That got me thinking also about personality types, having taken a couple of quizzes to that effect while trying to discover what majors/careers would be good fits for me. I'll give you one result, and a description, and then I want you to comment your results if you've taken a similar test.
INTZ: Introverted intuiting, thinking, organizing
Here is collegeboard.com's description (with strikethroughs on characteristics that don't apply to me :-))
INTZs are contemplative, unassuming, intellectual, and strategically minded. As an INTZ you place significant value on your ability to solve complex, abstract problems through purposeful analysis and precise thought. You are a creative thinker with a deep curiosity about how the world works. You take pride in your ability to accurately assess the physical and logical elements of the world.
You enjoy spending time alone or with a few intellectually minded friends or family members. You are an effective listener who is able to identify the points of distinction or inconsistency in another person's argument, theory, or opinion. You prefer to have time to think things through before you speak. You respond in a brief and articulate manner but also have the ability to convey your deeper understanding of the "big picture."
You are a serious and reflective learner. Your independent and intellectually defiant nature prompts you to do your best thinking when you are alone* and have the freedom to think through your decisions. You reach conclusions without being swayed by external influence and defend your conclusions no matter how fierce the counterarguments might be. You believe that respect for authority is based on competence, not position, power, or age.
*I do my best thinking when I am either a) alone or b) with someone who I think will be interested in listening to me ramble on a subject until I have either figured it out or (more often) ask for help, or especially c) both of the above :-), at various points in the process
**I don't care whether they'll be useful or not, I just like theories and ideas :-)
Strengths:
Understanding theories, ideas, and systems.
Designing and building new models.
Logical analysis.
A deep conviction in your vision.
Determination to accomplish goals and master new skills.
Planning and strategizing to solve complex problems.
Designing and implementing plans that effectively use existing resources.
Academic strengths:
New topics and subjects. (not necessarily new...)
Scholarly and academic research.
Synthesizing details and patterns into theories.
Ideas and interests with a future focus.
Quiet and uninterrupted study.
Competent and accomplished teachers.
Scientific and theoretical subjects.
Reading and writing assignments.
In social situations, you:
Don't state the obvious.
Reflect before replying and need to have your thoughts drawn out by others.
Prefer relying on written reports to talking in person.
Like succinctness, objectivity, and mental exactness.
Persuade others through logic and debate.
In work situations, you thrive on:
Planning, designing, and implementing new systems with efficiency and precision.
Working with experts and professionals.
Intellectual freedom.
Using your time wisely and attentively.
Finding solutions to ambiguous problems.
Environments free of excessive bureaucracy, protocol and paperwork.
To improve:
Realize that not everyone is as quick to comprehend matters as you are.
Recognize that what is simple or obvious to you, may not be to others.
Refrain from debate just to prove a point.
Remain open to new information and change strategies appropriately.
Offer praise before criticism. (this is my inclination... whether I actually *do* it is perhaps another story...)
Be tolerant of differing styles of living and behaving.
Be open and adaptable when change is required.
So, what about you?
7 comments:
As for spiritual gifts, I told you most of it on Sunday: when I took the quiz thingy, main things were serving, encouragement(when I can say something straight ^_^), and administration(doubt it).
Ahaha, the personality type you got sounds pretty close to mine(when I took it some years ago). I got INTJ Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging(when I took it, they didn't have things like Organizing, they just had Introverted or Extroverted, iNtuitive or Sensory, Thinking or Feeling, and Judging or Perceiving.)
Here is the definition I found of INTJ(it was updated after I took the test, but still seems pretty accurate--I would like your input, though, as per my interest of how accurate it seems to others:
To outsiders, INTJs may appear to project an aura of "definiteness", of self-confidence. This self-confidence, sometimes mistaken for simple arrogance by the less decisive, is actually of a very specific rather than a general nature; its source lies in the specialized knowledge systems that most INTJs start building at an early age. When it comes to their own areas of expertise -- and INTJs can have several -- they will be able to tell you almost immediately whether or not they can help you, and if so, how. INTJs know what they know, and perhaps still more importantly, they know what they don't know.
INTJs are perfectionists, with a seemingly endless capacity for improving upon anything that takes their interest. What prevents them from becoming chronically bogged down in this pursuit of perfection is the pragmatism so characteristic of the type: INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion "Does it work?" to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms. This in turn produces an unusual independence of mind, freeing the INTJ from the constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment for its own sake.
INTJs are known as the "Systems Builders" of the types, perhaps in part because they possess the unusual trait combination of imagination and reliability. Whatever system an INTJ happens to be working on is for them the equivalent of a moral cause to an INFJ; both perfectionism and disregard for authority may come into play, as INTJs can be unsparing of both themselves and the others on the project. Anyone considered to be "slacking," including superiors, will lose their respect -- and will generally be made aware of this; INTJs have also been known to take it upon themselves to implement critical decisions without consulting their supervisors or co-workers. On the other hand, they do tend to be scrupulous and even-handed about recognizing the individual contributions that have gone into a project, and have a gift for seizing opportunities which others might not even notice.
Continued on next comment...
In the broadest terms, what INTJs "do" tends to be what they "know". Typical INTJ career choices are in the sciences and engineering, but they can be found wherever a combination of intellect and incisiveness are required (e.g., law, some areas of academia). INTJs can rise to management positions when they are willing to invest time in marketing their abilities as well as enhancing them, and (whether for the sake of ambition or the desire for privacy) many also find it useful to learn to simulate some degree of surface conformism in order to mask their inherent unconventionality.
Personal relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be the INTJ's Achilles heel. While they are capable of caring deeply for others (usually a select few), and are willing to spend a great deal of time and effort on a relationship, the knowledge and self-confidence that make them so successful in other areas can suddenly abandon or mislead them in interpersonal situations.
This happens in part because many INTJs do not readily grasp the social rituals; for instance, they tend to have little patience and less understanding of such things as small talk and flirtation (which most types consider half the fun of a relationship). To complicate matters, INTJs are usually extremely private people, and can often be naturally impassive as well, which makes them easy to misread and misunderstand. Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense. :-) This sometimes results in a peculiar naivete', paralleling that of many Fs -- only instead of expecting inexhaustible affection and empathy from a romantic relationship, the INTJ will expect inexhaustible reasonability and directness.
Continued on next comment...
Probably the strongest INTJ assets in the interpersonal area are their intuitive abilities and their willingness to "work at" a relationship. Although as Ts they do not always have the kind of natural empathy that many Fs do, the Intuitive function can often act as a good substitute by synthesizing the probable meanings behind such things as tone of voice, turn of phrase, and facial expression. This ability can then be honed and directed by consistent, repeated efforts to understand and support those they care about, and those relationships which ultimately do become established with an INTJ tend to be characterized by their robustness, stability, and good communications.
INTJs are idea people. Anything is possible; everything is negotiable. Whatever the outer circumstances, INTJs are ever perceiving inner pattern-forms and using real-world materials to operationalize them. Others may see what is and wonder why; INTJs see what might be and say "Why not?!" Paradoxes, antinomies, and other contradictory phenomena aptly express these intuitors' amusement at those whom they feel may be taking a particular view of reality too seriously. INTJs enjoy developing unique solutions to complex problems.
Thinking in this auxiliary role is a workhorse. Closure is the payoff for efforts expended. Evaluation begs diagnosis; product drives process. As they come to light, Thinking tends, protects, affirms and directs iNtuition's offspring, fully equipping them for fulfilling and useful lives. A faithful pedagogue, Thinking argues not so much on its own behalf, but in defense of its charges. And through this process these impressionable ideas take on the likeness of their master.
Feeling has a modest inner room, two doors down from the Most Imminent iNtuition. It doesn't get out much, but lends its influence on behalf of causes which are Good and Worthy and Humane. We may catch a glimpse of it in the unspoken attitude of good will, or the gracious smile or nod. Some question the existence of Feeling in this type, yet its unseen balance to Thinking is a cardinal dimension in the full measure of the INTJ's soul.
Sensing serves with a good will, or not at all. As other inferior functions, it has only a rudimentary awareness of context, amount or degree. Thus INTJs sweat the details or, at times, omit them. "I've made up my mind, don't confuse me with the facts" could well have been said by an INTJ on a mission. Sensing's extraverted attitude is evident in this type's bent to savor sensations rather than to merely categorize them. Indiscretions of indulgence are likely an expression of the unconscious vengeance of the inferior.
What do you think?
--Josiah C.
P.S. Pity the comment box is so small....
Cara, I know why I reminded you of Josiah. I also classify under INTJ. Ditto what Josiah said about that organizing thing, I never heard of that in Jung's, Myer's, or Brigg's work.
I'm not sure what system they use; however, I also was an INTJ when I took another personality test once :-)
Bwahaha, INTJ's unite! ^_^
As for the more inaccurate parts(things I "grew out of")...I don't have much of a disregard for authority anymore, and I generally will not make it known that I do not respect them(when they slack off). This is also not really accurate: "Whatever system an INTJ happens to be working on is for them the equivalent of a moral cause to an INFJ; both perfectionism and disregard for authority may come into play, as INTJs can be unsparing of both themselves and the others on the project."
I cannot really comment on the romantic relationships part, as I am not in one, but as for the general details on how I relate, they are fairly accurate.
I laughed when I read the "they tend to have little patience and less understanding of such things as small talk".
I am curious, though, to know your response to how accurate you think it is.
Matt: How accurate did you find the profile to be of yourself?
--Josiah C.
I am INTP. Excuse my barging in on a INTJ secret alliance :)
I have put some study into the Myers-Briggs and have found out that many basic problems in families are caused by NOT UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER!
Jace (Crossway Kid)
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