Just curious as to some opinions on these personality type indicators.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Keirsey Temperment Sorter ( http://keirsey.com )from what I understand are based somewhat on Carl Jung’s theories of personality.
I’m wondering if, for those of you who have taken the test, the information has been useful.
Also, how valid do you feel these tests are?
Lastly, what role do you think these types of test should have on employment/schools, etc, in helping determine careers or courses of study or teaching techniques?
(Yeah, I know…lots of vague questions! Just curious though, because I’ve taken the test in many forms and found it useful. I also had a counselor at my school use this to help determine how well I might possibly do in one degree program versus another, based on my temperment.)
The last few times I’ve tested, I’ve come out as an ISTJ, the guardian-inspector.
I suspect it’s changed some - I know I’ve become less introverted over time. One of these days maybe I’ll make it to an “e” rating.
They have no bearing on what I used to do or what I am now doing. While I think they can be helpful in communicating with various people, I thing that stereotyping based on these test results is just as dangerous as any other stereotype, so I think any role they play should be limited and used closely with actually dealing with the people, not just their results.
What a run-on sentence. yikes.
Me, I’m probably an INTP, with a little bit of ISTP thrown in. (Very, very “I”.) I find that the type descriptions fit me surprisingly well in most areas, but not perfectly. Using them for employment decisions? No way. I certainly hope nobody turns me down for a job I want because some HR type is looking for an ESFJ or something. I can imagine that happening, and it’s very scary.
I have always come out as INFP. I mean, every single time I’ve taken this test (or a variation thereof). And I’ve taken it/them about 10-15 times now; never come out as anything different.
Therefore, I can say that the test is, at the very least, consistent. It also appears to be accurate, seeing as I identify more with the INFP description than I do with any of the others. And, also, I tend to hit it off with compatible types–one of my best friends is also INFP, my SO is ENFP…lots o’NFs.
…wait…ah…employment decisions? Nah. I figure that millions of people have figured it out without any help from the test; why do I need another thing to confuse me. Besides, it doesn’t tell you HOW to become these things.
I find it an interesting way to see where conflicts or discomfort may be coming from and I have seen it be very helpful in getting teams to thrive and distribute projects/tasks sensibly according to the general way that the other people work.
I am INTJ but my lovers and closest friends all seem to have tested out as INFP. I think that makes me a MASOCHIST as well. Well it makes me obsessively punctual and them always late anyway
What’s with all you I people.
Isn’t anyone an E?
ENTP (I think) although it could be ENTJ here.
Yeah, I think it described what I’m about, but I wouldn’t place too much faith in it. It is an indicator, but is not the be all and end all.
I don’t think these should be used anywhere except to have fun.
The questions are not all that hard to work out where they are going so if you’re only half concentrating, you will skew the result which may end up with someone who convinces you to do something different from what you want based on inaccurate results.
I’m an INFJ (I’m not exactly surprised that there are so many I’s on this board!)
I’ve taken different versions of the test over the past 4 or 5 years with consistent results. I think it can be a very interesting tool, but I don’t believe that it should be used exclusively in terms of employment or school.
What got me interested in this topic, though, was when I was originally speaking to a counselor concerning a couple different fields of study, he used my temperment to kind of pre-asses where I might have difficulty with different courses and whatnot. He was kind of able to look ahead and see where I might have difficulty in certain classes. It’s been about 8 months since I started my classes, and so far he was right about which classes might be more difficult for me, and which ones I might find the easiest.
It seems to me that most people would (rightly so) disagree with using this kind of test in an employment setting, but do you think it could be beneficial in schools, maybe if one could tailor one’s teaching style based on the student’s temperment?
Or is it all just a waste of time?
I always come out INTP. I think that it fits me well and is by far the best personality type to have I don’t really care if it is used for employment purposes because I always work in jobs that are listed as good fits for an INTP but I can see how HR could easily abuse such a thing.
I’ve got grave doubts about the MB test. I think it far too much simplifies one of the more complex things in all creation.
Throw in the fact that I’ve taken it four times in the last 20 years and gotten wildly divergent answers each time and I think I’d stick with Ann Landers.
I don’t really care if it is used for employment purposes because I always work in jobs that are listed as good fits for an INTP but I can see how HR could easily abuse such a thing.