Patterns of MBTI Mistypings
Aug 6, 2017 13:11:40 GMT -5 by Auburn
Amsterdam, ash, and 5 more like this
Post by Auburn on Aug 6, 2017 13:11:40 GMT -5
Prompted by jelle 's inquiry on why certain types mistype the way they do, I thought it'd be necessary to note the patterns we see between MBTI typings and their real CT -- which depend in large part on the descriptions given by the MBTI and how they fit or don't fit with various self perceptions. So without further ado..
INTP
First, it's easy to see why many NeTi mistype as INTP. Considering they're sister types the discrepancy isn't too wide, and the "introverted extrovert" element of the NeTi will make a vast percentage of them not relate to being a "social extrovert." This is, as articulated elsewhere, because Ne is a process that only tangentially relates to the literal present. Ne-leads will relate to descriptions such as "lost in your own reality" or "head in the clouds" <-- and for valid reasons. Here the MBTI fails to capture what object-orientation manifests like when those objects are abstract in nature.
Next is NiFe-Ti. This one may also mistype as INTJ, but in both cases the ego is in "T". In fact, whenever the ego is in the logic process, and the person has introverted tendencies, INTP is a probable mistyping. But the NiFe-Ti in particular has no other profile they can turn to, since the INFJ profile is so removed from their stoic state of being -- and they cannot relate to what is described of the INTJs in terms of life-organization and tidiness/rigidity. The NiFe-Ti will be more of an open-ended or philosophical thinker, than a results-oriented pragmatist as the INTJ is painted out to be. The shared Ti+Fe attributes with INTP will make it so that, out of the four INxx choices available to them, INTP seems the best fit. And as NiFe-Ti are often also truth-seekers with a rational bent, the typical INTP descriptors as truth-seekers will resonate with them. And all other truth-seekers for that matter.
ENTP
This one is a terrible type description to begin with. There are two conflicting narratives of what an "ENTP" is like in the MBTI. At times they're described (more appropriately) as the goofy and silly inventors who enjoy juxtaposing elements together and solving problems by creative acrobatics. But on the other hand they're described as being argumentative/trollish, liking to push people's buttons, and playing devil's advocate. We see here Socrates, Q from Star Trek, Dr. Gregory House (who are Te-leads), etc.
The latter half of that is nothing like the NeTi. I suspect the ENTP stereotype developed in MBTI is a hybridization between NeTi and Te-leads who don't relate to the orderly/dutiful lifestyle (and there are many of those). As we know, NeTi are rarely interested in pushing their points or being overtly political. If it happens it's by the same token as it can happen to any type, but it's not a defining characteristic of the type. This is more of a J-heavy trait.
The majority of TeSi involved in MBTI would be of the TeSi-Ne eccentric nerd subtype. As the MBTI restricts the ESTJ definition only to the Te-heavy executive shade, the TeSi-Ne is left to type as ENTP due to the P/J axis and how Ne-heaviness gives them a far more imaginary view of the world. No one would question, for example, TeSi James Cameron's ability to think non-literally. TeNi can also mistype as this for the same P/J axis reasons.
INFP
Oddly enough, FiNe may not always type as INFP from what I have seen. This is because a lot of FiNe have difficulties with emotions. I know it sounds weird to say, but unless the person is seelie, the FiNe will almost always feel themselves as a stoic type. They will feel the world makes sense through reason, and it's very easy for Te to get utilized in their lives. FiNe-Te will very often identify with the 'rigid/tidy/ocd' descriptions attributed to xxxJ's and this is due to a twofold Fi-Te axis. So FiNe-Te will mistype as INFJ because they're INF temperamentally but don't see themselves as those who let their environment fall apart, and may be a 'stickler' for a lot of things in objective reality.
As for the rest of the people who do type as INFP, the composition is enormously varied. And this is because the INFP profile is, perhaps second only to the INFJ profile, filled with many Forer effects and speaks about very NF qualities in general. NeFi's, SeFi's, FeNi's and even TiNe-Fe's wil mistype as this a lot. Ironically, FiNe will tend to mistype as INTP (as we see in existentialistcat) and TiNe will tend to mistype as INFP (as we see in Kendra Farber). But again, virtually any type can mistype as INFP if their lifepath has driven them into a romantic direction or toward an F-ego in general. One can better view this profile as an archetype of the feminine elemental nature.
INTJ
For this one, just about all Te-valuing N types will be prone to mistype as INTJ.
This is again for several reasons. One being that in general MBTI enthusiasts will lean toward the "I" dimension, but especially so if they are Te-ego. This is because a Te-ego automatically makes one very prone to dislike the social dimension, and to be self-kept in all affairs where interaction is irrelevant. And they may only interact when something seems necessary. If the E/I dichotomy was better understood as one's relation to the 'object' rather than to societal participation or lack of participation, this confusion would be less prevalent. But as it stands, many TeNi will feel this antisocial description perfectly describes them.
FiNe-Te can mistype as INTJ too, for reasons noted above. T-priority and a Te-ego under a native introverted energy. Going a bit farther out the TeSi, SiTe, SeFi-Te and even NeFi-Te types will mistype here as well. Again, due to a Te-ego under a very INxx biased online culture in general.
Rule of Thumb:
For MBTI typings, the first two letters (INxx) practically mean nothing. As one could expect anyone to identify as an INxx simply for being on a personal journey of self-discovery. As such, people really reveal significant aspects of their psychology via the latter two letters. And these two letters will reflect their Ego-Association. I've found this rule of thumb essentially captures some half of MBTI mistype cases.
ENFP
Having said the above, a self-selected temperament of 'E' more properly indicates a person who is receptive/open in their emotional energies. Because of how I/E is phrased, withdrawal from people and lack of engagement with the world more properly represents a "closed" emotional disposition than subject/object orientation. And for those in the MBTI who are open in this way, the "E" temperament is a most apt description of them. So NeFi and FeNi will appropriately type as ENFP sometimes, but so will seelie Te/Fi shades in general, and Fe-subtypes. Our member mikesilb (TeNi) has typed as ENFP for quite a while, but he's TeNi with an open channel to his Fi.
NeFi & Everything
Of all the types, the NeFi is the one with the highest temperamental range. This is incidental. But it affects the diversity of mistypings the NeFi experiences in the MBTI community.
What do you guys think? Have you seen similar trends?
Additional ones? What patterns have you noticed?
INTP
First, it's easy to see why many NeTi mistype as INTP. Considering they're sister types the discrepancy isn't too wide, and the "introverted extrovert" element of the NeTi will make a vast percentage of them not relate to being a "social extrovert." This is, as articulated elsewhere, because Ne is a process that only tangentially relates to the literal present. Ne-leads will relate to descriptions such as "lost in your own reality" or "head in the clouds" <-- and for valid reasons. Here the MBTI fails to capture what object-orientation manifests like when those objects are abstract in nature.
Next is NiFe-Ti. This one may also mistype as INTJ, but in both cases the ego is in "T". In fact, whenever the ego is in the logic process, and the person has introverted tendencies, INTP is a probable mistyping. But the NiFe-Ti in particular has no other profile they can turn to, since the INFJ profile is so removed from their stoic state of being -- and they cannot relate to what is described of the INTJs in terms of life-organization and tidiness/rigidity. The NiFe-Ti will be more of an open-ended or philosophical thinker, than a results-oriented pragmatist as the INTJ is painted out to be. The shared Ti+Fe attributes with INTP will make it so that, out of the four INxx choices available to them, INTP seems the best fit. And as NiFe-Ti are often also truth-seekers with a rational bent, the typical INTP descriptors as truth-seekers will resonate with them. And all other truth-seekers for that matter.
ENTP
This one is a terrible type description to begin with. There are two conflicting narratives of what an "ENTP" is like in the MBTI. At times they're described (more appropriately) as the goofy and silly inventors who enjoy juxtaposing elements together and solving problems by creative acrobatics. But on the other hand they're described as being argumentative/trollish, liking to push people's buttons, and playing devil's advocate. We see here Socrates, Q from Star Trek, Dr. Gregory House (who are Te-leads), etc.
The latter half of that is nothing like the NeTi. I suspect the ENTP stereotype developed in MBTI is a hybridization between NeTi and Te-leads who don't relate to the orderly/dutiful lifestyle (and there are many of those). As we know, NeTi are rarely interested in pushing their points or being overtly political. If it happens it's by the same token as it can happen to any type, but it's not a defining characteristic of the type. This is more of a J-heavy trait.
The majority of TeSi involved in MBTI would be of the TeSi-Ne eccentric nerd subtype. As the MBTI restricts the ESTJ definition only to the Te-heavy executive shade, the TeSi-Ne is left to type as ENTP due to the P/J axis and how Ne-heaviness gives them a far more imaginary view of the world. No one would question, for example, TeSi James Cameron's ability to think non-literally. TeNi can also mistype as this for the same P/J axis reasons.
INFP
Oddly enough, FiNe may not always type as INFP from what I have seen. This is because a lot of FiNe have difficulties with emotions. I know it sounds weird to say, but unless the person is seelie, the FiNe will almost always feel themselves as a stoic type. They will feel the world makes sense through reason, and it's very easy for Te to get utilized in their lives. FiNe-Te will very often identify with the 'rigid/tidy/ocd' descriptions attributed to xxxJ's and this is due to a twofold Fi-Te axis. So FiNe-Te will mistype as INFJ because they're INF temperamentally but don't see themselves as those who let their environment fall apart, and may be a 'stickler' for a lot of things in objective reality.
As for the rest of the people who do type as INFP, the composition is enormously varied. And this is because the INFP profile is, perhaps second only to the INFJ profile, filled with many Forer effects and speaks about very NF qualities in general. NeFi's, SeFi's, FeNi's and even TiNe-Fe's wil mistype as this a lot. Ironically, FiNe will tend to mistype as INTP (as we see in existentialistcat) and TiNe will tend to mistype as INFP (as we see in Kendra Farber). But again, virtually any type can mistype as INFP if their lifepath has driven them into a romantic direction or toward an F-ego in general. One can better view this profile as an archetype of the feminine elemental nature.
INTJ
For this one, just about all Te-valuing N types will be prone to mistype as INTJ.
This is again for several reasons. One being that in general MBTI enthusiasts will lean toward the "I" dimension, but especially so if they are Te-ego. This is because a Te-ego automatically makes one very prone to dislike the social dimension, and to be self-kept in all affairs where interaction is irrelevant. And they may only interact when something seems necessary. If the E/I dichotomy was better understood as one's relation to the 'object' rather than to societal participation or lack of participation, this confusion would be less prevalent. But as it stands, many TeNi will feel this antisocial description perfectly describes them.
FiNe-Te can mistype as INTJ too, for reasons noted above. T-priority and a Te-ego under a native introverted energy. Going a bit farther out the TeSi, SiTe, SeFi-Te and even NeFi-Te types will mistype here as well. Again, due to a Te-ego under a very INxx biased online culture in general.
Rule of Thumb:
For MBTI typings, the first two letters (INxx) practically mean nothing. As one could expect anyone to identify as an INxx simply for being on a personal journey of self-discovery. As such, people really reveal significant aspects of their psychology via the latter two letters. And these two letters will reflect their Ego-Association. I've found this rule of thumb essentially captures some half of MBTI mistype cases.
ENFP
Having said the above, a self-selected temperament of 'E' more properly indicates a person who is receptive/open in their emotional energies. Because of how I/E is phrased, withdrawal from people and lack of engagement with the world more properly represents a "closed" emotional disposition than subject/object orientation. And for those in the MBTI who are open in this way, the "E" temperament is a most apt description of them. So NeFi and FeNi will appropriately type as ENFP sometimes, but so will seelie Te/Fi shades in general, and Fe-subtypes. Our member mikesilb (TeNi) has typed as ENFP for quite a while, but he's TeNi with an open channel to his Fi.
NeFi & Everything
Of all the types, the NeFi is the one with the highest temperamental range. This is incidental. But it affects the diversity of mistypings the NeFi experiences in the MBTI community.
- I/E Axis: As we've covered with the NeTi, Ne-leads are essentially "introverted" types by the laymen definition of the word. Even for NeFi with a fair level of self-awareness, they will likely mistype as INFP because that is the best profile to describe their nature. They will perceive themselves as daydreamers, idealists and creatives far more than object-oriented doers.
S/N Axis: This axis, however, stays relatively constant in them, as their capacity to view the world in pluralistic/unreal ways doesn't change.
T/F Axis: The dilemma with this axis relates to a fundamental misunderstand of the nature of Te in all Fi/Te types, and of Fe in all Ti/Fe types. In general, all Te/Fi users will have a slight lean towards typing "T" because their rational process is extroverted. As such, their practical manifestation in the real world will be logistical, mechanical, spartan. Inversely, all Fe/Ti users will use Fe as their agent in the real world, causing them (regardless of hierarchy) to appear more "F" in disposition... all things being equal.
So it's very easy for an NeFi-Te to mistype as a "T" especially if they can notice their own tendencies to be very militant with certain decisions and executions. An NeFi-Fi, however, will type as "F" so this axis is entirely changeable for the NeFi depending on subtype.
P/J Axis: And related to the above point, any sufficient use of Te in the NeFi can lead to all those orderly qualities associated with xxxJ. So an NeFi-Te will view themselves as an xxTJ. This is essentially correct temperamentally, and when combined with the I+N temperaments described above, INTJ is entirely common... as we've seen in NeFi-Te Catrific and several others.
Overall: The NeFi is entirely fluid in 3 of the 4 axis. And depending on development, they could identify as ENTP, ENFP, INTJ, INFP, INFJ, INTP, ENFJ, ENTJ. And it doesn't make it easier when you consider that, being Ne-lead, they have a possibility-oriented mentality... leading them to be able to see themselves in many/all of these profiles just as they can see many possibilities in any occasion.
What do you guys think? Have you seen similar trends?
Additional ones? What patterns have you noticed?
