Surprised By The Results Of A Personality Test

[Orglethorp]

One of the courses I'm taking this semester in university is a preparation for working as an engineer in a multidisciplinary work place. Last week that professor asked us to participate in some surveys, including learning styles, group working styles and personality types.

One of these was the Myers Briggs personality test. I did this before in therapy a few years ago, but I don't remember my results. To be honest, I probably didn't care at the time. This time, my results surprised me. I got ENJP.

I won't define those results. If you're interested you can look it up easily. What surprised me was the E, which indicates that I am more extroverted than introverted. I've always thought of myself as an introvert. Then again, I had an abusive childhood, and I was diagnosed with PTSD at 18. I suppose I'm starting to figure out who I am underneath it all. I'm not disappointed with this result, just surprised.

What do you think? Has anyone else had a similar experience?

 

[WillyKat]

I have a hard time taking personality tests, intelligence tests, and such things too seriously. Every individual is too complex and many of these tests are so tied to the culture that I question their validity. Take the example of a Nobel winning physicist that doesn't speak English very well; they'd score as mentally deficient on a standard IQ test, simply because they don't know English.

And to think there is some certain number of personality types is laughable. If it actually held water, all of us PTSD sufferers would be put through a regimented process to deal with it. I suppose these tests have their place; many employers use the MB test to screen out certain personality types they don't want. Why? Because a lot of corporations don't want anyone creative or that won't blindly do as they are told.

I have taken that same test but don't remember where I ended up. I do remember that I was as puzzled as you are at the results.

 

[jbrowning]

The hands down best class I've ever taken that helped me both professionally and personally was a Ridge Associates People Styles class. Like you, I had a classification that didn’t fit with who I thought I was. The feedback from the survey of people that knew me at work listed me as an ‘amiable’ person. I thought I was a ‘driver’.

I disagreed with the results. It took me time to come to terms with the results but now it makes sense and explains so much about me relating to other people (and the frustration that can occur).

While I think like a ‘driver’, I portray myself as ‘amiable’. It’s not about how I think inside my mind, it’s about how I express it to the world and how other people see me. Could this also be the case with you on the in/extrovert topic?

 

[WillyKat]

If anyone is really interested in taking the Myers Briggs or other tests, you can search the web and take them online. Just under that as Ogelthorp mentioned, you may not like or agree with the outcome.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Oh crap. Employers use those tests?!? I'm very introverted on that scale, but most people don't know at first glance because I can go out in public and socialize and interact with others quite well. I do what I have to do, but at the end of the day I need my me time. With my luck I'd be screened out if I was honest. Then again, those tests are pretty easy to fool if you know what an employer is looking for. (Hint, they always want the extrovert, lol)

 

[Orglethorp]

listed me as an ‘amiable’ person. I thought I was a ‘driver’.

I got exactly the opposite result for that one. I thought I'd come out amiable by a long shot, but it turns out I'm a driver.

 

[twopenny]

I get different results with the Myers Briggs test, depending on my mood when I take it...

 

[WillyKat]

Oh crap. Employers use those tests?!? I'm very introverted on that scale, but most people don't know at first glance because I can go out in public and socialize and interact with others quite well. I do what I have to do, but at the end of the day I need my me time. With my luck I'd be screened out if I was honest. Then again, those tests are pretty easy to fool if you know what an employer is looking for. (Hint, they always want the extrovert, lol)

I should have said "some" but that may even be an exaggeration. It was in vogue for a short period; probably out now.
And you're right, you could probably fool your way through it. Employers do want extroverts.

That reminds me. Someone on this forum mentioned a new book I want to read by Susan Cain called "Quiet": Link Removed

 

[Abstract]

ENFP here. I used to come out as an introvert but now scrape through on extraversion,

These things are more complex than they first appear. We can have introverted thinking and extroverted feeling for example. I think that ties into what jBrowning had to say.

Oh and in many jobs and roles being an introvert is an advantage. Or having a mix. It is also important to differentiate between introversion and shyness/social phobia.

 

[Venusian]

INTJ... Not surprising though, I just found a test on the net and I think it nailed me, even the part about interpersonal relationships that I wish wasn't true.

 

[radicalgratitude]

ENFP here. I used to come out as an introvert but now scrape through on extraversion,

I'm an ENFP too! :) I sometimes wish I had more J qualities (instead of P), but at least it's fun being spontaneous.

 

[Orglethorp]

I got ENJP

Apparently I suck at proof reading when I'm using my iPhone. That should have read ENFJ.

ENFJ means extrovert (vs introvert), intuition (vs sensing), feeling (vs thinking) and judging (vs perceiving).