Okay, I Was Wrong
I've been called a "Type A," a "High D," a "Choleric," a "Triangle," and a few other things that I don't want to admit to. You probably recognize at least one of the above as results from the many forms of personality testing. My big confession is that even though I've taken all of these and kept a smile on my face about it, I have always hated these things. A few months ago, I was at a church planters' conference in Kansas City and one of the big-timeys of the whole thing was going on and on about what he was on the Myers-Briggs test. It was late at night, after a very long day. This trip was in a stretch of 10 flights in 8 days for me too, so keep that in mind when you read how rude I was to this guy.
After telling all about his score he asked me, "What are you?" I unleashed all my years of angst against personality tests and said, "I've never taken it. I think those tests are mostly just a way for unintelligent people to pigeon whole me instead of doing any of the real human work of having a relationship." I think that gave him plenty of reason to write me off as an arrogant, obnoxious little punk, but instead he laughed his head off. "Well then you're an INFJ!" he crowed. "All INFJs hate the tests."
Recently I took the Myers-Briggs assessment and guess what - I'm an INFJ (click the link to read about me). The letters stand for "Introvert, iNtuitive, Feeling, Judging." The test takes my answers to questions and uses them to decide between:
- Extraversion - Introversion
- Sensing - Intuition
- Thinking - Feeling
- Judging - Perceiving
What amazed me even more than the fact that this guy totally nailed my results on the test was that the test results really nailed me. My biggest objection to these kinds of tests has always been how vague they are. They are usually accurate to a degree or two, but stay so general that you can't really doing anything with the results. So I'm a "High D," so what? But when I read the profile of my type (INFJ), I was stunned at the detail and accuracy. Of course, as my brother says, you'll never get the ugly truth about yourself from one of these personality profiles, but after reading the profile of my type I came away saying, "If you know what an INFJ is then you have a great start on knowing me." To me, that's valuable.
So I was wrong. The tests can be more than a tool for dumb people to define their dumb little, single dimensional world. If you've taken this test, I'm really interested to know your score. If you haven't, you can take it right here: Take The Test. The questions will take you a few minutes and then you'll get your score back immediately. Once you get your score, put the 4-letter result into Google and you'll get some good sites that define and analize the results. The one I used will even tell you what career paths a person of your type might enjoy, what to look for in relationships and what to do to improve upon some of the weaknesses of your type.
Scott Bane
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Reader Comments (12)
I guess I'll have to go do the test now. I can pretty much tell you, anything to do with numbers should not be a career goal for me. Also, I would not make it as a pastor. Man, I've been working on this chapel lesson for hours. Just when I think I know what points I want to make, I think, "How the heck do you explain tribulations to a Kindergartener?" I want it to be relevant to the older kids, but easily explained to the younger grades. I am way over-thinking this!! Sorry, I just needed to vent.
I'm going to take this test now, and procrastinate a little longer.
I'm also an INFJ; we are rare flowers!
Mark is a Mastermind. I totally saw that coming...
We sure are, Sarah. 1% of the population, I guess. It's interesting that the they say the "perfect match" for an INFJ is an INTJ... hmmm, if we can Sheryl to take this now.
Thanks for playing :-)
Well, I'm an INFJ too.
Weird, huh?
kg
Hey Keith! Thanks for the comment. For as "rare" as we are supposed to be, I do come across an interesting number of INFJs. If we could somehow unite and use our powers for good... :-)
Great to hear from you.
I turned out to be an INTJ...whatever that means.
You know, Lisa, one analysis of the INTJ calls that personality "The Mastermind." That doesn't sound so bad, does it? :-)
Well, I tested positive for the INFJ rare flower...somehow, I think YOU could've guessed that. This was fun :-)
Trish
Hilarious! I seem to have surrounded myself with INFJs. I'm having my doubts about how "rare" we actually are.
Tricia and Lisa, did you read where the INTJs perfect friend is the INFJ? Interesting, right?
This is very interesting I took a test 21 years ago and came out as ISTJ(At that time I did not believe I had any gifts or talents. I now do believe that as we move into and use our special abilities and giftings we can change) I took another test in recent months and came out as a INFJ
I agree, PJ. I've seen personality-level changes in my own life too. I think maturity and experience play a huge role in how we "come out" on tests like these. Thanks for your input.
Scott- I am a ESFP- if you get a chance to see the career paths for this type you may laugh at how dead on it is,