What Type Are You?

Via Stephen Downes comes the Typealyzer, which analyzes your blog to identify your Myers-Briggs Type. I came out an INTJ (like Stephen), which is sort of accurate. I've tested as an INFP, but I'm  in the middle on my final two preferences, so the INTJ result isn't totally surprising. This does sound like my blog writing though:

The long-range thinking and individualistic type. They are especially good at looking at almost anything and figuring out a way of improving it - often with a highly creative and imaginative touch. They are intellectually curious and daring, but might be pshysically hesitant to try new things.

The Scientists enjoy theoretical work that allows them to use their strong minds and bold creativity. Since they tend to be so abstract and theoretical in their communication they often have a problem communcating their visions to other people and need to learn patience and use conrete examples. Since they are extremly good at concentrating they often have no trouble working alone.

Maybe I need to show more of my Feeling/Perceiving preferences here. . .

Comments

[Dan Callahan]

I'm an INTJ, but my blog came up as ISTP. I especially laughed at this part: "They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters."

[Virginia Yonkers]

I know I shouldn't be so fascinated by this tool, but I was shocked at how quickly came up with an analysis which was very similiar to my own outcomes.

What I like is the graphic that overlaps the part of the brain.

I was an INTP. I want to test it out on some other people's blogs that I know to see if it changes!

[Janet Clarey]

Cool. I was an INTP too. Spot on in my opinion.

[Michele Martin]

What I think is interesting is that we're all introverts. . . I have my theory that introverts are into blogging and extroverts like Twitter, you know. :-)

[Ken Allan]

Kia ora Michele

We've had this conversation before. I haven't been able to locate the exact comment or post.

Many years ago I was (thoroughly) Myers Briggsed. The facilitator commiserated with me and intimated to me that I was 1 out of 100 in my personality assessment. I was an INTJ. I did not know that label from a BAROSOAP. Now I'm more familiar with the traits, thanks to Sister Stephanie Kitching (who was an INTP).

Her advice to me (which I took) was to follow my creative spirit in things like writing and music. She advised that, not only would I be very good at those skills because of my type, but that creativity would also ameliorate the 'harshness' of the INTJ which tends to appear to be unfeeling (when they're not actually - quite the reverse).

I've had many conversations with people of the pros and cons of Myers Briggs. There are those who swear by it (I'm not one of those). There are those who don't believe it (a bit silly really for it's only a label). There are those who can interpret and use it (I'd like to think I'm one of those).

Sister Stephanie taught me that the important uses of a Myers Briggs personality assessment were:

1 you can understand more about how (different) people think

2 you can understand more about why people might not be able to understand you (and what you do)

3 you can understand more about why you can't understand some people (and what they do)

She taught me to
A - be more tolerant
B - be more willing to see things the way others see things
C - change my way of thinking by learning the skills of the other traits.

This last point is the most powerful of all.

Stephanie taught me that an introvert (I) can learn the practices of an extrovert (E). By practicing the extroversion, the introvert can gain the best of both worlds. It takes energy, but it is achievable and is often exhilarating.

Sh also taught me that an extrovert (E) can have real difficulty practicing the talents of the introvert (I). An introvert has a trump card that can be played in times of solitude and isolation. They have an inner energy, a type of inner creativity that gives them strength from within. Whereas the extrovert has real difficulty with this at these times.

All very fascinating stuff that some say is baloney. i haven't found it to be so - but it has helped me understand people and also to relate to people better.

Ka kite
from Middle-earth

[Michele Martin]

Great stuff, Ken--thanks for sharing! I do agree that MBTI isn't gospel, although it definitely has helped me understand myself and others. And you're right that introverts have a trump card in being able to adapt to extroverted behaviors more easily than extroverts can explore their introverted sides. I've very much learned to use my extroverted side and, in fact, most people who know me don't believe that I'm introverted. But that's because they confuse "introversion" with being shy or not outgoing, which it really isn't. It's about where you get your energy.

Anyway--good stuff. Again, thanks for sharing!

[Ken Allan]

Kia ora Michele

Well, according to the Typealizer I come out to be an INTP, and not the INTJ I expected from the MB analysis.

One of the practices that I have used over decades now is to steer away from the judgemental, which was clearly what analysis of my behaviour was in the 80s. This was one of the traits that Steph Kitching said I could and should try to balance for myself.

If the Typealizer result is to be accepted as valid assessment, then I am not surprised at the result.

Maybe I've compensated too much over the years and gone the other way :-). We may never know.

Ka kite
from Middle-earth

[Amy Jussel]

Oh, crud, Michele, my blog would probably toss it off the charts in a confusing befuddled digital question mark! (kinda like me!) I've gotta try it though, so thanks for the lead! (I now have the weekends slated to catch up on my fave blogs since I can't seem to get a grip with the weight of the groaning Google reader...any filtering tactics you'd recommend?)

p.s. I'm still sitting on '1472 unread' emails from the last couple days and am just 'ignoring' them a bit and surfing sites I've missed and longed for, like yours! Hope you're well...back atcha soon. Amy

[Kate Foy]

Hi Michelle

Well I'm INTP (A Thinker) for Spinning a Learning Web, ISTP (A Mechanic) for Expressive Plus and ESTP (A Doer) for Groundling. Talk about multiple blog-personality overload!

It's the role I take when I write the blog obviously and not the 'essential me.' Phew! Hate boxes.

Dissassociatively yours! :-)

[Ken Allan]

Kia ora (again) Michele

You may be interested in the comment I got back from Typealyzer. Mattias Östmar confirmed at least one part of my suspicions about the idea behind Typealyzer.

Ka kite
from Middle-earth