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| Thread: Self actualization |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 · NEXT» |
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Nidhgrin
Honorable
Famous Hero
baking cookies from stardust
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posted August 08, 2006 12:48 PM |
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Edited by Nidhgrin at 14:42, 20 Oct 2006.
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Self actualization
All of my life I have been interested in philosophy and psychology. Probably because my default behaviour is one of wonder, always questioning facts that are presented to me - even those brought to me by my five senses. Looking for the meaning behind things, rather than the purpose. Searching for the connection between things and trying to see or understand where I fit into the big picture. It's a way of life, and it's a journey that will never end.
There are difficulties with an attidude like this, in that I rarely ever take things for granted. When looking at things from a distance like that I may miss or even ignore facts that are obvious to anyone else. For a long time I've not really been able to complete or finish things I've started as a result, because as soon as the details started to bore me there were always other mysteries to unfold, and I threw myself at those with the same enthusiasm as I started previous projects. It's hard to apply judgement to situations or people too, because depending on the angle you look at them, the conclusion may be completely different.
I've always been a bit envious of people who do not (have to) ask so many questions about everything and everyone, and I imagined how much more simple and easy life must be if you can just live, and take things as they come. Thruth is though, I'd miss seeing the connections between things and the ability to know/feel things long before the facts make it obvious. Life would be pretty empty with just the information provided by my five senses, and for me life would be very dull.
It remains fascinating to see how differently the world and our existance are perceived by every individual though. Culture and religion play a role there, but more importantly there is a little image of that world in each of our minds. Though there are large similarities, none of those images are exactly alike. Realizing this makes you relativate your own personal world view because there is no wrong or right that can be applied to all people.
But enough introduction for now. Almost a year ago I accidentally ran into the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It's a way to define different personality types, and there are several adequate online tests, some of which are free. I took one of those tests at that time and it typed me slightly wrong. The results were interesting but my first reaction was that the information I was given to read didn't really describe who I thought I was, and that this was just another personality test. A little while later at a drink after work, MBTI came up for some reason and a colleague typed me somewhat differently than how the test had. Remembering the test, I took it again a few days after that, and indeed the result was as my colleague had guessed. The results I got to read then were absolutely mindblowing. This time my first reaction was, this is me, it's as if I wrote this. From there I started reading more about 'my type' and I actually have a better understanding of myself today, than I did a year ago. I can blindlessly identify my strengths and weaknesses , which types of tasks at work I will like and which ones will be draining, and even which kinds of people I get along with better or those I don't cooperate well with.
MBTI is not an exact science, and it should never be more than a tool to gain a better understanding of yourself and other people. With only 16 types, it's obvious that many people will not fit so tightly into that box as I do for instance and that there are many sub-types, which are not really defined. Critics point out that very few of MBTI has proved empirically, but from my own experience I'd say proven or not it can be very valuable. In the last half year I've resolved some interpersonal conflicts that had been going on for quite a while and made a major promotion at work, by solliciting for a position where my best skills are most useful and by just being myself. From a job as programmer and technical project leader over a small project, I've moved to being software release manager of the largest governmental organization to provide work and job-training in Belgium. Not bad for a guy who is not even 27 yet, and though it's still very hard at times, I love the job in all of its aspects. No more sitting behind my desk for hours straight spitting code, but interacting with people and organizing/improvising and trying to improve the way we work and manage our resources.
All that because of MBTI? Of course not, but why keep doing draining work all day, or repetitively clashing with certain people when there is a guide suggesting a series of professions/preferences that are most suited for your type, as well as situations that are potentially fatiguing or damaging and how to deal with those. Again, it's not more than a guideline, but it helped me to avoid making certain bad choices, and inspired me to make some others that turned out well.
Those of you who know Maslow's hierarchy of needs, will know self knowledge is a path to self actualisation. MBTI can be used as a tool to help you with that. I invite you all to find out your type, but before you do I want to stress that there are no bad types, or types that are worse than others. There are 16 'different' types, and that's what makes life so colorful.
Your mood and mindset may influence your test results, and it's important to answer the questions from the perspective of who you are, or think to be, and NOT who you would like to be. If you're interested, it might be best to take one test, then wait for a week and take another test, perhaps take one a week after that again to see if the results are consistent and not affected by your mood at a certain moment. If you're uncertain about your type it might help to read some of the type descriptions that are similar to the type result you got. The tests are not a 100% accurate, and since most tests are in English, for non native speakers, misunderstanding of the questions may affect your results.
My MBTI type is ENFP by the way, probably some ethical subtype, and most descriptions fit me good to very good.
Some free online tests:
- (rating: good) http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
- (rating: good) http://similarminds.com/jung.html
- (rating: adequate) http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/mmdi-re/mmdi-re.htm
- (rating: adequate) http://www.personalitytest.net/types/index.htm
Some useful links on MBTI:
- (great un-theoretical approach) http://www.bestfittype.com/
- (very nice focus on strengths and weaknesses) http://www.personalitypage.com/index.html
- (interesting focus on careers) http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/mb-types/mb-types.htm
- (good, though quite theoretical) http://typelogic.com/
- (nice overview) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBTI
- (rather general) http://www.personalitytest.net/types/descriptions/
- (rather vague and general) http://keirsey.com/matrix.html
- (rather shallow) http://www.personalitytype.com/index.html
- (rather crappy) http://www.sixteenflavors.com/
If you're too lazy to read, you can ask me questions as well, though I can't guarantee my answers will be as correct or useful as the information written by professionals that you can find on the sites above. Have fun! 
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Frick
Known Hero
and eternal n00b.
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posted August 09, 2006 09:19 AM |
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Did the two first tests and got first ENTP and later INTP.. I'll get back later.
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Hey you, see me, pictures crazy, all the world I've seen before me passing by
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kookastar
Honorable
Legendary Hero
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posted August 09, 2006 09:33 AM |
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I did the first one, and it said I am:
ENFJ
You are:
slightly expressed extrovert (1%)
moderately expressed intuitive personality (38%)
distinctively expressed feeling personality (75%)
slightly expressed judging personality (11%)
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russ
Promising
Supreme Hero
blah, blah, blah
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posted August 09, 2006 05:40 PM |
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I have no idea why, but my intuitive personality was REALLY high - almost 80.
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Celfious
Promising
Legendary Hero
From earth
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posted August 09, 2006 07:12 PM |
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Edited by Celfious at 19:14, 09 Aug 2006.
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You find it difficult to talk about your feelings
YES NO some of them i cant identify. Some I have no trouble seeing at all, others I would rather not talk about but could if I had to with discomfort.
You feel at ease in a crowd
YES NO sometimes, -but not always for the same reason-, yes, sometimes no
ect ect
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What are you up to
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Khaelo
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Underwater
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posted August 09, 2006 10:04 PM |
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Humanmetrics.com says I'm INFJ:
Introvert 100%
Intuitive 38%
Feeling 12%
Judging 44%
My high school administered the official Myers-Briggs test, where they mail the results and everything. It came out very close to these on-line versions, only with more questions and money involved.  By the way, types can change over time. I used to be INTJ pretty consistently.
____________
 Cleverly
disguised as a responsible adult
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mvassilev
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted October 29, 2007 02:57 AM |
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INTJ
Introverted 67
Intuitive 100
Thinking 88
Judging 67
When I took that test when I was younger (maybe 10), I got ISTJ.
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Eccentric Opinion
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Nidhgrin
Honorable
Famous Hero
baking cookies from stardust
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posted October 29, 2007 08:01 PM |
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Quote:
When I took that test when I was younger (maybe 10), I got ISTJ.
That's odd. Generally secondary functions develop at a later age, which could explain difficulty to distinguish between an INTJ and an INFJ profile. Though ISTJ and INTJ share some characteristics they are very very different in behaviour.
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Dingo
Responsible
Legendary Hero
God of Dark SPAM
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posted October 30, 2007 10:28 PM |
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Extroverted (E) 64.71%
Sensing (S) 56.1%
Thinking (T) 67.57%
Judging (J) 62.5%
Took one of these tests about 6 months ago, that one was a bit more indepth and took 20 minutes or so. I had nearly the same results except I had a 50/50 on Sensing/Intuitive. Interesting stuff.
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The Above Post/Thread/Idea Is CopyRighted by, The Dingo Corp.
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Moonlith
Bad-mannered
Supreme Hero
If all else fails, use Fiyah!
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posted October 31, 2007 03:20 PM |
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Edited by Moonlith at 16:03, 31 Oct 2007.
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Nidhgrin, reading your first paragraphs I'm tempted to think I am the same as you I like to call myself an "observer" rather than a "player" as I find more joy in looking at things from different angles, as well experiencing it's hard to draw a single conclusion. I like to watch rather than participate, often envying people who have distinctive personalities as I think my own is rather dull, and especially IRL I tend to think I'm not that expressive.
Thinking a lot about various things can be very fun, but at the same time it leaves you with that kind of feeling that you just don't fit in, and often wished you were simpler of mind.
I'll try those tests you posted *loves doing tests*
Edit: Apparently I'm an INTP: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INTP
Which I kind of disturbing given the fact it lists mostly jobs as Science, Law, and Architecture, which DEFINATELY aren't my thing. I'm really not that keen on precision in such things
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Nidhgrin
Honorable
Famous Hero
baking cookies from stardust
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posted November 01, 2007 11:50 AM |
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Edited by Nidhgrin at 11:51, 01 Nov 2007.
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@ Dingo:
Being an ESTJ (assuming the test results are right), means your dominant skill is extraverted thinking, and your auxiliary is introverted sensing. Oftenly I find it easier to identify extraverted skills (in other people) because they're more visible - as they interact with the outer world. Introverted skills only reveal theirselves indirectly, through actions or words.
The tertiary function of an ESTJ would be extraverted intuition. In short that's all about seeing and experiencing patterns and possibilities between things you see in the outer world.
From as far as I know you, an ESTJ profile could fit you. If the other test you took gave you a 50/50 result on sensing/intuiting, you might also be an ENTJ (more common type on the internet than ESTJ by the way). An ENTJ's secondary function is introverted intuition, and the third extraverted sensing. The latter is all about experiencing all there is to experience with your five senses in the outer world, and actively seeking out activities that stimulate those 5 senses.
@Moonlith
My brother's an INTP, and I generally get along with INTP's pretty well because they're so cerebral  They're one of the only types I know you can have conceptual discussions with (sometimes even just for the sake of brainstorming, without a purpose) that last hours on end.
Not all INTP's are into science though. My brother did have good grades at school for all his science classes, and is vaguely interested in them. He studied German languages in the end, and now analyzes language evolution patterns for his thesis. Another INTP I know at work is into informatics. I believe INTP's can master any study matter if they put their mind to it. Especially if it's a matter providing substantial amount of depth, and intellectual difficulty to master. INTP's love to get to the bottom of difficult problems and analyze the crap out of things
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Mytical
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Chaos seeking Harmony
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posted November 01, 2007 12:02 PM |
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Enfp and InFp seem to be the general outcome of these. Think they should put a Chaotic nature in there though. After all, my moods change on a whim sometimes.
____________
Message received.
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Nidhgrin
Honorable
Famous Hero
baking cookies from stardust
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posted November 01, 2007 12:20 PM |
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ENFP and INFP share the same 4 preferred functions, and are very similar profiles. ENFP's use extraverted intuition as their dominant function, introverted feeling as auxiliary, extraverted thinking as tertiary and introverted sensing as inferior. INFP's use introverted feeling as their dominant function, extraverted intuition as auxiliary, introverted sensing as tertiary and extraverted thinking as inferior function.
I know ENFP's who are far more extraverted than I am. A good way to determine whether your main focus is introverted or extraverted is to think about whether you'd rather stay home with family or partner for 5 days in a week, and mainly do stuff on your own, then spend two days going out, meeting people and friends, going to parties - or rather go out for 5 days per week, meet people and friends, and go to parties, and stay home with family or partner for 2 days in a week.
ENFP's are the most random and chaotic type. All ENFP's I know have ADD/ADHD symptoms and an almost undepletable amount of energy. They have a very child-like enthusiasm over them, which luckily more oftenly carries other people away, than repulse them. INFP's are similar, but less shallow in my experience, and not weird quite as often as ENFP's. My cousin is an INFP, and one of my best friends. If one type should be a stereotype for poets, INFP would be it
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Moonlith
Bad-mannered
Supreme Hero
If all else fails, use Fiyah!
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posted November 01, 2007 12:29 PM |
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About conceptual discussions, that depends
I can spend hours pondering about creature lineups, magic systems and combat systems for games like Heroes of Might n Magic, just for the fun of it without caring wether it ever gets realized or not, even though the latter would obviously be an amazing plus.
But I definately don't care for boring soul-killing jobs that involve subjects like science, law and language. So, yeah, I'm confused xD
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Mytical
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Chaos seeking Harmony
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posted November 01, 2007 12:29 PM |
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Then although I do have a rather short attention span (Something like a gnats, one of the gnats that the others think has a short attention span hehe) INFP deffinately suits me better. At least at home. On the net and at work I am more ENFP. Just a bit shy most of the time. I don't hesitate to speak my mind, especially to my bosses, but stink at 'chit chat' in person. Debates? I love philosophical or theoretical debates, but loose interest quickly if it seems I am just hitting my head on a wall.
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Message received.
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Nidhgrin
Honorable
Famous Hero
baking cookies from stardust
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posted November 01, 2007 12:55 PM |
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Edited by Nidhgrin at 12:56, 01 Nov 2007.
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Quote:
I can spend hours pondering about creature lineups, magic systems and combat systems for games like Heroes of Might n Magic, just for the fun of it without caring wether it ever gets realized or not, even though the latter would obviously be an amazing plus.
From what you say here I'd say you like using extraverted intuition, and you don't have a judging personality. That probably means you have an xNxP profile, which could mean ENTP, INTP, ENFP or INFP... Might help to read some profiles on those 4 types and see which one matches best.
Quote:
Then although I do have a rather short attention span (Something like a gnats, one of the gnats that the others think has a short attention span hehe) INFP deffinately suits me better. At least at home. On the net and at work I am more ENFP. Just a bit shy most of the time. I don't hesitate to speak my mind, especially to my bosses, but stink at 'chit chat' in person. Debates? I love philosophical or theoretical debates, but loose interest quickly if it seems I am just hitting my head on a wall.
Introverted feeling and a certain shyness go hand in hand in my opinion. You feel so strongly about so many things, that you figure other people will capture your emotions by looking at your facial expressions, gestures and the intonation of your voice (just like you can with other people). Because of that, you hold back a little and feel somewhat shy (because you don't want to reveal everything you think or feel to everyone - especially people you don't know well). Thruth is though, most people barely pick up the amount of non verbal communication as you do, and they don't have a clue as to how you feel about something or someone That thought helps me to behave more naturally.
On the internet there is no non verbal information (aside from what you pick up between the lines), so that could explain why you have more confidence talking to strangers? At work you're in a controlled environment as well, where you have probably built up knowledge and skills in your field of expertise, and generally work with the same colleagues which you have learned to thrust.
Personally I think being shy is a million times better than being blunt Oh, and ENFP's and INFP's both have disastrously short attention spans, and can experience multiple lines of thought/feeling simultaneously (even xNFP men).
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mvassilev
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted November 01, 2007 01:03 PM |
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I think that the INTJ description is pretty accurate for me.
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Eccentric Opinion
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Moonlith
Bad-mannered
Supreme Hero
If all else fails, use Fiyah!
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posted November 01, 2007 01:05 PM |
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Edited by Moonlith at 13:09, 01 Nov 2007.
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I have a feeling I'm quite the same like that, INFP or ENFP I am a bit thwarted with the F-T thing since I do like philosophical discussions and the like, thinking about life and human behavior, but I also recognize, like Mr.above-from-me, that I do worry a lot about the way I come across, that I don't give the wrong non-verbal impression.
Meh, talking about stuff like this makes me feel so self-centered xD
I'm definately INxP though. Ironicly that test claimed a 50% preference for T... Which somehow is right but a lot of the stuff on INFP fits me quite well too.
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Nidhgrin
Honorable
Famous Hero
baking cookies from stardust
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posted November 01, 2007 05:16 PM |
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Quote:
I'm definately INxP though. Ironicly that test claimed a 50% preference for T... Which somehow is right but a lot of the stuff on INFP fits me quite well too.
INFP's and INTP's behave in similar ways, but I can imagine interally they think or feel in completely different ways. Which generally helps when you're not convinced of which type fits you best, is wait for a few days, and then try another test - or the same one over again.
Reading some more descriptions about both types might help as well. Also, when filling in a test, try to be who you are - not who you'd want to be. There are no good and there are no bad types. Each of the types has their own strengths and weaknesses
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JoonasTo
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
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posted November 01, 2007 10:26 PM |
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INTJ
INTJs generally have the following traits:
* Able to absorb extremely complex theoretical and complex material
* Driven to create order and structure from theoretical abstractions
* Supreme strategists
* Future-oriented
* See the global, "big picture"
* Strong insights and intuitions, which they trust implicitly
* Value their own opinions over others
* Love difficult theoretical challenges
* Bored when dealing with mundane routine
* Value knowledge and efficiency
* Have no patience with inefficiency and confusion
* Have very high standards for performance, which they apply to themselves most strongly
* Reserved and detached from others
* Calm, collected and analytical
* Extremely logical and rational
* Original and independent
* Natural leaders, but will follow those they can fully support
* Creative, ingenious, innovative, and resourceful
* Work best alone, and prefer to work alone
Quite fitting, expected result. I haven't always been like this. I used to gwt angry very easily when I was a kid. Now I don't get angry easily but if I do you don't wanna be near me. I was also very emotional and I still am but nowadays I just suppress my feelings. This also goes for my competetive heart. One thing that can't be seen from this is that I have some sort of a flawed consience when it comes to caring for others. It creates situations every day.
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DON'T BE A NOOB, JOIN A.D.V.E.N.T.U.R.E.
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