Fun with personalities
Aug. 7th, 2008 09:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jadesfireThis is my last day of internet for four days. I think I may have over-compensated...
This post started as an SGA one, but I couldn't resist adding Torchwood as well. I will reply to all comments, but as my internet access is going to be limited after today, there may be a slight delay.
As regular readers of this journal will know, I have a long-standing fascination with personality typing, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicators (MBTI) in particular. Since I went on a MBTI course last Saturday, it's fresh in my mind, and I've been trying to 'type' some of my favourite characters.
Before I launch into this, a few caveats*:
1. I am well aware that these are fictional characters, constructed and written by other people. Oddly, this probably makes them more consistent than real people, who are nothing if not unpredictable. I'm just having fun here, not trying to say anything deep and meaningful. I try to keep my journal a drama-free zone, and would like to continue that way...
2. The MBTI is about preferences and tendencies, not definitions. The type of personality you have indicates how you will typically respond to a situation. It isn't exhaustive nor is it always going to be true of you. For example, I'm a pretty strong "thinking" type, which means my strength is analysis and logic rather than people-skills. But when talking to friends, I'm much more likely to use my "feeling" preference, being sympathetic and empathetic, rather than cold and rational. Which leads me to:
3. Everyone has all of these preferences. It's just like left and right-handedness. I'm right-handed, but if I'm holding an umbrella and a cup of coffee in my right hand (like I was this morning), I'm going to use my left to fish in my bag for my bus fare. I have both, it's just that I use them differently, for different things, and prefer mostly to use my right hand for most tasks. There is no value attached to any preference - they just...are.
Right. Hopefully I've covered my back enough that no one's going to pop up and yell at me.
*This was supposed to be a fun little thing, but it somehow morphed into a 2000 word essay. Could someone explain that one to me, please?
I've done this systematically by preference rather than by character, as it's easier to show the differences that way.
ETA: After some discussion with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jenniferlupin, I've decided to change my mind about Ronon...
ETA2: So I'm changing my mind about others again. Discussion in the comments, because editing this post could take me a while...
Extravert or Introvert
This isn't about being loud or quiet, gregarious or shy. Some people are incredibly shy extraverts, while it's hard to get some introverts to stop talking. But these things deal in majorities and trends, so words like "most" and "tend" are going to come up a lot.
Simply put, Extraverts direct and find their energy in the world around them. They constantly seek stimulation from the external world, and think best when talking out loud. Commonly, an Extravert won't know what they think until they say it. Introverts find their energy in time spent alone, and they process the world internally, thinking and reflecting and you won't usually know what they're thinking until you ask them. Extraverts are energised by social interaction, while Introverts find energy in recharging their batteries alone.
So, out of our team, I'm pegging Rodney and Teyla as Extraverts and John and Ronon as Introverts. Rodney is a classic Extravert. There's no difficulty ever knowing what he's thinking and we know way more about his past than any of the others, which is a typical Extravert thing. I'm also identifying Teyla as an Extravert more out of instinct than a particular piece of evidence. Seeking out groups to feel a part of is more of an Extravert thing, and one of Teyla's 'journey's has been finding her place amongst others, whether Athosian or Lantean. Her meditation and seeking inner harmony suggests that she's a well-balanced Extravert, but I think she finds her energy as much from the people around her as she does in her own mind.
I could defend my identifying of John and Ronon as Introverts, but I don't think it's going to take as long… It's hard to say whether Ronon is a natural Introvert or if years of running brought that preference out more strongly, but I'd say John is absolutely a natural Introvert. If you want to know something about him, you have to ask him.
Sensing or Intuitive
This is the hardest of the preference pairs to wrap your head around, and it's probably the one with the fuzziest line between the two options. Also, (according to the course trainer on Saturday), about 60-70% of the population are Sensors, making Intuitors harder to spot.
It's basically to do with how you take in the information you need to process the world. Sensors are focussed on the five senses, on reality and things they can touch, taste, see, smell and hear. They tend to be grounded, concrete people, and do well with detail. They're good at drawing on their experience to form new theories and build up to conclusions based on what they already know. Intuitors are much more interested in possibilities and patterns than nitty-gritty facts. They tend to come up with theories first, then go in search of facts to support it. One helpful way of illustrating it is probably the difference between Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. Watson's descriptions are always incredibly vivid, and he experiences the world around him with a vividness that Holmes doesn't. He also appreciates what he sees, taking them for they are, rather than trying to find out more about them. Holmes sees everything as part of a pattern, pieces of the whole, interpreting rather than appreciating them.
This is rather difficult, but I'm going for Ronon, Teyla and John being Intuitors, while I think Rodney is a sensor. The other three go with their gut instinct (intuition), while Rodney is very much about the here and now and what he can see and touch and do. John is the big picture person ("This is the problem we need solving") while Rodney's about the details ("This is how we do it"). Sensors and Intuitors make great teams, for that very reason. I think Ronon and Teyla both follow their instincts as well. Intuitors are often observant and hyper-aware of their surroundings, but they process them through a 'sixth sense', while Sensors see things just as they are.
Thinking or Feeling
Just to clear this one up right at the start, it's not that Thinkers don't feel or that Feelers don't think. It's just that when it comes to making decisions, Thinkers like to use logic and 'objective' processes, while Feelers think first about the impact it has on people.
Extreme Thinkers can be cold and overly-rational, but they're good at the tough decisions, and like to be detached. When they consider problems, they stand outside the situation and try to work out what the 'right' thing to do it. Feelers want to get in the middle of the situation, and work out the impact of the decision on the people around. They tend to be loyal, and are strongly guided by personal values, where the Thinker is interested in objective truth. Feelers are not necessarily 'touchy-feely' (although they're more likely to be so than Thinkers are), but they do put people above all else, where Thinkers put 'the right thing' above all else.
I'm not going to bother defending Rodney as a Thinker and Teyla as a Feeler, because, duh. I am going to put Ronon as a Thinker as well, although I'm less sure about that one. His tendency to do what he considers to be the right thing, never mind what others think, suggests Thinker to me, so I'm sticking with it. Possibly strangely, I'm going to peg John as a Feeler. Not a very developed one, really, but a Feeler nonetheless. His 'leave no one behind' drive, and his obviously passionate loyalty to his people says Feeler rather than Thinker to me.
Judging or Perceiving
Judging people are not judgemental (necessarily) and Perceiving people are not perceptive (necessarily). This is to do with lifestyle choices, whether things need to be ordered and decided, or flexible and spontaneous.
Judging people like things scheduled and ordered. Their desks might not be tidy, but they know exactly what's in each heap and can lay their hands on things as soon as they want them. They like things decided and fixed, and are not scared of decision making. Perceivers tend to prefer to leave things open ended, and to adapt to circumstances as they arise. They're more usually casual where the Judger is determined, and they love leaving things to the last minute. They can make decisions, but they like to still leave options open and are willing to change again, sometimes seeming fickle and indecisive to a Judging person, while the Judger seems rigid and inflexible to the Perceiver.
This was a hard one, but I eventually settled on Rodney and Teyla as Judgers and John and Ronon as Perceivers. One of the things that Judgers sometimes have to be reminded of is that they are not always right, and this means you, Doctor McKay. But they are also methodical and sure of themselves, and like to have long and short term plans, which I see as being Teyla. I think John and Ronon are much more 'go with the flow' kind of people, and like to adapt to what the world/galaxy throws at them.
Summary
So, that gives us four types of people, and I've included the 'snippet' personality summaries from my MBTI book, as well as a link to a site with some good Type descriptions:
John: INFP
Idealistic, loyal to their values and to people who are important to them. Want an external life that is congruent with their values. Curious, quick to see possibilities, can be catalysts for implementing ideas. Seek to understand people and help them fulfil their potential. Adaptable, flexible and accepting unless a value is threatened.
Rodney: ESTJ
Practical, realistic, matter-of-fact. Decisive, quickly move to implement decisions. Organise projects and people to get things done, focus on getting results in the most efficient way possible. Take care of routine details. Have a clear set of logical standards, systematically follow them and want other to also Forceful in implementing their plans.
Teyla: ENFJ
Warm, empathetic, responsive and responsible. Highly attuned to the emotions, need and motivations of others. Find potential in everyone, want to help others fulfil their potential. May act as catalysts for individual and group growth. Loyal, responsive to praise and criticism. Sociable, facilitate others in a group, and provide inspiring leadership.
Ronon: INTP
Seek to develop logical explanations for everything that interests them. Theoretical and abstact, interested more in ideas than in social interaction. Quiet, contained, flexible and adaptable. Have unusual ability to focus in depth to solve problems in their area of interest. Sceptical, sometimes critical, always analytical.
This is probably more Ronon: ISFP
ISFPs are artistic, creative, loyal and sensitive. They have a keen appreciation for beauty because of their highly developed senses. They are easy to get along with and live in the "here and now". ISFPs are adaptable, caring, independent and like to contribute to the well-being of others. They are typically hard to get to know.
What do you think? Still room for debate?
Torchwood
Much more quickly, because this post is dangerously into tl;dr territory already. If you've skipped straight here, there's a fuller expansion of what the different preferences mean above.
I have to be honest and say that I've gone as much on instinct as judgement here (I'm an N so I'm happiest like that ;)). Some parts, like Jack being Extravert, or Gwen beeing a Feeler are a bit of a no-brainer. Others, like Owen being Intuitive rather than Sensing, just felt right.
Tosh: ISTP
Tosh was actually the easiest to pin down. I chose Perceiving rather than Judging for her, because I think she likes to continually adapt and change what she's made, carry on playing with ideas and things long after most people would consider them finished.
Tolerant and flexible, quiet observers until a problem appears, then act quickly to find workable solutions. Analyse what makes things work and readily get through large amounts of data to isolate the core of practical problems. Interested in cause and effect, organise facts using logical principles, value efficiency.
Owen: INTJ
I think Owen is much more about patterns and hunches than the here and now. Ns often have trouble with present reality, and one of the things that I've always thought about Owen is that he's angry with the world for being what it is. But I think he's J because when he decides on something, he thinks he's absolutely right. That's a very J quality.
Have original minds and great drive for implementing their ideas and achieving their goals. Quickly see patterns in external events and develop long-range explanatory perspectives. When committed, organise a job and carry it through. Sceptical and independent, have high standards of competence and performance - for themselves and others.
Gwen: ESFJ
Again, this was pretty easy to figure out. I actually thought that this was the only type description that really and truly fitted Gwen.
Warm-hearted, conscientious and cooperative. Want harmony in their environment, work with determination to establish it. Like to work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time. Loyal, follow through, even on small matters. Notice what others need in their day-to-day lives and try to provide it. Want to be appreciated for who they are and for what they contribute.
Jack: ESTP
While ALL people are much more complex than the four letters can begin to describe, Jack is a particular pain in the neck to pin down, which is why, of course, we love him. Most of the time. So I built this one up step by step. He's got to be Extraverted rather than Introverted, surely. I think he's more about the here and now, what he can see, touch and experience than what might happen possibly at some point, which makes him S rather than N. For all that he loves people, I think his ruthless, practical streak makes him a T and his adaptability suggest P rather than J. Also, the type description made me giggle when I matched it to him, and if that's not a good sign for Jack, I don't know what is.
Flexible [*undignified giggling*] and tolerant, they take a pragmatic approach focused on immediate results. Theories and conceptual explanations bore them - they want to act energetically to solve the problem. Focus on the here-and-now, spontaneous, enjoy each moment that they can be active with others [*more giggling* yes, my sense of humour is twelve, why do you ask?]. Enjoy material comforts and style. Learn best through doing.
I wasn't going to attempt Ianto, as he's not a character I feel I have a good grip on, but I'd guess he's an ISTJ. I have trouble finding a character for 'canon' Ianto, so much of this is probably based on fanfic by people I trust...
Quiet, serious, earn success by thoroughness and dependability. Practical, matter of fact, realistic and responsible. Decide logically what should be done and work towards it steadily, regardless of distractions. Take pleasure in making everything orderly and organized - their work, their home, their life. Value traditions and loyalty.
That's not bad, actually. What do you think? Any you strongly disagree with? Have I finally lost it?
Oh, and just in case you were wondering, I'm ENTP, which means I'm the 'instant expert' type - when I find something I'm interested in, I'm prone to extreme bouts of enthusiasm, over-researching, Tiggerishness, and the overwhelming desire to share my interest with as many people as possible. That is, until I get bored and wander off to learn something new.
Ooh, look, a website all about butterflies...
This post started as an SGA one, but I couldn't resist adding Torchwood as well. I will reply to all comments, but as my internet access is going to be limited after today, there may be a slight delay.
As regular readers of this journal will know, I have a long-standing fascination with personality typing, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicators (MBTI) in particular. Since I went on a MBTI course last Saturday, it's fresh in my mind, and I've been trying to 'type' some of my favourite characters.
Before I launch into this, a few caveats*:
1. I am well aware that these are fictional characters, constructed and written by other people. Oddly, this probably makes them more consistent than real people, who are nothing if not unpredictable. I'm just having fun here, not trying to say anything deep and meaningful. I try to keep my journal a drama-free zone, and would like to continue that way...
2. The MBTI is about preferences and tendencies, not definitions. The type of personality you have indicates how you will typically respond to a situation. It isn't exhaustive nor is it always going to be true of you. For example, I'm a pretty strong "thinking" type, which means my strength is analysis and logic rather than people-skills. But when talking to friends, I'm much more likely to use my "feeling" preference, being sympathetic and empathetic, rather than cold and rational. Which leads me to:
3. Everyone has all of these preferences. It's just like left and right-handedness. I'm right-handed, but if I'm holding an umbrella and a cup of coffee in my right hand (like I was this morning), I'm going to use my left to fish in my bag for my bus fare. I have both, it's just that I use them differently, for different things, and prefer mostly to use my right hand for most tasks. There is no value attached to any preference - they just...are.
Right. Hopefully I've covered my back enough that no one's going to pop up and yell at me.
*This was supposed to be a fun little thing, but it somehow morphed into a 2000 word essay. Could someone explain that one to me, please?
I've done this systematically by preference rather than by character, as it's easier to show the differences that way.
ETA: After some discussion with
jenniferlupin, I've decided to change my mind about Ronon...ETA2: So I'm changing my mind about others again. Discussion in the comments, because editing this post could take me a while...
Extravert or Introvert
This isn't about being loud or quiet, gregarious or shy. Some people are incredibly shy extraverts, while it's hard to get some introverts to stop talking. But these things deal in majorities and trends, so words like "most" and "tend" are going to come up a lot.
Simply put, Extraverts direct and find their energy in the world around them. They constantly seek stimulation from the external world, and think best when talking out loud. Commonly, an Extravert won't know what they think until they say it. Introverts find their energy in time spent alone, and they process the world internally, thinking and reflecting and you won't usually know what they're thinking until you ask them. Extraverts are energised by social interaction, while Introverts find energy in recharging their batteries alone.
So, out of our team, I'm pegging Rodney and Teyla as Extraverts and John and Ronon as Introverts. Rodney is a classic Extravert. There's no difficulty ever knowing what he's thinking and we know way more about his past than any of the others, which is a typical Extravert thing. I'm also identifying Teyla as an Extravert more out of instinct than a particular piece of evidence. Seeking out groups to feel a part of is more of an Extravert thing, and one of Teyla's 'journey's has been finding her place amongst others, whether Athosian or Lantean. Her meditation and seeking inner harmony suggests that she's a well-balanced Extravert, but I think she finds her energy as much from the people around her as she does in her own mind.
I could defend my identifying of John and Ronon as Introverts, but I don't think it's going to take as long… It's hard to say whether Ronon is a natural Introvert or if years of running brought that preference out more strongly, but I'd say John is absolutely a natural Introvert. If you want to know something about him, you have to ask him.
Sensing or Intuitive
This is the hardest of the preference pairs to wrap your head around, and it's probably the one with the fuzziest line between the two options. Also, (according to the course trainer on Saturday), about 60-70% of the population are Sensors, making Intuitors harder to spot.
It's basically to do with how you take in the information you need to process the world. Sensors are focussed on the five senses, on reality and things they can touch, taste, see, smell and hear. They tend to be grounded, concrete people, and do well with detail. They're good at drawing on their experience to form new theories and build up to conclusions based on what they already know. Intuitors are much more interested in possibilities and patterns than nitty-gritty facts. They tend to come up with theories first, then go in search of facts to support it. One helpful way of illustrating it is probably the difference between Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. Watson's descriptions are always incredibly vivid, and he experiences the world around him with a vividness that Holmes doesn't. He also appreciates what he sees, taking them for they are, rather than trying to find out more about them. Holmes sees everything as part of a pattern, pieces of the whole, interpreting rather than appreciating them.
This is rather difficult, but I'm going for Ronon, Teyla and John being Intuitors, while I think Rodney is a sensor. The other three go with their gut instinct (intuition), while Rodney is very much about the here and now and what he can see and touch and do. John is the big picture person ("This is the problem we need solving") while Rodney's about the details ("This is how we do it"). Sensors and Intuitors make great teams, for that very reason. I think Ronon and Teyla both follow their instincts as well. Intuitors are often observant and hyper-aware of their surroundings, but they process them through a 'sixth sense', while Sensors see things just as they are.
Thinking or Feeling
Just to clear this one up right at the start, it's not that Thinkers don't feel or that Feelers don't think. It's just that when it comes to making decisions, Thinkers like to use logic and 'objective' processes, while Feelers think first about the impact it has on people.
Extreme Thinkers can be cold and overly-rational, but they're good at the tough decisions, and like to be detached. When they consider problems, they stand outside the situation and try to work out what the 'right' thing to do it. Feelers want to get in the middle of the situation, and work out the impact of the decision on the people around. They tend to be loyal, and are strongly guided by personal values, where the Thinker is interested in objective truth. Feelers are not necessarily 'touchy-feely' (although they're more likely to be so than Thinkers are), but they do put people above all else, where Thinkers put 'the right thing' above all else.
I'm not going to bother defending Rodney as a Thinker and Teyla as a Feeler, because, duh. I am going to put Ronon as a Thinker as well, although I'm less sure about that one. His tendency to do what he considers to be the right thing, never mind what others think, suggests Thinker to me, so I'm sticking with it. Possibly strangely, I'm going to peg John as a Feeler. Not a very developed one, really, but a Feeler nonetheless. His 'leave no one behind' drive, and his obviously passionate loyalty to his people says Feeler rather than Thinker to me.
Judging or Perceiving
Judging people are not judgemental (necessarily) and Perceiving people are not perceptive (necessarily). This is to do with lifestyle choices, whether things need to be ordered and decided, or flexible and spontaneous.
Judging people like things scheduled and ordered. Their desks might not be tidy, but they know exactly what's in each heap and can lay their hands on things as soon as they want them. They like things decided and fixed, and are not scared of decision making. Perceivers tend to prefer to leave things open ended, and to adapt to circumstances as they arise. They're more usually casual where the Judger is determined, and they love leaving things to the last minute. They can make decisions, but they like to still leave options open and are willing to change again, sometimes seeming fickle and indecisive to a Judging person, while the Judger seems rigid and inflexible to the Perceiver.
This was a hard one, but I eventually settled on Rodney and Teyla as Judgers and John and Ronon as Perceivers. One of the things that Judgers sometimes have to be reminded of is that they are not always right, and this means you, Doctor McKay. But they are also methodical and sure of themselves, and like to have long and short term plans, which I see as being Teyla. I think John and Ronon are much more 'go with the flow' kind of people, and like to adapt to what the world/galaxy throws at them.
Summary
So, that gives us four types of people, and I've included the 'snippet' personality summaries from my MBTI book, as well as a link to a site with some good Type descriptions:
John: INFP
Idealistic, loyal to their values and to people who are important to them. Want an external life that is congruent with their values. Curious, quick to see possibilities, can be catalysts for implementing ideas. Seek to understand people and help them fulfil their potential. Adaptable, flexible and accepting unless a value is threatened.
Rodney: ESTJ
Practical, realistic, matter-of-fact. Decisive, quickly move to implement decisions. Organise projects and people to get things done, focus on getting results in the most efficient way possible. Take care of routine details. Have a clear set of logical standards, systematically follow them and want other to also Forceful in implementing their plans.
Teyla: ENFJ
Warm, empathetic, responsive and responsible. Highly attuned to the emotions, need and motivations of others. Find potential in everyone, want to help others fulfil their potential. May act as catalysts for individual and group growth. Loyal, responsive to praise and criticism. Sociable, facilitate others in a group, and provide inspiring leadership.
Seek to develop logical explanations for everything that interests them. Theoretical and abstact, interested more in ideas than in social interaction. Quiet, contained, flexible and adaptable. Have unusual ability to focus in depth to solve problems in their area of interest. Sceptical, sometimes critical, always analytical.
This is probably more Ronon: ISFP
ISFPs are artistic, creative, loyal and sensitive. They have a keen appreciation for beauty because of their highly developed senses. They are easy to get along with and live in the "here and now". ISFPs are adaptable, caring, independent and like to contribute to the well-being of others. They are typically hard to get to know.
What do you think? Still room for debate?
Torchwood
Much more quickly, because this post is dangerously into tl;dr territory already. If you've skipped straight here, there's a fuller expansion of what the different preferences mean above.
I have to be honest and say that I've gone as much on instinct as judgement here (I'm an N so I'm happiest like that ;)). Some parts, like Jack being Extravert, or Gwen beeing a Feeler are a bit of a no-brainer. Others, like Owen being Intuitive rather than Sensing, just felt right.
Tosh: ISTP
Tosh was actually the easiest to pin down. I chose Perceiving rather than Judging for her, because I think she likes to continually adapt and change what she's made, carry on playing with ideas and things long after most people would consider them finished.
Tolerant and flexible, quiet observers until a problem appears, then act quickly to find workable solutions. Analyse what makes things work and readily get through large amounts of data to isolate the core of practical problems. Interested in cause and effect, organise facts using logical principles, value efficiency.
Owen: INTJ
I think Owen is much more about patterns and hunches than the here and now. Ns often have trouble with present reality, and one of the things that I've always thought about Owen is that he's angry with the world for being what it is. But I think he's J because when he decides on something, he thinks he's absolutely right. That's a very J quality.
Have original minds and great drive for implementing their ideas and achieving their goals. Quickly see patterns in external events and develop long-range explanatory perspectives. When committed, organise a job and carry it through. Sceptical and independent, have high standards of competence and performance - for themselves and others.
Gwen: ESFJ
Again, this was pretty easy to figure out. I actually thought that this was the only type description that really and truly fitted Gwen.
Warm-hearted, conscientious and cooperative. Want harmony in their environment, work with determination to establish it. Like to work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time. Loyal, follow through, even on small matters. Notice what others need in their day-to-day lives and try to provide it. Want to be appreciated for who they are and for what they contribute.
Jack: ESTP
While ALL people are much more complex than the four letters can begin to describe, Jack is a particular pain in the neck to pin down, which is why, of course, we love him. Most of the time. So I built this one up step by step. He's got to be Extraverted rather than Introverted, surely. I think he's more about the here and now, what he can see, touch and experience than what might happen possibly at some point, which makes him S rather than N. For all that he loves people, I think his ruthless, practical streak makes him a T and his adaptability suggest P rather than J. Also, the type description made me giggle when I matched it to him, and if that's not a good sign for Jack, I don't know what is.
Flexible [*undignified giggling*] and tolerant, they take a pragmatic approach focused on immediate results. Theories and conceptual explanations bore them - they want to act energetically to solve the problem. Focus on the here-and-now, spontaneous, enjoy each moment that they can be active with others [*more giggling* yes, my sense of humour is twelve, why do you ask?]. Enjoy material comforts and style. Learn best through doing.
I wasn't going to attempt Ianto, as he's not a character I feel I have a good grip on, but I'd guess he's an ISTJ. I have trouble finding a character for 'canon' Ianto, so much of this is probably based on fanfic by people I trust...
Quiet, serious, earn success by thoroughness and dependability. Practical, matter of fact, realistic and responsible. Decide logically what should be done and work towards it steadily, regardless of distractions. Take pleasure in making everything orderly and organized - their work, their home, their life. Value traditions and loyalty.
That's not bad, actually. What do you think? Any you strongly disagree with? Have I finally lost it?
Oh, and just in case you were wondering, I'm ENTP, which means I'm the 'instant expert' type - when I find something I'm interested in, I'm prone to extreme bouts of enthusiasm, over-researching, Tiggerishness, and the overwhelming desire to share my interest with as many people as possible. That is, until I get bored and wander off to learn something new.
Ooh, look, a website all about butterflies...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-07 01:39 pm (UTC)The type of personality you have indicates how you will typically respond to a situation. It isn't exhaustive nor is it always going to be true of you.
I've taken online tests, which I know aren't the best, but just so I could have a frame of reference to work with it's helpful. However, I found that some of the questions were impossible to answer: in work situations (for example) I might react one way, where online I would react the opposite. I almost gave up and chucked the test because there were no guidelines to tell me how to answer in such a situation. (That probably says something about my personality!)
...your last post for four days! ::clings::
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-07 01:49 pm (UTC)Well, you just ID'd yourself as an introvert... ;D
It can be tricky to answer these things, and yes, it probably does say something about your personality that that's how you feel. On the course, they described the 'you' who should answer the questions as the 'shoes off, sitting back, relaxed you'. So free from the constraints of work or other people, how do you typically react? Sometimes it's a case of choosing the most like you, rather than the 'always true' of you answer.
For what it's worth, you come across to me most like INFP or INFJ. I work with someone who's the latter, and she does remind me of you. But it may just be that you don't have strong preferences - I score very highly as Extraverted and Thinking, but very low as iNtuitive and Perceptive. I think that makes you a more rounded person, although it may also make you confused ;)
Rather than do a test, maybe read through the site and see what *feels* right, feels more like you - one thing we did on Saturday was go through the descriptions and choose our type based on what we were told *before* we were given our test results back. Many people (including me) scored differently when talked to about the types than they did when just answering questions.
BUT (and I'm saying this because I know you worry...) the really, really important thing is that you can't get it wrong. I enjoy this kind of thing, and find it fun and helpful, but not everyone does. Being me, I like to share, but it's not compulsory!
Remember, if you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong ;D
...I know! *clings back* I'm going to have to go to the local pub with internet, I think, or I'm going to go nuts. Oh, the hardship :D
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-10 06:07 am (UTC)The descriptions seem a lot more helpful than the tests, though the descriptions focus on different things, too, so they get confusing. *Your* descriptions are really the most helpful! I like your Watson/Holmes illustration.
The description you posted of John (INFP) is uncanny! Teyla, too.
Owen is tricky because I think we mostly see him when he's under some kind of stress. That's true for all the characters, I guess (except Gwen) because it's that kind of show, but with Owen we rarely even get to see him performing the routine duties of his job, just the extreme ones. But I think we get a little bit of evidence of what type of researcher he is, for instance.
Ns often have trouble with present reality, and one of the things that I've always thought about Owen is that he's angry with the world for being what it is.
I think that's a fair point. And in the other direction in time, I think in his work, at least, he is very creative and visualizes things he could accomplish even if there's not a lot of concrete evidence in front of him at the time - he makes it happen the way he thinks is possible.
The reason I was initially interested in your choice for Owen was because it was very close to what I tested as on the first test I tried - ISTJ with the "S" very weakly expressed. I was curious, because Owen has long been my favorite character (except for Jack, which is pretty much a given, right?) and I could never understand why I was so drawn to him.
The descriptions just didn't work well enough for me, and another test came out completely different (except for the "I" which is 100% no matter what test I take!) Eh, tests. Like I said, I like your method of going through and qualitatively analyzing each pair of traits. And it really *is* easier for fictional characters. I wonder if show creators/show runners ever give their writers personality profiles like this for the characters?