16personalities Types

[Faith Lienhard]

Sincethe dawn of time, humans have drawn up schematics to describe and categorize our personalities. From the four temperaments of the ancient civilizations to the latest advances in psychology, we have been driven to fit the variables and complexities of human personality into well-defined models. Although we are still some time away from being able to do that, the current models account for our most important personality traits and can predict our behavior with a high degree of accuracy.

Of course, this is just a very simplified description of the Myers-Briggs theory. Readers interested in learning more should read Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type by Isabel Briggs Myers. As we define personality traits and types differently in our model, we will not go deeper into Jungian concepts or related theories in this article.

Regardless of its structure, any type-based theory will struggle to describe or characterize people whose scores lie near the dividing line. A different way to look at personalities is through the lens of a trait-based rather than a type-based model. What do we mean by that? Instead of creating an arbitrary number of categories and attempting to fit people within them, a trait-based model simply studies the degree to which people exhibit certain traits.

You may have heard the term Ambivert, which is a perfect example in this case. Ambiversion means that someone falls in the middle of the Introversion-Extraversion scale, being neither too outgoing nor too withdrawn. Trait-based theories would simply say that an Ambivert is moderately Extraverted or moderately Introverted and leave it at that, without assigning a personality type.

Our personality types are based on five independent spectrums, with all letters in the type code (e.g. INFJ-A) referring to one of the two sides of the corresponding spectrum. You can see where you fall on each scale by completing our free personality assessment, NERIS Type Explorer. This approach has allowed us to achieve high test accuracy while also retaining the ability to define and describe distinct personality types.

The other method is for an organization to open itself to the community, making its tools and information accessible and accepting feedback from many sources. Such an organization works to refine itself out in the open. It gives you the grand tour, then lets you decide for yourself whether this is a space in which you can grow.

These personality types embrace rationality and impartiality, excelling in intellectual debates and scientific or technological fields. They are fiercely independent, open-minded, strong-willed and imaginative, approaching many things from a utilitarian perspective and being far more interested in what works than what satisfies everybody. These traits make Analysts excellent strategic thinkers, but also cause difficulties when it comes to social or romantic pursuits.

Diplomats focus on empathy and cooperation, shining in diplomacy and counselling. People belonging to this type group are cooperative and imaginative, often playing the role of harmonizers in their workplace or social circles. These traits make Diplomats warm, empathic and influential individuals, but also cause issues when there is a need to rely exclusively on cold rationality or make difficult decisions.

People Masters seek social contact and tend to have very good communication skills, feeling at ease in social events or in situations where they need to rely on or direct other people. These types are confident in their abilities and do not hesitate to express their opinions. Playing an active role in the society and knowing what makes other people tick mean a lot for People Masters; however, they are not too concerned about what other people think about them.

People with the INTJ personality type (Architects) are intellectually curious individuals with a deep-seated thirst for knowledge. INTJs tend to value creative ingenuity, straightforward rationality, and self-improvement. They consistently work toward enhancing intellectual abilities and are often driven by an intense desire to master any and every topic that piques their interest.

Logical and quick-witted, INTJs pride themselves on their ability to think for themselves, not to mention their uncanny knack for seeing right through phoniness and hypocrisy. Because their minds are never at rest, these personalities may sometimes struggle to find people who can keep up with their nonstop analysis of everything around them. But when they do find like-minded individuals who appreciate their intensity and depth of thought, INTJs form profound and intellectually stimulating relationships that they deeply treasure.

It would be a mistake, however, to view INTJ personalities as uncaring. Whatever the stereotypes about their stoic intellect, they feel deeply. When things go wrong or when they hurt others, they are personally affected and spend much time and energy trying to figure out why things happened the way that they did. These personalities may not always value emotion as a decision-making tool, and they have a very hard time relating to people who lead with their hearts, but they are still authentically human.

INTJs can be both the boldest of dreamers and the bitterest of pessimists. They believe that, through willpower and intelligence, they can achieve even the most challenging goals. They are firm believers that taking the easy way out in any given situation prevents people from achieving greatness. But these personalities may be cynical about human nature more generally, assuming that most people are lazy, unimaginative, or simply doomed to mediocrity.

Gregarious and goal-oriented, Commanders can be forward when it comes to romance. They have little trouble saying what they feel or pursuing whatever they desire. Their direct approach may sometimes overlook tender subtleties but offers a vivid kind of energy that can keep a connection strong.

Whimsical in some areas of life, Mediators nonetheless approach romance with a wholehearted, sincere intent. They may struggle to voice their desires, but hope leads their thoughts and feelings onward. When they meet someone who justifies their interest, these normally private personality types give richly of themselves.

Enthusiastically social, Campaigners welcome many people into their lives but give even more to those they love. Their approach to romance is among the most spontaneous of the personality types, yet no less sincere for its ready, warm energy. Few types can match the sense of fun and excitement that Campaigners revel in sharing with someone special.

Prudent and restrained in most things, Defenders approach romance carefully, appreciating time for love to grow through familiarity. They can be private at first but are thrilled when they find someone with whom they can comfortably share their inner values. They prize such connections and come to rely on them.

Charismatic and considerate, Consuls approach romance with their core value of harmony foremost in their hearts and minds. They see social relationships as a fabric that should be strong, smooth, and soft. An intimate connection is a personal expression of this view on life, and they rejoice at finding someone with whom they can share it.

Independent in many ways, Virtuosos approach romance as a chance to expand their horizons. They cherish freedom and appreciate those who both respect their path and willingly join them in discovering new ones. When they connect with someone with whom they can share their world, they are drawn to the sense of mutual enjoyment.

Daring and adventurous in all parts of their lives, Entrepreneurs approach romance as a path to exciting, mutual rewards. They are less interested in thoughtful explorations of feelings and more inclined to share experiences. Nothing enthuses them more than finding someone who appreciates their elastic sense of opportunity.

Our second personality scale includes the Intuitive (N) and Observant (S) styles. These traits describe what people are more likely to do with the information gathered from the world around them. Intuitive personality types rely on imagining the past and future potential of what they see. Those with the Observant style are more interested in observable facts and more straightforward outcomes. They prefer to avoid layering too much interpretation on what they see.

59% of those with the Observant trait say they prefer art that has a clear theme, message, or meaning over art that is vague and leaves too much to interpretation, compared to 38% of those with the Intuitive trait.

This is why I find relationships with Debaters so deeply stimulating and fulfilling. They usually check all the right boxes. My appreciation for this personality type runs deep, going back to the first Debater I came to know and love.

All the Debaters I know are constantly honing their intelligence. When I think of self-improvement, I often think of emotional growth. But for Debater personality types, this concept seems to revolve around intellectual expansion. When something catches their interest, they explore every nook and cranny of the topic from every angle that they can find. They are tireless when it comes to getting to the bottom of things, even if that means learning about perspectives that are opposite from their own.

My favorite Debater, for example, is an unrelenting academic. With multiple degrees and interests that border on obsessions, he never ceases to amaze me with the depth of information that he has on call in his brain.

Debaters are the most likely of all Analyst personalities to get carried away by their passions. As they dive headfirst into chasing new knowledge, they often end up with story-worthy experiences. My favorite Debater always leaves my jaw agape with tales of his adventures tracking down the histories of the ancient kingdoms of Southeast Asia in Southeast Asia.

But passionate exploration and new experiences are not just limited to adventurous international travel. I suspect that it has something to do with a preference for experiential learning, but every Debater I have known seems driven to seek out new friendships and skills or to otherwise expand their list of hobbies.

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