Myers-Briggs typology: I’m an ENFP

Background

I have never been a big believer in astrology. I am not convinced the location of stars at the moment of your birth is that important to your personality. I’m a Virgo, but I don’t feel that defines me that much. But some years ago I discovered a ‘labeling’ system that was based on the actual behaviour of a person, whose result was much more significant: the (Jung) Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI):

According to Jung’s typology all people can be classified using three criteria. These criteria are: Extraversion/Introversion – Sensing/Intuition – Thinking/Feeling
Isabel Briggs-Myers added a fourth criterion: Judging/Perceiving
from humanmetrics.com

A good explanation of each criterium is:

  1. Where, primarily, do you prefer to direct your energy?
    If you prefer to direct your energy to deal with people, things, situations, or “the outer world”, then your preference is for Extraversion. This is denoted by the letter “E”.
    If you prefer to direct your energy to deal with ideas, information, explanations or beliefs, or “the inner world”, then your preference is for Introversion. This is denoted by the letter “I”.
  2. How do you prefer to process information?
    If you prefer to deal with facts, what you know, to have clarity, or to describe what you see, then your preference is for Sensing. This is denoted by the letter “S”.
    If you prefer to deal with ideas, look into the unknown, to generate new possibilities or to anticipate what isn’t obvious, then your preference is for Intuition. This is denoted by the letter “N” (the letter I has already been used for Introversion).
  3. How do you prefer to make decisions?
    If you prefer to decide on the basis of objective logic, using an analytic and detached approach, then your preference is for Thinking. This is denoted by the letter “T”.
    If you prefer to decide using values and/or personal beliefs, on the basis of what you believe is important or what you or others care about, then your preference is for Feeling. This is denoted by the letter “F”.
  4. How do you prefer to organise your life?
    If you prefer your life to be planned, stable and organised then your preference is for Judging (not to be confused with ‘Judgemental’, which is quite different). This is denoted by the letter “J”.
    If you prefer to go with the flow, to maintain flexibility and respond to things as they arise, then your preference is for Perception. This is denoted by the letter “P”.

from teamtechnology

If, for each of these four criteria/dimensions, you choose one of the possibilities, you end up with a four-letter code that corresponds with one of 16 prototypes (e.g. INTJ, ESFP). Since the code itself doesn’t say much, some researchers have come up with a title for each of those categories. One of the better lists is that of personalitypage.com:

FJ FP TJ TP
EN Giver Inspirer Executive Visionary
ES Caregiver Performer Guardian Doer
IN Protector Idealist Scientist Thinker
IS Nurturer Artist Duty fulfiller Mechanic

Or if you want to see some faces on those types (mostly actresses):
Myers-Briggs typology for women

Keirsey uses the same letters but they sometimes have a different meaning.

FJ FP TJ TP
EN Teacher Champion Fieldmarshal Inventor
ES Provider Performer Supervisor Promoter
IN Counselor Healer Mastermind Architect
IS Protector Composer Inspector Crafter

You’re my type

When I do a test, I always end up falling into the ENFP category. Now what does that mean?

Of course I only list the stuff here that I agree with/enjoy hearing. You could tell me about the flaws of ENFPs, but I’m a optimist: apparently the only thing I need to compensate for those is an INTJ or INFJ partner. That’s a Scientist or a Protector. Evangeline Lilly? Wouldn’t kick her out of bed for eating crackers.

On-line tests

You can test for your Myers-Briggs type on-line and for free. Depending on how much time you want to spend:

Criticism

Not everyone is that pleased with the practice of using MBTI to analyze people:

As noted above, the Myers-BriggsTM instrument generates sixteen distinct personality profiles based on which side of the four scales one tends toward. Technically, the instrument is not supposed to be used to spew out personality profiles and pigeonhole people, but the temptation to do so seems irresistible.
from skepdic.com

I can only say from experience: I have taken the 72-question test a couple of times during the last 4 years, and I have always gotten ENFP as an answer, a result that I find fairly accurate. This could be because I have pretty consistent behaviour, or because of the Forer effect. A lot of my friends turn out to be ENFP too. I just consider MBTI to be one way of understanding your own behaviour and how you tend to react under certain conditions.

PS: The method is called Myers-Briggs, but the lady’s name is Briggs-Myers. I just used Google Battle to decide on the term to use.

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