I love taking Myers-Briggs tests. I find them fun and fascinating. I have always come out as an INFJ (Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Judging) before, though the F (feeling) was quite borderline T (thinking). I have often thought that I am actually more T (logic-driven) than F (concerned about feelings). And today, I took a short test on Facebook and came out as an INTJ. I tried a longer test and got the same result. I am jubilant. I love this description of how INTJs see the world. It all makes sense. I like things that make sense. I identify with all of it. I love that my personality is described as inherently unconventional.

My favourite bits of the INTJ description (italics mine):

INTJs are perfectionists, with a seemingly endless capacity for improving upon anything that takes their interest. What prevents them from becoming chronically bogged down in this pursuit of perfection is the pragmatism so characteristic of the type: INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion “Does it work?” to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms. This in turn produces an unusual independence of mind, freeing the INTJ from the constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment for its own sake.

 …many also find it useful to learn to simulate some degree of surface conformism in order to mask their inherent unconventionality.

To complicate matters, INTJs are usually extremely private people, and can often be naturally impassive as well, which makes them easy to misread and misunderstand. Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense.

A typical INTJ scrapbooker's layout?

INTJs are idea people. Anything is possible; everything is negotiable. Whatever the outer circumstances, INTJs are ever perceiving inner pattern-forms and using real-world materials to operationalize them. Others may see what is and wonder why; INTJs see what might be and say “Why not?!”

Famous INTJs apparently include Jane Austen, Mr Darcy (oh, hurrah!), and CS Lewis. Interestingly, Barack Obama is an ENTJ, the extrovert version of my personality type. That makes so much sense (that word again) to me. He’s all about change and making things happen. It’s just he’s a lot more of a people person than I will ever be, which is why he will be president and I will not. I think that’s for the best. ; )

Chums, I’d love to know your Myers-Briggs types. It makes communication and understanding so much easier, because you can get your head round how others see the world and how your words will be interpreted. You can take a test here. Please post your type in a comment below.