Personality Test: Who are you?

Myers-Briggs

Pointe Viven - Jesse Bluma. All rights reserved.

"Whether people first hear about the two kinds of perception and two kinds of judgment as children, high school students, parents or grandparents, the richer development of their own type can be a rewarding adventure for the rest of their lives."

–Isabel Myers

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator categorizes a person on four preferences:

Extraversion (E) and Introversion (I)- There is a general misconception about these types.  Extraverts are not necessarily loud or outspoken.  Introverts are not necessarily mute.  These two types depend upon where individuals get their energy, from being around others or recharging in peace.  

Sensing (S) and Intuition (I)- These two categories are connected to information and learning.  Does the person use their five senses or do they rely a lot on their imagination and internal dynamics?

Thinking (T) and Feeling (F)- In these categories we are describing how a person makes decisions.  Thinking refers to hypothesizing, good thinking skills, analysis, and consideration.  Feeling refers to using emotions, social values, and subjectivity to make decisions.  

Judging (J) and Perceiving (P) - Structure is the focus of these types.  J is for those that build structured lives and find structure beneficial, healthy, and helpful.  This may be one of the other types often misunderstood.  This is not necessarily a label for those that are “judgemental” (Side note:  We must also remember that judging is good, despite what some say.  “‘Judge not, that ye be not judged’ is usually quoted out of context.  Christ did not enjoin us to refrain from ever judging.  What he went on to say in the next four verses is that we should judge ourselves before be judge others--not that we shouldn’t judge at all.  ‘Thou hypocrite,' he said, ‘first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye’” (M. Scott Peck, People of the Lie, p. 62).  P is for those that are more flexible or more comfortable with change and spontaneous actions.  This is not to say that “perceiving” means someone is perceptive.

These types are an overview and only a general guideline.  


Why is Myers-Briggs important?  

* This preference indicator helps with self-analysis, can help in choosing a career, selecting a spouse, and making good friends.  

*  If you understand your own general preferences you may work to do better in your career and daily duties, responsibilities, and chores in the workplace.  

*  Myers-Briggs can also help you understand to work better with others in your vocation.  

*  You may have to administer this indicator if you are in the fields of law, medicine, education, or management.  

*  Spouses and parents often find it helpful to build better and healthier relationships with each other and their children.  

*  The knowledge of these general types can help you understand figures in your world from the fields of politics, religion, business, entertainment, sports, etc.

*  Students from kindergarten to college also find it helpful to analyze characters in literature, individuals in history, their teachers, and classmates.    

*  Note:  The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator should only be administered by a professional.  The MBTI only gives us a general indication of personality, it does not explain degrees of talent, intelligence, mental health, or goodness.  If administered, the results are to remain confidential--unless explicit permission is granted.    

For more information go to the Myers-Briggs Foundation website http://www.myersbriggs.org/