We all have ways we like categorizing people. Some of us believe in astrology. Some of us follow the newest “XXX girl” microtrends on social media. Personally, I’m guilty of being obsessed with personality tests. They’re versatile, detailed, and have more depth than many people initially give them credit for.
For example, the Myers-Briggs Personality Test (MBTI) gives users a 4-letter personality type, where each letter is chosen between two options: Introverted or Extroverted (I/E), sensing or intuition (S/N), thinking or feeling (T/F), and judging or perceiving (J/P). I took the test at the start of high school as part of a class assignment, and tested as an INTP. After graduating, I decided to retake the test and ended up being an ESFP instead. The near-180 felt random to me at first, but as I reflected on my development over the years I realized that it made sense. I’ve grown from being a somewhat shy person to feeling energized in social situations. I’ve also become more tuned-in to my emotions and learned to value feelings as much as logic. My MBTI change reflected these changes concisely and helped me to acknowledge them.
Another personality test I love is the enneagram, which sorts users into one of nine personality types based on what their values, goals, and fears are. I’m a 3, also known as “The Achiever,” which is associated with the desire to succeed and provide things of value. The other types are similarly named as “The Helper,” “The Individualist,” “The Challenger,” etc. I like that each of these types have a distinct theme, which in my experience, makes it much easier for people to recognize which category they fit into. The enneagram’s specification on each type’s unique priorities and worries also makes it easier to identify these patterns in yourself.
I’ve undergone a lot of positive self-exploration by researching and reading analyses of my personality types, but I know not everyone feels the same way about them. One major criticism I’ve heard of personality tests is that they’re not black and white ways to define people—even your own results can vary depending on factors such as your mood when you take the test. I think it’s best to see them as a general guide rather than a precise formula; ask yourself which personality type aligns the most with your identity and experiences. It’s not a perfectly balanced equation that always brings accurate results, but rather a way to explore yourself by picking and choosing the aspects that resonate with you.
Overall, I think personality types are a fun and lighthearted way to get to know yourself and others better. Putting a label to your identity is helpful for many people when understanding their place in the world. It’s definitely helped me identify values, strengths, and weaknesses of mine that I may not have initially recognized. I always recommend that everyone give them a try and see where the rabbit hole takes you!
