Every so often I find personality tests interesting. I’ve taken the Myers-Brigg test (also called the Jung Typology Test or Keirsey’s Four Temperaments) countless times, and even when I’m not sure I understand a question or two, I always end up with the same personality type: INFJ.
My mom is an ESFJ, my dad an ISTJ, Laura an ISFJ, and Katie an ISFP. Ryan is an ESTJ. This time around I wonder how much family plays into these tests. While I take them with a grain of salt, or maybe five, I wonder if children reflect their parents’ personalities, if any of it is genetic, and how much is environment. My mom, dad, and Laura are in the overall category, The Guardians. Katie is an Artisan, and I am an Idealist. My sisters are similar, but not the same, and they’re identical twins.
After a conversation yesterday, I’m wondering how much we can change and how much we have to work around immutable aspects of our personalities. Any thoughts?
Take the test if you haven’t before.
I’m chuckling to myself. Your question is so broad and over-reaching. There’s just too much to say. I don’t know where to begin.
On the nuture side, what I find most interesting is how marriage alters personality traits (usually in the form of balancing out extremes).
On the nature side, it seems men are Thinking, and women are Feeling. The one exception I know is myself. But then again, my Thinking tendency is only 1%.
Comment by steph — 24 November 2008 @ 7:16 pm
Good post. I am an “INTJ”, which I think is the rarest personality type, also the same as Ayn Rand!
I took the test for the first time in college and was an ESTP, thus I have moved on 3/4 categories, over the years.
It’s a great test, I like it.
Comment by Colorado Running — 25 November 2008 @ 2:13 pm
Interesting thoughts. I wonder how much gender, marriage, and life changes do affect one’s personality.
Comment by kristynwinters — 1 December 2008 @ 4:46 pm
In College, living in the dorms, you’re always with people, thus I think I adapted to my surroundings and became more of an extrovert, but have probably always been more introverted (I’m pretty borderline).
Also, moving from a P to J. In College, I hated structure, now I have to have it. With a job, two kids, family, running, et al. I have to have structure. Thus, if I want to get a run in, I have to plan time for it each day, in college or when you’re younger you have a lot more free time, thus I could be a J.
I think Men tend to lean T, as opposed to J. I bet that the T or J category is the best predictor of how someone will vote. With the T’s more likely to vote Republican, J’s Democrat.
Comment by Run Colorado — 2 December 2008 @ 11:36 am
It sounds like what started as a need to adapt led to personality changes. Interesting. I’ve never heard of a voting theory relating to one’s personality type. It’d be interesting to take a poll.
Comment by kristynwinters — 4 December 2008 @ 10:27 am