Monday, April 14, 2008

The I of ISJT

It's official; I'm an ISTJ — Introverted-Sensing-Thinking-Judging —because personality.info has told me so. I've been meaning to take the test for years but alway found a reason to demure, mainly, I suspect, because the site wants you to register in order to take this little quiz and get the results. You see, I had been there previously, maybe more than once, but was off-put by this requirement. Finally, however, after KGMom's recent piece, I decided to forge ahead, regardless. What I found wasn't a particularly stunning revelation. I mean to say, one should know oneself fairly well after dwelling on this blue planet for six decades. I've posted the results are below and will ruminate upon them further down.

Click to view my Personality Profile page

By George, I really am an introvert!! That's no surprise but the degree to which they have me pegged might give one pause. However, I could pretty well tell whenever they were asking an introvert/extravert (sic: they say extravert rather than extrovert) question. When there's only two choices, however, I found myself having to chose the inny response every time: hence the 100%. But that might leave the impression that I am a total recluse, fit only to dwell on a mist-shrouded mountain top, and such is not quite the case.

However, when I regard the list of introvert traits, it's just about bang on, so the test must be pretty darn accurate: energized by time alone; private; keeps to self; quiet; deliberate; internally aware; fewer friends; prefer smaller groups; independent; not socially inclined; enjoys solitude; thinks before speaking. My main caveat would be the part about enjoying solitude. To some degree it's true, and I suspect more so with me than many others, but I also like to have my loved ones around. A few hours of solitude manages to fill my need for alone time quite well, thank you very much. Mind you, when Cuppa and I are together in the house, we each tend to be off doing our one thing, so that's a type of solitude. However, I do find it comforting to know that she's there and that I can find her and greet her as often as my little heart desires. Which is sometimes quite often. Oddly enough that need for contact is more true for me than it is for her, who is supposedly more extraverted.

I think I'll stop there today and perhaps get back to the S, J and T in a subsequent post. Meanwhile, if you're new here, I have blogged about introversion previously: Introversion, and I'm an Innie. There may be some halfway useful information in those posts if you happen to be interested in this topic.

12 comments:

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

When I took this test I kept wondering if I was aswering the questions how I really thought or how I like to have people see me?

I think I am, in reality, more sociable than, I like to have people think.

Your classification is very interesting.

Valerie - Still Riding Forward said...

Whoops! Didn't mean to show up here with my mask on!

Thanks for hunting me down.

I forget what this test told me but I wasn't happy with it, either. I always need that D.) None of the above - to find the answer that is true for me.

:)

ChrisB said...

I think if I did this I might end up similar to you~ now am I going to go to the bother of registering just to find out! Actually, I think I did a similar thing on a training course when I was at work, I wonder if I still have it!

Ginger said...

I would have definitely guessed you to be an ISTJ, (have done this test with lots of people), so it doesn't surprise me at all. Have you read the personality description? I like the fact that no personality type is negative or positive in the Myers-Briggs Types, but is just what it is.

Pearl said...

wow, humdinger. I've never seen someone get a pure 100% introverted. I swing alternately each time I take it.

Heather Plett said...

I've done the test several times, including a couple of times with professional MBTI consultants (for leadership training). I used to always come out as an extrovert, but then in recent years, started tipping over to the innie side of things. I think my overly extroverted life (as a professional communicator and a mom) has made me crave alone time.

mreddie said...

I wonder if one can be an extrovert and still really enjoy being alone? ec

Anonymous said...

I haven't done the test yet.. but your post has me curious. I tend to be quite content within my introverted skin but it might be interesting to see what else it has to say.

Gina said...

Given the choices, I too will a lot of the time go introvert, because I can never say "I will ALWAYS choose to go to a party over staying at home." or some such thing. It's usually an all or nothing proposition on those tests, which doesn't suit me.

Sue said...

The online tests aren't necessarily accurate - it's not always obvious exactly what the questions mean. I used to test as ISTJ on some of the online tests, too, but I started reading the books ("Please Understand Me II" by David Keirsey is excellent, for instance) and got involved in an online discussion group, and eventually realised my type is actually INFJ. Like you, I was never in any doubt as to my introversion!

Even the official MBTI is supposedly only about 75% accurate, and the online abridged versions are even less so, although they can give some idea.

If you're interested in exploring more, the best site on the topic IMO is http://www.bestfittype.com/ - it doesn't have a test, but some excellent explanations, and really good descriptions.

Janet said...

I have taken this several times (never online) and came through as INFP until after age 30, when it changed to ENFP. I haven't taken it in about 10 years so it will be interesting to see what, if anything, has changed.

Norma said...

I took this about 20 years ago and as I recall was ESTJ, but the E & I were pretty close. You're so off the chart with your I I'm surprised you're social enough to bare your soul on your blog!