Know yourself: The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Thread

[Aggie_Ama]

Introverted (I) 54.84% Extroverted (E) 45.16%
Sensing (S) 62.16% Intuitive (N) 37.84%
Thinking (T) 56.1% Feeling (F) 43.9%
Perceiving (P) 50% Judging (J) 50%

ISTP - "Engineer". Values freedom of action and following interests and impulses. Independent, concise in speech, master of tools. 5.4% of total population.

[KnottedYet]

I love that I can click on one of the other types, read its description, and it *also* sounds like me!

Like how any ol' horoscope will do.

All the info bits I'm finding on Meyers Briggs emphasize over and over again that the types are just "preferences." They are not abilities. Not strengths. Not personalities. Not defining characteristics. Not set in stone. Any of us could function as any "type," given the right circumstances. The various tests just let us clarify our current preferences.

Kind of fun to play with.

[Reesha]

Well, I believe that everyone has a default preference. As we overcome our weaknesses and emphasize our strengths we can become more like another preference. The test is really not the most important part of typing, typing is at it's best when its understanding yourself and understanding the details of the system (which I really am not even close to doing yet-- I mean it's Jung... it's pretty heavy stuff) together to know the type.

[Catrin]

To me, the most important thing about these tests is they help us to understand others. Certainly they do help us to understand ourselves, but even more important is they can be a tool to help us to see how we interact with others - and thus to understand them better.

Then again, I can be a little flaky, so never mind

[KnottedYet]

Well, I believe that everyone has a default preference. As we overcome our weaknesses and emphasize our strengths we can become more like another preference. The test is really not the most important part of typing, typing is at it's best when its understanding yourself and understanding the details of the system (which I really am not even close to doing yet-- I mean it's Jung... it's pretty heavy stuff) together to know the type.

Exactly! That's why I think it's such fun to play with. You have every skill and every characteristic of every "type." Finding your preferences (which skills you lean on the most comfortably) is fun.

Having a preference is not a weakness. It is not something to be overcome. There isn't one perfect "type" we should all strive for. No perfect Aryan god/dess. It isn't "ENTP uber alles." I dig it. It's fun.

20 years ago I got all hot and bothered over the concept of "individuation." I read every dayum thing I could find on it. Since then I've matured and eased off on the "I must strive to become..." shineola. If it isn't fun, why bother? That's what I like about the uncorrupted MB stuff, there is no "strive," there's just preference. No value scale. Groovy.

Jung is easier in comic book form. I just searched my bookshelves for my favorite comic-book of Jung. Apparently I traded it in while in the process of casting off my chains <grin>. (the definitive act of individuation?) (get it? Individuating by refusing to work on individuation? See what I did there?)