(*Something an ENFP would do; not an INFP.)
I knew it! I KNEW IT.
The Myers-Brigg personality test. So, you’ve seen people mention it on blogs and such and it just felt like such a commitment to retake the test (who has ten spare minutes?!). So, I never did. But finally my curiosity got the best of me and I said, “Bridget! Take the damn test!” (Jenni’s post was the most recent one I read on the subject.) Basically I remembered being an ENFP in high school. And I just had an inkling that this was no longer the case. I just felt less E. I felt more I. A slow switch somewhere along the way. So, tonight I took it and tonight I got my results: INFP.
I felt so self-satisfied. Pushed myself back from the desk and with a smug smile thought, “You were right Bridget, you were right.”
I didn’t actually do that, but I was glad to have my suspicions confirmed. Is this normal? Do E’s often become I’s? I felt like once an E, always an E. But, that’s not the case. I say, only half in jest, that I became an I when I realized there are a lot of crazy people in this world. I mean a lot of them (seriously, did you know that?). I realized, I’d rather walk from point A to point B keeping my head down and hoping no one sees me. I love going to the mall alone. I love listening to the Braveheart soundtrack (particularly track 17 and at minute 1:50) all by myself with a glass of wine. I am perfectly content to do more of the listening and less of the talking on the phone. Steve can’t imagine going to a movie alone but a matinee by myself? Heaven. Perhaps this is more just side effects of parenting and having a toddler touch you all day long and less some huge personality switch, but nevertheless! For now, INFP!
As an aside, it’s interesting to me to be both a blogger and an apparent introvert. What does this mean? I think we could conduct a study on this. Where are the psych majors?
*On the picture: not one of my brightest moments. This is when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004. I was a freshman at the time and the whole campus was watching the game (if you’re not familiar, it’d been since like 1918 that they’d won. The whole Curse of the Bambino thing. It was a HUGE DEAL in the area at the time. I mean fans were sweating, peeing their pants, the whole nine yards. So anyway, they win, and my friend Karen is like LET’S DRIVE INTO THE CITY. So we did. Insane crowds, dancing, drinking… it was all going down in Boston that night. Looking back it was fun and crazy but like standing in front of the cops in full riot gear in a semi squat with my stupid hang-ten hands? Dumb, Bridget. I don’t think an INFP would do THAT now.
THE PHOTO. OMG. Cracking up, Bridget. CRACKING UP!
BRIDGET IN HER EARLY LATE TEENS WAS A REAL HOOT, EH? 😉
Also, yes. 2004! I remember it well! TOO GOOD!
Myers-Briggs tends to stay pretty stable, but you generally have a pretty big shift somewhere in your mid-20s, once you are finally settling into who you are as an adult. There can always be moderate shifts, and you can go up and down on the spectrum, but I'm not surprised it changed from college to parenthood.
Also, something I recently learned (in case you don't know) is that introversion and extroversion have little-to-nothing to do with socialness and crazyness, like posing for a picture, but instead focuses more on how you recharge your batteries and what drains you.
"I realized, I'd rather walk from point A to point B keeping my head down and hoping no one sees me. I love going to the mall alone. I love listening to the Braveheart soundtrack (particularly track 17 and at minute 1:50) all by myself with a glass of wine. I am perfectly content to do more of the listening and less of the talking on the phone."
This part is where it is evident you are an introvert. Because this is what recharges you. 🙂
they have little to do with socialness?! that is fascinating (i would totally have thought they do). i like your counseling nerd coming out! i find this all very interesting.
haha yeah. actually a lot of the really crazy people at parties can be introverts, because they are maximizing their social time, even though it drains them, but will then go home and crash.
WHAT. that is so interesting. I think i might be a bit (a bit!) of a social introvert as well. but in the right setting……. i suppose i can be a bit crazy too 😉
yeah. i mean everyone displays it differently. but that is more like an added characteristic of being reserved, or sometimes it can be shyness.
my INFJ looks like usually laughing really loud and being crazy at parties if i am energized coming in, but if i am recharge-deficient, then i am more of a wall-flower, people watcher, listener.
This is where my grad student in counseling nerds out. 🙂
I definitely remember this moment in time, pretty sure I have a picture of my step dad that is incredibly similar to yours 🙂 haha. This personality test has always been interesting to me, I score as an E but I sure don't feel like one…I will blame my 3 kids.
yep. like me, you're probably like NO ONE TALK TO ME SPEAK TO ME TOUCH ME LOOK AT ME at the end of the day? parenting! it's makes us I's!
In high school I was an INFJ and I'm now an ENFJ. I'm definitely more extroverted now that I'm of age. 😉
The exact same thing happened to me. ENFP in high school and then after the first few years of college, I knew I had to take it again! AND one point to the I side! Hah. I was so proud. But I'm only 20, so I'm curious what a few more years will do to me.
i have had thoughts on this!!! i haven't taken the test since high school when i was an e-something… but i do think having babes can turn some of your e-ness to i-ness!! i am now definitely more like, settled in my fluffy nest, and less "i'd love to talk a stranger's ear off at a party!" some of my e-ness has also probably turned to a-ness [haha] for apathetic, because so many superficial social things just don't seem as important after having a baby!
Of course we're blog friends – OF. COURSE. I've always fluctuated between ENFP & INFP! I was in student leadership in college for all four years, and I swear they made us take this test every single semester for some reason. (It was a written version and over 100 questions long, I think) Every single time, when it came to the E/I section, there was a one point difference, and that one point could go either way depending on my mood that day, or what was going in my life at the time. One point! My mentors/advisors always gave me tons of info about both personalities, since it was just too close to call. I even took it again recently, and what do you know, I was almost smack dab in the middle. I have never related to either side completely and I was always curious about it. Last year, my psychologist friend told me, "You're totally an Ambivert!" Yep, it's a thing. Ambiverts can go to either side of the E/I spectrum depending on their surroundings, mood, the people they hang out with, certain life changes (like college, having a baby, changing jobs), etc – and Ambiverts can, a lot of the time, see both sides of a situation, argument, or issue really well, because they have such strong characteristics all across the personality board. It's super fascinating, and I finally felt understood! Sometimes I'm such an energetic, assertive, outspoken spaz, while other times I'm like, "LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE WHILE I EAT THESE COOKIES IN BED BY MYSELF AND SLEEP FOR TWENTY HOURS!" I seriously adore being alone and recharging (I love seeing movies by myself – it's the best, right?), but I'm also cool with being around a lot of people and feeling inspired by their energy. It just depends. Definitely read up on Ambiverts, it's pretty cool!
(The Enneagram personalities are fun reads, too – different, but equally fascinating!)
Same here! I test right in the middle one the E/I and am also an NFP. I feel like I go through phases where I'm very E and then periods (or even just situations) where I'm very I. I read a great book recently that talked about how it's a lot more than whether we get our energy from within or without. Introverted brains process things differently than extroverted ones. After reading about the brain theory I think I really am more of an extrovert, but only slightly.
Hey! I'm totally one of these E to I people! I think I'm I because even though I love being around people and entertaining and things, I recharge best when I'm alone with time to myself to do whatever I'd like. 🙂
I've always considered myself an extrovert and taken the tests to prove it. Now with four kids, a demanding vocation, etc. etc. I believe I'd become an introvert. My idea of heaven is being alone for a long stretch of time. I'd go to a movie or out to dinner alone in a heartbeat–in fact an entire holiday by myself. Just me! Plus I'm always so exhausted after spending time at an event with lots of people so for sure I must have become an introvert. But my friend said, "No way are you an introvert. For the past 12 years you haven't had a minute alone, not even to pee, of course your biggest desire is to be alone for long stretches of time. Large groups don't exhaust you. You're exhausted all the time anyhow." I think she's right. Maybe this is the case with you as you pointed out.
I've always considered myself an extrovert and taken the tests to prove it. Now with four kids, a demanding vocation, etc. etc. I believe I'd become an introvert. My idea of heaven is being alone for a long stretch of time. I'd go to a movie or out to dinner alone in a heartbeat–in fact an entire holiday by myself. Just me! Plus I'm always so exhausted after spending time at an event with lots of people so for sure I must have become an introvert. But my friend said, "No way are you an introvert. For the past 12 years you haven't had a minute alone, not even to pee, of course your biggest desire is to be alone for long stretches of time. Large groups don't exhaust you. You're exhausted all the time anyhow." I think she's right. Maybe this is the case with you as you pointed out.
Oh a Luna! That's so great!
http://25.media.tumblr.com/765632a34986b518fb3f82e304cb351c/tumblr_mpwedjbUzm1sr50suo1_r1_1280.jpg
Ha! I remember being able to hear the quad at Gordon from the next town over! I always land between I and E, which I didn't think possible…although, if I had to guess….I have changed to a solid "I" also.
I just finished the book Quiet:
http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153
Highly recommend if you want to know more about the introvert personality. I found it very helpful.
I was ESFJ in high school and am definitely ISFJ now. I think it has to do with being more comfortable in my own skin, not feeling the need for constant attention. I have found that I need my alone time to feel centered. People are surprised that I am an introvert because I love people and usually have fun talking at parties, but it really is all about how you recharge, and for me, I recharge alone!
It's funny that the I and the E seem to shift more than the other letters as we age.
Love the picture!
-Amy
Oh, you can definitely change! Personalities are always changing, and it's very common for your type to change a bit. I love these tests and the discussions around them way way too much. It just absolutely fascinates me.
I personally think with blogging/introvert, it's not such a big thing. Yes, introverts typically don't share as much personally, but your other personality traits can come in. Plus it's scale. Just because you are an I now, doesn't mean that you are extreme or that you always have to do the stereotypical "I" things. I think the internet makes it easier on I's as well. You can kind of skip the small talk. You are able to put yourself out there without having to get through that part which I always think is the hardest part. You aren't bombarded with huge groups of people. Does that make sense?
Thanks for the fun post.
You should read Penelope Trunk's blog(s). She is super interesting and references how MBTI influences many other aspects of life, etc. like career choices and relationships. She also talks about the usefulness of giving children the test around age 9+ and using it to help them decide what they might be interested in, the potential benefits of specializing, etc.
I'm a lifelong INFJ and blogging brings me such a mix of joy and terror. I-want-to-be-private-but-i-have-so-many-feeeeeeelings! I agree with Betsy above – it kind of let's us "I's" cheat by skipping the small talk and the groups.
That picture killed me – I was visiting Gordon when the Sox won and participated in setting a couch on fire (shame! mob mentality! wood hall!) I probably threw up some hang-ten hands as well 😉
-Marri
Haha! I have so much to say about this post because personality tests really get me, but all I can think about is how awesome that photo is. Winning!!
I'm an ENFJ, but with some I tendencies. I love going to matinee movies by myself as well and who doesn't love an Friday evening home alone, spent with a good book or a Meg Ryan movie? I love taking personality tests, but honestly, I don't put a ton of stock in them. Probably because I'm always right in the middle of each characteristic, which either makes me incredibly boring or incredibly variable. (ok, it's boring, haha!)
haha. omg. yes. this picture.
Oh. My. Goodness. Where did you find this?! This photo is everything.
Hang on, was this before or after you dared me to jump out of Karen's SUV and dance on the sidewalk with random people? Actually, I'm an ENFJ so I probably dared myself. Remember they flipped over a dump truck?!
Fellow ENFP here. I have felt the same way in the past couple of years! I feel less energized by being in groups of people. I am pretty sure being a flight attendant did it to me. Having hundreds of people requiring you to be "on" all the time made something in my brain shut down and now I am like I NEED TO GO BE ALONE RIGHT NOW.
You should try reading "Quiet" by Susan Cain – or at the very least, check out her TED talk!
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So I had a split major in college between creative writing and behavioral science. This kind of stuff fascinates me. I took an entire course in college on personalities. Loved it. But the strangest part is, my jaw dropped when I read this today. I thought I was the one weirdo who had changed from an E to I. In high school I was completely E all the way. I took it again recently and was split 50/50 between E and I. I thought about how strange that was that I was clearly shifting from extrovert to introvert, both the test and my life showed the change. Like you I thought once an extrovert always an extrovert. I mean really, who turns into an introvert?! Now this is something I am going to have to study more. The fascinating part was that I am a mixture of the descriptions of both ESFP and ISFP. I read them both thinking either "Yep, that's totally me" or "That's not me at all." Anyway, nice to know there's another convert in the world, I don't feel so alone in my metamorphosis 🙂
As an MBTI certified professional (yes, that exists), I'd caution you on a few things. 1) it's recommended not to take any online test without a certified facilitator debriefing your results. There's just too much science behind the instrument, and it's frequently misunderstood. 2) Type theory says that your personality does not change. But your reported results might. So, when you took the test in high school (which, again if it wasn't taken with a facilitator, might not be the best) were you involved in a lot of social situations that made you act like an E? Alternately, did you really want to be an E thinking that was the way people should be (e.g., Es are fun and outgoing/Is are weird and quiet)and therefore respond to the questions accordingly?
Just some food for thought. In the Step II of the MBTI, you get into the facets of each of the dichotomies which also helps explain why you may have some tendencies of the other pole but believe you're correct in your type.
being an infp also makes you luna lovegood! i dont know if youve seen this floating around the internets:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/765632a34986b518fb3f82e304cb351c/tumblr_mpwedjbUzm1sr50suo1_r1_1280.jpg
but if you find the whole myers briggs thing fascinating and are a harry potter fan, you'll appreciate it. i'm draco malfoy :/
I did this for the second (or third?) time maybe a year ago, and I was teetering on switching from an E to an I. Sometimes I think part of it is just becoming an adult; is that a horrible thing to say? LIke, especially working full time or being home with kids, by the end of the day if I have the choice between going "out on the town" with friends or getting into my pajamas and dozing with some TV and Sean on the couch…. I'm…. kind of going to pick the second 99% of the time.
I'm a psych major, introvert, AND a blogger. And I'm just as baffled as you. 🙂