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OK, it's on.
is it unhealthy to box yourself into a personality type?
- Thread starter lincoln
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Decaf
Professional Amateur
That's possible, but then if that happened it would certainly put a damper in the believability of such a theory.
There's an old proverb that says anyone can do anything for a short period of time. Its only after that time has passed that you can tell if it reflects them or not by how satisfied they are psychologically. OK, so that's not exactly what the proverb says, but its not a crime to paraphrase.
I could do telephone sales for half a day just fine, after which I would have to spend the rest of my life in the hole as I would pose a danger to other people. That being said I could probably do a lot of jobs for much longer, but eventually find that I hate them because they keep me from doing the things that would actually make me happy. That is the whole point of personality theory. To figure out what you fundamentally prefer. Unfortunately when you're talking about fundamentals you're a far cry from behaviors. Integrate about 20 times and you'll be close.
Preference on a fundamental level refers to how your brain prefers to think. An immature brain doesn't have many options, seeming a great deal like a country with one road between the only two cities that anyone thinks are worth a damn. A mature brain has a highway system that still has a capital city, but all the other cities are reachable with a little effort. Once you've figured out what your fundamental thought process preferences are you can compare them to your life and hopefully find some clarity about how you behave. God knows we all do things that make us wonder where that bus came from.
There's an old proverb that says anyone can do anything for a short period of time. Its only after that time has passed that you can tell if it reflects them or not by how satisfied they are psychologically. OK, so that's not exactly what the proverb says, but its not a crime to paraphrase.
I could do telephone sales for half a day just fine, after which I would have to spend the rest of my life in the hole as I would pose a danger to other people. That being said I could probably do a lot of jobs for much longer, but eventually find that I hate them because they keep me from doing the things that would actually make me happy. That is the whole point of personality theory. To figure out what you fundamentally prefer. Unfortunately when you're talking about fundamentals you're a far cry from behaviors. Integrate about 20 times and you'll be close.
Preference on a fundamental level refers to how your brain prefers to think. An immature brain doesn't have many options, seeming a great deal like a country with one road between the only two cities that anyone thinks are worth a damn. A mature brain has a highway system that still has a capital city, but all the other cities are reachable with a little effort. Once you've figured out what your fundamental thought process preferences are you can compare them to your life and hopefully find some clarity about how you behave. God knows we all do things that make us wonder where that bus came from.
Jennywocky
Creepy Clown Chick
Personality seems intrinsic, but type identification can become an excuse not to expand oneself beyond type expectations. That's usually where the problem is most obvious: "I'm an INTP, so I can't be expected to respect social niceties." Riiiiight.
Keep on growin'!
nooli4
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I think it would be unhealthy if you started becoming paranoid that everything you did somehow was related to your personality type and that it could be used to explain everything about you (not that I'm referring to my own experience o_O) because not everyone fits perfectly and completely into one box. Well, that's a half-formed opinion, I need to think about it more first.
Ermine
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Well, in my experience here, I'd say yes. I've always been the way I am, but even more so after I knew how to label and categorize myself. While it's been very helpful knowing I'm INTP, it's all too easy to restrain myself from doing my best, or doing exactly what I want to do. I've definitely conformed to "my type" and I wish I didn't.
Auburn
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It's interesting because I can definitely see how this could happen, and indeed does.
I realized this tendency early on and made an effort not to succumb to it, but instead, used the MBTI to find ways to improve myself. For instance; having better recognized that I have the ability to be extremely self-analytical and critical, I have been able to evaluate my inner self to a very deep level - exposing those parts of me that desperately need refining - and direct my efforts to mature in those inferior areas.
Ermine
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I tend to use my INTP nature to justify my less than satisfying social life, and that's probably not healthy. I could probably do better if I were to invest more time in it.
Vrecknidj
Prolific Member
"Argue for your limitations and sure enough, they're yours."
--Richard Bach
It's possible to get trapped in anything, including a personality type. But, it is far from inevitable.
Dave
--Richard Bach
It's possible to get trapped in anything, including a personality type. But, it is far from inevitable.
Dave
Thread Killer
Never-Around Member
Yes, it's unhealthy. I am personally comfortable portraying myself in a way that merges a few types together so one type has never really defined me. Some people use type as an excuse to behave a certain way. Look at INTPc. It's really a big joke.
Perseus
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It is just a means to an end. It could help people understand you, if they can be bothered. I have never known it to actually work. However, I use personality types to avoid mistakes in relationships. I use the system, but others think they know best. It made it very clear where an important one went wrong. She was an Artisan, but an artist.
My intuition knew, but I was lonely and I tried to make it work, and it didn't.
Madoness
that shadow behind lost
To get to know things why you think the way you are thinking should not unhealthily box you to certain personality type.
Now, that you have some understading about yourself, are you forced to be the way your personality is described or are you yourself anyway, no matter what it says?
If you are now forced to be INTP, then yeah, you are boxed, but again, you are not INTP really to begin with because you are insecure of that way you are being. These kind of questions shouldn't matter, because, first of all, you choose to be yourself and you are not manipulated to act a certain way.
It's good to know who you are right now, but it shouln't force your destiny in the future to act a certain way, therefore knowing you personality type is not unhealthy
what came first, the chicken or the egg?
I do not get the comparison for it.
Hypothetically speaking.
If I am a chicken, then I must have come from an egg. To become to understand I am a chicken, my being is not forced upon myself, I am who I am. The question for what was before I came from don't change the fact that I am a chicken now and probably I would be a chicken in a future.
Now, that you have some understading about yourself, are you forced to be the way your personality is described or are you yourself anyway, no matter what it says?
If you are now forced to be INTP, then yeah, you are boxed, but again, you are not INTP really to begin with because you are insecure of that way you are being. These kind of questions shouldn't matter, because, first of all, you choose to be yourself and you are not manipulated to act a certain way.
It's good to know who you are right now, but it shouln't force your destiny in the future to act a certain way, therefore knowing you personality type is not unhealthy
what came first, the chicken or the egg?
I do not get the comparison for it.
Hypothetically speaking.
If I am a chicken, then I must have come from an egg. To become to understand I am a chicken, my being is not forced upon myself, I am who I am. The question for what was before I came from don't change the fact that I am a chicken now and probably I would be a chicken in a future.
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dbtng_thomas
Active Member
Is it unhealthy? Yes. The Richard Bach quote was quite apropos. The limitations you choose to constrain yourself with will become the boundaries of your world. If you choose to let the weaknesses associated with the INTP profile limit you, you will never get past them.
I've always had the feeling that I choose to be who I am. I gave up religion and other aspects of my withdrawn fantasy existence and chose to begin the process of connecting with the world when I was 12. By the time I was out of high school, I had friends and social activities. Doesn't sound like much of an advance today, but every step along the way was made possible by me beating down the clawing terror of people inside.
After 28 years of practice since that decision, much of my social behavior now appears extroverted. In fact, I test at 25% extrovert now. I give presentations before large or sometimes hostile audiences on a regular basis. The fear is still there in the back of my mind. Sometimes it even comes out and nearly paralyzes me at the podium. Whatever. I face it and get on with business.
I've seen a few perspectives about the INTP profile here. A couple of the younger folks, still coming to terms with who they are, tend to view the profile as a set boundary that defines them. The (slightly older) young adults have a broader perspective and see the profile as a useful tool for self knowledge. Then there are the posters that talk about maturity.
These mentions of maturity resonate with me, because while I test very strongly INTP and completely relate to the descriptions of the profile, I've always known the various negative aspects of INTP as shortcomings, weaknesses, character defects, and challenges to be overcome. A nice neat theory doesn't make them go away, or reduce the need to address them. The answer to these challenges has always been the same. I need to grow up.
I've always had the feeling that I choose to be who I am. I gave up religion and other aspects of my withdrawn fantasy existence and chose to begin the process of connecting with the world when I was 12. By the time I was out of high school, I had friends and social activities. Doesn't sound like much of an advance today, but every step along the way was made possible by me beating down the clawing terror of people inside.
After 28 years of practice since that decision, much of my social behavior now appears extroverted. In fact, I test at 25% extrovert now. I give presentations before large or sometimes hostile audiences on a regular basis. The fear is still there in the back of my mind. Sometimes it even comes out and nearly paralyzes me at the podium. Whatever. I face it and get on with business.
I've seen a few perspectives about the INTP profile here. A couple of the younger folks, still coming to terms with who they are, tend to view the profile as a set boundary that defines them. The (slightly older) young adults have a broader perspective and see the profile as a useful tool for self knowledge. Then there are the posters that talk about maturity.
These mentions of maturity resonate with me, because while I test very strongly INTP and completely relate to the descriptions of the profile, I've always known the various negative aspects of INTP as shortcomings, weaknesses, character defects, and challenges to be overcome. A nice neat theory doesn't make them go away, or reduce the need to address them. The answer to these challenges has always been the same. I need to grow up.
Madoness
that shadow behind lost
Well.... dbtng_thomas, I took the test you posted the link on http://www.intpforum.com/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=1633
My results were
ISTJ56%, ISFJ46%, INFJ73%, INTJ83%, ISTP75%, ISFP53%, INFP65%, INTP87%, ESTP35%, ESFP25%, ENFP52%, ENTP62%, ESTJ43%, ESFJ21%, ENFJ33%, ENTJ55%
But actually, why I'm posting this.
There were these final notes to think about
dbtng_thomas
Active Member
I didn't like that test so much (many of those questions presented what seemed to be false dichotomies to me), but I did like the way it presented results. That cluster format was pretty cool, and seemed more flexible than just giving a single 4 letter code.
I think having an MBTI type is a start to understanding where your areas for growth potential lay. A strict Thinker has more potential for growth in feeling than in thinking, for example. So why not explore that? Over the past 20 yrs, I test out XNXP as often as I test INTP. But that's because I think it's important for me to strive for growth in weak areas.
I think the "unhealthiness" rests in the potential for entrenchment. "I'm a thinker so I don't concern myself with people's feelings" and other such immature mindsets create pathologies. Obviously different personality types manifest different pathologies, but the basic human desire some people have to entrench themselves can be found across types -- regardless of one's awareness of their type.
I think the "unhealthiness" rests in the potential for entrenchment. "I'm a thinker so I don't concern myself with people's feelings" and other such immature mindsets create pathologies. Obviously different personality types manifest different pathologies, but the basic human desire some people have to entrench themselves can be found across types -- regardless of one's awareness of their type.