I bet you think I'm extroverted. That's a pretty reasonable assumption to make based on the fact that I've taken you along with me to my mammogram. An introvert probably wouldn't do that.
Only I did. And I am. Honestly.
I'm not shy, I'm not socially awkward or maladjusted, I'm just a loner. Some people thrive on crowds and parties and wearing lampshades on their heads. I thrive on solitude and often need a day of recuperating after an especially social outing like buying gum.
Admittedly I'm just a borderline introvert which is why I I'm not uncomfortable in social situations or afraid of them ... I just find them tiring.
How do I know this about myself? Well I'm pretty astute. Plus I took the famed Myers Briggs personality test a few weeks ago and it indeed confirmed everything I already knew about myself.
The Myers Briggs test is a personality test that was developed by a woman in the 1940s based on research done by Carl Jung in the 1920's. It breaks everyone down into 1 of 16 different personality types based on whether they are Extroverted or Introverted, Sensory or INtuitive, Thinking or Feeling, and Judging or Perceiving.
It's the most popular personality test in the world and it's also one of the most criticized. Not unlike the Seinfeld finale.
I turned out to be an "INTJ". Which means I'm an Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking and Judging kind of person. Which makes perfect sense because when I first heard about this test my first instinct was to judge it. I'm not a huge fan of this kind of nutshelling. But then it was accurate and I didn't know what to do. I mean I'd already judged the way a judgey judger would. I'll Intuitively Think about what to do with this information while being Introverted one night.
No personality type is deemed any better than any other type in the test. They're just different. "INTJs" (me) for example tend to be interested, innovative, single-minded in concentration, unimpressed with authority and naturally high achievers. On the other hand an "ENFP" is charming and enthusiastic, people oriented, knows everyone and everything that's going on and will b able to do almost anything that he or she wants. See? Not better. Just different.
Only obviously anyone who is an INTJ is better.
Wanna know what you are? This sample Myers Briggs test only takes a few minutes to do. Go do it then in the comment section tell us what you are and if you think it's true!
I really did find mine to be a fairly accurate representation of me.
Curious about famous people? Of course you are because we're all interested in what famous people are really like for some bizarre reason. Actually it isn't bizarre at all, I know exactly why. It's because we either want to know that they're exactly like us or nothing at all like us, depending on what famous person we're talking about.
This site has a great long list of all the different personality types and famous people they attribute them to. I'm linking to the INTJ page, but just look in the left hand column for your type and click on that.
Since we know I'm an INTJ, here are a few others in this world who were as well.
Sir Isaac Newton
Physicist
Mark Zuckerberg
CEO of Facebook
Stephen Hawking
Physicist
Ted Kaczynski
The Unibomber
Jay Z
General all around mogul
I was pretty excited about my list of INTJ celebrities until I couldn't find David Letterman on it. Turns out he was on the ENTJ list. Which no way in hell is true. David Letterman is not an extrovert, he's a classic introvert so now I'm back to questioning the validity of this test.
Not that I'm one to judge. But I am.
Did you take the test? Do you know what you are?
Lay it on me.
[shareaholic app="share_buttons" id="5342563"]
Tara Fletcher-Gibbs
INFJ here!
LeeAnn
Amazing that there are so many INTJ's females here and yet it's apparently the smallest percentage of women (0.7% of women are INTJ's). I've done the test probably every year for the past 4 years and am INTJ every time but my "I" becomes more and more. Last time I was 100% "Introvert"! I'm sociable but definitely need time out to myself and my hobbies, which are my fuel for life and energy. I always have several projects on the go and am always trying new things (recipes, art methods etc). Love being an INTJ although sometimes I really feel 'out' and sure people think I'm a bit strange, but I've learnt to embrace my quirks and have great 'characterful' friends who love my quirks too. I would have thought you were extrovert because of the way you write, but actually it completely makes sense that you're introvert - especially INTJ. You seem to love trying new things, be open minded and super passionate/excited about your hobbies and you definitely give no credence to authority or saying the 'right' thing, which is very refreshing! Ayn Rand was an INTJ - her books and philosophy really resonated with me growing up. Great post! Now I know why out of all the blogs I've come across I follow yours :)
Cussot
I'm glad you mentioned the Myers-Briggs distribution, LeeAnn - Karen is not only an INTJ, she's an INTJ magnet!
Me, I'm an INTP on the ISTP cusp. Which is why I love tinkering by myself, but can never make up my mind which hammer to use.
Suzanne
Ps where are the famous female INTJ's?
Suzanne
Hey Karen, just to let you know the Judging part of your assessment is not "judging" in the normal sense of the term. It's kinda of my pet peeve that people say that it is. The Myers Briggs test is a neutral test and does not say whether you are a positive or negative person. So what could the judging part mean then, you may ask? It means your make quick decisions based on the info you have. That's it, just that you make decisions quickly. A "P" is someone who needs more information and more information before finally making a decision. Here's an example (I'm a J by the way) I wanted a babysitter, I read a profile on a babysitting website of someone I thought would be perfect. I decided I liked her, right hen and there. I had a phone interview and found out she couldn't do the exact hours I wanted... So I changed my hours because she was perfect. I had an actual interview and it went horribly in my mind but I had already judged her to be perfect so I said yes to hiring her. Then on the way home I was truly thinking about whether she worked with us and with all the new info I had I had to admit I had preemptively made the wrong judgement. She was not amazing, she actually kinda sucked. In this case a J(me) made a decision based on a positive assessment even though that was not accurate. A "P" would have not done this. BUT in my former life as a Firefighter/Paramedic making quick decisions what vital and good for the job. So you can go either way and sometimes you leap before you look and other times you're amazing like on fire! Snap decisions is crisis and such. That's all that the J means.
By the way, I'm am an INTJ as well. I do very well with people but I'd rather not deal with many people at all if I could.
clifyt
"the Judging part of your assessment is not “judging” in the normal sense of the term."
The way I use to explain this to students and patients was that judging really comes down to how you organize the world around you. Do you let it come to you as it is, or do you need to exert control over the world. My former mentor (now deceased) did a study years ago that he'd ask people to come to a remote testing location, do the MBTI and while they were doing it, we'd check their cars to see how clean or dirty they were. Clean cars are almost always J -- it is the type a personality as you say that requires more info. It is the people that are not happy with how things are, but need to get more. P? They love the world how it is and are fine with the info they have and the entropy around them.
Julia (mumo3kids)
ESFJ... Seems about right!
Tigersmom
I am an ISFJ.
Grammy
I believe you are absolutely right about Letterman. No way Dave is an extrovert.
Cynthia Jones
Yes he is...but not in the normally thought of meaning of the word.
With regard to Myers Briggs....extroverts get lots of energy from being around people.
Introverts get their energy from being along a lot. Introverts usually hate parties. I cant remember my score, but when it was analysed by the moderator I would have made a great hairdresser along with other precision based careers. PS I do cut my own hair.
Karen
David Letterman doesn't go out, he doesn't go to parties, he doesn't like attention or seek it out. He is definitely an introvert. I used to do what he did. Host television. And I would do exactly what he does. Come home on the weekend, lock the door and not go out again until Monday morning, lol. ~ karen!
Cynthia Jones
I assumed because he hosts television and seems to enjoy it that he was an extrovert. I haven't actually watched him much, because he annoys me. He does seem uncomfortable all the time, now that I think of it. That's probably why. He doesn't feel comfortable.
Karen
Ha! Yes that's what most people assume. That entertainers are extroverts. Not necessarily so. HEY! WANNA GO TO A PARTY?!~ karen!
Cynthia Jones
Can I stay home and poke myself in the eye with a rusty nail instead?
Karen
Agreed. Now I want to know what it was you did in your preretirement life. I think I've done a post like that in the past, I should do one again. ~ karen!
Cynthia Jones
Mine said I am an Introvert and was suited to anything requiring precision and attention to detail.
I worked in hospitals, mainly in Psych Units as an Administrator/Receptionist. It broke my spirit eventually. I excelled at the organising for the team and loved the patients, but the hierarchy messed with my head.
Grammy
Another INTJ. Nearly all of the descriptors are pretty accurate for me except one that stands out:
In order to function best, I supposedly need "Freedom from routine and mundane details." I actually sometimes seek out routine and mundane parts of an activity because it relaxes me. I'm retired now, but in my years or work I found I would sometimes perform duties generally the purview of the clerical staff -- like a big collating job or something equally "dull" just because I needed time for my brain to rest. They thought I was just the nicest person for helping them out. I still find that I enjoy folding laundry or any other mundane thing when I've been working at something challenging.
Sarah
As a fellow INTJ'er, me too!!!
Sherry in Alaska
ISTJ and I would say that's right on.
Looks like I may be the only person who's never taken this before... Some of the questions - I could go either way - but not many.
Thanks, I enjoyed that!
whitequeen96
Like you, INTJ perfectly describes me. We're obviously the superior type! ;-)
I always say my tombstone should read,
"She wasn't much fun,
but she got things done"
. . . although age seems to have loosened me up en0ugh to be a little fun, or so my friends tell me.
Rose
Another INTJ. Maybe that's why I enjoy your blog so much. I didn't see Ted Kaczynski or JayZ on the famous poeple page but it did have Hillary Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jodie Foster, Lance Armstrong.
Christine
ISTJ and it made me laugh at myself as it described me purrrrfectly. Am I really that predictable?!
Bridgett Junkin
ESFP. mostly I agree.
markus
INTP
Thandi
I have taken this test 6 times (for various reasons) and each time it comes up with something else. And each time it almost succeeds at describing me, but doesn't get it quite right. My husband says I must secretly be a serial killer, or maybe a spy. He's a sweetheart (even if he is an INTJ, you judgy judgersons).
Lynn (really spelled w/ an "e", but somebody else already has that spelling on here)
Heeeeeee! Judgy Judgersons - made me literally laugh out loud. Wish I could take this test, but I'm at work and the site is blocked. Sigh.
Amanda
ENFJ. Seems accurate. Kind of weirdly so...! Love stuff like this!
Allison
Finally, another ENFJ in the comments! High five, homie!
Stephanie
INTJ, which bolsters your case for it being at the top of the secret, unacknowledged hierarchy of types. Completely agree that we Introverts are not anti-social: we just need an hour alone, preferably in a warm bath with a glass of wine, for every half-hour out in public duping others into thinking we are extroverts. Suspect it is another characteristic of INTJs that we derive some enjoyment from the duping-of-others part. Or maybe that's just me...
Paula
The results are 'scary' accurate!
Portrait of an ISTP - Introverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving
(Introverted Thinking with Extraverted Sensing)
ISTPs have a compelling drive to understand the way things work.
ISTPs have an adventuresome spirit. They are attracted to motorcycles, airplanes, sky diving, surfing, etc. Check, check, check and no surfing around here but I sail - does that count?
STPs are loyal to their causes and beliefs, and are firm believers that people should be treated with equity and fairness.
ISTPs like and need to spend time alone, because this is when they can sort things out in their minds most clearly.
ISTPs are action-oriented people. They like to be up and about, doing things.
ISTPs avoid making judgments based on personal values - they feel that judgments and decisions should be made impartially, based on the fact.
An ISTP who is over-stressed may exhibit rash emotional outbursts of anger, or on the other extreme may be overwhelmed by emotions and feelings which they feel compelled to share with people (often inappropriately). Been there, done that - oops. When I was younger, of course.
ISTPs are excellent in a crisis situations. This, I am proud to say, is also true :) Tried, tested, and true.
ISTPs have a lot of natural ability which makes them good at many different kinds of things. However, they are happiest when they are centered in action-oriented tasks which require detailed logical analysis and technical skill. Like making maple syrup - haha.
Barb
I took the test, but never got a response in my email. Bummer! Sure hope this wasn't just an email address gathering scam.
Bronwyn
You weren't alone, Barb. I did it too and no email.
Mike
We'll, must of not read them all since didn't know about ham fart.