The 16 Personality Types/Enneagram: What's Yours?

[BellyBelly]

I have done a few personality type tests with my psychologist and was interested to know who knows theirs too. Is it spot on for you and/or your partner? How do you find it?

For the 16 Personality Types I'm an ESFP (The Performer)

In the Enneagram I am a Type 2 (The Helper)

There are free tests online to give you an approximate idea of what you are, if you don't know already.

All I can say is I find these veeeery accurate and the same for my partner too (ISTJ). Scarily accurate. I can see why we butt heads so often!

Personality typing is a tool with many uses. It's especially notable for it's helpfulness in the areas of growth and self-development. Learning and applying the theories of personality type can be a powerful and rewarding experience, if it is used as a tool for discovery, rather than as a method for putting people into boxes, or as an excuse for behavior.

The sixteen personality types which we use in our assessment are based on the well-known research of Carl Jung, Katharine C. Briggs, and Isabel Briggs Myers. Carl Jung first developed the theory that individuals each had a psychological type. He believed that there were two basic kinds of "functions" which humans used in their lives: how we take in information (how we "perceive" things), and how we make decisions. He believed that within these two categories, there were two opposite ways of functioning. We can perceive information via 1) our senses, or 2) our intuition. We can make decisions based on 1) objective logic, or 2) subjective feelings. Jung believed that we all use these four functions in our lives, but that each individual uses the different functions with a varying amount of success and frequency. He believed that we could identify an order of preference for these functions within individuals. The function which someone uses most frequently is their "dominant" function. The dominant function is supported by an auxiliary (2nd) function, tertiary (3rd) function, and inferior (4th) function. He asserted that individuals either "extraverted" or "introverted" their dominant function. He felt that the dominant function was so important, that it overshadowed all of the other functions in terms of defining personality type. Therefore, Jung defined eight personality types:

Extraverted Sensing (modern types: ESFP, ESTP)
Introverted Sensing (modern types: ISTJ, ISFJ)
Extraverted Intuition (modern types: ENFP, ENTP)
Introverted Intuition (modern types: INFJ, INTJ)
Extraverted Thinking (modern types: ESTJ, ENTJ)
Introverted Thinking (modern types: ISTP, INTP)
Extraverted Feeling (modern types: ESFJ, ENFJ)
Introverted Feeling (modern types: INFP, ISFP)

Katharine Briggs expounded upon Jung's work, quietly working in silence and developing his theories further. But it was Katharine's daughter Isabel who was really responsible for making the work on Personality Types visible. Isabel, using her mother's work and Jung's work, asserted the importance of the auxiliary function working with the dominant function in defining Personality Type. While incorporating the auxiliary function into the picture, it became apparent that there was another distinctive preference which hadn't been defined by Jung: Judging and Perceiving. The developed theory today is that every individual has a primary mode of operation within four categories:

our flow of energy
how we take in information
how we prefer to make decisions
the basic day-to-day lifestyle that we prefer

Within each of these categories, we "prefer" to be either:

Extraverted or Introverted
Sensing or iNtuitive
Thinking or Feeling
Judging or Perceiving

[skybie]

i got ISFJ- the nuturer, very interesting and a good desciption of myself

[Fleur]

I'm an INFP - The Idealist

Quiet, reflective, and idealistic. Interested in serving humanity. Well-developed value system, which they strive to live in accordance with. Extremely loyal. Adaptable and laid-back unless a strongly-held value is threatened. Usually talented writers. Mentally quick, and able to see possibilities. Interested in understanding and helping people.

Very interesting very me. Actually a bit freaky

[Inanna]

Im an INFP - the idealist. I think anyone that knows me would say the same!

[Winter]

ISTP/INTP my S/N always comes out about 50:50 in the tests I have done

ISTPs are action-oriented people. They like to be up and about, doing things. They are not people to sit behind a desk all day and do long-range planning. Adaptable and spontaneous, they respond to what is immediately before them. They usually have strong technical skills, and can be effective technical leaders. They focus on details and practical things. They have an excellent sense of expediency and grasp of the details which enables them to make quick, effective decisions.

INTPs value knowledge above all else. They seek patterns and logical explanations for anything that interests them. They're usually extremely bright, and able to be objectively critical in their analysis. They love new ideas, and become very excited over abstractions and theories. They love to discuss these concepts with others. They hate to work on routine things - they would much prefer to build complex theoretical solutions, and leave the implementation of the system to others. INTPs do not like to lead or control people. They're very tolerant and flexible in most situations, unless one of their firmly held beliefs has been violated or challenged, in which case they may take a very rigid stance. The INTP is likely to be very shy when it comes to meeting new people. On the other hand, the INTP is very self-confident and gregarious around people they know well, or when discussing theories which they fully understand.

I think I am a good blend of the two. Probably more practical than theoretical, future oriented, definitely have to work independently (although I can do team work for limited stints), and I have zero interest in managing people. Like having a blend of action & time at my desk in my job.

Is there a section for Personality types as parents? I would be interested in seeing if I am similar in parenting style...

[~mamaspice~]

My DH had to do one at his work and he is an ISTJ. It could not have described him any better! I'll have to do it too

[Kazbah]

I am borderline ENTJ / INTJ:

Independent, original, analytical, and determined. Have an exceptional ability to turn theories into solid plans of action. Highly value knowledge, competence, and structure. Driven to derive meaning from their visions. Long-range thinkers. Have very high standards for their performance, and the performance of others. Natural leaders, but will follow if they trust existing leaders. / Assertive and outspoken - they are driven to lead. Excellent ability to understand difficult organizational problems and create solid solutions. Intelligent and well-informed, they usually excel at public speaking. They value knowledge and competence, and usually have little patience with inefficiency or disorganization.

And in the other one, I'm Type One
The Reformer
The principled, idealistic type. Ones are conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers, crusaders, and advocates for change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organized, orderly, and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards, but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic. They typically have problems with resentment and impatience. At their Best: wise, discerning, realistic, and noble. Can be morally heroic.

[Pandora]

Yes mine was borderline ISFP/INFP, Artist/Idealist

Enneagram tied 4 Individualist and 6 Loyalist, closely followed by 9 Peacemaker

[Joeve]

ENFP the inspirer!

[Indadhanu]

ENFP here too The Inspirer. It's pretty accurate I'll admit!

The the Enneagram, I came back equal 78% type 2 and 6, but it said I'm mostly 6. The Loyalist.

[STARRYSKY]

Im ISFP- The artist... hmm, ok!

and my score was the same for 2 and 4 for the Enneagram

[~mamaspice~]

I am an INTJ - The Scientist.

[Fleur]

Enneagram I got 88% type 9, The Peacemaker.

[butterfly_warrior]

ISFJ. But the only things strongly expressed are the I and the S. The F is right on 50% (but I'm too disorganised to be T!) and the J is only slightly above 50%.

Enneagram gives me The Loyalist. With an sp variant. Not surprising at all there!

[Nelle]

Apparently I'm ENTP, the Visionary.

Enneagram results were pretty inconclusive each time. I'm generally too narcissistic to put too much faith in my results, at least the DIY ones, I just imagine me at my best for each question.

[Winter]

I have an ENTP friend Nelle & she is one of my most favourite people! You must be LOVELY!!

[xXHopeXx]

This may sound silly, but how do you get to the free tests for the first one?

[butterfly_warrior]

Hope, I used google. Try searching for Myers Briggs personality tests.