Is clear preference really desirable?

[placebo]

For those types with X's in their type or for those who have weak preferences in the dichotomies, does it tear you apart when you see people who have very clear preferences for their type (like 100%)? Is it necessary to be confident of what type you are and do you constantly wonder about it?

I want to know if it is really the most ideal to be sure what your preferences are, or if there are advantages to not being sure.

When I first took MBTI almost 5 years ago I got ISTP. Then INTP. And then I was almost sure I was an INFP if not ISFP. And I scored ISFJ ISTJ INFJ INTJ along the way as well. I don't know if adolescence has anything to do with it (would it?), but it kind of drives me mad. Should it? Should I try to get a clear preference, or is it actually really awesome not to have a clear preference, or is it irrelevant?

 

[Mondo]

I agree, as someone who is unsure of his own type- I don't think it is possible to have a 100% preference for a certain half of a dichotomy.

No human being is completely devoid of introversion or extraversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, and judging or perceiving. Unless, you are a Vulcan,

 

[nozflubber]

I think no clear preference is desirable, makes you enigma-like and let's you fill in the blanks or even hybridize the types. Clear preference is only desirable for ease of have to decide "who you are" etc.

 

[sarah]

For those types with X's in their type or for those who have weak preferences in the dichotomies, does it tear you apart when you see people who have very clear preferences for their type (like 100%)? Is it necessary to be confident of what type you are and do you constantly wonder about it?

I want to know if it is really the most ideal to be sure what your preferences are, or if there are advantages to not being sure.

When I first took MBTI almost 5 years ago I got ISTP. Then INTP. And then I was almost sure I was an INFP if not ISFP. And I scored ISFJ ISTJ INFJ INTJ along the way as well. I don't know if adolescence has anything to do with it (would it?), but it kind of drives me mad. Should it? Should I try to get a clear preference, or is it actually really awesome not to have a clear preference, or is it irrelevant?

All a "clear preference" really means is that you've read some good-quality literature on the subject of type and temperament, and you've given a lot of thought to which pattern fits you overall. It's the pattern that counts, not the details in the type descriptions, and not test results.

Adolescence probably makes finding your best fit type rather confusing, because you're already trying to establish an identity (regardless of type) and feel flexible enough to try on a number of different "ways of being".

I think whether or not you know your best type fit isn't something to be really concerned about to the point of feeling upset. But if you want to explore more about type, I highly recommend anything written by Linda Berens and/or Dario Nardi. Their writing seems to be the clearest, and their descriptions the most accurate (because they actually interview people of all 16 types and use those people's words in the descriptions, rather than relying on guesses or imagination).

www.bestfitttype.com. Check it out!

 

[Orangey]

www.bestfitttype.com. Check it out!

Too many t's in the URL.

 

[placebo]

All a "clear preference" really means is that you've read some good-quality literature on the subject of type and temperament, and you've given a lot of thought to which pattern fits you overall. It's the pattern that counts, not the details in the type descriptions, and not test results.

Adolescence probably makes finding your best fit type rather confusing, because you're already trying to establish an identity (regardless of type) and feel flexible enough to try on a number of different "ways of being".

I think whether or not you know your best type fit isn't something to be really concerned about to the point of feeling upset. But if you want to explore more about type, I highly recommend anything written by Linda Berens and/or Dario Nardi. Their writing seems to be the clearest, and their descriptions the most accurate (because they actually interview people of all 16 types and use those people's words in the descriptions, rather than relying on guesses or imagination).

www.bestfitttype.com. Check it out!

Thanks~ I have been to that site many times, and it is one of the more helpful ones but I still find myself relating to a few different types, mainly a difference between NF and NT. I've read a lot of stuff from a lot of sites, over a good period of time, which is why I have chosen INFP, but I still don't show a clear preference for it consistently, so I don't think it has to do with that exactly.

 

[sarah]

Too many t's in the URL.

Aaah! Thanks for spotting that. Here's the link:

Best-Fit Type : Exploring the Multiple Models of Personality Type

By the way , have you seen this cognitive processes test? Perhaps it might help...

Keys 2 Cognition - Cognitive Processes

 

[entropie]

For those types with X's in their type or for those who have weak preferences in the dichotomies, does it tear you apart when you see people who have very clear preferences for their type (like 100%)? Is it necessary to be confident of what type you are and do you constantly wonder about it?

I want to know if it is really the most ideal to be sure what your preferences are, or if there are advantages to not being sure.

When I first took MBTI almost 5 years ago I got ISTP. Then INTP. And then I was almost sure I was an INFP if not ISFP. And I scored ISFJ ISTJ INFJ INTJ along the way as well. I don't know if adolescence has anything to do with it (would it?), but it kind of drives me mad. Should it? Should I try to get a clear preference, or is it actually really awesome not to have a clear preference, or is it irrelevant?

To be honest I think there are a lot of people who rather do not take typology adventures. It could only confuse them more.

 

[Jeffster]

Yes, dammit. Pick one and get on with your life!

 

[placebo]

To be honest I think there are a lot of people who rather do not take typology adventures. It could only confuse them more.

like me, right

Yes, dammit. Pick one and get on with your life!

Well see, I think I'm an INFP. That might have something to do with it

 

[nightning]

Typing doesn't matter as much as you as a person. I'd say showing clear preference does not matter unless you're interested in putting people in bins.

 

[ajblaise]

I have really clear preferences, and I think MBTI can be more interesting to those with some strong preferences.

I see a lot of people on this site changing their type frequently. I don't see how type preference can be that unclear, unless you really are near the 50/50 mark or if you don't understand your personality quite well enough.