my my... it has been quite a while.
erin posted the other day about her myers-briggs personality type, and for some reason i was in the mood to do the same.
generally i'm skeptical of personality evaluations. i feel like most of the time they tell you exactly what you tell them. then again, i suppose it's not uncommon for us to see small truths about ourselves but not how they all fit together?
anyways, i went to the link she posted and checked it out.
after a little bit of reflection and listening to what others think...
i have decided that i am an INTP- the "thinker".
i definitely agree that i am introverted.
after rob's explanation i can see my intuitive side. things usually either make sense to me or they don't. when they don't, no amount of teaching changes that... until it just... clicks.
and now that i understand the 4th letter, i'm definitely a perceiver. while i do enjoy the peace when things go according to a plan or system, i'm usually quite content to go with the flow- often getting things done last minute.
i had the hardest time with the thinker/feeler bit (which is super ironic, because my personality type is "thinker"). in the end i have decided that i am primarily a thinker. even when i take feelings into account i don't completely disregard logic... i just include them in my reasoning. feelings do carry some weight i think. but... i suppose the "i think" right there reveals the truth :) however, i also think that i have a bigger feeling side than the average thinker.
erin and i were talking... i definitely think some of the things i disagree with are because Jesus has a sway on those points of my personality, which makes them different from the norm.
so anyways, here's what the website had to say about my personality type. i put the parts i disagreed with in blue and the parts i particularly agreed with in orange.
the thinker (INTP)
As an INTP, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you deal with things rationally and logically. Your secondary mode is external, where you take things in primarily via your intuition.
INTPs live in the world of theoretical possibilities. They see everything in terms of how it could be improved, or what it could be turned into. They live primarily inside their own minds, having the ability to analyze difficult problems, identify patterns, and come up with logical explanations. They seek clarity in everything, and are therefore driven to build knowledge. They are the "absent-minded professors", who highly value intelligence and the ability to apply logic to theories to find solutions. They typically are so strongly driven to turn problems into logical explanations, that they live much of their lives within their own heads, and may not place as much importance or value on the external world. Their natural drive to turn theories into concrete understanding may turn into a feeling of personal responsibility to solve theoretical problems, and help society move towards a higher understanding.
INTPs value knowledge above all else. Their minds are constantly working to generate new theories, or to prove or disprove existing theories. They approach problems and theories with enthusiasm and skepticism, ignoring existing rules and opinions and defining their own approach to the resolution. 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 may seem "dreamy" and distant to others, because they spend a lot of time inside their minds musing over theories. 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. They are intensely interested in theory, and will put forth tremendous amounts of time and energy into finding a solution to a problem with has piqued their interest.
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.
The INTP has no understanding or value for decisions made on the basis of personal subjectivity or feelings. They strive constantly to achieve logical conclusions to problems, and don't understand the importance or relevance of applying subjective emotional considerations to decisions. For this reason, INTPs are usually not in-tune with how people are feeling, and are not naturally well-equiped to meet the emotional needs of others.
The INTP may have a problem with self-aggrandizement and social rebellion, which will interfere with their creative potential. Since their Feeling side is their least developed trait, the INTP may have difficulty giving the warmth and support that is sometimes necessary in intimate relationships. If the INTP doesn't realize the value of attending to other people's feelings, he or she may become overly critical and sarcastic with others. If the INTP is not able to find a place for themself which supports the use of their strongest abilities, they may become generally negative and cynical. If the INTP has not developed their Sensing side sufficiently, they may become unaware of their environment, and exhibit weakness in performing maintenance-type tasks, such as bill-paying and dressing appropriately.
For the INTP, it is extremely important that ideas and facts are expressed correctly and succinctly. They are likely to express themselves in what they believe to be absolute truths. Sometimes, their well thought-out understanding of an idea is not easily understandable by others, but the INTP is not naturally likely to tailor the truth so as to explain it in an understandable way to others. The INTP may be prone to abandoning a project once they have figured it out, moving on to the next thing. It's important that the INTP place importance on expressing their developed theories in understandable ways. In the end, an amazing discovery means nothing if you are the only person who understands it.
The INTP is usually very independent, unconventional, and original. They are not likely to place much value on traditional goals such as popularity and security. They usually have complex characters, and may tend to be restless and temperamental. They are strongly ingenious, and have unconventional thought patterns which allows them to analyze ideas in new ways. Consequently, a lot of scientific breakthroughs in the world have been made by the INTP.
The INTP is at his best when he can work on his theories independently. When given an environment which supports his creative genius and possible eccentricity, the INTP can accomplish truly remarkable things. These are the pioneers of new thoughts in our society.
strengths:
-They feel love and affection for those close to them which is almost childlike in its purity
-Generally laid-back and easy-going, willing to defer to their mates
-Approach things which interest them very enthusiastically
-Richly imaginative and creative
-Do not feel personally threatened by conflict or criticism
-Usually are not demanding, with simple daily needs
so that's that.
well... then i started looking through the INFP personality... "the idealist", and found some things in there which i felt really applied to me. (not a lot... but some) so i wanted to mention those as well...
-INFPs do not like conflict, and go to great lengths to avoid it. If they must face it, they will always (i would say "often" for me) approach it from the perspective of their feelings. In conflict situations, INFPs place little importance on who is right and who is wrong.
-Although they may be reserved in expressing emotion, they have a very deep well of caring and are genuinely interested in understanding people.
-INFPs are flexible and laid-back, until one of their values is violated. In the face of their value system being threatened, INFPs can become aggressive defenders, fighting passionately for their cause.
