Author Topic: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?  (Read 179748 times)

Mirwen

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #250 on: April 15, 2015, 08:23:13 PM »
Another INTJ here. Although I'm fairly balanced on J/P.  I've heard Big 5 is more meaningful, but I personally don't like being labeled "highly neurotic."

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #251 on: June 16, 2015, 09:14:07 AM »
ISTJ. Not sure how unusual that is in this community.

Wilson Hall

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #252 on: June 16, 2015, 07:35:22 PM »
One more INFJ here.

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #253 on: June 24, 2015, 09:54:34 PM »
  You asked for a poll, and this is the next best thing..!  I tallied it for you.  Please open attachment as I can not figure out how to insert an image. 

Note:  This is for a population of approximately N=178; for:
Of persons on MMM responding with their MBTI type.     (e.g., note that I did not post my type, although I am personally very interested in MBTI.)Tally of as June 22, 2015

"splits"  e.g., INTJ / INFJ were tallied as 1/2 point for each of two types.
Over half of respondants took an on-line test, which do have somewhat to a lot less "precision", but good enough for a fun thread here.


You don't need to read the rest of this, the chart attached is the cool stuff....   but here is my analysis of how the two MBTI approaches would interpret this.

Meyer's Primary Function Analysis -- would review it like this:

Intuition Wins

LOTS of people that like using their Intuition to think about / research / strategize and create NEW IDEAS.  This group does not conform as readily as other types to tradition and collective "norms" for roles.

The results indicate that persons with the dominant function of Introverted Intuition (INJ) are 4-5X present in higher numbers than the standard population.   INTJ / INFJ are 56% of the responses, and both have the same Meyers Dominiant Function, Introverted Intuition, which is essentially pondering new innovative ideas, plans and strategies on one's own (e.g., not talking it over with a group).

ISTJ's are here because they  (and ISFJ's) are terrific with details, maintaining progress, creating / completing lists, and naturally, among the best with Budgets.  ISTJ's are higher participants than standard population because they tend to like organizing money and item details  / data, while ISFJ's prefer details about people, like birthdays and spousal names and likes, so may or may not be here, depending on their values and goals..

ENFP and ENTP are the Extroverted Intuition types -- e.g., often observed talking about out loud about new ideas.  Both very much like exploring new ideas... though these types may not persist on the forum for as many months before moving on.

The INTP's have a dominant of introverted thinking (logical ones, those),  but also have Extraverted Intuition as their secondary functions.

ENFJ's and ENTJ's have Introverted Intuition as their secondary trait, so fit right in with the INTJ and INFJ's, as they, too, like to think (on their own) about new strategies and ways to move ahead.


Keirsey's Temprament Theory would break it down like this:
(% are total of the N=178 population)

NT- Rationals   62%    Strategic.  Knowledge Seeking.  Engineers and Coordinators of Ideas-- e.g. Mastermind (INTJ)
NF - Idealist   26%      Mentoring / Advocacy. Ideas and strategy for People.   
SJ - Guardians   10%      Security, Practical, Frugal.
SP - Artisan   2%      Action.  Doing. Tangible creators  (I think most of these are off doing something..not here...)


I think these results show that the MBTI, which is a SELF-SELECTED personality type tool, is very valuable at predicting what activities people will self-select into. (such as a MMM forum on early retirement and new ways to pursue personal finance).  Yep, this is only one 'case' but wow, the results / statistical significance of this one is very strong.

Erica/NWEdible

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #254 on: June 24, 2015, 10:17:46 PM »
Thank you so much!!!

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #255 on: June 24, 2015, 10:37:48 PM »
Whoah.  Thanks for taking the time to compile that.

lol @ 80% INTJ.

As I said in the poll thread on this back in 2013:
Everyone on the internet is a friggin INTJ.

It used to be a rare specimen, apparently.  In the self-selected groups like you find here, it's super common.

That poll just asked if you were an INTJ or not (no other types, just a yes/no, you can click the link above the quote to go to it), and there 75% answered yes, so fits quite well with your results.
« Last Edit: June 24, 2015, 10:40:02 PM by arebelspy »
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Goldielocks

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #256 on: June 24, 2015, 11:03:03 PM »
I think many types are on the internet now.  Not just INTJ's.... 

For example,

I don't think many INTJ's would be on my daughter's fan fiction and poetry writers site, which has a large group....
Pinterest would get a LOT of ISFJ's and ESFJ's.
There are some excellent photography / artist sites where people post their work, that may attract more of the SP's that are missing here,  etc. etc.


Roots&Wings

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #257 on: June 25, 2015, 06:39:13 AM »
Isn't the full poll here? http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/myers-briggs-type-indicator/

I had to revise from INTJ to INFJ. Initially was a borderline 1% T (likely due to peer-pressure on this forum!), but have gone over to the F side.

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #258 on: June 25, 2015, 10:16:19 AM »
I have always found the Myers-Briggs fetish on these forums (especially in the Journals) to be a bit over the top. I am content with who I am and have no desire to be "pegged" by some 4-letter code.

Though I strongly suspect I'm INTJ. ;)

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #259 on: June 26, 2015, 03:21:11 PM »
I finally took one of those tests:

Your personality type: “The Logistician” (ISTJ-A)
Strength of individual traits: Introverted: 23%, Observant: 34%, Thinking: 57%, Judging: 11%, Assertive: 82%.
Role: Sentinel
Strategy: Confident Individualism

I still don't see what it's good for. 

expectopatronum

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #260 on: June 26, 2015, 03:40:56 PM »
Female ENTJ.

One of my best friends thinks very similarly about money and would love this site. She's INTJ.

Roots&Wings

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #261 on: June 26, 2015, 04:39:33 PM »
Though I strongly suspect I'm INTJ. ;)

You never know until you try! I'd never even heard of Myers-Briggs until joining this forum...curiousity piqued, I took a test and enjoyed reading about the various personality traits I previously saw as my own oddball quirks are actually shared by others :)

If you've ever been tested and know your result, please vote.  If not, please don't guess... it's very easy for people to feel that they identify with a certain description, but that doesn't make it so.  You should go through the formal test before drawing conclusions (many people are at least slightly surprised!)

JLR

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #262 on: June 29, 2015, 04:24:09 AM »
ISFJ-T.

Daleth

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #263 on: June 30, 2015, 10:22:45 AM »

SP - Artisan   2%      Action.  Doing. Tangible creators  (I think most of these are off doing something..not here...)

They are off snowboarding, or painting their new snowboard.

Or wait, it's summer. So, they are off skateboarding, base jumping or hiking, or repairing or decorating their new equipment related to same.

dusty

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #264 on: July 04, 2015, 08:29:08 AM »
I used to score INTJ for myer-briggs (first test 2012 last test 2014), and it agreed with my logical side, which slotted in with ERE and Mr money mustache thinking but I never felt comfortable relating to the engineers (software programming or otherwise on this site who tested accordingly) - Whilst I like planning. organisation and logic (I have worked in the policing/military world) etc I don't like following through as so many bureaucratical (sp?) rules ensue (it did my head in that societal rules aren't black and white), hence my relief when I tested INTP today.

Daisy

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #265 on: July 05, 2015, 08:30:31 PM »
I used to score INTJ for myer-briggs (first test 2012 last test 2014), and it agreed with my logical side, which slotted in with ERE and Mr money mustache thinking but I never felt comfortable relating to the engineers (software programming or otherwise on this site who tested accordingly) - Whilst I like planning. organisation and logic (I have worked in the policing/military world) etc I don't like following through as so many bureaucratical (sp?) rules ensue (it did my head in that societal rules aren't black and white), hence my relief when I tested INTP today.

This is similar to me. I do like the planning and organizing aspects of things. I have more trouble with the follow through. Once I dream up the great idea, I falter in putting it into practice. I start to lose interest in the fine details once I've figured out how to solve a problem.

See my start of the Class of 2015 thread and the fact that I have not chosen a FIRE date yet as a prime example. ;-)

I also start tracking my expenses every year and create a nice new spreadsheet and all, then by mid-year I realize I have stopped tracking expenses and have fallen behind and beat myself up over not updating the spreadsheet.

I am also either INTP or ENTP (depending on my mood). I will *NEVER* be a J - that is for sure. Just gives me the creeps thinking about it...

Goldielocks

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #266 on: July 07, 2015, 06:29:21 PM »
I used to score INTJ for myer-briggs (first test 2012 last test 2014), and it agreed with my logical side, which slotted in with ERE and Mr money mustache thinking but I never felt comfortable relating to the engineers (software programming or otherwise on this site who tested accordingly) - Whilst I like planning. organisation and logic (I have worked in the policing/military world) etc I don't like following through as so many bureaucratical (sp?) rules ensue (it did my head in that societal rules aren't black and white), hence my relief when I tested INTP today.

INTJ's don't typically like bureaucracy either, except as "knowing the rules to strategize around them / break them".   The engineers you indicate are more likely ISTJ's... also a very common type for engineers, who play by the rules very well indeed to get ahead.

Goldielocks

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #267 on: July 07, 2015, 06:33:22 PM »
I do like the planning and organizing aspects of things. I have more trouble with the follow through. Once I dream up the great idea, I falter in putting it into practice. I start to lose interest in the fine details once I've figured out how to solve a problem.

I also start tracking my expenses every year and create a nice new spreadsheet and all, then by mid-year I realize I have stopped tracking expenses and have fallen behind and beat myself up over not updating the spreadsheet.

.... I will *NEVER* be a J SJ - that is for sure. Just gives me the creeps thinking about it...

FYI --All J's seem to be great at making lists or plans, but SJ's excel at tracking / crossing them off.   See my edit above...

I am a J and your description fits me!

MoonShadow

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #268 on: July 07, 2015, 06:49:15 PM »
I'm an INTP, myself.

It's not my fault, I was made this way.

Carolina on My Mind

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #269 on: July 07, 2015, 07:01:04 PM »
My husband and I, in a meme:


This made me snort with laughter (belatedly).  My husband and I are also INTJ + INTP.  (I'm the P.)


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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #270 on: July 07, 2015, 07:09:53 PM »
When I was younger, I switch between INFP and INFJ depending on my mood that day or the test questions asked; seem more of a solid INFP now as I get older. Hubby is an INFJ.

I read it somewhere that INFP and INFJ tend to have low paying jobs but enjoy what they do (teaching, care-taking, etc.) Maybe there's a reason why we're kinda unhappy as well-paid engineers.

dusty

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #271 on: July 10, 2015, 01:07:41 AM »
Daisy, nice to hear I am not alone - I also draw up intricate financial spreadsheets then neglect to enter the data.  Overall; doing the research drawing the spreadsheets and subscribing to ERE has helped me financially I must admit.

Goldielocks thanks for the input which clarifies things - I need to do some more reading on the type and work out whats going on there - I did fire from the hip with my first post.

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #272 on: July 28, 2015, 05:39:03 PM »
INFJ here

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #273 on: August 28, 2015, 03:35:55 PM »
ENTP here.

I get too distracted to post frequently :D.  FIRE for intellectual freedom, I never want another adult to tell me what to do ever again.

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #274 on: October 22, 2015, 09:59:13 PM »
lifelong INTJ

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #275 on: October 27, 2015, 11:35:18 AM »
After reading this thread I was intrigued & did an online test. Not hugely surprisingly (for this thread) I'm another INTJ, another female INTJ FWIW. Today at work I sent a link around my team & everyone did it at the same time,  3/4 were INTJ! That includes my line manager and the 1 person I manage. A nice bonding moment for us all & it may explain why we're such a kickass team! The other guy was a ENTP.

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #276 on: October 28, 2015, 11:38:30 AM »
INFP or ENFP - I'm a 50/50 split with introversion and extroversion, strong strong NF, and strong P.

I will second what the others like me will say - MMM means freedom!

I've always been frugal and usually I can work for a year, then quit for a year and do what I want. But be able to quit forever, and at a young age, would be even better!

I alternate between Idealist and Champion, fully realized in my two hobby jobs/loves: Writer and Film Director. I love alone time, but I love being on (my own) set and encouraging actors/crew, creating a memory of an incredible time when we got together and made a movie.

I've been a MMM reader for 4 years, and a lurker for as long, but the only reason I'm active on the forums right now is that I'm working a boring job. :) Otherwise I am running around in the real world.

But, so you know - I was introduced to this site by a female INTJ. :)

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #277 on: November 12, 2015, 12:57:11 AM »
ISFJ

although in the F section, I'm compassionate and empathetic.  but also lean slightly toward T, critical and constantly questioning. 

It would be nice to be more T at work.

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #278 on: December 11, 2015, 11:52:23 PM »
ISTJ
For those questioning the validity of these tests, it largely depends on where you fall on the spectrum for each. If you're toward the middle, of the spectrum between several categories, the test is probably meaningless. If you score heavily toward one or the other for each letter, chances are it'll nail your personality or aspects of it. First did the assessment in college; then and every time taken since I've been 70%+on each characteristic, with a few being 90+%. Needless to say, it nails my personality.


Goldielocks

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #280 on: December 13, 2015, 05:01:14 PM »
Saw this video today: Why the Myers-Briggs test is totally meaningless

https://curiosity.com/paths/why-the-myers-briggs-test-is-totally-meaningless-vox/?utm_source=facebookDisc&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2015q4fbMyersBriggsDiscMB&sf15763600=1#why-the-myers-briggs-test-is-totally-meaningless-vox

I can't watch the video right now, so can't comment, but here is my common sense, basic question:
If Meyers Briggs is meaningless, then how can so many ISTJ's be self accumulating on this site?

For example, I bet that if we took an astrology  sign poll, we would not see any consistency whatsoever... so, why such a statistical anomaly with MBTI unless there was some foundation to it...?

 

arebelspy

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #281 on: December 14, 2015, 02:41:40 PM »
Just because we share some common personality traits (for example, more engineers than Yahoo! comments has, proportionally) doesn't make those personality traits significant for describing relations to the real world, and by forcibly describing people as X or Y, it pigeonholes real understanding.  People are more complex, and on a spectrum, than "Introvert" or "Extrovert" and the other binary options.

If you can't watch a video, how about an article I posted 8 months ago:
Relevant article: Why the Myers-Briggs test is totally meaningless

Hat tip to Lifehacker, who summarize, saying:
Quote
The Myers-Briggs test is based on personality types developed in the 1940s that have little connection to any real data. More problematic, though, is that it classifies personalities by a binary preference for a particular trait. In reality, however, most people exist on a spectrum between the two and can vary between them from week to week.

It can be amusing to look at, but don't take it too seriously, basically.  Something to keep in mind.  :)
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matchewed

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #282 on: December 14, 2015, 02:57:59 PM »
Saw this video today: Why the Myers-Briggs test is totally meaningless

https://curiosity.com/paths/why-the-myers-briggs-test-is-totally-meaningless-vox/?utm_source=facebookDisc&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2015q4fbMyersBriggsDiscMB&sf15763600=1#why-the-myers-briggs-test-is-totally-meaningless-vox

I can't watch the video right now, so can't comment, but here is my common sense, basic question:
If Meyers Briggs is meaningless, then how can so many ISTJ's be self accumulating on this site?

For example, I bet that if we took an astrology  sign poll, we would not see any consistency whatsoever... so, why such a statistical anomaly with MBTI unless there was some foundation to it...?

Astrology is based off of birth date, so it will be fairly evenly distributed for the 12 months or follow some pattern in human birth.

You find people on the internets with their introvert rating because they are alone on a computer taking a test which asks them how they "gain energy" or some form of that phrasing. Well environment influences people, we've known this. So they will tend to score more strong on the introvert side.

We do exist on that spectrum though and it is better to view it that way not only for ourselves but understanding others. You may never know what will get someone to come out of their proverbial shell but that is a clear move from introvert towards extrovert when they do.

It's cute, it's just not particularly real or actually useful. It's touted in company based training for whatever reason (I personally suspect that consultants are always 25 years behind on basic human psychology). That's usually how most people get wind of the concepts.

Also speaking of astrology the write-ups on people who take the test smack of the same vague language so that people will respond to it with the whole "WOW that describes me so well!!!".

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #283 on: December 14, 2015, 07:53:20 PM »

You find people on the internets with their introvert rating because they are alone on a computer taking a test which asks them how they "gain energy" or some form of that phrasing. Well environment influences people, we've known this. So they will tend to score more strong on the introvert side.


I didn't take my Myers=Briggs online.  I took mine in a psychiatrist's office.  She definitely didn't think that it was bullshit, and it nailed my personality.

matchewed

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #284 on: December 14, 2015, 08:15:09 PM »

You find people on the internets with their introvert rating because they are alone on a computer taking a test which asks them how they "gain energy" or some form of that phrasing. Well environment influences people, we've known this. So they will tend to score more strong on the introvert side.


I didn't take my Myers=Briggs online.  I took mine in a psychiatrist's office.  She definitely didn't think that it was bullshit, and it nailed my personality.

Cool.  Doesn't invalidate that it was a made up test by not psychiatrists.

Goldielocks

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #285 on: December 15, 2015, 04:02:49 PM »
Just because we share some common personality traits (for example, more engineers than Yahoo! comments has, proportionally) doesn't make those personality traits significant for describing relations to the real world, and by forcibly describing people as X or Y, it pigeonholes real understanding.  People are more complex, and on a spectrum, than "Introvert" or "Extrovert" and the other binary options.

If you can't watch a video, how about an article I posted 8 months ago:
Relevant article: Why the Myers-Briggs test is totally meaningless

Hat tip to Lifehacker, who summarize, saying:
Quote
The Myers-Briggs test is based on personality types developed in the 1940s that have little connection to any real data. More problematic, though, is that it classifies personalities by a binary preference for a particular trait. In reality, however, most people exist on a spectrum between the two and can vary between them from week to week.

It can be amusing to look at, but don't take it too seriously, basically.  Something to keep in mind.  :)
Thanks, I read the article and still refute it. :-)

As to classifying people, yes we are all special, bu grouping and classifying is what we do for scientific and statistical study and provides a lot of meaning, understanding and value.

Animal kingdoms, human eras, boomers vs millenials, all those medical studies, shoppers habits, all require lumping things or people into groups then contrast and compare then learn.

I agree that any classification system will have internal flaws, by a good system can provide a lot of value. MBTI has shown itself to be much more viable than many other systems.

matchewed

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #286 on: December 15, 2015, 04:15:57 PM »
Just because we share some common personality traits (for example, more engineers than Yahoo! comments has, proportionally) doesn't make those personality traits significant for describing relations to the real world, and by forcibly describing people as X or Y, it pigeonholes real understanding.  People are more complex, and on a spectrum, than "Introvert" or "Extrovert" and the other binary options.

If you can't watch a video, how about an article I posted 8 months ago:
Relevant article: Why the Myers-Briggs test is totally meaningless

Hat tip to Lifehacker, who summarize, saying:
Quote
The Myers-Briggs test is based on personality types developed in the 1940s that have little connection to any real data. More problematic, though, is that it classifies personalities by a binary preference for a particular trait. In reality, however, most people exist on a spectrum between the two and can vary between them from week to week.

It can be amusing to look at, but don't take it too seriously, basically.  Something to keep in mind.  :)
Thanks, I read the article and still refute it. :-)

As to classifying people, yes we are all special, bu grouping and classifying is what we do for scientific and statistical study and provides a lot of meaning, understanding and value.

Animal kingdoms, human eras, boomers vs millenials, all those medical studies, shoppers habits, all require lumping things or people into groups then contrast and compare then learn.

I agree that any classification system will have internal flaws, by a good system can provide a lot of value. MBTI has shown itself to be much more viable than many other systems.

I question viability when its formation was based on no evidence. The mentioning of astrology above is an apt comparison. To call someone an INTJ is just as useful as someone identifying as a Taurus.
« Last Edit: December 15, 2015, 04:29:03 PM by matchewed »

MoonShadow

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #287 on: December 15, 2015, 08:43:52 PM »

I question viability when its formation was based on no evidence. The mentioning of astrology above is an apt comparison. To call someone an INTJ is just as useful as someone identifying as a Taurus.

The Myers-Briggs wasn't based upon no evidence, it was based upon statistical evidence.  The Myers-Briggs was based upon the same kind of associative statistical science that evolved into what we, today, call "profiling".  The same methods that tell us that the typical serial killer is a single white male in his late 30's with neurotic attachment issues and a childhood trauma.  The science doesn't say that every loner white boy that has traumatic loss as a child will become a serial killer by age 40, nor does it say that a black girl won't.

MoonShadow

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #288 on: December 15, 2015, 08:56:32 PM »

You find people on the internets with their introvert rating because they are alone on a computer taking a test which asks them how they "gain energy" or some form of that phrasing. Well environment influences people, we've known this. So they will tend to score more strong on the introvert side.


I didn't take my Myers=Briggs online.  I took mine in a psychiatrist's office.  She definitely didn't think that it was bullshit, and it nailed my personality.

Cool.  Doesn't invalidate that it was a made up test by not psychiatrists.

All tests are "made up", and the fact that actual psychiatrists use it as a valid tool says more than the fact that the two primary developers of the test were not psychiatrists.  The test may yet be dropped by psychiatry; for it's imprecision, for for quackery, or whatever; it is not a hard science after all.  That doesn't mean that credit isn't due, nor that the test is useless at predicting some behaviors.  The Myers-Briggs, and other techniques, are even taught to my homeschooled teenagers (and not by me, at a co-op; by a SAHM with a psychology degree of some form) in her "Who Am I?" course.   The idea being, if they better understand themselves, they might better understand their own behavioral weaknesses, including how they are perceived by others.  This is a very useful skill in any corporate environment.  If it's done nothing else for me, my own typing of INTP has helped me understand how my own quirks are interpreted by others.

Goldielocks

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #289 on: December 16, 2015, 01:35:09 AM »
LOL,   there have been some pretty weird ideas in the past by psychologists.   I don't think that we can trust that they are always (or even often?) right.  Perhaps just "usually helpful"...

Psychology is a very new field, relatively speaking, with only a few areas well studied even today.   Look at all the emerging studies on happiness, a pretty new topic for this field, overall.

MoonShadow

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #290 on: December 16, 2015, 01:41:32 AM »
LOL,   there have been some pretty weird ideas in the past by psychologists.   I don't think that we can trust that they are always (or even often?) right.  Perhaps just "usually helpful"...

Psychology is a very new field, relatively speaking, with only a few areas well studied even today.   Look at all the emerging studies on happiness, a pretty new topic for this field, overall.

That's true, but in order to discredit a personality test, you aim to discredit an entire profession that uses it?  Despite it's vagueness, even you would have to admit that the Myers-Briggs isn't random.

matchewed

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #291 on: December 16, 2015, 05:42:27 AM »

You find people on the internets with their introvert rating because they are alone on a computer taking a test which asks them how they "gain energy" or some form of that phrasing. Well environment influences people, we've known this. So they will tend to score more strong on the introvert side.


I didn't take my Myers=Briggs online.  I took mine in a psychiatrist's office.  She definitely didn't think that it was bullshit, and it nailed my personality.

Cool.  Doesn't invalidate that it was a made up test by not psychiatrists.

All tests are "made up", and the fact that actual psychiatrists use it as a valid tool says more than the fact that the two primary developers of the test were not psychiatrists.  The test may yet be dropped by psychiatry; for it's imprecision, for for quackery, or whatever; it is not a hard science after all.  That doesn't mean that credit isn't due, nor that the test is useless at predicting some behaviors.  The Myers-Briggs, and other techniques, are even taught to my homeschooled teenagers (and not by me, at a co-op; by a SAHM with a psychology degree of some form) in her "Who Am I?" course.   The idea being, if they better understand themselves, they might better understand their own behavioral weaknesses, including how they are perceived by others.  This is a very useful skill in any corporate environment.  If it's done nothing else for me, my own typing of INTP has helped me understand how my own quirks are interpreted by others.

But it's not valid. Whether psychology is a hard science or not is irrelevant to the matter. The test is useless at predicting some behaviors. Did you not read the links? Essentially any particular person is really somewhere along a spectrum at any particular point in time, they may not be at the same point depending on their circumstances between tests. So what use is the test (assuming any validity) unless you're taking it to find out where you are at this instant?

What your children are being taught and by whom doesn't matter. They can still be taught things that aren't real or true.

Being typed has little to do with understanding yourself. Understanding yourself requires self awareness and the ability to look at yourself in as objective of a manner as possible. Being assigned arbitrary categories may make you feel like you're fulfilling the first section of that but given you actually are not that arbitrary category but are a mutable collection of feelings and thoughts, in which the identification of and understanding how they arise is truer understanding, means Myers-Briggs is BS.

I'm a bit gung-ho on this matter because it's the equivalent of people saying the sun moves around the earth. Present them evidence otherwise and the response becomes, well it's still useful right? It explains what I see right? Yeah (not really) and yeah; but the pursuit of science (soft or hard [giggity]) is about developing more accurate models to describe the reality we see. The Myers-Briggs is not accurate, it should be abandoned. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/give-and-take/201309/goodbye-mbti-the-fad-won-t-die

Goldielocks

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #292 on: December 16, 2015, 09:07:35 AM »
LOL,   there have been some pretty weird ideas in the past by psychologists.   I don't think that we can trust that they are always (or even often?) right.  Perhaps just "usually helpful"...

Psychology is a very new field, relatively speaking, with only a few areas well studied even today.   Look at all the emerging studies on happiness, a pretty new topic for this field, overall.

That's true, but in order to discredit a personality test, you aim to discredit an entire profession that uses it?  Despite it's vagueness, even you would have to admit that the Myers-Briggs isn't random.

 Moonshadow, just the opposite, that just because a psychologist did not create it does not mean it is hocus  pocus .  In fact, in the 60's and 70's those psychologists were all about correcting abnormal behaviour, so keeping them out of MBTI is a good thing.

Matchweed, I don't think we are a spectrum, for this purpose,  the question is "what do you prefer A or B?" As a method of grouping and sorting. That is pretty clear. It doesn't ask if you like or use both A and B and how much.

matchewed

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #293 on: December 16, 2015, 09:20:42 AM »
LOL,   there have been some pretty weird ideas in the past by psychologists.   I don't think that we can trust that they are always (or even often?) right.  Perhaps just "usually helpful"...

Psychology is a very new field, relatively speaking, with only a few areas well studied even today.   Look at all the emerging studies on happiness, a pretty new topic for this field, overall.

That's true, but in order to discredit a personality test, you aim to discredit an entire profession that uses it?  Despite it's vagueness, even you would have to admit that the Myers-Briggs isn't random.

 Moonshadow, just the opposite, that just because a psychologist did not create it does not mean it is hocus  pocus .  In fact, in the 60's and 70's those psychologists were all about correcting abnormal behaviour, so keeping them out of MBTI is a good thing.

Matchweed, I don't think we are a spectrum, for this purpose,  the question is "what do you prefer A or B?" As a method of grouping and sorting. That is pretty clear. It doesn't ask if you like or use both A and B and how much.

Cool, thankfully science doesn't care if you think we exist on a spectrum. It knows you do. Like I said above, it doesn't matter if you think the sun orbits the earth. The truth is just the opposite.

MoonShadow

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #294 on: December 16, 2015, 02:15:15 PM »

But it's not valid. Whether psychology is a hard science or not is irrelevant to the matter. The test is useless at predicting some behaviors.


Some behaviors, sure.  MBPT is useless at predicting suicidal predisposition, as an example.  That's not what it was designed to do.  It was designed for, and is rather useful for, predicting which members of a corporate work group are most (and least) likely to get along without conflicts.  It's just one tool.  A hammer can't drive screws, don't expect one tool to do too much.

Quote

Did you not read the links? Essentially any particular person is really somewhere along a spectrum at any particular point in time, they may not be at the same point depending on their circumstances between tests. So what use is the test (assuming any validity) unless you're taking it to find out where you are at this instant?


Yes, it's a snapshot in time.  People do change their personalities over time, but most don't change much.  At least not much after maturity.

Quote

What your children are being taught and by whom doesn't matter. They can still be taught things that aren't real or true.
It was a personal anecdote, not a proof.  I was taught many things in school that turned out to be false.  So were you.
Quote

Being typed has little to do with understanding yourself. Understanding yourself requires self awareness and the ability to look at yourself in as objective of a manner as possible. Being assigned arbitrary categories may make you feel like you're fulfilling the first section of that but given you actually are not that arbitrary category but are a mutable collection of feelings and thoughts, in which the identification of and understanding how they arise is truer understanding, means Myers-Briggs is BS.


Myers-Briggs is only "BS" if you don't believe in statistical models.  Myers-Briggs isn't proof of anything; it's based upon statistical correlation, which is not (by itself) evidence.  But if my teenagers take it as a baseline, at least they have somewhere to start.  If their self-awareness grows beyond the MB, great; but even the MB offers more self-awareness than most teenagers (and most adults) ever develop independently.

Quote
I'm a bit gung-ho on this matter because it's the equivalent of people saying the sun moves around the earth.
Your analogy leaves much to be desired.

Quote
The Myers-Briggs is not accurate, it should be abandoned. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/give-and-take/201309/goodbye-mbti-the-fad-won-t-die

I think you expect too much of it, and when it doesn't live up to your expectations, you reject it's value.  This is very  black & white thinking.  Ironic coming from a person who asserts that the MB is BS because it uses A-B polling to classify a person, and who complains that doesn't accurately reflect the personality spectrum.  Who cares?  Nobody said it would cure cancer.

matchewed

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #295 on: December 16, 2015, 02:23:11 PM »
Yeah I was pretty sure you didn't read the articles. Thanks for clarifying.

Quote
Being typed has little to do with understanding yourself. Understanding yourself requires self awareness and the ability to look at yourself in as objective of a manner as possible. Being assigned arbitrary categories may make you feel like you're fulfilling the first section of that but given you actually are not that arbitrary category but are a mutable collection of feelings and thoughts, in which the identificatiom of and understanding how they arise is truer understanding, means Myers-Briggs is BS.

Myers-Briggs is only "BS" if you don't believe in statistical models.  Myers-Briggs isn't proof of anything; it's based upon statistical correlation, which is not (by itself) evidence.  But if my teenagers take it as a baseline, at least they have somewhere to start.  If their self-awareness grows beyond the MB, great; but even the MB offers more self-awareness than most teenagers (and most adults) ever develop independently.

What does that even mean? Statistical model. What statistical model exactly? What correlation?
« Last Edit: December 16, 2015, 02:38:35 PM by matchewed »

Goldielocks

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #296 on: December 17, 2015, 12:17:34 AM »
Yeah I was pretty sure you didn't read the articles. Thanks for clarifying.

Quote
Being typed has little to do with understanding yourself. Understanding yourself requires self awareness and the ability to look at yourself in as objective of a manner as possible. Being assigned arbitrary categories may make you feel like you're fulfilling the first section of that but given you actually are not that arbitrary category but are a mutable collection of feelings and thoughts, in which the identificatiom of and understanding how they arise is truer understanding, means Myers-Briggs is BS.


Really?   MBTI doesn't exist without statistics...   Yes, it starts with a theory of what A-B matches to set up, and from there it is all surveys and data collection to generate statistics.   

The official version cautions against using MBTI for employment filtering (by the student), yet many books and webpages do exactly that.  Why?  They ask thousands of people to complete the official MBTI and their work, and how satisfied they are, and then produce a book or statistical study.   The authors set up those "about INTJ" phrases in different combinations, then ask (statistically) INTJ's for how close they are, that sort of thing.
Myers-Briggs is only "BS" if you don't believe in statistical models.  Myers-Briggs isn't proof of anything; it's based upon statistical correlation, which is not (by itself) evidence.  But if my teenagers take it as a baseline, at least they have somewhere to start.  If their self-awareness grows beyond the MB, great; but even the MB offers more self-awareness than most teenagers (and most adults) ever develop independently.

What does that even mean? Statistical model. What statistical model exactly? What correlation?

matchewed

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #297 on: December 18, 2015, 07:53:21 AM »
I'm not sure what's your response and what's not so I'll just give a blanket response.

Statistics is the study of data. It actually doesn't care if the data is bad or good. I could give a test asking people their preferences on food and come up with a categorization that people are either meat or dairy/vegetable or bakery items/fish or fruit. That doesn't mean people actually are those things.

MBTI may not exist without it, but it doesn't prove its validity.

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #298 on: December 27, 2015, 08:41:28 AM »
Another blanket response.

Introverts can be social, they can be very social.  They are just not social in the same way extroverts are. Shy people may need to be coaxed out of their shell, but shy does not automatically mean introvert, and introvert does not automatically mean shy.

Added - introverts tend to be more social in small groups and one-to-one interactions, which may be a partial explanation for why we like being on this forum.  Huge noise New Year's Eve parties are only fun in small doses (like once a year), posting on a calm, thoughtful forum is fun all the time.

Birth signs do have some value as information, since they are based on time of birth.  So we can look at them as seasonal indicators - a summer baby has had a different environment than a winter baby - what seasons was the mother experiencing (cold/heat stress, amount of exercise, etc.), what was the weather like when baby was born, what weather was baby exposed to at different ages, etc.  My DD and I were both summer babies, for example, and we were both old enough for long outings in the baby carriage in winter (well bundled up, of course).  If she had been born in January I am not sure either of us would have been up to long walks in February  ;-)

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Re: The Principle of Constant Optimization: What's Your Myers-Briggs?
« Reply #299 on: February 07, 2017, 09:29:55 AM »
I test very strongly INTP. I know it's pretty rare, especially for a girl, so it's awesome to see so many people in that personality "family."  I might have found my people!

 

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