OT - Meyers Briggs

[Sardaukar]

INFP here...

Other test says: The MMDI thinks your personality is closest to ISFJ, and 2nd closest to ISFP.

And 3rd test says INFP again...so be it.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: wdolson

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

My results always depend on which test I take. Taking the two linked above... I basically got IxTP both times, but the E/I is very weak and the P/J isn't nearly as strong as T/F. Some tests I've taken give me an E, and I've even had a J pop up once or twice. While I'm not steeped in psychology, I took a handful of courses in college, and I think as a child I was more strongly an IxTP. Through socialization and coming into adulthood, I think I've developed into more of an (I/E)xTp. Of course, I also have mild (no need for medication) episodes of hypomania, during which my results would probably lean more heavily towards ESTP than IxTP. Starting in adolescence I seemed to have alternating (and urgent) needs for interaction vs. alone time.

Of course, during this alone time I was likely to be playing some sort of involved wargame. Started with PTO2 on the SNES and kept playing it off and on until I found WITP earlier this year.

I wouldn't be surprised if just about everyone here is an xxTx, and would wager that 50%+ is IxTx. I'd be amazed if an F felt drawn to a strategy game, let along one as in-depth as this one.

Raises hand: here is one of the few Fs here (and one of the development team to boot). [:)] I got my first Avalon Hill game for Christmas when I was 5. Though I wasn't able to play even a simplified version of the rules until I was around 10. By my estimate, this forum probably is about 75-85% T.

When a score comes out 50/50 for a letter category or close to it, there is usually a push pull between who you really are and outside pressures to be someone else. In your case it sounds like the N/S falls into this category. This could happen if for example your natural preference was for N and you came from a family that stressed S values, or vice versa.

This happened to my mother who is ISTJ, but had a domineering N father who encouraged her to act like an N. She fakes N well, but it's not her natural preference. She married an N and had two very N children. The difference shows in our family where she would want the Normal Rockwell family gatherings and the three Ns would sit around talking science (leaving her out entirely).

It's also not uncommon for Introverts to score softly in the J/P category. According to a theory from one of the pros in the field (she hasn't published it, so I don't know if I can say who), some people have a hard boundary between inner and outer world and others have a soft boundary. Those with a soft boundary are more likely to show people their inner thinking processes while those with a hard boundary are rarely going to show the world their thought processes.

Introverts with a hard boundary tend to test very solidly on J/P while those with a soft boundary tend to test closer to the middle. My SO is a hard boundary introvert and she always tests close to 100% J. I'm a soft boundary and I've always tested closer to 50/50, but my preference is clearly J which can be determined with Type Dynamics.

Bill

That's really interesting, the hard/soft boundary stuff and the P/J. My preference is clearly for P, but sometimes I "lapse" towards J. As for the N/S... I dunno, in that regard I think I've always been pretty much split there, with probably a very slight lean towards S. My reasoning is that I tinker with things more often than trying to abstractly figure out a complex system (though often my tinkering is either informed by or meant to inform a general understanding of the system, like in game design and development - particularly of a preexisting game system), but I'm also heavily into understanding things abstractly and making models of expected results (e.g., economics).

I love Avalon Hill games. If WITP didn't exist, I'd probably just play Guadalcanal with myself to pass the time, or something similarly embarrassing.

Also, cue amazement at 2 posts in a row from F's. Time to eat those words...

[Sardaukar]

I think what test says is: "we have lots of assholes with enchanted feeling about themselves!" [:D] (me included)

[CaptDave]

I took the test for real between 20 and 25 years ago, and have taken many of the ersatz versions since. Always ISTJ. The generalized description (I'm not going to pretend to quote it here) is a pretty accurate description of me, and the ever-present list of suitable jobs tends to include everything I've ever done or wanted to do (particularly computer professional, airline scheduler, and accountant -- spent most of my career in computers, wanted to be an airline scheduler but never had the opportunity, currently a tax professional).

[Icedawg]

ORIGINAL: CaptDave

I took the test for real between 20 and 25 years ago, and have taken many of the ersatz versions since. Always ISTJ. The generalized description (I'm not going to pretend to quote it here) is a pretty accurate description of me, and the ever-present list of suitable jobs tends to include everything I've ever done or wanted to do (particularly computer professional, airline scheduler, and accountant -- spent most of my career in computers, wanted to be an airline scheduler but never had the opportunity, currently a tax professional).

You're not employed by the IRS are you?

[wdolson]

ORIGINAL: CaptDave

I took the test for real between 20 and 25 years ago, and have taken many of the ersatz versions since. Always ISTJ. The generalized description (I'm not going to pretend to quote it here) is a pretty accurate description of me, and the ever-present list of suitable jobs tends to include everything I've ever done or wanted to do (particularly computer professional, airline scheduler, and accountant -- spent most of my career in computers, wanted to be an airline scheduler but never had the opportunity, currently a tax professional).

ISTJ is the most common type for men in every culture ever tested. ISFJ is the most common type for women.

Bill

[joey]

I teach on the subject, and, yet, I would put little credence in any of these "examinations". In the end, what difference does it make?

[Grfin Zeppelin]

I am INXX....o.O

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: joey

....... what difference does it make?

Warspite1

Oh, it makes none
But now you have gone
And your prejudice won't keep you warm tonight

[CaptDave]

ORIGINAL: Icedawg

ORIGINAL: CaptDave

I took the test for real between 20 and 25 years ago, and have taken many of the ersatz versions since. Always ISTJ. The generalized description (I'm not going to pretend to quote it here) is a pretty accurate description of me, and the ever-present list of suitable jobs tends to include everything I've ever done or wanted to do (particularly computer professional, airline scheduler, and accountant -- spent most of my career in computers, wanted to be an airline scheduler but never had the opportunity, currently a tax professional).

You're not employed by the IRS are you?

No, I have my own business -- but still, don't tell me about all your little "tax workarounds" or you can't be my client!

[CaptDave]

ORIGINAL: wdolson

ORIGINAL: CaptDave

I took the test for real between 20 and 25 years ago, and have taken many of the ersatz versions since. Always ISTJ. The generalized description (I'm not going to pretend to quote it here) is a pretty accurate description of me, and the ever-present list of suitable jobs tends to include everything I've ever done or wanted to do (particularly computer professional, airline scheduler, and accountant -- spent most of my career in computers, wanted to be an airline scheduler but never had the opportunity, currently a tax professional).

ISTJ is the most common type for men in every culture ever tested. ISFJ is the most common type for women.

Bill

Really (that's a "really" of interest, not of challenge)? I've always heard that the I types were a definite minority (maybe about 20% of the population).

[wdolson]

ORIGINAL: wdolson

ISTJ is the most common type for men in every culture ever tested. ISFJ is the most common type for women.

Bill

ORIGINAL: CaptDave
Really (that's a "really" of interest, not of challenge)? I've always heard that the I types were a definite minority (maybe about 20% of the population).

The best known type book was written by David Keirsey in the late 1970s Please Understand Me. Keirsey had his own theory called Temperament and discovered Myers Briggs part way through writing his book. He incorporated the MBTI stuff into his book without fully understanding it. Temperament and MBTI have some surface similarities, but are really different theories.

In the book he gave percentages of the population for each type. He came up with these numbers by taking the results of the first typing of a population done in the late 1950s in Pennsylvania high schools. He went letter by letter and rounded off the percentages to the nearest convenient number. For example he used 75/25 for E/I, 75/25 for S/N, etc. The real numbers weren't quite as convenient. Then he calculated the percentages of a type in the population by multiplying together the percentages of each letter. For example I, S, T, and J were 25%, 75%, 50%, and 50%, which came out to 4.6875% which he rounded down to 4%.

In that study ISTJs were about 7% if I recall correctly. More recent studies done on adult population have found that Introverts are actually a small majority, about 52% of the population. Sensors are still more common than iNtuitives, but the percentages are closer to 60/40 than 75/25.

I haven't seen any explanations for the differences between the 1950s study and more modern studies, but I believe part of it was due to the conformist nature of high school and another part was the culture of the 1950s which was also more conformist that it is today. American culture puts stress on being an Extrovert (many non-MBTI sources will describe Introversion as some sort of bad thing akin to depression). American culture also stresses a lot of Sensor sort of values, though the rise of high tech and the geek culture had allowed Ns more room to be themselves than in the past.

All the more recent studies have shown IS_Js to be the most common types. I have a thick book with the results of type studies. It has a few of the general population studies, but also has breakdowns for different groups, professions, etc. No matter what the profession, there are always a significant number of IS_Js. In some they are less common than the general population, but there are always some.

I have found in engineering that having some ISTJs around on a development team can help keep the team from flying off into fantasy land. The majority of development engineers are INTJs and INTPs with a smattering of _NF_s, ENT_s, and some Sensors (mostly ISTJs). In production, QA, field engineering, etc. there are a lot more ISTJs. I knew quite a few in college, but the heavy theoretical stuff was usually just something they felt they needed to survive to get the degree. Most did good work, but they were much more focused on the practical than the theory.

Bill

[sandman455]

I followed the link to take the test again for what must be the 7-8th time and as usual I failed. Was totally unable to come up with answers to 80% of the questions and was forced to flip a coin to get a result that I could not decide upon. The finally score put me as a ENFP with about a significant "F" score but the others rather neutral.

Looking through my own company personnel record I have scored:

1994 - INFJ
1996 - INTJ
1999 - ESFP
2005 - ENFJ
2009 - ISTP

Being the inquisitive sort - I wondered why I was weird. Since there is a practicing psychiatrist in my usual weekly foursome I figured I'd ask him about my Myers-Briggs failure and my history of random results.

He was kind enough to offer up his profession opinion should I reciprocate and pick up the next round of beers. Seeing how his turn had come up yet again due to another ball hit deep into alligator country I oblidged.

He stated that I'm simply bleeped in the head but there is a slight chance I have a very high EI level that precludes normal psychological behavior analysis for bleeped up folks like myself.

Since what he said didn't make much sense and I was a little concerned about being bleeped up, I asked him if my condition was any worse than his; or more specifically - having a slice that makes sentient creatures cry or a beer cart tap longer than my johnson.

He said "bleep no!"

I felt better, even if I was out $16 for round of beers.

[RevRick]

ENFJ here.. Tested twice.. Never varied one stinkin' little bit..

[topeverest]

I'm late to the game, but there definately is a pattern here.

INTJ, but I could take the test and get any result if I wanted to
Developer on the DISC profile.
WIPT AE IQ - at least 6...I think

[jeffk3510]

I can't recall what mine is.. took it a few years ago in college.

I see everything in numbers and I am very analytical....maybe that is why I run a brokerage company and have an accounting and business degree... [:)]

I am also very skeptical of change, and am very set in my ways of doing things. I mean, if it isn't broke, why fix it right? In my company, we use methods that have been perfected for years, and they work. Why change them?

I have always thought that life isn't fair, and the sooner you realize that, the easier it is. I also strongly believe in working hard and playing hard. We have a wonderful time as a family, and I cannot get enough of my work. I love every minute of each.

I also remember taking a personality test at some training... you were either an Eagle, Dove, Peacock, or Owl... I was border line Owl/Dove... basically a number cruncher who would like to keep everyone happy.

[morganbj]

“Life is hard, it’s harder when you’re stupid.” -John Wayne


Posted just for the philosophical humor. Does not pertain to anyone on these boards -- necessarily. [:D]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: bjmorgan

“Life is hard, it’s harder when you’re stupid.”

Warspite1

Yeah I know.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: wdolson

ISTJ is the most common type for men in every culture ever tested ...

Isn't ISTJ the typical warrior/military type?

[wdolson]

Most military organizations encourage STJ behavior. I have never seen any correlation with a warrior type and the MBTI other than some nicknames applied by some authors. For example one author called the ENTJ the General and likened them to Patton.

Because IS_Js are so common, there are a lot of cultural norms, both inside and outside the military that are IS_J traits. The most common type tends to set the pace for the rest. I've seen the same sort of thing in sub-cultures where some other types dominate. For example both here and Mensa have INTJ most common and there are a lot of INTJ sorts of behaviors that are normal. Most significant being a lot of intellectual conjecture about just about everything.

Bill