It is important to note that a personality test such as this does not aim to classify people according to a system of more or less valuable citizens. No specific personality type revealed in such tests can be said to be better than any other, but serves only to illuminate certain traits, such as modes of emotional expression and styles of thinking. None of the personality types derived from such tests imply the presence of psychological dysfunction of any kind; they tell nothing about the actual mental health of the person taking the test. Rather, the accuracy of the test will decrease drastically if the subject has mental health issues. Personality tests are not suitable for any form of contest, but are valuable as a tool for self-exploration, and should, as with any such attempt at absolute psychological quantification, be taken with a grain of salt.
That said, I must say that I'm surprised at how accurate some of the personality descriptions based upon the different types seem to be. When I took the Socionics test, I turned out to be "Introverted Intuitive Thinking Perceiving" - INTP, also known as an "Architect" in Keirsey terminology or a "Thinker" in the Myers-Briggs world. After having satisfied my curiosity on a personal level, I began wondering what types would fit people I know, and how accurately I might be able to read their personalities according to Jung's system. Being the perceiving type that I am, and thus less likely to restrain myself, I hope that no one will take offense of my attempt at guessing their personality type in the following.
The Introverts
I like to think that I'm always able to recognize an introvert when I see one. Here are the candidates:
Candice
Candice is tough for me to place, since she's about as introverted as I am, not revealing much of herself to people she doesn't know intimately. I think she's the sensing type, since she always seems very alert. Probably feeling too, since emotions easily find their way to the surface in the form of facial expression, despite the predominant introversion. To complete the picture, I will once more lean toward the side of immediate interpretation of the world and thus perception over judgment. This all comes together as the type of ISFP - the Composer or Artist.
Eiffel
Eiffel has the artist's eye for detail, but is also immensely practical and technically oriented. This suggests a sensing / thinking combination. Despite an at times rigid insistence on adherence to learned convention, he is mostly quite open-minded toward new ideas and concepts, thus justifying an emphasis on the perceiving function. We thus end up with ISTP - the Crafter or Mechanic.
Equus_7
Silent strength, highly developed ethics and determination are the key words here. Very much in touch with her emotions, so definitely feeling. An almost uncanny ability to read the true intentions of other people, which points toward a strong intuition, and a highly developed sense of ethics, which points to judgment over perception. This translates to INFJ - a Counselor or Protector.
Update: I got the "N" wrong - Equus_7 is in fact an ISFJ.
GardenGirl
This is a bit like cheating, since I already know her actual test results. She's also an INFJ, Counselor or Protector. INFJs are characterized by a need to be needed.
Jen
Very artistic and at times dramatically emotional as well, indicating a combination of sensing and feeling subtypes. A well-developed sense of justice and fairness suggests a predominant judging function. Thus we end up with ISFJ - Protector or Nurturer.
LadyLong
Once again I'm cheating, since I already know the actual test results. LadyLong is an INFP, Healer or Idealist. For those of us who know her well, the term healer is indeed a very accurate description of her personality.
Mithrandir
Good analytical abilities and an affinity toward hard logic point to a strong intuition and a predominance of thinking. Mithrandir's opinionated nature also points toward judgment over perception. This adds up to INTJ - a Mastermind or Scientist.
Mom
Strength, dependability, selflessness and determination are the key words. A strong sense of tradition and duty suggests judgment over perception, while organizational talent and an affinity for environmental order and neatness points toward a sensing / thinking combination. When we put it all together, we get ISTJ - Inspector or Duty Fulfiller.
RedFox
RedFox definitely has his heart in the right place and a very well-developed sense of ethics and duty, signifying a feeling / judging combination. Lastly, his alertness, presence in the moment and keen eye for detail points toward highly developed sensing. Thus, we arrive at ISFJ - Protector or Nurturer.
Wonko
Definitely a thinking personality, and again, good analytical and logical abilities point toward intuition over sensing. Not easily caught up in preconceptions, but rather a dynamic assessor of situations, he bears the signature of perception over judgment. Sorry, Wonko, but I think you're an INTP, also known as an Architect or Thinker.
The Extroverts
This is where I'm no longer on familiar ground. It's undoubtedly a lot harder for me to assess an extroverted personality type than one of the more familiar introverted types. But here goes...
BeDaDK
Although perhaps not easily admitted, an affinity for tradition and security exists, which suggests a predominance of judgment. Once again, a very well-developed set of mathematical, logical and analytical skills point toward an intuitive / thinking combination. The result is very fittingly ENTJ - the Fieldmarshal or Executive.
Bedrick
Once again, a good analytical mind, pointing toward an intuitive / thinking combination. Like Wonko, not likely to get caught up in preconception, and thus most probably perceiving over judging. This adds up to ENTP - an Inventor or Visionary.
Bee
With a more holistic approach to technology, and combined with an obvious emotional temperament, my guess would be an intuitive / feeling combination. The choice between judgment and perception is a tough one, though, but considering his past choices in terms of mates, I have to assume judgment. This leaves us with ENFJ - a Teacher or Giver.
Dad
An artist's attention to visual detail and a musical ear points toward sensing over intuition, while a somewhat relaxed attitude toward tradition would suggest a predominance of perception. Finally, a healthy tendency to follow his heart completes the picture with the feeling function, resulting in ESFP - a Performer (known as such in both Keirsey and Myers-Briggs terminology).
Eilonwy
At times very emotional, which reveals a feeling type, while the ability to abstract from specifics to generalities and see the big picture suggests an intuitive dominance. A slight inclination toward rebellion and challenging established values places us in the perceiving end of the spectrum. The resulting type is ENFP - a Champion or Inspirer.
Update: Eilonwy is in fact an INTJ.
Enasmai
Although this young man has been profoundly introverted in the past, it is my firm impression that he is or already has undergone a transition toward a more extroverted disposition. Given his artistic, sensitive and cerebral traits, I believe we're dealing with a sensing / thinking combination. Also, in light of his agreeable stance toward traditional values, I would add judgment over perception to the mixture, which leaves us with ESTJ - a Supervisor or Guardian.
Jeff
A high sensitivity toward the feelings of himself and others and a master's insight into their source, meaning and effect leaves me no choice other than the potent intuition / feeling cocktail. In addition, a highly developed value system points toward a predominance of judgment over perception. Assembling the pieces, we get ENFJ - the Teacher or Giver.
Update: Jeff is an INFP.
Lissell
Firmly connected to the here and now, both in terms of experiencing the world and her own emotions, Lissell appears to embrace a sensing / feeling combination. Being very open-minded, the perceiving function is also very obvious, leaving us with ESFP - a Performer (both with Keirsey and Myers-Briggs).
Weasel
Despite the nickname, we're dealing with a very conscientious individual who knows all the rules and with somewhat bitter resignation has established that many of his superiors are less than perfect in this respect. Weasel is the judging type, and quite the imaginative and ingenious problem solver, which suggests a sensing / thinking combination. We thus arrive at ESTJ - the Supervisor or Guardian.
I'm fairly certain that at least a few of these assessments are grossly inaccurate. It is pure guesswork, of course, but it would indeed be interesting to determine my level of competence in judging personality. Hence, if you feel curious about what your actual test results might turn out to be, please feel free to prove me wrong. You can find the Socionics test here.
But seriously, it has been five years, and having gained a little experience in judging people's personality types, it is now obvious to me how far off I were with some of these assessments. I'm not really surprised by your latest results, although I suspect that some traits are floating near the center line. Your Introvertiveness has probably settled somewhere near 50%, while your Thinking trait is closer to the middle, probably 25% or less. If you took anything other than the Socionics test, you'd probably find yourself more firmly in the Perceiving camp. As for iNtuition, that may be near the center line as well - that one is harder for me to assess.
In the end, I doubt that personality type assessments are much more than a formalization of what most of us do on a daily basis, with or without knowledge of these systems. I haven't become better at reading people's personalities because I know about the 16 types; I've just become better at guessing which type fits my perception of someone's personality.
Content © 2010 Torben K. Jensen. All rights reserved.
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