, since it is the only "E" profile that still reqiures time alone to revive, but is also revived by people and is social. I noted that a lot of the ENFP's listed were also on the bi-polar list I posted before -- maybe that is part of it - we are up and down with people lol! Sometimes we love them and sometimes we need them to go away!
ISFJ "Protector Supporter. Theme is protecting and caretaking, making sure their charges are safe from harm. Talents lie in making sure everything is taken care of so others can succeed and accomplish their goals. Desiring to serve individual needs, often work long hours. Quietly friendly, respectful, unassuming. Thrive on serving quietly without fanfare. Devoted to doing whatever is necessary to ensure shelter and safety, warning about pitfalls and dangers and supporting along the way."
INFP "Harmonizer Clarifier. Theme is advocacy and integrity. Talents lie in helping people clarify issues, values, and identity. Support anything that allows the unfolding of the person. Encourage growth and development with quiet enthusiasm. Loyal advocates and champions, caring deeply about their causes and a few special people. Interested in contemplating life's mysteries, virtues, and vices in their search for wholeness. Thrive on healing conflicts, within and between, and taking people to the center of themselves."
Today I took it on two other sites and both times came back with INFP. Maybe the first was a result of something I ate (grin). On typelogic.com they mention that INFP children often switch from reality to fantasy and readily develop imaginary playmates.... that fits me to a T (probably shouldn't admit it fits just as well now that I'm an adult!) Now-a-days, my imaginary playmates take the form of characters in stories that I write and those stories my fantasies.
Beryl - Going between ENFP and INFP is not surprising at all, because the ENFP's are the only E profile that needs time alone to revive, which is a typical I characteristic. Therefore you probably are and ENFP and tend to answer the I questions at times. You know if you are an E or not - are you an outgoing people person? Not afraid to talk at social gatherings and such? ENFP really fits you Beryl, because they are very passionate about their beliefs and will live strictly by those beliefs. I would say that describes you well. Also, I saw these points at http://www.personalitypage.com/ENFP_per.html and I think they fit what I have seen of you here at Gather as well:
· They're exceptionally perceptive about people and situations. They're often able to quickly and accurately assess where someone is coming from.
· They accept and value people as individuals, and are strongly egalitarian. They believe that individuals have the right to be themselves, and are very tolerant and accepting of most people.
· They're often deep and intelligent, and may be quite brilliant in their ability to tie things together. They're wired to look for connections in the external world, and so they may mentally put things together more easily than others.
· Their interest in understanding the world usually makes them in tune with what's socially acceptable and what isn't. This may help them to be popular and likeable.
· They're highly creative. This ability may be used in an artistic way, or may be used to generate ideas and new ways of thinking.
So, I personally say, "Welcome to the ENFP club" because I sense that fits you more, but I could be wrong - perhaps you are more introverted than I suspect. What do you think Beryl?
Ha! Everyone else tries to convince me I'm being paranoid.
Also - sorry for the duplicate publishing to some groups - I cannot seem to fix it myself!
Introverted (I) 51.43% Extroverted (E) 48.57%
Intuitive (N) 63.16% Sensing (S) 36.84%
Thinking (T) 59.38% Feeling (F) 40.63%
Perceiving (P) 68.75% Judging (J) 31.25%
INTP - "Architect". Greatest precision in thought and language. Can readily discern contradictions and inconsistencies. The world exists primarily to be understood. 3.3% of total population.
You scored as introverted and intellectually curious.
I think the I / E score is interesting. Note that it is almost a 50 / 50 split. 20 or 30 years ago I am sure it would have been more like 70 / 30. I have spent the last 20 years in sales and have worked hard on my "E" skills.
INFJ
Introverted 22
Intuitive 12
Feeling 62
Judging 22
You are:
* slightly expressed introvert
* slightly expressed intuitive personality
* distinctively expressed feeling personality
* slightly expressed judging personality