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"]
Laura Bee
INFP-T. Just came across this a few days ago somewhere else. Pretty much true. Although I sometimes think I am an extrovert - I love going out to dance, and will get on an empty dance floor if none of my friends will come with me. But I tend to get lost in the music & ignore everyone around me.
Laura Bee
Although Introverted is only 3% of my makeup
Intuitive 28%
Feeling 33%
Prospecting 24%
Turbulent 33%
Becky
INFJ - nailed it.
Shirley
INTJ it is. I really just want people to make sense which is why I find so many people bloody annoying!! Yes I will go to a party if I had sufficient wine, and I will stay there ...
unless the wine runs out.
Brenda J. Moore
How odd! I had only pulled-out my old work file with my resume', work assessments job fact sheet and Myers Brigg a few days ago. I spent time reading through it and wondering how much I've changed [if at all]?
ISTJ - introverted, sensing, thinking, judging.
Lesley
OMG autocorrect :( That should read "usually an INTJ ... )
Lesley
Late to the party so haven't read most of the responses. Apologies if repeating what someone else has said.
I'm usually an into but occasionally an ISTJ - sensing instead of intuiting. I also find that where I sit on the Introvert scale can change depending on where I am in my life and individual circumstances. If I'm at home and take the test I'm down the lower end of the Introvert scale but I once took the test as part of a 2-week management course, when I was staying at an out-of-province facility with complete strangers, and I was right down at the end and nearly falling off.
Weird thing: once the class had marked their tests the instructor told all the Extroverts to go to one side of the room and all the Introverts to go to the other. The Extroverts went to their side but then got into a clump and started talking. We Introverts all stood backs-to-the-wall and folded our arms and waited quietly for whatever came next.
Kate S.
I'm an INTP and my husband is INTJ. Somewhere on the web these personalities are described as the "coldest human" (INTJ) and the "warmest machine" (INTP). It makes me giggle every time I think about it. Silly, but the phrase also made me more comfortable with my sometimes too-rational, too-unfeeling outlook on the world. It's not my fault--I'm a machine!
Katie
Kate -- I totally agree! I'm an INTJ but sometimes I feel like I lack empathy (I don't actually). I would just rather offer someone a bunch of practical solutions to their problem instead of giving them a hug. I figure the world is better off for it. :D
Langela
Karen~ I knew right away you were an introvert. We introverts can be quite fun and lively in public, but can only keep it up for so long before we need recharging. This was fun. Thanks!
Nancy W
Thanks for the interesting post. As usual, I enjoyed and learned a bunch and laughed from reading all the comments....I'm an INFP. Some of the questions were hard to answer yes or no, as I feel circumstances affect the outcome sometimes.
- nancy
Siggie
Wow, that was fun! I totally get you, I'm an INTJ as well. So it's not surprising that I enjoy reading your blog so much...just the right amount of humor and depth that I'm in tune with.
Tina
INTJ. I cannot believe the number of INTJs leaving comments. Very cool. I'm sure the group is somewhat self-selecting since we "get" Karen's sense of humor; otherwise we wouldn't continue reading her blog.
I've taken the inventory several times over the past twenty years. Both long and short tests, using both gut reaction or slow deliberation. Comes up the same each time.
I had my entire family do it one holiday. It explained one of my siblings to me; she usually confused me. Now I understand where she is coming from. She is my complete opposite.
Maria
ISTJ and I like it
karen@somewhatquirkydesign
INTJ - always have been always will be. It is consistent with other tests I have taken. David Letterman could just be an arrogant extrovert, or borderline extrovert.
Kim
I just took this test a week or so ago, so I knew right away I was INTJ. Low and behold we are the same! Somehow this makes me really happy. Even though you're a complete stranger. You seem cool.
@RadioRedHead
Did my Myers Briggs test well over 10 years ago. It it curiously very accurate esp. when learning how to better interact with other personality types. I think it's time to do it again. Last time I was an ENFJ.
Nancy
I'm INFP and I have gotten that result several times with long and short tests. I like to read the comments but there are too many good ones. Please take the rest of the week off so I can catch up. Thanks.
Vanessa
Okay, So apparently I'm ESFJ. It seems accurate for the most part. Except it said I don't do well with change, which I could totally care less about. Also it said I'll tell everybody about me feelings, which is the exact opposite. Basically what it got right, it was scary fortune teller accurate, and what it got wrong couldn't be further from the truth. But maybe the fault is mine and I missed answered some questions. Suck on that "can't handle criticism".
Jody
ISTJ and there was a photo of me beside the definition!
Kelli
ISFJ. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Used to say I was a people person but I lied lied LIED.
I hate people. Oh I like individuals plenty, but vast swaths of peopledom make me crazy. Like you, parties/crowds/meetings or 'forced fun' (usually for work) can WEAR ME OUT. I love my "me time" and thrive on getting into my own head. When I travel, whether business or pleasure, I nearly always give myself a 'buffer day' when I come home before heading back to work, just to decompress. I can also get so focused on something, I will block out nearly everything else around me (though not quite as crazy focused as Sarah in 'The Killing'). Interruptions make me cranky.
Oddly (or maybe not) most of my good friends are extroverts, which means they probably fulfill the gaps in my own personality, and vice versa. The sad part is that I can never go on vacation with these friends because they want to go go go! run run run! never stop moving! on their vacations. I, on the other hand, want nothing more than a hammock under some trees and a good book or some music to wile away the day...or maybe indulge in an all day pamper-a-thon featuring massages, facials and those infamous fish pedicures. :) Ah. That's the life.
Nancy Blue Moon
ISTP..me & Vladimir Putin..nuff said...