Myers Briggs Musings
Over the years, I’ve come to realize that Myers Briggs can be useful. And darned interesting. I am now able to admit that one reason I turned down the job at IUPUI in 1999 was because they were so into this (everyone had been tested there as a team building exercise). I do think it can be dangerous to rely solely on one thing like this, as did Isabel Briggs Myers. I mean, yeah, I check my horoscope once in awhile, but I don’t rule my life by it. (Note to self: don’t forget that idea you once had for a chick lit novel about the woman who realizes the best advice she’s getting is from fortune cookies.)
Since first taking the keirsey.com version of the Myers Briggs (MBTI) in the summer of 2000 before I went to the ACRL Immersion program, I occasionally retake it. I am always either an ISTJ or an INTJ, with my S and N close to center, moving to one side or the other depending on how squishy I feel. It must be my inconsistent answer to the question about being honest even if you have to hurt someone’s feelings that tips me back and forth. Seriously, though, having a better understanding of this conundrum of my personality - the battle between logic and emotions that goes on within me, and always has - has been a useful thing for me, particularly as I have progressed in my career and gone deeper and deeper into management and administration.
I am still a librarian at heart, though, and recently did some information gathering on the typology topic. I ran across some interesting studies of librarians, use of typing in the work setting, and discussions of patterns of types in the profession. Bibliography forthcoming (I am on vacation, give me a break).
Of course, this recent foray into the literature was caused by social networking. Back when I first added the “My Type” application to Facebook, I came out strong in the ITJ and slightly N. No surprises. I retook it recently and went ISTJ. Again, no surprise, but had been feeling a bit more steely and so for kicks, took it one more time. And was stunned to come out as ESTP, although all within a percent or two of middle. Weird. I mean, come on: E? Even 1% E? I’m always halfway across to the edge of I. I kept retaking it every few days, and it really seems to think I’m an ISFJ, which just isn’t me. And to compound matters, a colleague had also just added the application and had then checked out the dozen of us librarians who had, and had reported on the trends found in his non-scientific study in his status one day. I couldn’t stand the thought of being incorrectly counted (ahem, am I a J or what?), so I went back to keirsey.com and found other similar sites online, and took several versions over the past few days. I am glad to report I am apparently solidly an ISTJ, regardless of what the Facebook app thinks. Which I have uninstalled.
ISTJ is fine. I am a Pisces after all. Compassion is fine. Until it gets in my way.
But that’s my moon in Scorpio talking.
posted by Beth @ 7:28 AM
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