Have to keep this thread alive. And since I really don't know hardly anything about MBTI I feel it's my job. I think Kirk is ENTP because I am. Pretty simple really. Only TOS Kirk I think has been considered. Abramsverse Kirk is a very different type I'd assume. More of a TOOL type.
Overall I think we should consider Kirk being a trained officer. That means he's a mature ENTP. Drill instructors aren't huge fans of hearing Ne. You learn to exercise more Ti. And care of appearance is also something instilled. I think this can confuse typing.
I don't see Se very often. Kirk takes in data to be sure but I don't see where he's seeing, hearing, etc... things in an elevated way. Spock handles that. For the most part Kirk is always taking in data. On the other hand Ne is very clear. Kirk has to control how much is made visible as any mature ENTP does.
Kirk may appear a thrill-seeker but he's the Captain which greatly reduces that ability. The unknown red shirt dude is the actual thrill-seeker who is point man and gets creamed.
Kirk talks people into believing some pretty crazy ideas and gets them to execute the idea. The climax of many shows. He rarely actually orders anyone.
I've never seen Kirk wanting to be the center of attention. He often is, because, well, ENTPs can't help it. But it doesn't seek it. Seem like he's always trying to get out of parties, awards, etc...
He's not easy to type, because I think what the writer's had in mind is not exactly what Shatner is portraying. (And maybe the director is somewhere in between.) If you look at Kirk on paper he's an ENTP. Cheating to beat the Kobayashi Maru is exactly how an ENTP operates.
I think that has to be close to the answer. I would say mainly, or only, the writer controls the type. Shatner's job, and the director's, is to implement what the writer wrote. I think personality traits are about what you do more than the veneer you portray while doing it. Would anyone use
The Enemy Within to type Kirk? Seems illogical.
There's been a few references to episodes and I'll toss in a few more to back the case for ENTP.
CharlieX
8:30 - Spock & Bones theorizing while Kirk listens waiting to formulate an opinion. Bones tries to get Kirk to be a father figure to Charlie and sends it back to Bones doesn't sound like a feeler.
14:20 - Charlie asks Kirk about slapping a women on the butt. Kirk is tongue tied. Not very ENTP.
30:40 - Spock, Bones, Kirk discussing Charlie. Kirk plays devil's advocate and at the end arrives at his conclusion.
41:50 - BANG - there's Kirk's Ne on full when he makes connections to create the theory that Charlie's power is limited.
43:00 - Kirk trusts is Ne, almost no Ti even, and confronts Charlie full on. Man of action sure, but only as a last resort.
The Naked Time
0:00 Kirk doesn't even go to the surface to investigate. Doesn't sound Se.
6:50 Kirk Ne brainstorming what happened on the planet. Kirk listens, formulates and pushes team for more info. At end Kirk's BS filter is on "
I'll hold you to that half second Scotty."
32:42 Kirk Ne with Bones on what happen to crew member. Wants more info.
38:20 Engines off, ship crashing, Scotty says he can change the laws of physics...but Kirk can. "
If we can balance our into a controlled implosion..." Kirk's Ne and he trusts it enough to risk the ship. Scotty implements because he's seen Kirk pull this crap out of thin air many times and be right.
41:00 Kirk sure didn't see Spock's hay maker coming. Where's that Se when you need it.
41:10 Kirk's speech to Spock is convincing with no actual facts. "
We've got to risk implosion, it's our only chance. Don't tell me that [it can't be done] again Science Officer. It's a theory, it's possible. We may go up in the biggest ball of fire since the last sun in these parts exploded but we've got to take that one and 10,000 chance." Why yes, theories are indeed possible. Monkeys flying out my butt is possible. Typical ENTP. One in 10,000 chance...ENTPs are so capable of "knowing" the odds of things that have never been done even if they have to round off to easy to understand numbers. It works and now he has both Scotty and Spock on board. You magnificent ENTP bastard.
44:50 Kirk is talking to himself on what course to take. You can see that Ne and Ti pinging back and forth. Has to talk through to the answer.
49:20 Spock tells Kirk now that the implosion thing works they can go back in time. Kirk says, "
well, maybe someday." Not very thrill-seeker. But then I would have said "cool, let's go."
Want to do any more episodes?