MBTI & Communication

Throughout my blog I make references to site and different readings. Here you can find a list of all of them for easy reference. Adamowicz, Michael W. “Psychological Testing: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.” Mental Help Early Childhood Cognitive Development Language Development Comments, www.mentalhelp.net/articles/psychological-testing-myers-briggs-type-indicator/. Essig, Todd. “The Mysterious Popularity Of The Meaningless Myers-Briggs (MBTI).” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 29 Sept. 2014, www.forbes.com/sites/toddessig/2014/09/29/the-mysterious-popularity-of-the-meaningless-myers-briggs-mbti/#3005fe1e1c79. Harrington, Rick, and Donald A Loffredo. “MBTI Personality Type and Other Factors That Relate to Preference for Online versus Face-to-Face Instruction.” The Internet and Higher Education, Jan. 2010, pp. 89–95 “INTJ Personality Types” 16Personalities, www.16personalities.com/ . Riggio, Ronald E. “The Truth About Myers-Briggs Types.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, w...

INTJs are usually more prone to taking on analytical careers, and less likely to be drawn to social conscious ones (i.e. elementary school teaching). The Thinking/Feeling portion of the MBTI personality type had the largest indicator of preference of face-to-face vs online instruction. The Feeling types preferred the in-person instruction while the Thinking types preferred online. (Harrington. 2010) Studies have also shown that students with ENFP preferences have the largest impact on academic progress. If those that worked with me understood the MBTI types, they would understand that I am a very caring person, over caring most of the time, but I silo personal and professional relationships to the point the people I work with are each 2 different people in my head. Understanding introverts vs extroverts is an important factor in truly understanding people and personality types. INTJs are introverts, so it's assumed because I don't go to the company happy hour nights that I...

All personality types have their own way of sabotaging their lives. INTJs are so analytical they miss many opportunities because they’re analyzing the situation from every angle. ENTPs submerge themselves so deeply they push themselves to the point of exhaustion. INTPs refuse help of any kind. ENTJs plan so far ahead they miss out on the present. ESFJs focus so much on comparing their lives to everyone else’s that they don’t enjoy what they do have. ISFJs believe they aren’t worthy of a good one. ESFPs are such jokers they refuse to take life seriously. ISFPs avoid conflict of any type which in turn has them avoiding life. ESTJs are such hard-workers that they put off happiness indefinitely. ISTJs refuse to take risks, and without risks there can be no reward. ESTPs almost always choose the path of least resistance. ISTPs are so cynical in regards to everything they can’t enjoy a good thing when it happens. INFPs are such dreamers they tend to check out of reali...

There are many forms of the test available, the most reliable being one administered and evaluated by a psychologist, though you can take a short form one online at 16personalities.com. The short form is not always accurate, though for me, regardless of the test I took, my results were always the same. My test was administered and evaluated by a psychologist and we discussed ways that I could better integrate into the ‘normal’ world. One thing that was suggested and that I still use to this day is keeping a dossier type document about the people in my life. I don’t do well with small talk or remembering details I deem unimportant (or as I call it, not worth the brain space), so to ensure I’m able to manage personal relationships, I keep a spreadsheet with everyone’s names, addresses, birthdays, anniversaries, kids names (and birthdays) and then notes to include likes/dislikes, hobbies, etc. He also suggested that to help fill gaps in conversations to use fillers like “that’s interestin...

Around five years ago I stumbled on a Facebook support group for Female INTJ’s, which has been a wonderful experience. Talking to them is like talking to the best friends I never had growing up, people who understand my struggles and thought processes and feelings before I have time to explain myself, and without me ever needing to explain myself. There are only a few hundred of us in there from all over the world. Of everyone that has taken the MBTI, only 2% score INTJ and only 0.8% are female so large female INTJ groups are not likely all INTJs, for entry into this group you have to provide a copy of your test results. Many groups allow family members or spouses, but that alters the interactions within the group because we have taught ourselves the way to ‘properly’ act in front of “normal people” and the goal of this group is to give us a place where we can be free to be who we are. A lot of our conversations revolve around how to hand situations with, what we call, normal people....

The rarity of the personality types as well as the commonality of them is interesting, especially when you read the descriptions of each and think of those people that you know that fit into them.  Image from  16personalities First, there are the ‘Analysts’, the Architect - INTJ 2-4% (only 0.8% being female), the Logician - INTP: 3-5%, the Commander - ENTJ: 2-5%, and the Debater - ENTP: 2-5%. Some well-known ‘Analysts’ are Elon Musk (INTJ), Bill Gates (INTP), Gordon Ramsay (ENTJ) and Alfred “Weird Al” Yankovic (ENTP).  Image from 16personalities Then, there are the ‘Diplomats’, the Advocate - INFJ: 1-3%, the Mediator - INFP: 4-5%, the Protagonist - ENFJ: 2-5%, and the Campaigner - ENFP: 6-8%. Well known ‘Diplomats’ are Martin Luther King (INFJ), Julia Roberts (INFP), Barack Obama (ENFJ), and Robin Williams (ENFP).  Image from  16personalities Another category is the ‘Sentinels’, the Logistician - ISTJ: 11-14%, the Defender - ISFJ: 9-14%...

Many people aren’t familiar with the MBTI, or don’t realize they have taken it. It wasn’t until I was 21 that I had even heard of Myers Briggs, or taken a test, and that was only because it was an assignment for a college psychology course I was taking. A few years later I took it as part of a career assessment at work and had the results reviewed by the psychologist and both times my results were the same. I’ve since taken it a couple times more, both the short and long form and always received the same result, INTJ. Personally, I’ve taken many personality tests, most administered by companies I have worked for, StrengthFinders, DISC, CMA, and MBTI. All the results have said the same thing, but no description fit me as perfectly as the MBTIs INTJ one did. I’ve always felt different, even as a young child, 6-7 years old, something told me I wasn’t like everyone else I interacted with. In sixth grade I was pulled aside for further testing because the teachers sensed something differen...

While the Myers Briggs Type Indicator test, also known as the MBTI, may seem to be just another personality test, knowing your type as well as the types of those you interact with can make things so much easier for everyone as it would negate a lot of misunderstandings and poor assumptions. The MBTI was created in 1943 and still is the most widely used personality test in existence. There have been some studies that have shown the MBTI “is pretty much nonsense” however it continues to be widely used because allows for a jumping off points to start the conversation in regards to personality types and their differences, as well as communication styles. (Essig. 2014) Many people take the MBTI as black and white, using it as compatibility scores instead of an opportunity to understand the other person better. Many companies use it to select employees, pre-marital counselors have been known to use to determine a couple’s compatibility, and guidance counselors have used it for career adv...