Personality tests are only worth the paper they are printed on. I think some guy named Carl said that.

Twice now I've taken a Myers-Briggs personality test, most recently here. Twice now I've gotten (almost) the same score: ISFJ (before it was INFJ).

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· Where you focus your attention

What MB says: Introversion (I) — People who prefer Introversion tend to focus their attention on the inner world of ideas and impressions.

What I say: Basically I'm a selfish bitch who prefers to be in the company of Me. That way I know I won't get annoyed by fuckwits. And I spend most of my time daydreaming about things that will never happen.

· The way you take in information

What MB says: Sensing (S) — Jung saw Introvert/Sensing as something of an oxymoron: sensing, which is a perceiving function, focused inward and thus away from that which is perceived (the "object"). In this light, he described this sensing as something removed from reality, full of archetypes/mythical figures/hobgoblins; sensing of one's own set of forms.

What I say: Who the hell are you calling a moron? And I am completely grounded in reality. I know everything there is to know about Edward Cullen, King Arthur, Harry Potter and Brit Brit.

· The way you make decisions

What MB says: Feeling (F) — People who prefer Feeling tend to make decisions based primarily on values and on subjective evaluation of person-centered concerns.

What I say: I am retarded and listen to my heart instead of my head 9 times out of 10. Basically that means I end up getting screwed by all of the Thinkers out there who see Feeling as a fault and take advantage. Oh, and I can't make a single freaking decision without consulting at least 3 people. Fail.

· How you deal with the outer world

What MB says: Judging (J) — People who prefer Judging tend to like a planned and organized approach to life and prefer to have things settled.

What I say: I have OCD.

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It seems my personality type (both old and new) is very rare. I think the percentage is something like less than 5% of a typical group of people, smaller in smaller groups. At Ross when we split up based on our first two types (introvert and intuitive) my group totalled 8 out of 120+/- people. I think there was only one other person with my exact INFJ type.

I've always known I'm unique.

The funny thing is FR took this test today and emailed me her results: INFJ. As in, out of 9 students in our class, both of us are the same. Assuming no one else in the group has anything close to us, we have broken through expectations and will be 20% of our group.

I can just see it now: FR and I are going to be these two troublemakers smart chicks who Introvertly claim our seats in the back corner, Intuitively cowering when the prof is getting ready to call on someone, Feeling the need to flee when our name is called, and Judging our sanity in choosing to go to vet school at all when our wish to become immediately invisible is not granted.

Well that last bit is probably more me and my lack of living in reality/belief in hobgoblins.

Whatevs.

This shit's gonna be Super Fun. Bring it on, bitches.

(If you're bored and want to know more about my personality, read on. If not, you suck.)

(I added amusing anecdotes and bolded the points that really don't sound like me at all.)

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Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging
by Marina Margaret Heiss

ISFJs are characterized above all by their desire to serve others [read: The Servant Leader], their "need to be needed." In extreme cases, this need is so strong that standard give-and-take relationships are deeply unsatisfying to them; however, most ISFJs find more than enough with which to occupy themselves within the framework of a normal life. [What does the mean exactly?] (Since ISFJs, like all SJs, are very much bound by the prevailing social conventions, their form of "service" is likely to exclude any elements of moral or political controversy; they specialize in the local, the personal, and the practical.)

ISFJs are often unappreciated, at work, home, and play. Ironically, because they prove over and over that they can be relied on for their loyalty and unstinting, high-quality work, those around them often take them for granted--even take advantage of them. Admittedly, the problem is sometimes aggravated by the ISFJs themselves [oh sure, dump it back on the giver, always their fault]; for instance, they are notoriously bad at delegating ("If you want it done right, do it yourself"). And although they're hurt by being treated like doormats, they are often unwilling to toot their own horns about their accomplishments because they feel that although they deserve more credit than they're getting, it's somehow wrong to want any sort of reward for doing work (which is supposed to be a virtue in itself). [Okay, this is just freaking scary.] (And as low-profile I's, their actions don't call attention to themselves as with charismatic E's.) Because of all of this, ISFJs are often overworked, and as a result may suffer from psychosomatic illnesses. [Holy Shit I think I just peed a little from laughing.]

In the workplace, ISFJs are methodical and accurate workers, often with very good memories [my ADD gets in the way here] and unexpected analytic abilities; they are also good with people in small-group or one-on-one situations because of their patient and genuinely sympathetic approach to dealing with others. ISFJs make pleasant and reliable co-workers and exemplary employees [unless they are Cancers, we tend towards moodiness which trust me can get real old, real quick], but tend to be harried and uncomfortable in supervisory roles. [I nearly lost my mind at the shelter. Now we know why.] They are capable of forming strong loyalties, but these are personal rather than institutional loyalties; if someone they've bonded with in this way leaves the company, the ISFJ will leave with them, if given the option. [I will follow you anywhere J.] Traditional careers for an ISFJ include: teaching [my first major], social work [recommended by my therapist], most religious work [If its good enough for The Bloggess.....], nursing, medicine (general practice only) [Hells yeah!], clerical and and secretarial work of any kind, and some kinds of administrative careers.

While their work ethic is high on the ISFJ priority list, their families are the centers of their lives. ISFJs are extremely warm and demonstrative within the family circle--and often possessive of their loved ones, as well. [Good thing I have no siblings. I'd probably 'remove' their significant others in very creative ways.] When these include Es who want to socialize with the rest of the world, or self-contained ITs, the ISFJ must learn to adjust to these behaviors and not interpret them as rejection. [We are so F-ed up.] Being SJs, they place a strong emphasis on conventional behavior (although, unlike STJs, they are usually as concerned with being "nice" as with strict propriety); if any of their nearest and dearest depart from the straight-and-narrow, it causes the ISFJ major embarrassment: the closer the relationship and the more public the act, the more intense the embarrassment (a fact which many of their teenage children take gleeful advantage of). Over time, however, ISFJs usually mellow, and learn to regard the culprits as harmless eccentrics. [Interesting, I've always thought of myself as the harmless eccentric.] Needless to say, ISFJs take infinite trouble over meals, gifts, celebrations, etc., for their loved ones [Insane how true] -- although strong Js may tend to focus more on what the recipient should want rather than what they do want.

Like most Is, ISFJs have a few, close friends. They are extremely loyal to these, and are ready to provide emotional and practical support at a moment's notice. (However, like most Fs they hate confrontation; if you get into a fight, don't expect them to jump in after you. You can count on them, however, run and get the nearest authority figure. [Hilarious. And so true.]) Unlike with EPs, the older the friendship is, the more an ISFJ will value it. One ISFJ trait that is easily misunderstood by those who haven't known them long is that they are often unable to either hide or articulate any distress they may be feeling. [Get out of my head.] For instance, an ISFJ child may be reproved for "sulking," the actual cause of which is a combination of physical illness plus misguided "good manners." An adult ISFJ may drive a (later ashamed) friend or SO into a fit of temper over the ISFJ's unexplained moodiness, only afterwards to explain about a death in the family they "didn't want to burden anyone with." Those close to ISFJs should learn to watch for the warning signs in these situations and take the initiative themselves to uncover the problem. [Hahaha. Oh wait....Yeah.]

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Hmm. Maybe there is something to these tests.