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Your Comprehensive Guide to the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) Personality Test
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While I was reading Ari’s book review of Steve Pavlina’s Personal Development for Smart People, Ari said that he felt something was lacking in the book because he was a polar opposite of Steve’s personality type. I found this to be really fascinating.
While I had heard of the Myers-Briggs personality test (MBTI for short), I had never taken one before. Curious to know what my type was, I set off to take the test myself. What I found was even more fascinating. In fact, knowing about your personality type could be so useful, that I decided to write a comprehensive guide that includes all the information I found regarding the MBTI.
The first part of this article will be about the test and the types in general, and I’ve provided links to various free online tests and lots of material about all the different types. Afterwards, there’s a discussion about my specific MBTI type.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Personality test
The MBTI test asks questions that determine your personality based around several areas. The result is a four-letter type that can be used to say certain things about how you generally react to things, how you perceive certain situations, and how you make decisions.
The first letter represents your Attitude and is either Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I).
The second two letters represent Functions, the first of two being either Sensing (S) or iNtuition (N), and the second being either Thinking (T) or Feeling (F).
The fourth letter represents Lifestyle and is either Judgment (J) or Perception (P).
So based on your answers to the test you are assigned a combination of:
[E or I] [S or N] [T or F] [J or P].
To read more about the test itself in detail, visit the Wikipedia article.
Some free online tests like the Myers-Briggs
(The official test is trademarked and registered to the publisher of the test: CPP, Inc.)
These are the two I actually took. I took a second one to confirm the first one. They had completely different questions but they produced the same result for me.
- Here is the test on Humanmetrics.com
- Here is the test on Similarminds.com
Information about your type
Once you’ve taken the test(s), you can use the table below to learn lots of information about your MBTI type. In the table below, the types are listed alphabetically on the left, and various resources from the web are linked to across each row (each link will open in a new tab). The resources include:
- The Dr. Keirsey temperament description (I found these to be the most vivid descriptions on the entire Internet)
- Type descriptions by Joe Butt and Marina Margaret Heiss on Typelogic.com (I found these to have much depth and they also include many famous people of each type)
- Concise list of traits, favored careers and disfavored careers from Similarminds.com (which is the site the second test is found on; I found the career lists very interesting).
- Personality type portraits from Personalitypage.com (The descriptions are different than the Keirsey ones, and offer many other insights into each type)
- And the last column links to the Wikipedia article for each type (which has lots of different information about each type).
| Keirsey | Typelogic | Similarminds | Personalitypage | Wikipedia | |
| ENFJ | X | X | X | X | X |
| ENFP | X | X | X | X | X |
| ENTJ | X | X | X | X | X |
| ENTP | X | X | X | X | X |
| ESFJ | X | X | X | X | X |
| ESFP | X | X | X | X | X |
| ESTJ | X | X | X | X | X |
| ESTP | X | X | X | X | X |
| INFJ | X | X | X | X | X |
| INFP | X | X | X | X | X |
| INTJ | X | X | X | X | X |
| INTP | X | X | X | X | X |
| ISFJ | X | X | X | X | X |
| ISFP | X | X | X | X | X |
| ISTJ | X | X | X | X | X |
| ISTP | X | X | X | X | X |
About My MBTI Type
I am an INFP, a healer, an idealist, who hates all office jobs. I am apparently like Homer.
I love it. What I found most interesting about the type I was identified as was my apparent use of heart over head. I think that’s interesting because I’m rather analytical. I gauge my surroundings using the vocabulary of probability. I believe in facts. At the same time though, I do feel passionate about the earth in sometimes great abundance.
I think of the big picture and view my goals often only in relationship with the scope of the grand whole, no less. When it comes to questions of my preference for justice versus mercy, I will always choose mercy. Always.
One thing I found most helpful about the test is that it helped me to identify why I feel like no body cares about anything. That’s probably not true, but rather, I just care about many things to a much greater depth. For instance, one of the things that has plagued me as an adult has been the seeming apathy I sense among my peers and colleagues no matter the setting. I think to myself, “But don’t you care about [XYZ]?” No one ever seems to really give a damn about things. At least now I can say that they probably do; the issue is really that I care about those things so much more.
Also, I’m often plagued with hopes and dreams on a large scale. I don’t just want the job, the mortgage and the retirement that follows. I want to make an impact on the world. No less.
The descriptions of the INFPs seem to reinforce that. They also label, correctly, the fact that I am a rebel of sorts. “Screw the traditional rules, policies and procedures” could be a mantra of mine.
Finally, the Keirsey article said that I “can make errors of fact, but seldom of feeling.” I’ve always felt the opposite. Interesting.
So what type are you?
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Dereck :: Oct.25.2008 :: Life, Perspectives, Purpose, Tips :: 32 Comments »
32 Responses to “Your Comprehensive Guide to the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) Personality Test”
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No wonder we get along, Dereck. I’m INFJ, but I was originally INFP — and I’m on the fence with J/P spectrum. I can easily go back to being INFP if I choose to loosen up a little.
I’ve always loved personality analysis — I consider myself a self-assessment test junkie. That said, I think having an accurate understanding of who you are is essential in all personal growth, and it can also help a lot in communications — NFs can be worlds apart from STs.
Thanks for the link love.
ari
Ari Koinuma´s last blog post..What I Force My Children to Learn, or Not (Digest)
@ Ari – Interesting. I loved this:
I got thinking about that a lot in the last few days. Could someone who was dissatisfied with their personality type focus on the traits that define a different, more desirable one–and then, try to develop a perspective that was different. If it became habitual, they could over time, become another type.
Lastly, I think you’re definitely right on the communication front. Polar opposites in the world of personality types would seem to have some things to overcome before they could communicate effectively.
That said, I bet that won’t be a problem for the two of us
Ah you are the I and I am the E – my profile is ENFP and they got me spot on just wished I had Meg Ryan’s hair! Thanks for this, I’d forgotten and needed reminding.
@ Sanityfound – How interesting. I’ve never met my extroverted self.
This really is interesting; how much of your writing has a feeling to it that I recognize so much. I’m glad I put this together. Fascinating implications everywhere.
INTJ (although I tested ISTJ about 8 years ago).
I love this personality type stuff. I used to write a separate blog about being an introvert but I found it limiting after awhile.
Great article!
Mark Dykeman´s last blog post..Great post on the value of an idea
@ Mark – I thought about writing a blog about being an introvert too, but I never got around to it. I just couldn’t get myself out there.
Joking aside, glad you like this stuff. I’ve never really delved into it much in the past, so find it particularly insightful right now. Before I took the test, I guessed what I thought I would be. I thought I would be an INTJ also. Interesting.
This was INSANE. I will be blogging about it tomorrow, holy cow.
Thanks for linking to the Kiersey thing, I liked their description MUCH better.
Yeah, the Keirsey articles are very balanced; some of the others had points that came across as rather more critical than I felt the types deserved. Can’t wait to read your article
[...] by descriptions of the Myers-Briggs Personality tests written by Hunter Nuttall and Derek of iWillNotDie, I decided to take one [...]
INFP all the way. Though I find that these tests are best viewed as somewhat fluid and not concrete. Exhibiting one trait does not preclude us from emboyding the opposite. I find for myself that I fall pretty close to the middle between Feeling and Thinking, but I come down on the side of Feeling.
Perhaps, then, you can be analytical and take interest in the facts and yet still be ruled by compassion and feeling.
I’m INFJ–usually, at least. I think that profile is the one that matches me best, although I’ve taken several different tests and sometimes I waver between Judging/Perceiving and Intuition/Sensing. I think part of the problem is the way the questions are posed. Also (and this affects the outcome of the test too), the way we express ourselves has a lot to do with factors not addressed in the test, such as birth order, religion and upbringing; for this reason, I think that a person’s Meyers-Briggs type could change over time. Personalities do not really change, but in some circumstances we may be truer to ourselves than in others.
[...] Dereck and I are both INFPs. What the heck does that mean? Find out by reading his post: Your Comprehensive Guide to the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) Personality Test posted at I Will Not [...]
@ deankryan – How fascinating…especially considering the degree to which we’ve connected, more than once…
I agree on the fluidity. I’m interested in taking them again, over time, to see how the results might change. I too was narrowly in favor of feeling, just a few points from sitting on the thinking side of the fence.
I would say the greatest poets always have been
@ Caroline – Interesting. I definitely agree with how the questions both change and how important individual circumstances would modify our answers to them. Like justice versus mercy. Most of the time, I would choose mercy. Almost always. But if while taking the test, I imagined rescuing my children from danger, justice would rule wholeheartedly.
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[...] presents Your Comprehensive Guide to the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) Personality Test posted at I Will Not [...]
[...] really like? Are you sure you’re an extrovert? Find out as Dereck presents Your Comprehensive Guide to the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) Personality Test posted at I Will Not [...]
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[...] in the book because he was a polar opposite of Steve’s personality type. Dereck presents Your Comprehensive Guide to the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) Personality Test posted at I Will Not [...]
After taking this it does not surprise me whatsoever that my personality is what it is. I want to get the job done and I don’t get emotional!
Jesse W.
http://www.subprimeblogger.com
Jesse W.´s last blog post..Home Builders Stock Prices Plummet Due to Mortgage Crisis
Hi,
Just found your site and I am liking it alot. I am adding it to my blogroll. I am a huge fan of Myers-Briggs and an ENTP. Yes the curious inventor type.
Not sure if you meant it as a series but I like your smart people articles. I think you should write more of them.
So I give shout outs every weekend and because this is such a great post on Myers-Briggs I will link to it. Glad I found this blog. Its good stuff.
Cheers,
Jeremy
Jeremy Day´s last blog post..11 Little Steps to Better Health
@ Jesse – Yeah it’s interesting how close the results are to many peoples’ perceptions.
@ Jeremy – Interesting. I’m borderline Thinking/Feeling, but an Introvert instead of Extrovert. I bet that means we could have some interesting conversations.
I didn’t begin the smart people articles as a series in the first place, but after the first one did so well, I wrote a follow-up, then when that one did so well, I did another. They’re still going strong as we speak.
I’m considering writing some more, but want to guarantee that they aren’t as divisive in the future, which might be a mistake–maybe the controversy that I began by forcing essentially what became stereotypes, was the charm that made them so successful.
I’ll keep you posted.
I found your blog from one of Insight Writer’s posts and subscribed!
I took both of the tests and I am one of the rarest types; the INTJ.
Looking at my blog, I think that I scream INTJ. Its evolving design and content, while it might not be to everyone’s personal tastes, is a source of pride for me. While it may not make sense to others, it makes perfect sense to me.
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Thanks for submitting this post to our blog carnival. We just published the 41st edition of Brain Blogging and your article was featured!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Shaheen
Shaheen Lakhan´s last blog post..Brain Blogging, Forty-First Edition
[...] Dereck wrote a very good starter guide to it so it’s worth checking out… The Myers-Briggs Guide. [...]
I used to be extremely skeptical about the entire concept of personality types until I took the test myself. I was absolutely amazed at how well the INTP profile described me. I feel like the world makes more sense now that I understand how my personality type influences my behavior, and the way that other people respond to me. I have written quite a few articles on Introversion that you can check out on my site.
Chris Berry´s last blog post..Election Has Left Me Feeling Blue
@ TheAndySan – That’s interesting. I’ve checked out your blog. I like it
@ Shaheen Lakhan – Awesome, thanks!
@ Chris Berry – I’ve generally been skeptical of such things myself, too. And, like you, I found the results to be very interesting, and true (at least from my subjective view). Of course, my wife said the results were accurate which doesn’t let me get away with saying any of the bad parts are just poor science.
@ Dereck – Thanks so much for the compliment!
TheAndySan´s last blog post..Happy Birthday Mom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[...] According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, I am an INTJ, a very rare type (only 1-2% of the population). An INTJ personality is one of Introverted Intuition with Extroverted Thinking. In a nutshell, this means that I feel most comfortable by myself and I have a knack for developing ideas. I also found out recently that Steve Pavlina used to be an INTJ before he changed into an ENTJ. You can find more information on the MBTI as well as tests to see what type you are at I Will Not Die.com. [...]
@ TheAndySan – Hey, you bet.
Hey, cool tips. Perhaps I’ll buy a glass of beer to that man from that forum who told me to go to your blog
So I would like to say that I think all message boards and forums discussing the MBTI personality types are now all corrupted in there true percentages of rarity. I feel as though people’s selfish attempt to be unique has corrupted the actual statistics.