Friday, August 28, 2009

Am I Your Type?

Are you familiar with Myers Briggs?

Before I start preaching like a Myers Briggs missionary, I must get something off my chest.
Myers Briggs People out there, you need a new logo. That circle thing looks like an old fashioned pack of birth control pills.
Sorry, but it's the truth.

Now, on to the evangelism...

I'm in love with the Myers Briggs Personality Assessment because it helps my world make sense. It explains why my husband is ready to tango after eating dinner with a table full of strangers, while I require three hours of quiet time in a dark room.

Do you have kids? It can make your parenting be more effective.
Do you have difficult people in your life? It can help you not throttle them.
Are you a writer? It can add depth to your characters.
And it can even tell you which Harry Potter character you are!

According to the Myers Briggs Personality Assessment, there are 16 different personality types, and each type is comprised of 4 different characteristics: extroverted vs. introverted, sensing vs. intuitive, thinking vs feeling, and judging vs perceiving. So each personality type has a four letter code.

Let's use Homer Simpson as an example, shall we?
He's an ESFP, extroverted, sensing, feeling, perceiver
ESFP's are cooperative, here and now people persons that enjoy excitement and love new adventures. Because of their highly social nature, they are especially lively when they're at the center of attention and hate being alone... The Simpsons Myers Briggs Test

Lisa Simpson is an INFJ, my type, an introverted, intuitive, feeling, judger. (I always could relate to that girl!)
Here's what The Simpsons Myers Briggs Test says about her,
INFJ's are introspective, caring, sensitive, gentle and complex people that strive for peace and derive satisfaction from helping people. They are highly intuitive, empathetic, and dedicated listeners . These traits tend to act as a "tell me what's wrong" sign on their forehead, hence the name "Confidant" or "Counselor." They are intensely private and deeply dedicated to their beliefs.
I guess that explains the nightmares the months before my memoir hit the bookstores.

There are some great books on all this type talk. Here are two I recommend.

This one is very detailed. Great for writers trying to flesh out their characters or anyone trying to understand their mate/boss/self.

And here's a great one for parents.

There's a chapter on how to best parent each personality type, from babyhood to teen years.
So do you know which type you are? Want to share? Extrovert or introvert?

Have a great weekend, y'all.
Enjoy this trailer of Breakfast at Tiffany's, in which introvert Audrey Hepburn plays the role of quite the extrovert!
Love, Becky
PS. If you'd like a more in depth explanation of the Myers Briggs Personality Assessment, hop over here.

13 comments:

Linda Summerfield said...

It does indeed look like birth control pills!
Facebook has a million silly personality tests;
What kind of shoes are you?
What kind of storm are you?
When would you get killed in a horror movie? (beginning, middle, end)

I'm not sure what they actually tell you about yourself except that you are spending too much time on facebook.

I'm off to take the Myers Brigg Test!

David Ebright said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
David Ebright said...

Took the HP test - Can ya believe it? Severus Snape! Always thought I was a good guy. Guess I'll be blocked from your blog now & you'll stop followin' mine. Well, it's been nice knowin' ya. Have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

I indeed remember Meyers Briggs well from my Ed Psych days in college.
And that does look like a birth control label.

Unknown said...

It takes a test or assessment to find out that having kids makes one's parenting more effective???? I don't know; I've always thought it's easier to know all about parenting when you don't have to actually do it!!! :)

Utah Savage said...

I wanted to take the test and have it give me an answer to the burning question, "how crazy am I" but it wasn't so simple. Too bad. I'm just sure that choosing to remain childless has made me a much better parent than anyone with kids.

R and L said...

If it was a free test I would take it. My father a 30+ yrs veteran of personnel is probably quite familiar with this one, but I don't have a need for this one right now. I understand my spouse, myself, and don't have a boss - oh wait, my boss and spouse might be one in the same.
Now if I were to take the test, I'm sure I would be found to be introverted, though not shy, very intuitive, somewhat judgemental, very inquisitive, always problem solving, always inquisitive, strong reliance on a strong memory, and generous in my work and aim to please others.
Those are the results of my brief on the spot unnamed self-test. Would like to take the M-B test someday, it does sound quite fascinating.
Randy

Susan said...

I was so convinced that it was birth control pills that I read "Bristol Myers" instead of Myer Briggs. I surfed around and found a quick test and came out to be ISFJ. Went to another page and found that description and was quite surprised, it fit me to a "t". Anyway, quite an interesting post and a good way to get those of us, who aren't writers (or parents) to pause for a bit of self reflection. Have a great weekend. Susan

Anonymous said...

I can NEVER resit these things!

Rebecca Ramsey said...

Susan, it's funny that even a quick version of the test can be pretty accurate. Learning about all of this has allowed me to really understand the people I love better. The Type Talk book even discusses career choices favored by the different personality types and I've found that to be shockingly true (and helpful)as well.

Jen P said...

I'm Dumbledore and Apu!

INFJ and ENFJ - but a pretty close call I expect. Would be interesting to do the real thing.

"It can make your parenting be more effective." - hmm. maybe if I left them in a room with the DVDs of Harry Potter and let them get scared, they'd go to bed without as much fuss? Only kidding ;-)

Thanks, this was fun.

Adrienne said...

I took this recently and was INFJ, too. I took it again sometime later and the result was ISFJ...guess my intuition was off that day!
It is a fun and interesting test.

CC said...

My friends were sooo in to MB in college that I even bought the book with the entire test! When I recently did it on Facebook I was ISFJ