I don’t know… maybe it’s just that the Intelligence Type Quiz that I did wasn’t exactly scientific… though the result was probably correct. The value of an Internet blog-meme pop-quiz is truthfully dubious, but my newfound knowledge that I’m an INTP must be worth something. Everyone’s always spewing these four-letter explanations that totally define them, so it must be of value, this whole MBTI thing based on Jungian psychology. Well, it’s got to be better than, “Hey, baby, what’s your sign?” Today I finally broke when I saw somebody’s type listed in their sidebar, so I went and figured it out. I’ve had lots of people tell me, “Oh, you’re probably a ….” but I promptly forgot whatever they said, because it meant so much to me to know. I always figured that in order to have a personality type, you had to have a personality, and was always a little nervous about confirming I didn’t have one. But everyone else seems to know theirs, and I even found a link to job listings that give preference to specific MBTI types. Sheesh. But now I know.
The quick test that told me “My Bloginality is INTP!!!” was far too brief to be trusted, so I completed a much more thorough questionnaire which told me:
| Your Type is | |||
| INTP | |||
| Introverted | Intuitive | Thinking | Perceiving |
| Strength of the preferences % | |||
| 22 | 75 | 25 | 22 |
I’ve just started reading a little bit about just what the heck an INTP is supposed to be like, and a lot of it makes sense. Must read more, then start a club… once I figure out which four letters we INTPs are supposed to be prejudiced against so I know who to ban. Too bad Albert Einstein is dead, but there’s still time for Bob Newhart to join. Gotta finish reading up on the INTP Rulebook, but provisionally, anybody wanna join?
You have to be careful with some of the online material for this test. While I think it is incredibly helpful (I use it a great deal across Canada with YWAM), there is a lot of crap out there.
I have a program that defines the relationship between two types. I’m an INTJ, so the one line explanation is “Complement: compatible strengths with opposite emphases”. I also have a more thorough relationship profile, great to do with your spouse. I think you find it interesting. If you want to borrow any better material, let me know. I have some great stuff on spirituality.
In closing, here is a funny prayer common to your type:
INTP: Lord help me be less independent, but let me do it my way.
Peace,
Jamie
I came back INTJ – can I still join?
LOL … I’m an INFP … can I still join?
The BMTI explains alot, but it doesn’t explain everything. For instance … why are there so many “I”s around here?
OHHH, OHHHH, Pick me! Pick me!
I, too, am an INTP….based not just on my “bloginality” test, but other, more thorough tests as well.
I like the prayer. :)
Jamie
hahahaha … that would M-B TI … if only I didn’t have a slight case of dyslexia too. I’ve known about my INFP for years … I took the big monster test in grad school and I’ve had it confirmed several other times, but maybe I should take the “Bloginality” test to see if my blog matches my own personality … now that would be funny!! ;-)
Back in the day (how I hate that phrase but note, I use it anyway) when I was a young pup Elder and Al Roxburgh was the team leader @ Danforth Baptist in T-dot, all the full time eldership had done the Myers-Briggs testing. They wandered around talking about their designations. As an unpaid elder, I didn’t do the testing (in fact, their testing was probably done at Seminary if memory serves) and referred to them all as “MB cult members.”
In November of 2004, Imbi and I with two Winnipeg “Church Leaders” did the Magical Worlds Course with Roy Williams, the Wizard of Ads. Part of the course was doing the MB testing with Dr. Nick Grant. Imbi and I found it incredibly eye-opening – I’m an INFP/INTP. We also did our kids when we returned to the ‘peg and were blown away by how it both helped us understand them better (we have two over the top E’s in the two younger) and to recognize better their particular gifting.
In response to Sonja, I would suggest that I’s are more comfortable blogging and commenting than we might be engaging in 3D conversation with new folk. (I’m known for being incredibly shy and a little awkward on first meeting but will talk your ear off when I get to know you. I’m more comfortable teaching or speaking from a platform than I am in meeting someone new. ‘Tis rather odd. And I definitely get my strength from being alone or quiet.)
“Back in the day,” I dragged our church planting team through the DISC profile test. It was helpful, but when you shelf these things right after the exercise, their helpfulness dwindles quickly.
Jamie, my wife and I did the Taylor-Johnston test in college when we were engaged… it was a “requirement” for anyone who got engaged while a student there. Went through it with a whole class of our peers, kind of a lark. In the end, the dean of men and his wife who took the whole group through a kind of marriage counseling session sat there staring at the results, mystified and not sure what to say. The test told us that we should definitely not get married. Almost 18 years later, I still don’t have a lot of respect for the TJTA… and neither does my wife. In fact, I’m skeptical of any test that tells people who to marry or not based on the zodiac, the test scores, or the opinion or their discipler — how did that slip in there? ;^). Tests which insightfully tell you how to understand each other are good.
Other Jamie, INTPs are fine with me ;^)
Bill, your description of “being incredibly shy and a little awkward on first meeting but will talk your ear off when I get to know you. I’m more comfortable teaching or speaking from a platform than I am in meeting someone new.” resonates with me. Odd we’ve got a teleconference scheduled for later this afternoon!
If anyone knows a link so some good (though preferably relatively brief) material explaining the types, let me know.
Another – INFP here – methinks it’s possible that extroverts aren’t as likely to spend time blogging as us introverts, hence the “I”‘s. I could be wrong, just a suspicion. Be interesting to hear from blogging “E”‘s.
And I agree that although it’s helpful in lending clues into who I am and how I operate, I realize it’s just a tool.
As far as I know I know Im a LOIQ, thats what they told me after taking my money, anyway. When I asked what it means they said it’s a lot like DUM-S. I just cant find any explanation or references to those scores…
what’s with all the introverts here? I know the I’s get their energy from being alone, so can you be alone in blogworld? Or are most bloggers I’s?
I am an ENTP, so i guess i don’t qualify for your club, but i do wonder if most church leaders are EN’s???? Anyone know?
[married to an ISFJ … makes life interesting?!?!??!]
Me be ENTP. The other (less scientific) test said I should play in a band or be a disc jockey. I’ve done both in my “career”. Go figure…
Y’all pardon me while I go crank up the stereo and beat randomly on my djembe.
ISTJ.
Bro,
That is why I like MBTI, as they clearly state that any temperament pariring can produce a healthy marriage, only that different dynamics present different challenges and strengths. TJTA has never been a very good model, as far as I am concerned.
Peace,
Jamie
Exactly, Jamie. I still have to sift through Sonja’s page, but I agree the MBTI has much more respect than most others.
I’m an INTP too.
When I first heard people talking about this (well, actually read about it in online discussion forums) I thought it sounded very much like “I’m a Scorpio” or “I’m Aquarius”.
Then I applied for a job and they gave me a test that lasted a couple of hours, a real professional job, and that was when I found I was INTP. I didn’t get the job, and so I attributed that to the fact that society discriminates against INTPs, and is prejudiced in favour of ESFJs. Or perhaps that’s just because we INTPs have a deeply suspicious nature.
I think Tony Blair ought to apologise for all the injustices to INTPs.
Oh yes, and what I was going to say, before I got sidetracked, was that I did a couple of those online quickie tests, and they ALSO said I was an INTP, so they seem to be just as accurate as the expensive ones done by professional personnel consultants.