Myers-Briggs Personality Types

FAQ: Do “this” type and “that” type get along?

Whenever you’re comparing types for compatibility, it’s best to look at the functions and remember that there are no hard and fast rules with relationships between any types. Good relationships come down to a genuine attempt at open and effective communication. Type parings with similar functions and/or compliment functions will have a higher likelihood of compatibility than type parings that don’t. Function placement is important too. If the similar  and/or compliment functions are higher up, the relationship compatibility is high. If the similar and/or compliment functions are low or opposite (a common function is high in one of the pair and low in the other), the relationship compatibility is low.

- theideathief

FAQ - “I have an X in my four letter type. What does that mean?”

First, it is important to note that most personality inventories out there don’t test for functions, they test for the the different dichotomies (I/E, N/S, T/F, P/J). Right there, the accuracy of the test has diminished, because the inventory’s criteria for testing the dichotomies is based on stereotypes the dichotomies hold. The example below is taken from the Jung Typology Test:

J/P: “You are almost never late for your appointments.”

This is playing off of the stereotype that J’s are punctual and organized and P’s are usually late, lazy, and unorganized. 

This stereotype comes from the TJs who have the cognitive function,  Te(structural, objective, “if, then, because” logic) and FJs who have the cognitive function Fe, (political, objective, people oriented logic). However, there are P’s that have Te (ENFP, INFP, ESFP, ISFP) and Fe (ENTP, INTP, ESTP, ISTP) as one of their functions, allowing them to be punctual and organized, should they choose to use and work on those functions.

A personality inventory will, most likely, have a set amount of questions for each dichotomy and place you in one of those dichotomies if your answers have a preference.

So, for example, if you are taking an inventory that has 10 T/F questions and you answer 6 of them with a “T” answer and 4 of them with a “F” answer, the inventory will give you T in your result. Similarly, if you are taking an inventory that has 10 T/F questions and you answer 5 of them with a “T” answer and 5 of them with a “F” answer, the inventory will give you X in your result.

You will see the X happen, for example, with ENTJs or ESTJs who get the results XNTJ/XSTJ. Being extraverted or introverted does not rely on whether or not you enjoy being around people (commonly used as  a E/I marker question in personality inventories), it is really the difference between the T/F dichotomy (i.e., Te/Fi or Fe/Ti dichotomies). As a result, an ENTJ or ESTJ will score in between, because they enjoy indulging in the external environment, but perhaps don’t find interacting with people as interesting as a goal they are trying to accomplish (e.g., building a sandcastle, or getting achievements on video games). 

When you take a personality inventory and you get X in your four letter type, the inventory isn’t telling you that your type is INXX, for example, it is saying “you answered equally on the questions we used to test for these dichotomies”.

Use this result as a baseline.

For example: If your result was an ENXP, you know your type is either an ENTP or ENFP.

The next step would be to look at the cognitive functions of the two possible types you have, and assess objectively which of them you use. The answer will be clear.

FAQ - “Does your type change over time?”

“Our functions are set for life. People develop, grow and adjust, but they do not fundamentally change. In other words, your type is fixed. It is suspected you may be set in stone as early as 2 years of age.”

- thealecdelgado 

FAQ - “Help! I’m stuck between two types!”

When trying to discern your type, remember that you must be objective in your analysis of yourself. Be honest. It would be more accurate to say “inventory” than “test” because tests imply right answers. There are no universal right answers with personality inventories, there are only true and false ones. True and false of you as a person. 

Cognitive functions, not the four letter types, are the most crucial part of discerning your type. Though it would seem that the difference between F/T, N/S, J/P, and E/I, would be similar enough, that is not the case. The types can be very different. Here are some examples of each of the categories, respectively, below: 

F/T
ESFP: Se Fi Te Ni
ESTP: Se Ti Fe Ni

or 

ENFJ: Fe Ni Se Ti
ENTJ: Te Ni Se Fi

* In both examples, the perceiving functions are the same (Se and Ni), but the judging functions are different (Fi/Te in one type and Ti/Fe in the other). Put simply, T/F variations of type gather information the same, but how they interpret that information is completely different. 

N/S
INFP: Fi Ne Si Te
ISFP: Fi Se Ni Te

or

ENFJ: Fe Ni Se Ti
ESFJ: Fe Si Ne Ti 

* This letter discrepancy is similar to the above. The judging functions are the same, but the perceiving functions are different. Put simply, N/S variations of type gather information differently, but the interpretation process of the information they gather is the same.

J/P
INTP: Ti Ne Si Fe
INTJ: Ni Te Fi Se

or

ISFJ: Si Fe Ti Ne
ISFP: Fi Se Ni Te

* Look at what a difference one letter can make! J/P variations of type have absolutely no functions in common, that is to say, that they think completely differently. It is easy to see them as the same because they often come to the same types of conclusions, are drawn to the same types of things, and have similar behaviors. However, it is important to remember that the motives behind the behavior are different.

I/E
ESTJ: Te Si Ne Fi
ISTJ: Si Te Fi Ne

or 

ENTP: Ne Ti Fe Si
INTP: Ti Ne Si Fe

* The introversion/extraversion confusion has the fewest function discrepancies. Notice, that in both examples the functions are the same, they just have a slightly different order. It is important to remember, however, that even slight changes in function arrangement can bring an entire shift of perspective.

For example: The ESTJ does what’s most efficient (Te), falling back on the “tried and true” (Si) if they hit a road block, while the ISTJ follows and upholds the “tried and true” (Si), falling back on what’s most efficient (Te) if they hit a serious road block.

FAQ introduction

Hello everyone! I am a friend of thealecdelgado. He is ecstatic that all of you followers of thesixteentypes are so interested in learning more about Jungian Personality Psychology, but is a little overwhelmed by all of the repeat questions. I thought I’d make some FAQ posts to give him a little break ;) 

- theideathief