Fun with personality tests is the topic for this rant. It’s sort of a strange thing to rant about, but you’ll either have to put up with it or go somewhere else.
Since you’re still here, let me fill you in on this train of thought. At a party a couple weeks ago someone asked me what my Myers-Briggs personality was. At the moment, all I remembered was “IN” something or other. Evidentially the rest of the conversation wasn’t very intriguing because I don’t remember any of it, but eventually my brain popped out with the data from my high school days – “INTP”. Of course I wasn’t really sure at this point just what it stood for other than intuitive-something-thinking-something, so I thought I’d go take a look again.
The first site I found didn’t describe the personality types right off, but guided the user into taking the personality test. I figured what the heck – it’s a break from work. I breezed through the questions, and was surprised for a moment when a different answer popped out – “INTJ”. After a second it made perfect sense though – I’ve changed a lot in the nine or ten years since I last took the test.
The INTP stands for Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving, which when added all up equals your run of the mill geek-ish antisocial creature with a few security complexes thrown in for good measure. http://typelogic.com/intp.html has some interesting things to say about my childhood without even hearing my horrible “burned my hand in the fire” story. “A major concern for INTPs is the haunting sense of impending failure,” is one of my favorites. “…INTPs are markedly different from INTJs, who are much more confident in their competence and willing to act on their convictions…” is a little more flattering, and descriptive of some of the ways I’ve changed since leaving my childhood.
INTJ is just a little step away, meaning Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging. Doesn’t seem like much of a difference, and I’m not entirely sure I like the overtones it brings. Judging sounds so overbearing and callous, especially when contrasted with perceiving. But after reading into the essay, several things struck me. “INTJs may appear to project an aura of “definiteness”, of self-confidence.” In many cases, the key words there are “may appear.” What goes on in front of and behind the great shield wall of psyche can be entirely different things. Then I hit this paragraph:
Personal relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be the INTJ’s Achilles heel. While they are capable of caring deeply for others (usually a select few), and are willing to spend a great deal of time and effort on a relationship, the knowledge and self-confidence that make them so successful in other areas can suddenly abandon or mislead them in interpersonal situations. … Probably the strongest INTJ assets in the interpersonal area are their intuitive abilities and their willingness to “work at” a relationship
That didn’t sound very promising at all, but it rattled around in my head for several days, percolating away. So I decided to look around at some of the other personality groupings that were out there. I remembered the ones about what type of fantasy character you would be, or galactic explorer, etc. etc. Here are some of the results ranked from the serious to the silly (or maybe they are in reverse order – you never can tell about some of these things).
Keirsey Temperment
Idealist (NF)
- Idealists are enthusiastic, they trust their intuition, yearn for romance, seek their true self, prize meaningful relationships, and dream of attaining wisdom.
- Idealists pride themselves on being loving, kindhearted, and authentic.
- Idealists tend to be giving, trusting, spiritual, and they are focused on personal journeys and human potentials.
- Idealists make intense mates, nurturing parents, and inspirational leaders.
Pirates Kitchen Analytical Trustworthy Self-Assured
- “Your momentary sensitivity represents that which is of high quality and durable. Consequently, you like to surround yourself with little “gems,” which you discover wherever they are overlooked by others.”
Kingdomality Discoverer
- “You are an insatiable explorer of people, places, things and ideas. You thrive on constant change and anything new or different. On the positive side, you can be creatively rational as well as open minded and just. On the negative side, you might be an impractical and indecisive procrastinator. Interestingly, your preference is just as applicable in today’s corporate kingdoms.”
Are You a Freak? Yep
- Need to be unique: 79%
- Need to NOT conform: 89%
- Willingness to express dissent: 75%
- Overall: 81%
ColorQuiz
- “Delights in the tasteful, the gracious, and the sensitive, but maintains his attitude of critical appraisal and refuses to be swept off his feet unless genuineness and integrity can be absolutely vouched for. Therefore keeps a strict and watchful control on his emotional relationships as he must know exactly where he stands. Demands complete sincerity as a protection against his own tendency to be too trusting.”
Emotional IQ 100 (Average)
- I disagreed with a lot of the “recommended approaches” to the questions they had – scoring a 200 (the highest score) on their test would only be possible for someone stepping out of a Better Homes and Gardens picture with a very rosy picture of the world.
Pompatus of Love Personality Test
- “You are a Smoker. You’re a lover and a sinner, but not a picker or a grinner. You get your loving, but not on the run.”
Goofiness.com
- “Thank You! Your score is 42, the best we’ve had so far. However, it also means you are the personality equivalent of Beavis.”
Intergalactic Explorer Type QGMT – Strategist
- Socializing: Quiet: Sits by self, has many non-terrestrial colleagues
- Sensing: Guts: Believes in hunches and ‘gut feelings’.
- Actions: Mind: Considers all the logical consequences before shooting you.
- Society: Trooper: Respects authority, loyal, tenacious.
Star Wars Twin Test
- Openness: 88% Yoda
- Conscientious: 83% Admiral Akabar
- Extraversion: 37% “Old Ben” Kenobi
- Agreeableness:32% Bobba Fett
- Neuroticism: 49% Chewbacca
I have no idea how I ended up as agreeable as Bobba Fett, as I usually get along with almost anyone in a social situation, and just avoid people who I find distasteful. I guess I was just having a little too much fun with their questions.
Now according to proper essay etiquette, this would be the point where I would summarize the point to this rant to leave the reader with a clear sense of what I wished to convey. I’m not sure there was a clear point to this though, so I’ll just congratulate you on having enough tenacity to read through to the end. Hopefully yo
u found this at least somewhat entertaining, and had fun trying a few of the tests yourself.
