Jungian Personality Type
(also known as Myers-Briggs)
This type test is based on Swiss psychologist Carl Jung's observations and insights into the attitude and functional preferences that shape our personality type.
Attitude refers to our extroverted or introverted way of interacting with the world and managing our energy. When you select your dominant Attitude during the test, it will be noted by an E or an I.
Functions refer to three complementary pairs of functions: Thinking or Feeling; Intuition or Sensing; Judging or Perceiving.
We each reflect a certain dominant attitude (extravert or introvert) and a set of functional preferences. No one uses only one function and not its opposite. We use them all. Also, no one is perfectly equal in their preferences, either.
Carl Jung at Bollingen, Switzerland
Instructions
In this test, you will just use your own self-awareness to select which of the two complementary attitudes or functions you seem to prefer most of the time. Over time you may come to believe you selected incorrectly. Only further observation, reflection and understanding of the functions will confirm the right choice.
Resist the tendency to conclude that either attitude or function is better than another. They are universal.
1. On a blank piece of paper, prepare to write down four letters in a row.
2. As you make your selection, write down the letter that signifies it.
3. At the end you will have four letters. This will be the acronym of your type.
Examples include ENTJ, ISFP, or INTP.
THE ATTITUDES
Extraversion and Introversion
The attitudes describe how we manage our energy and relate to the world. Select the attitude you seem to prefer most of the time.
Introversion (I)
I like getting my energy from dealing with the thoughts, feelings and reactions in my mind or inner world. After engaging in the outer world I need plenty of solitude to process things and recharge.
Although I can be very sociable at times, I usually prefer doing things alone or with one or two people I feel comfortable with. I need lots of time to reflect so that I have a clear idea of what I'll be doing when I decide to act.
The following statements generally apply to me:
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I am often described as reflective or reserved.
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I prefer to know just a few people well.
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I sometimes spend too much time reflecting and don't move into action quickly enough.
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I sometimes forget to check with the outside world to see if my ideas really fit the experience.
Extraversion (E)
I like getting my energy from active involvement in events and having a lot of different activities. I tend to have a lot of acquaintances and friends. I'm excited when I'm around people and I like to energize other people.
I enjoy moving into action and making things happen. I generally feel at home in the world. I often understand a problem better when I can talk out loud about it and hear what others have to say.
The following statements generally apply to me:
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I am seen as "outgoing" or as a "people person."
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I feel comfortable in groups and like working in them.
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I have a wide range of friends and know lots of people.
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I sometimes jump too quickly into an activity and don't allow enough time to think it over.
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Before I start a project, I sometimes forget to stop and get clear on what I want to do and why.
PERCEIVING FUNCTIONS
Intuition and Sensing
Perceiving refers to how we take in and process the world. Choose the one you lean toward.
Intuition (N)
I pay the most attention to impressions, patterns and the broad meaning of what I perceive. I am sensitive to the hidden themes that emerge from looking at the whole picture. I'm interested in new possibilities on the horizon, so that I think more about the future than the past. I like to work with symbols or abstract theories, even if I don't know how I will use them. I remember events more as an impression of what it was like than as actual facts or details of what happened.
The following statements generally apply to me:
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I remember events by what I read "between the lines" about their meaning.
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I solve problems by leaping between different ideas and possibilities.
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I am interested in doing things that are new and different.
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I like to see the big picture, then to find out the facts.
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I trust impressions, symbols, and metaphors more than what I actually experienced
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Sometimes I think so much about new possibilities that I never look at how to make them a reality.
Sensing (S)
I pay keen attention to physical reality, what I see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. I'm concerned with what is actual, present, current, and real. I notice facts and I remember details that are important to me. I like to see the practical use of things and learn best when I see how to use what I'm learning. Experience speaks to me louder than words.
The following statements generally apply to me:
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I remember events as snapshots of what actually happened.
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I solve problems by working through facts until I understand the problem.
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I am pragmatic and look to the "bottom line."
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I start with facts and then form a big picture.
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I trust experience first and trust words and symbols less.
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Sometimes I pay so much attention to facts, either present or past, that I miss new possibilities.
JUDGING FUNCTIONS
Thinking and Feeling
Thinking and feeling are complementary ways of judging what is true or relevant. Choose the one you seem to favor.
Thinking (T)
When I make a decision, I like to find the basic truth or principle to be applied, regardless of the specific situation involved. I like to analyze pros and cons, and then be consistent and logical in deciding. I try to be impersonal, so I won't let my personal wishes--or other people's wishes--influence me.
The following statements generally apply to me:
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I enjoy technical and scientific fields where logic is important.
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I notice inconsistencies.
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I look for logical explanations or solutions to most everything.
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I make decisions with my head and want to be fair.
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I believe telling the truth is more important than being tactful.
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Sometimes I miss or don't value the "people" part of a situation.
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I can be seen as too task-oriented, uncaring, or indifferent.
Feeling (F)
I believe I can make the best decisions by weighing what people care about and the points-of-view of persons involved in a situation. I am concerned with values and what is the best for the people involved. I like to do whatever will establish or maintain harmony. In my relationships, I appear caring, warm, and tactful.
The following statements generally apply to me:
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I have a people or communications orientation.
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I am concerned with harmony and nervous when it is missing.
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I look for what is important to others and express concern for others.
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I make decisions with my heart and want to be compassionate.
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I believe being tactful is more important than telling the "cold" truth.
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Sometimes I miss seeing or communicating the "hard truth" of situations.
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I am sometimes experienced by others as too idealistic, mushy, or indirect.
PREFERENCE OF FUNCTIONS
Perceiving and Judging
Perceiving or judging relates to which of our functions we direct toward the outer world.
Perceiving (P)
I use my perceiving function (whether it is Sensing or Intuition) in my outer life. To others, I seem to prefer a flexible and spontaneous way of life, and I like to understand and adapt to the world rather than organize it. Others see me staying open to new experiences and information.
Since this pair only describes what I prefer in the outer world, inside I may feel very planful or decisive (which I am).
Remember, in type language perceiving means "preferring to take in information." It does not mean being "perceptive" in the sense of having quick and accurate perceptions about people and events.
The following statements generally apply to me:
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I like to stay open to respond to whatever happens.
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I appear to be loose and casual. I like to keep plans to a minimum.
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I like to approach work as play or mix work and play.
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I work in bursts of energy.
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I am stimulated by an approaching deadline.
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Sometimes I stay open to new information so long I miss making decisions when they are needed.
Judging (J)
I use my decision-making preference (whether it is Thinking or Feeling) in my outer life. To others, I seem to prefer a planned or orderly way of life, like to have things settled and organized, feel more comfortable when decisions are made, and like to bring life under control as much as possible.
Since this pair only describes what I prefer in the outer world, I may, inside, feel flexible and open to new information (which I am).
Do not confuse Judging with judgmental, in its negative sense about people and events. They are not related.
The following statements generally apply to me:
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I like to have things decided.
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I appear to be task oriented.
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I like to make lists of things to do.
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I like to get my work done before playing.
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I plan work to avoid rushing just before a deadline.
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Sometimes I focus so much on the goal that I miss new information.