The big lesson of personality types - embracing our differences in a healthy manner - is a great eye-opener for anyone really understanding the concept the first time.
Definitely agree. It is a really cool concept when you first learn about it. The danger is relying on it too much, and trying to push every facet of behavior onto a type or function.
But the 16 types are just a framework for categorization-- so in that sense the fact that it's the number 16 is kinda arbitrary. It could be more, or less, where the same principle applies. There are other typing systems/tests that I find much more provocative than mbti.
I start having problems when people view it as being a very closed system, without leaving room for much variance within type, or without a person conceivably changing over time (yes, that's a generalization too - not everyone thinks these things or views mbti this way). I also think the 16 types are mere caricatures -- I think a lot of people fall somewhere in the middle of one or more types. Even speaking of cognitive functions, I don't personally think one HAS to have a rigid ordering of functions. I think there could be far more than 16 function-orders, and I think there are. Finally, I think it's far too easy to use type as more of a 'crutch' - once one has decided they're a certain type, it's easy to mold to that type, or throw certain functions out the window because they are function number 7 or 8 -- or whatever.
I guess there's many paths to follow upon learning the concept. Celebration of one's own type, perhaps? A celebration of previously personally misunderstood types upon learning they're okay? Arguing the merits of each stance to the point of not caring about it one bit anymore?
I don't think I've ever celebrated my own type, or other types, really, or had huge issues with other types. But yeah, I certainly recognize numerous similarities between myself and other IN's, and many fewer similarities with, say, ES's.
Where do you place yourself on the timeline? Are you relatively new to the concept, or a learned veteran?
I think I'm somewhere in the middle. I know the basics, but I don't find the system useful enough for me to want to dig into it deeper. So yes - most of what I'm writing might come across as completely ignorant to those who do find a lot of usefulness when it comes to personality typing, but it's what I think.
The overall message of typing -- individual differences and each person approaching/processing/valuing things differently -- is the message that is ultimately helpful in the real world, and in relating to others.
What is your take on personality typing? Are you celebrating the differences in wonder, or are you just fed up with everyone and their dog being so unique?
I think there is so much about the human experience that goes beyond 16 types. And I think there are so many other factors that come into play, that it seems a bit silly to me to think billions of people can be pared down to just 16 types. The 16 types, looking at them generally, are helpful. But trying to pinpoint every single human behavior to one function or another...seems rather silly to me.
Does personality typing excite you? Has it become as dull as a phone book?
Personality excites me, but typing doesn't excite me a whole lot anymore.
Are you proud, ashamed or indifferent for being a member of your own type?
I've often posted on here that I'm not sure INFJ is my 'real type'. But taking everything into consideration, and taking my whole life into account, INFJ seems the best fit for me.
However, I can also relate to aspects of many of the other type descriptions, and there are pieces of the INFJ descriptions that don't hit home to me. So if I decided, well, maybe I'm an INFP, or INTJ, etc instead, well...I'd find just as many things about those descriptions that don't ring true for me. This is probably an unavoidable pitfall, though, in trying to classify everyone into one of 16 types -- one description is never going to fit everyone of that type to a T.