Hello everyone I've had a hard time figuring out my type and finally decided that I'm probably Ni-dominant, but now am not sure whether I'm an INTJ or INFJ, so I've done one of the questionnaire thingies. If you have any thoughts on what type I seem like, I'd appreciate hearing them!
0. Is there anything that may affect the way you answer the questions? For example, a stressful time, mental illness, medications, special life circumstances? Other useful information includes sex, age, and current state of mind.
Social anxiety I guess. I'm home from college for the time being and not going out a lot, so it's not affecting me too much right now, but it got pretty bad in the spring. I'm 21, female, not in a terrible state of mind.
1. Click on this link: Flickr: Explore! Look at the random photo for about 30 seconds. Copy and paste it here, and write about your impression of it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackknight1/13031713924/in/explore-2014-03-09
This is so cool! I love ruins and old dilapidated places. Where is this? I want to explore it. It makes me feel like something solemn should have occurred here long ago. What are the people pointing at?
2. You are with a group of people in a car, heading to a different town to see your favourite band/artist/musician. Suddenly, the car breaks down for an unknown reason in the middle of nowhere. What are your initial thoughts? What are your outward reactions?
Initial thoughts: oh shit oh shit. Well, at least we pulled off the road safely. How much time have we got? Does anyone here know anything about cars? Why have I never bothered learning anything about cars?
Outward reactions: I tend not to react strongly to things, especially negative events. It annoys me when people freak out over things that just happen - that's not helping.
3. You somehow make it to the concert. The driver wants to go to the afterparty that was announced (and assure you they won't drink so they can drive back later). How do you feel about this party? What do you do?
Ehhhhh. What is happening at this party? I don't know these people. There's alcohol though. I don't even like alcohol, just the idea of it. Meh. I'll probably go along reluctantly and sit in a corner and watch people.
4. On the drive back, your friends are talking. A friend makes a claim that clashes with your current beliefs. What is your inward reaction? What do you outwardly say?
Sometimes I can ignore this kind of thing, sometimes I can't. If it really bothers me, and if I'm comfortable talking to this friend, maybe I'll argue with them. I don't generally like debating with people because I can't think on my feet at all (debating in writing is a lot easier) and it's worse if I'm nervous or self-conscious around the person. I also don't feel too comfortable asserting myself or talking about my beliefs in front of others, partially out of fear that they'll try to draw me into a debate and I'll freeze up and look stupid. This might be the social anxiety talking.
5. What would you do if you actually saw/experienced something that clashes with your previous beliefs, experiences, and habits?
Depends what this thing is. If it's interesting, I would pay attention at the very least, maybe enjoy it, probably think it over later. If not, I'd probably ignore it. If I don't like something, but don't find it morally objectionable, I mostly pay no attention to it... there's no point in getting worked up over it.
6. What are some of your most important values? How did you come about determining them? How can they change?
Ummmm. No particular order:
1. The most important human right is the freedom to live however you want provided you're not hurting anyone else. LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE.
2. People should have the right to go and live any place on this planet they want. Countries are artificial and nationalism is harmful.
3. Teachers are incredibly important. It's shameful that lawyers and CEOs are more highly valued in the US than teachers are.
4. There are usually good arguments on all sides of an issue; research before you judge.
5. It's common courtesy to not make stereotype-based assumptions about people before you know them.
There are more, but I'm getting depressed thinking about this, so I'm going to stop listing. I don't know how I come by my values, they just form by themselves after a long period of thinking stuff over and sifting ideas through my mind. I don't like forming definite stances on too many things though (see #4 ) and I know there are gray areas and problems with the things I listed. If I think about it too much, or try to debate any of these things with people, I start doubting myself and then I don't know what I stand for anymore, and that's not pleasant. My values are always subject to change and sometimes I add new ones, but the process is more like water eroding a rock than an overnight earthquake. I need to understand an issue before I can form a stance on it.
7. a) What about your personality most distinguishes you from everyone else? b) If you could change one thing about you personality, what would it be? Why?
a) I don't know how to answer this question. I think a lot more than most people seem to, I guess. I'm the quietest and most reserved person I know.
b) I want to stop being so damn scared of everything. Also, I'd like to stop being so self-conscious. It gets to the point where I censor myself or adjust my personality to fit the people I'm with, and I hate doing that.
8. How do you treat hunches or gut feelings? In what situations are they most often triggered?
I generally listen to them, though sometimes I put too much trust in them. For instance, sometimes I go out and randomly have the thought that maybe the house is burning down, and it causes genuine anxiety till I get back to the house, which is perfectly fine. Sometimes I'll tell myself stories about things that are going to happen in the future (relative to where I am now), from the perspective of myself when these things have already happened (if that makes sense) and sometimes these things really do happen. My favorite instance of this was when I was making up a story to myself during my freshman year of college, telling myself that a friend and I would finally get together in the spring of our junior year, even though we were nowhere close to dating at the time. Lo and behold, we did get together junior year (and by then, it was about time) - though it was fall, so my prediction was slightly off.
Any gut feelings I have just turn up randomly, unfortunately. I can't control them. I also seem to make better predictions when I'm letting my brain ramble instead of forcing it.
9. a) What activities energize you most? b) What activities drain you most? Why?
a) When I'm trying to learn something, and it "clicks" and all the pieces fall into place, that is one of the greatest feelings I know. Listening to music can be very energizing when I concentrate on it fully. I dunno. I'm not a super high-energy person.
b) Being around people, especially if I have to talk to them. Trying to understand something new and just not getting it.
10. What do you repress about your outward behavior or internal thought process when around others? Why?
Being around other people doesn't make me repress my thoughts, but I definitely modify my behavior. I wish I didn't, but I get very self-conscious and intimidated around most people so I just present what I know is a safe social script in the situation. This is something I want to change. I don't even really know who I would be around people if I didn't have all these inhibitions and irrational fears.
Thanks for your input!
0. Is there anything that may affect the way you answer the questions? For example, a stressful time, mental illness, medications, special life circumstances? Other useful information includes sex, age, and current state of mind.
Social anxiety I guess. I'm home from college for the time being and not going out a lot, so it's not affecting me too much right now, but it got pretty bad in the spring. I'm 21, female, not in a terrible state of mind.
1. Click on this link: Flickr: Explore! Look at the random photo for about 30 seconds. Copy and paste it here, and write about your impression of it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackknight1/13031713924/in/explore-2014-03-09
This is so cool! I love ruins and old dilapidated places. Where is this? I want to explore it. It makes me feel like something solemn should have occurred here long ago. What are the people pointing at?
2. You are with a group of people in a car, heading to a different town to see your favourite band/artist/musician. Suddenly, the car breaks down for an unknown reason in the middle of nowhere. What are your initial thoughts? What are your outward reactions?
Initial thoughts: oh shit oh shit. Well, at least we pulled off the road safely. How much time have we got? Does anyone here know anything about cars? Why have I never bothered learning anything about cars?
Outward reactions: I tend not to react strongly to things, especially negative events. It annoys me when people freak out over things that just happen - that's not helping.
3. You somehow make it to the concert. The driver wants to go to the afterparty that was announced (and assure you they won't drink so they can drive back later). How do you feel about this party? What do you do?
Ehhhhh. What is happening at this party? I don't know these people. There's alcohol though. I don't even like alcohol, just the idea of it. Meh. I'll probably go along reluctantly and sit in a corner and watch people.
4. On the drive back, your friends are talking. A friend makes a claim that clashes with your current beliefs. What is your inward reaction? What do you outwardly say?
Sometimes I can ignore this kind of thing, sometimes I can't. If it really bothers me, and if I'm comfortable talking to this friend, maybe I'll argue with them. I don't generally like debating with people because I can't think on my feet at all (debating in writing is a lot easier) and it's worse if I'm nervous or self-conscious around the person. I also don't feel too comfortable asserting myself or talking about my beliefs in front of others, partially out of fear that they'll try to draw me into a debate and I'll freeze up and look stupid. This might be the social anxiety talking.
5. What would you do if you actually saw/experienced something that clashes with your previous beliefs, experiences, and habits?
Depends what this thing is. If it's interesting, I would pay attention at the very least, maybe enjoy it, probably think it over later. If not, I'd probably ignore it. If I don't like something, but don't find it morally objectionable, I mostly pay no attention to it... there's no point in getting worked up over it.
6. What are some of your most important values? How did you come about determining them? How can they change?
Ummmm. No particular order:
1. The most important human right is the freedom to live however you want provided you're not hurting anyone else. LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE.
2. People should have the right to go and live any place on this planet they want. Countries are artificial and nationalism is harmful.
3. Teachers are incredibly important. It's shameful that lawyers and CEOs are more highly valued in the US than teachers are.
4. There are usually good arguments on all sides of an issue; research before you judge.
5. It's common courtesy to not make stereotype-based assumptions about people before you know them.
There are more, but I'm getting depressed thinking about this, so I'm going to stop listing. I don't know how I come by my values, they just form by themselves after a long period of thinking stuff over and sifting ideas through my mind. I don't like forming definite stances on too many things though (see #4 ) and I know there are gray areas and problems with the things I listed. If I think about it too much, or try to debate any of these things with people, I start doubting myself and then I don't know what I stand for anymore, and that's not pleasant. My values are always subject to change and sometimes I add new ones, but the process is more like water eroding a rock than an overnight earthquake. I need to understand an issue before I can form a stance on it.
7. a) What about your personality most distinguishes you from everyone else? b) If you could change one thing about you personality, what would it be? Why?
a) I don't know how to answer this question. I think a lot more than most people seem to, I guess. I'm the quietest and most reserved person I know.
b) I want to stop being so damn scared of everything. Also, I'd like to stop being so self-conscious. It gets to the point where I censor myself or adjust my personality to fit the people I'm with, and I hate doing that.
8. How do you treat hunches or gut feelings? In what situations are they most often triggered?
I generally listen to them, though sometimes I put too much trust in them. For instance, sometimes I go out and randomly have the thought that maybe the house is burning down, and it causes genuine anxiety till I get back to the house, which is perfectly fine. Sometimes I'll tell myself stories about things that are going to happen in the future (relative to where I am now), from the perspective of myself when these things have already happened (if that makes sense) and sometimes these things really do happen. My favorite instance of this was when I was making up a story to myself during my freshman year of college, telling myself that a friend and I would finally get together in the spring of our junior year, even though we were nowhere close to dating at the time. Lo and behold, we did get together junior year (and by then, it was about time) - though it was fall, so my prediction was slightly off.
Any gut feelings I have just turn up randomly, unfortunately. I can't control them. I also seem to make better predictions when I'm letting my brain ramble instead of forcing it.
9. a) What activities energize you most? b) What activities drain you most? Why?
a) When I'm trying to learn something, and it "clicks" and all the pieces fall into place, that is one of the greatest feelings I know. Listening to music can be very energizing when I concentrate on it fully. I dunno. I'm not a super high-energy person.
b) Being around people, especially if I have to talk to them. Trying to understand something new and just not getting it.
10. What do you repress about your outward behavior or internal thought process when around others? Why?
Being around other people doesn't make me repress my thoughts, but I definitely modify my behavior. I wish I didn't, but I get very self-conscious and intimidated around most people so I just present what I know is a safe social script in the situation. This is something I want to change. I don't even really know who I would be around people if I didn't have all these inhibitions and irrational fears.
Thanks for your input!