19 June 2001
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temperamental -|-
musings of señor prod. -|-
scientist, author
I looked over at the Kiersey
Temperaments website to take a look at how it describes me.
Many times I've taken the test, I've been rated INTJ. However, the T/F measurement was always
very close, and at least 25% of the time, it's rated the T and F equal, telling me I was INXJ.
So I took a look at the Kiersey site, and what it had to say about INTJ and INFJ, and what I saw
there makes sense. I'm INXJ. Both descriptions below, I'm certain, will strike you as sounding
very much like me. Some things aren't quite right, but, by and large, these are both
pretty accurate as far as these things go.
"Mastermind" (the INTJ side of me)
All Rationals are good at planning operations, but Masterminds are head and shoulders above all
the rest in contingency planning. Complex operations involve many steps or stages, one following
another in a necessary progression, and Masterminds are naturally able to grasp how each one
leads to the next, and to prepare alternatives for difficulties that are likely to arise any step
of the way. Trying to anticipate every contingency, Masterminds never set off on their current
project without a Plan A firmly in mind, but they are always prepared to switch to Plan B or C
or D if need be.
Masterminds are rare, comprising no more than, say, one percent of the population, and they are
rarely encountered outside their office, factory, school, or laboratory. Although they are highly
capable leaders, Masterminds are not at all eager to take command, preferring to stay in the
background until others demonstrate their inability to lead. Once they take charge, however, they
are thoroughgoing pragmatists. Masterminds are certain that efficiency is indispensable in a
well-run organization, and if they encounter inefficiency-any waste of human and material
resources-they are quick to realign operations and reassign personnel. Masterminds do not feel
bound by established rules and procedures, and traditional authority does not impress them, nor
do slogans or catchwords. Only ideas that make sense to them are adopted; those that don't,
aren't, no matter who thought of them. Remember, their aim is always maximum efficiency.
In their careers, Masterminds usually rise to positions of responsibility, for they work long and
hard and are dedicated in their pursuit of goals, sparing neither their own time and effort nor
that of their colleagues and employees. Problem-solving is highly stimulating to Masterminds,
who love responding to tangled systems that require careful sorting out. Ordinarily, they
verbalize the positive and avoid comments of a negative nature; they are more interested in
moving an organization forward than dwelling on mistakes of the past.
Masterminds tend to be much more definite and self-confident than other Rationals, having usually
developed a very strong will. Decisions come easily to them; in fact, they can hardly rest until
they have things settled and decided. But before they decide anything, they must do the research.
Masterminds are highly theoretical, but they insist on looking at all available data before they
embrace an idea, and they are suspicious of any statement that is based on shoddy research, or
that is not checked against reality.
"Counselor" (the INFJ side of me)
Counselors have an exceptionally strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others, and find
great personal fulfillment interacting with people, nurturing their personal development, guiding
them to realize their human potential. Although they are happy working at jobs (such as writing)
that require solitude and close attention, Counselors do quite well with individuals or groups of
people, provided that the personal interactions are not superficial, and that they find some
quiet, private time every now and then to recharge their batteries. Counselors are both kind and
positive in their handling of others; they are great listeners and seem naturally interested in
helping people with their personal problems. Not usually visible leaders, Counselors prefer to
work intensely with those close to them, especially on a one-to-one basis, quietly exerting their
influence behind the scenes.
Counselors are scarce, little more than one percent of the population, and can be hard to get to
know, since they tend not to share their innermost thoughts or their powerful emotional reactions
except with their loved ones. They are highly private people, with an unusually rich, complicated
inner life. Friends or colleagues who have known them for years may find sides emerging which
come as a surprise. Not that Counselors are flighty or scattered; they value their integrity a
great deal, but they have mysterious, intricately woven personalities which sometimes puzzle even
them.
Counselors tend to work effectively in organizations. They value staff harmony and make every
effort to help an organization run smoothly and pleasantly. They understand and use human systems
creatively, and are good at consulting and cooperating with others. As employees or employers,
Counselors are concerned with people's feelings and are able to act as a barometer of the
feelings within the organization.
Blessed with vivid imaginations, Counselors are often seen as the most poetical of all the types,
and in fact they use a lot of poetic imagery in their everyday language. Their great talent for
language-both written and spoken-is usually directed toward communicating with people in a
personalized way. Counselors are highly intuitive and can recognize another's emotions or
intentions-good or evil-even before that person is aware of them. Counselors themselves can
seldom tell how they came to read others' feelings so keenly. This extreme sensitivity to others
could very well be the basis of the Counselor's remarkable ability to experience a whole array of
psychic phenomena.
Does it work out that, if INTJ are one in a hundred, and INFJ are one in a hundred, am I a
one-in-a-thousand personality type that my Thinking and Feeling axis is very near balance? Hm.
musings of señor prod.
The Revolution keeps, um, revolving.
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