Our society loves personality types. Just search the internet for “personality quiz” and see the number of results ranging from “serious” clinical studies to lighter-hearted, just-for-fun tests. I have friends who love to take the latest online quizzes like “What does your ____ say about you?” or “What ____ are you?” or “Which ____ would you be?” I have taken both kinds of tests and what interests me is that there is always a finite number of results. (Yes, I realize that this is obvious, but the obvious can be fascinating.)

Last time I took the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, it showed that I am an ISFJ… barely. I say “barely” because, while my answers showed that I definitely lean toward Feeling-Judging (75% and 73%, respectively), I scored 54% on Introversion and 55% on Sensing. These results imply that – given a different day or set of circumstances – I might easily function as an ESFJ, INFJ, or ENFJ. This could lead you to one or more hypotheses:

1. This girl is weird.

2. She sounds very well-rounded.

3. She could have multiple personalities. Has she been diagnosed?

4. Perhaps personalities are not as clearly delineated as we would like to believe.

In my opinion, personality types are a broad generalization, not all-inclusive or all-defining. (They can also be lots of fun!) It is narrowminded and unrealistic, however, to think that it would be possible to perfectly sort nearly 7 billion people into sixteen categories. If you know someone well, their personality type does not matter. On the other hand, types can give you a general sketch of what a person might be like and may be helpful sorting out minor interpersonal issues. Try this: Instead of comparing “types,” why not sit and talk to each other over coffee or play a game? I almost always get the best insights into a person by watching them interact with others, especially while playing a game.

 

If you are interested in reading more about personalities, try The Personality Page or Wikipedia to start. If you want to actually get to know people, grab a board game, deck of cards, volleyball, soccer ball, wiffle ball, etc. Alternatively, if you and your group like to sit and chat, you could make up your own individualized personality “type” for each person (just be nice). My point is to go enjoy the people in your life!

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