Which Myers-Briggs personality type are you?

[Wayward]

Hi everyone!  I have a great interest in personality types and was curious if there is a correlation between certain personality types and the FIRE community.  Obviously, there are other factors that govern our behaviors but, I thought it might be fun to do a survey of personalities in our awesome forum!

If you are unsure what your personality type is, please take the free quiz at https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

And if anyone is curious, I am an Advocate (INFJ-A)!

[goalphish2002]

INTP checking in.

[simonsez]

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/what-is-your-myersbriggs-personality-type-(16-personality-quiz)/msg1704271/#msg1704271

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/continue-the-blog-conversation/the-principle-of-constant-optimization-what's-your-myers-briggs/msg84261/#msg84261

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/myers-briggs-type-indicator/msg236479/#msg236479

OP, check out SDI if you haven't heard of it.  It can be a useful tool to improve communications, especially in the workplace.  Learn how yourself and others communicate normally and under times of duress, basically.  (I'm a reddish-hub who goes green big-time when shit hits the fan)

[sui generis]

Interesting.  I got a significantly different result than I've gotten before (ESFJ).  And we really do change over time because even my historical result (ENTJ) was preceded by a different result (ESTJ).  I think it depends a lot more on what's going on in one's life at the time, as well as what one has learned over their life.  Right now, because of my job that I hate, I have recognized the importance of social interaction and team coordination.  So I was super sensitive to questions about that and probably prioritized them a lot more highly than I ever did before, when I had good workplace social interaction and team coordination, but took it for granted and said it wasn't so important.  At the same time, things I hated back then, I don't remember now, and probably marked myself as not thinking they were important because it's not something important to me right now (in comparison to the other things that are much more salient).

I used to think it was so fun to read about this stuff, but now it feels like reading my horoscope - just vague enough that whatever they tell you you are you can find things that are like, "That's totally me!"

[Laura33]

I used to think it was so fun to read about this stuff, but now it feels like reading my horoscope - just vague enough that whatever they tell you you are you can find things that are like, "That's totally me!"

I think it also depends on how strong you are on the various characteristics -- I have been a strong INTP for @25-30 years, and basically off the charts on the N-P side of things, so to me, the description rings pretty resoundingly true every time.  Although this particular one is too strong on the "I" and "T" part for me, where I am closer to the middle (I am not nearly the antisocial automaton the description implies).  But to be fair, I did really have to work on consciously developing empathy and insight into other people and social conventions; if I answered as me 25 years ago, the I/T part would have been a lot closer to where I am now.

[GuitarStv]

We did this one on the forum a while back.  Turns out we're mostly INTJs.

[wxdevil]

ENTP - Which is labeled "The devil's advocate". Basically I like to argue for the sake of arguing. I'm selectively outgoing, off the charts big picture thinker, and am fairly flexible while occasionally lacking focus.

[wxdevil]

I think it also depends on how strong you are on the various characteristics -- I have been a strong INTP for @25-30 years, and basically off the charts on the N-P side of things, so to me, the description rings pretty resoundingly true every time.  Although this particular one is too strong on the "I" and "T" part for me, where I am closer to the middle (I am not nearly the antisocial automaton the description implies).  But to be fair, I did really have to work on consciously developing empathy and insight into other people and social conventions; if I answered as me 25 years ago, the I/T part would have been a lot closer to where I am now.

As a fellow NP, sometimes I think it's a huge blessing, and other times a big curse. I get so excited about every possible opportunity, but details and rigidity are a real struggle for me.

[BookLoverL]

I did the test again just to make sure it hadn't somehow randomly changed since the last 10 times I took the test, and I got INFP as usual. I have a lot of ideas about a lot of things, but tend to be less focused. But certainly I think it contributes to my desire to be FIRE, because I have better stuff to do than shuffle meaningless pieces of paper in an office...

[Polaria]

INTP.

[MrMathMustache]

I stupidly went ahead and selected INTJ in the poll since that's what it normally is, but then took the test and it came back ISTP.  Who knows, but these things are always fun.

[Milizard]

Interesting.  I got a significantly different result than I've gotten before (ESFJ).  And we really do change over time because even my historical result (ENTJ) was preceded by a different result (ESTJ).  I think it depends a lot more on what's going on in one's life at the time, as well as what one has learned over their life.  Right now, because of my job that I hate, I have recognized the importance of social interaction and team coordination.  So I was super sensitive to questions about that and probably prioritized them a lot more highly than I ever did before, when I had good workplace social interaction and team coordination, but took it for granted and said it wasn't so important.  At the same time, things I hated back then, I don't remember now, and probably marked myself as not thinking they were important because it's not something important to me right now (in comparison to the other things that are much more salient).

I used to think it was so fun to read about this stuff, but now it feels like reading my horoscope - just vague enough that whatever they tell you you are you can find things that are like, "That's totally me!"

I absolutely agree with this. I answered the poll with the type I normally am, but sometimes it changes, exactly as you describe.

(I answered INTP, but have gotten INFP occasionally,  and if my mood is different,  I can venture into J territory as well.)

[Hirondelle]

Am I the only one who finds some of the questions highly annoying?

Like "Being organized is more important to you than being adaptable".
I don't see how being organized makes me less adaptable.

[HBFIRE]

Another INTP here (INTP-T - Logician)

[PoutineLover]

I always get INTP and a lot of it clicks with me but not everything. These tests came up in a class I took and everyone was surprised that I was I and not E, so apparently I present extroverted sometimes but introvert feels more like me. I don't put too much stock in online personality quizzes, but it's fun to try them out sometimes.

[fluffmuffin]

Interesting. I did the full-length, formal Myers-Briggs analysis in grad school, and ended up as a nominal ISTP. Other than introversion, my results went really close down the middle, so depending on the day I can end up as something else, like INTJ or INFJ. I do think I interact with the world from a pretty ISTP standpoint, though--it tends to fit me better than any of the other variants, even though I'm not particularly technical and do not enjoy fiddling with bits of machinery.

The quiz had me as an ENFJ. I've never gotten E before, and am definitely not an E. I think their questions were slanted pretty heavily towards the "are you shy" and "do you have trouble talking to people" side of the equation, which is not where my introversion shows up--I love people and am very social, just need alone time as well to recharge. Their description of an ENFJ does not sound like me AT ALL. But I don't really vibe with this website's description of ISTP either? IDK.

I think personality typing can be helpful as a tool for understanding interpersonal differences, but people can take it way too far and get overly invested in these fundamentally arbitrary categories.

[mizzourah2006]

Very few extraverts here. I'm not a huge fan of this tool because it tends to force fit a dichotomous outcome on constructs that are clearly continuous, but I'm an ENTJ.

[ketchup]

INTJ af.  We're definitely over-represented here (allegedly only 2% of the population).

[big_slacker]

INTJ af.  We're definitely over-represented here (allegedly only 2% of the population).

Was gonna bring this up, it's one of the more rare personality types but massively over-represented on this forum lol!

I'm one of the many. :D

[ketchup]

INTJ af.  We're definitely over-represented here (allegedly only 2% of the population).

Was gonna bring this up, it's one of the more rare personality types but massively over-represented on this forum lol!

I'm one of the many. :D

I went to an ERE/MMM meetup some years ago and Jacob's wife was there and basically said that ERE attracts "90% INTJs and at least 50% software engineers" which definitely seems to be accurate.

[highlandterrier]

I'm same as OP, an INFJ.

Have had same result before and describes me to a tee, a touchy-feely version of INTJ. Supposedly <1% of population.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

[TheWifeHalf]

INFJ-A
I love the question about my mind always going. It's the first time I've ever come across that on ANY test, but it describes me perfectly. Couple that with being very creative and having a wild imagination, really makes me appreciate what TheHusbandHalf has to deal with

[ketchup]

INFJ-A
I love the question about my mind always going. It's the first time I've ever come across that on ANY test, but it describes me perfectly. Couple that with being very creative and having a wild imagination, really makes me appreciate what TheHusbandHalf has to deal with

I liked that question too.  My GF doesn't understand how I can sit somewhere doing literally nothing (no phone/book/entertainment/distraction/anything) for multiple hours and be completely OK with it.  I don't do that often, and probably woudln't seek it out, but if I have to, I don't mind it at all.  There's always something to think about.

[OurTown]

INTJ, just like a lot of you it seems.  We used to call these "Episcopalian horoscopes."

[Arbitrage]

INTJ, which is supposedly quite rare (1-2%) but is thus far the predominant choice.  Guess this FIRE thing appeals to certain types more than others.

[TheWifeHalf]

I liked that question too.  My GF doesn't understand how I can sit somewhere doing literally nothing (no phone/book/entertainment/distraction/anything) for multiple hours and be completely OK with it.  I don't do that often, and probably woudln't seek it out, but if I have to, I don't mind it at all.  There's always something to think about.

I had a traumatic brain injury 10 years ago, and for 3-4 years after I finally realized how someone could think of 'nothing.'  My brain slowly got back to normal and I'm so happy it is now like it used to be.
I've been taking medicine for 30 years to shut it off at night so I can go to sleep. I looked up the physiological reasons for this, but I don't remember them, but I do remember feeling relieved it was something I couldn't help.

TheHusbandHalf can think of nothing, it's just the way he is. He has super low blood pressure too(as does his son, the Navy required more testing for admission) and he works in a high stress job, with no apparent effects. I suspect the blood pressure and the ability to turn his brain off are related.

[FireHiker]

I was always an INTJ until I had kids; then I always came back as INFJ. To be honest, on a lot of the T/F questions I could kind of go either way. I feel INFJ describes me exceedingly well. When my husband took the Myers-Briggs test though he didn't think it represented him at all.

[sui generis]

Very few extraverts here. I'm not a huge fan of this tool because it tends to force fit a dichotomous outcome on constructs that are clearly continuous, but I'm an ENTJ.

Yeah, no kidding. 3 of my 4 results are like in the low 50s, so I'm basically on the cusp of most things (which is maybe why I got a different result this time than before, but I'm [also] still claiming ENTJ).

[Hirondelle]

ENFP, but extraversion only on 53% and prospeciting on 54%. Also N and F in 60s so none of them are very strong in my case.

[SugarMountain]

INTJ, which is supposedly quite rare (1-2%) but is thus far the predominant choice.  Guess this FIRE thing appeals to certain types more than others.

I think INTJ also correlates very highly to software and engineering fields, which I suspect have a higher representation here than in the general population.

[HBFIRE]

Interesting article I found on the differences between INTP and INTJ (I'm an INTP and was curious about the subtle differences between the two types):

https://personalityhacker.com/intp-vs-intj/

[Russ]

I think I'm more of a Briggs than a Myers

[HPstache]

ESTP - "The Entrepreneur"

[boarder42]

ENTP - Which is labeled "The devil's advocate". Basically I like to argue for the sake of arguing. I'm selectively outgoing, off the charts big picture thinker, and am fairly flexible while occasionally lacking focus.

that sums me up pretty well.

[Roots&Wings]

This is sometimes easy to tell from forum name (another INFJ here, a practical, save the world idealist). I've found this personality stuff to be useful and fun.
21 SIGNS THAT YOU’RE AN INFJ, THE RAREST PERSONALITY TYPE

24 SIGNS THAT YOU’RE AN INTJ PERSONALITY TYPE

[skekses]

After clicking on dustinst22's link, I ended up on this page: https://personalityhacker.com/infp-vs-infj/

I have gotten INFJ on the two times I took the test (I took it a second time expecting to get a different result). Anyway, there are parts of that analysis that hit home. Maybe there's something to it.

I once heard a description for ’empathy’ as “Your pain my heart.” For an INFJ, this couldn’t be more true. INFJs absorb other people’s emotional energy whether they want to or not. If it’s powerful and there – friend or foe, intimate or stranger – your pain is in their heart.

I feel like I'm deeply affected by other people's emotions, good or bad. This makes me get in fights when I'm around angry people. It makes me a sympathetic crier which annoys the shit out of me because all of a sudden I'm crying and I don't even know why. And when I'm in a group setting, I'm often sacrificing some personal need (usually rest) in favor of other people's happiness. Most of the time, I have to step away from an emotional situation in order to be rational again, but I often screw that up and then have to do damage control or I'm going to be sizzling in that other person's animosity, feeling it every moment. 

Where an INFP can lose awareness of other people if they’re really excited by a topic, INFJs never lose awareness of other people.

In fact, that’s why INFJs generally need more alone time than INFPs (not always, but usually). The only real distance INFJs get from other people is when they’re truly physically alone, and this is generally used to recharge their batteries for the next trip into the outer world.

INFJs are far less interested in validation and are more interested in protection. They don’t need you to agree with them, they need to know you’re not going to hurt them, even if the fear of hurt is deeply unconscious.

There are some INFPs that have experienced trauma in the past and fear being hurt by others, but that’s more a product of wounding than anything intrinsic. The most protected, well-treated INFJ on the planet is still going to have something inside them scanning for people who would be deliberately hurtful.

The first part about recharging I've always attributed to being an introvert. The second part was a little more thought provoking. I feel like I'm always on the alert for people that would hurt me and it takes the most patient and persistent of people to go through my vetting process. Sometimes I'm amazed I have any friends at all. :) But I've never associated the strong aversion to getting hurt with the annoying empathy trait. I'll have to think through that.

[AZDude]

Interesting article I found on the differences between INTP and INTJ (I'm an INTP and was curious about the subtle differences between the two types):

https://personalityhacker.com/intp-vs-intj/

Thanks for the link. For someone who has migrated with age from INTP to INTJ, I found it fascinating.

[HBFIRE]

Interesting article I found on the differences between INTP and INTJ (I'm an INTP and was curious about the subtle differences between the two types):

https://personalityhacker.com/intp-vs-intj/

Thanks for the link. For someone who has migrated with age from INTP to INTJ, I found it fascinating.

Yeah, I've taken different variations of the test and seem to end up getting either INTP or INTJ.  I think it's because some of the questions are difficult to answer as they could go either way.  My Judging/Perceiving scale seems to be almost dead center.

Interesting to me:
"Games INTPs seem to especially enjoy include Risk, Bridge, Stratego, Chess, Go, and word games of all sorts."

Bridge is a passionate hobby of mine, also love the other games mentioned. 

[mm1970]

I was always an INTJ until I had kids; then I always came back as INFJ. To be honest, on a lot of the T/F questions I could kind of go either way. I feel INFJ describes me exceedingly well. When my husband took the Myers-Briggs test though he didn't think it represented him at all.

I've always come up at ESTJ or INTJ, as I'm not strong in E/I and S/N.  It varies based on my mood.  I like people.  I like alone time.

T/F also can go either way for me.  For the first time ever, I got "F" instead of "T", I think because I'm  getting older, I have kids, I'm heading quickly towards menopause (and my emotions swing a lot more than they used to).

I'm an engineer and I work with engineers, hence the usual "T", but in my home life/ free time, I try to be more feeling to make up for it?  Maybe?

Today anyway, ISFJ defender

[E.T.]

I think these quizzes are a little silly but fun. It was interesting taking this one again, I got the same result when I took it last year (INTJ-A) but I've grown further from the middle in all my categories. I think when I'm stressed I revert towards those comfortable introverted tendencies rather than pushing myself to practice my emotional intelligence.

[Laura33]

Interesting article I found on the differences between INTP and INTJ (I'm an INTP and was curious about the subtle differences between the two types):

https://personalityhacker.com/intp-vs-intj/

Oh, holy fucking shit. 

Accuracy is a decision-making function (technically called a “judging function”), and works by creating a framework and then sifting through all the data within that framework, scanning for incongruities and inconsistencies. Its ultimate goal is to find things that make sense to the user,

I am not kidding when I say I have always described my thought process by saying that I have a superstructure in my head that I have always called "Laura's view of the universe," and that through experience, I just know where different things fall within that superstructure

Like Authenticity users (as mentioned in the INFP vs INFJ article), if the audience isn’t getting it an INTP can become (in order) confused, frustrated and ultimately cynical. There is always some insecurity about others invalidating their arguments and conclusions, but instead of staying in the realm of hurt (as an INFP may), the easiest solution is to just assume everyone else is an idiot.

Shit shit shit shit.  Yeah, that was me for a lot of years.

For an INTP, the outer world isn’t where thoughts are vetted. In fact, INTPs couple their Accuracy with Extraverted Intuition, or what we call “Exploration.” The world outside of themselves is where intriguing new patterns are observed, and it’s up to them to make sense of what those possibilities could mean.

A logically consistent argument is the proof that supports their speculation.

An INTP – having Harmony as their 3 Yr Old process – has an exceptionally easy time of just not giving a rat’s ass about how they appear to others. Actually, more accurately, they don’t give a rat’s ass if they’re socially acceptable. They may care how they come across, but that’s generally to send a message of not caring.

For the INTP, status is a game other people play, and dressing up just to suit others almost feels icky.

I am getting a little freaked out here at how easily this lady pegged me.  It's like she's inside my head or something.

[Polaria]

Interesting article I found on the differences between INTP and INTJ (I'm an INTP and was curious about the subtle differences between the two types):

https://personalityhacker.com/intp-vs-intj/

Oh, holy fucking shit. 
[...]
I am getting a little freaked out here at how easily this lady pegged me.  It's like she's inside my head or something.

Me too. I had to laugh at the pic of the two guys of Silicon Valley. I do not watch the show, but my relatives do and they've always told me I am the satanist guy.

[Wayward]

This is sometimes easy to tell from forum name (another INFJ here, a practical, save the world idealist). I've found this personality stuff to be useful and fun.
21 SIGNS THAT YOU’RE AN INFJ, THE RAREST PERSONALITY TYPE

24 SIGNS THAT YOU’RE AN INTJ PERSONALITY TYPE

Hello fellow INFJ, those links are very accurate!  Feeling like an outsider, check.  Feeling destined for more, but not knowing what that is or how to get there, check.  Sensing things, check.  For a supposedly "rare" personality type I like that we are common here, makes me feel understood. : )  Also, just found out my roommate is an INFJ too.

[Dr.Optimus]

INTP - The Logician.  I tend to fall more into the Behavior Analysis school of human psychology, but personality theory is just so fun.

[Roots&Wings]

This is sometimes easy to tell from forum name (another INFJ here, a practical, save the world idealist). I've found this personality stuff to be useful and fun.
21 SIGNS THAT YOU’RE AN INFJ, THE RAREST PERSONALITY TYPE

24 SIGNS THAT YOU’RE AN INTJ PERSONALITY TYPE

Hello fellow INFJ, those links are very accurate!  Feeling like an outsider, check.  Feeling destined for more, but not knowing what that is or how to get there, check.  Sensing things, check.  For a supposedly "rare" personality type I like that we are common here, makes me feel understood. : )  Also, just found out my roommate is an INFJ too.

How nice your roommate is an INFJ! It can be rare to connect with others in real life, but several on the forum here :) Yeah, that list was quite accurate for me too (especially the caring deeply, striving, being everything from reserved/withdrawn to fun/gregarious depending on social situation, and secret self-improvement projects!). Anytime I'm feeling especially weird, there's usually something on that site that helps me better understand what is normal for an INFJ.

[swampwiz]

I'm an ENTP, which makes me "the life of the party", LOL.  I think it gives me the power to think through any course of action in life, and as well be bold enough to defend it when discussing it with others.  Being a Moustacher, before being so was cool, was the result of me thinking about life, career & finances - as well as not being a family man, which I know has helped, LOL.

[talltexan]

I'm not at all surprised to see all you INTJ's here (I tested as an ENTJ in 2013, afraid to take the test again because i've been more socially withdrawn lately). If you're able to stand self-deprecating humor, check out the Star Wars personality types:

http://geekologie.com/2013/12/star-wars-characters-myers-briggs-person.php

[Laura33]

I'm not at all surprised to see all you INTJ's here (I tested as an ENTJ in 2013, afraid to take the test again because i've been more socially withdrawn lately). If you're able to stand self-deprecating humor, check out the Star Wars personality types:

http://geekologie.com/2013/12/star-wars-characters-myers-briggs-person.php

Hot damn, I'm Yoda!  Wheeeee!!!!

[TheWifeHalf]

I don't know how I came across this, but this is ME!

https://introvertdear.com/news/infj-personality-type-signs/

One thing that has always puzzled me is my lack of desire to travel. Mostly, I like to travel if I'm going TO something, if there's nothing to go to, I enjoy just staying at home. I take great pride in what TheHusbandHalf and I have created and just feel content here.

[OurTown]

Now I am reading about Enneagrams, which is similar to Myers-Briggs in many ways but adds a strong spiritual / mindfulness component, and is somewhat more explicitly Freudian and/or Jungian.