Earlier this week, I took the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as part of my class and received the results today. Before I get into my personal details, you might want to read up on the MBTI...you've gotta be kidding me if you think I'm going to turn this post into a research paper and do the work for you (
link here).
My results show me to be ISTP.
I- Introversion: People who prefer introversion tend to focus their attention on the inner world of ideas and impressions. (I would have bet that I was mostly introverted, but for the IST, I was pretty close to center mass.)
S- Sensing: People who prefer Sensing tend to take in information through the five senses and focus on the here and now. (I was rated a 'slight' sensor)
T- Thinking: People who prefer Thinking tend to make decisions based primarily on logic and on objective analysis of cause and effect. (I was rated a 'slight' almost moderate thinker)
P- Perceiving: People who prefer Perceiving tend to like a flexible and spontaneous approach to life and prefer to keep their options open. (I was a bit surprised to see that I'm in the "very clear" zone as a perceiver, meaning that I'm spontaneous and like to keep my options open and thrive when I'm under the gun [if you wait 'til the last minute, it only takes a minute!].)
A couple of critiques--I think people can change over time--and we're not necessarily talking about decades or even years. In fact, Studies have found that between 39% and 76% of those tested fall into different types upon retesting some weeks or years later.
For instance, I think I've mellowed and withdrawn some in my old age. When I took the instrument in college (as an RA and as a cadet), I vaguely remember being an "E" which was probably correct. According to the latest readout, I'm only a slight "I" now, and I definitely think of myself as an introvert today.
I imagine that this instrument is extremely susceptible to external factors. For instance, we took this instrument right before lunch. If I was really hungry, or in a rush to go to the men's room, I could see myself putting forth less than my complete and unadulterated attention to filling in the bubbles. At the same time, if I had just gotten into a disagreement with a colleague about work-related stuff, my results certainly would have been different than if I took the instrument totally relaxed.
According to something called the
Keirsey Temperament Sorter, my ISTP-ness corresponds to a "crafter" personality type:
Crafters are tactical operators, concrete in speech and utilitarian in action. In social situations, they are directive and reserved. Crafters are masters at using tools of every type—artistic, technological, martial. Although they are introverts, they are authoritarian in their interactions with others and can be forceful at influencing people. They focus on accomplishing tasks efficiently and skillfully. To master the tool of their interest, ISTPs require a certain degree of seclusion in which to practice. The result is often a virtuosity that other types find difficult to match.
That sounds nice, doesn't it. The article goes on to say that other notable crafters include:
Woody Allen
Lance Armstrong
Michael Douglas
Katharine Hepburn
Michael Jordan
Bruce Lee
Alan Shepard
Chuck Yaeger
Tiger Woods
Here's where I'm a tad skeptical. The MBTI strikes me as a little "touchy-feely" in that it's designed to make you feel good about yourself as a way to help you feel good about others. The names above represent some pretty heavy hitters, and while I can say "MJ and I are both Tar Heels," or "Chuck Yaeger was in the Air Force, too!" or eve, "I ride a bike just like Lance," the fact of the matter is I probably have very little in common with any of those names above.
At the same time, I don't imagine that the names Ted Bundy or Charles Manson or Bernie Madoff--all of whom, presumably, have MBTI-categorizable 'types'-- show up as examples on anyone's lists.
That said, I thought that the exercise was worthwhile. One of the bests takeaways from this class has been attuning our cultural sensitivity and helping us put ourselves in other folks (be they citizens of the countries in which we'll serve or our fellow colleagues or even my spouse's) shoes. I think there's some value in learning a little about how you think to show how others approach challenges and draw their own conclusions. Recognizing that our way isn't the only way is much easier said than done.
