WHAT THEY WON’T TELL YOU ABOUT PERSONALITY TYPES
After 20+ years of study & practice, I still get shell-shocked by the power of personality type.
Expect to be triggered, whether you dismiss psychology because @nntaleb or think everything is archetypes because @jordanbpeterson.
After 20+ years of study & practice, I still get shell-shocked by the power of personality type.
Expect to be triggered, whether you dismiss psychology because @nntaleb or think everything is archetypes because @jordanbpeterson.
The Big Five personality traits and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) are the two most widely known personality instruments.
The B5 are based on the surveys & experiments of academic psychologists, while the MBTI comes from the psychoanalytic work of Carl Jung.
The B5 are based on the surveys & experiments of academic psychologists, while the MBTI comes from the psychoanalytic work of Carl Jung.
The B5 and the MBTI both are semantic constructs. They both are widely misunderstood and misused. They both are surrounded by myths and cults.
But one of them is virtually useless in practice compared to the other.
But one of them is virtually useless in practice compared to the other.
The Big Five personality traits are: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism.
Understanding the B5 is incredibly valuable, but for unexpected reasons. They are a great example of how pseudoscience can become accepted fact.
Understanding the B5 is incredibly valuable, but for unexpected reasons. They are a great example of how pseudoscience can become accepted fact.
Experimental/empirical social research is supposed to be judged on validity & reliability (no mention of usefulness).
Validity is about making sure the concept/construct captures what it's supposed to.
Reliability is about consistent metrics and replicable results.
Validity is about making sure the concept/construct captures what it's supposed to.
Reliability is about consistent metrics and replicable results.
What is extroversion in the Big 5?
It's defined as anything from assertiveness in conversation to seeking out social interaction and standing out in a crowd to being enthusiastic and action-oriented. How valid a metric can you have of all those things and more?
It's defined as anything from assertiveness in conversation to seeking out social interaction and standing out in a crowd to being enthusiastic and action-oriented. How valid a metric can you have of all those things and more?
What is extroversion in the MBTI?
In Jungian typology, an extrovert is someone who gains energy from social interaction. Hard to get any simpler and robuster than that. You know the answer by honest self-examination, no test instrument required.
In Jungian typology, an extrovert is someone who gains energy from social interaction. Hard to get any simpler and robuster than that. You know the answer by honest self-examination, no test instrument required.
People often note my social assertiveness & engagement, especially when they've just met me - traits consistent with B5 extroversion.
Yet, I've ALWAYS scored as an introvert on both B5 and MBTI inventories. Some "validity" for the B5, right?
Yet, I've ALWAYS scored as an introvert on both B5 and MBTI inventories. Some "validity" for the B5, right?
Heaps of extroverts who NEED to talk to stay alive are among the least socially assertive & least willing to meet new people.
In practice, I have met (and tested!) many an extrovert who are a downright liability in fluid social contexts with people they don't know.
In practice, I have met (and tested!) many an extrovert who are a downright liability in fluid social contexts with people they don't know.
Meanwhile, I intentionally put myself in situations to meet new people, even though it's costly in both energy & time. You could say I live to meet people.
But no matter how high-value the interaction, even with longtime and tested friends, I need alone time to recharge.
But no matter how high-value the interaction, even with longtime and tested friends, I need alone time to recharge.
How reliable & replicable is B5 research?
The vast majority of B5 research depends on peer review and p-values for publication, citation & funding.
Peer review means perverse incentives without skin in the game. P-values can be easily hacked and have no statistical validity.
The vast majority of B5 research depends on peer review and p-values for publication, citation & funding.
Peer review means perverse incentives without skin in the game. P-values can be easily hacked and have no statistical validity.
Peer review is a failure whenever it makes survival more dependent on academic consensus & conformity than on rigor & contact with the real world.
This is the case with most social "science" - from business & finance to experimental psychology.
This is the case with most social "science" - from business & finance to experimental psychology.
P-values (hypothesis testing) can be gamed by repeating the experiment until you get a result.
The incentives are there: "findings" get published and funded, "non-findings" don't.
See @nntaleb's many (non)technical posts & articles for the evidence.
The incentives are there: "findings" get published and funded, "non-findings" don't.
See @nntaleb's many (non)technical posts & articles for the evidence.
Even with the right ethics & incentives, p-values & hypothesis testing are statistically invalid.
Hypothesis testing is widely used because it takes much more time & effort to understand & practice probability than to repeat a rote procedure.
Hypothesis testing is widely used because it takes much more time & effort to understand & practice probability than to repeat a rote procedure.
Karl Pearson, the statistician after whom the p-value is named, was a student of eugenicist Francis Galton, who is recognized as the originator of personality inventories that ultimately led to the Big 5.
Fact is stranger than fiction.
Fact is stranger than fiction.
If you get into the weeds of probability & peer review, it's easy to see that the robustness of the B5 is just another academic myth.
But even if the Big 5 weren't mushy & unscientific, what use could they be in practice?
But even if the Big 5 weren't mushy & unscientific, what use could they be in practice?
1. Openness to experience
People who score high on openness frequently spend their entire lives as couch potatoes.
Some of the most intellectually rigid people I know have the most "open" experiences - travel, even survival, change for the sake of change, career shifts etc.
People who score high on openness frequently spend their entire lives as couch potatoes.
Some of the most intellectually rigid people I know have the most "open" experiences - travel, even survival, change for the sake of change, career shifts etc.
Even with the most basic of awareness, you could probably tell how people would score on "openness" from a brief conversation.
But what would the score tell you about what they'd actually do? In my experience of myself & others, not much.
But what would the score tell you about what they'd actually do? In my experience of myself & others, not much.
2. Neuroticism (emotional instability)
In theory, others' neuroticism can be relevant to social situations or group activities where you depend on their performance & comport.
But a high neuroticism score doesn't necessarily mean you're emotionally dysfunctional.
In theory, others' neuroticism can be relevant to social situations or group activities where you depend on their performance & comport.
But a high neuroticism score doesn't necessarily mean you're emotionally dysfunctional.
High-functioning "neurotics" can drill through days and weeks of emotionally painful & mind-numbing activities (this is in the research, too) without so much as a whimper.
Emotionally "stable" people can bomb spectacularly in public and in their personal lives.
Emotionally "stable" people can bomb spectacularly in public and in their personal lives.
In a social situation, your observable neuroticism can inform the way I communicate with you and in your presence. But it does little more on its own.
If you're socially dysfunctional, it won't matter one bit whether it's because of "neuroticism" or 165 other possible reasons.
If you're socially dysfunctional, it won't matter one bit whether it's because of "neuroticism" or 165 other possible reasons.
At the level of personal self-awareness, neuroticism is a great example of a falsely profound idea.
Emotional control affects your well-being? What an insight! And there is a special test and reams of research to tell you that.
Emotional control affects your well-being? What an insight! And there is a special test and reams of research to tell you that.
3. Conscientiousness
The B5 can't even agree if this trait is about a preference for planned rather than spontaneous activity or a measure of how dutifully you get things done.
Either way, you will find yourself answering questions about whether your place is messy & the like.
The B5 can't even agree if this trait is about a preference for planned rather than spontaneous activity or a measure of how dutifully you get things done.
Either way, you will find yourself answering questions about whether your place is messy & the like.
I don't want to know a lot of conscientious people I know because they are of limited imagination or competence.
Conscientiousness ≠ effectiveness.
What use is it to anyone that you will grind at a task only to return a well-packaged piece of garbage?
Conscientiousness ≠ effectiveness.
What use is it to anyone that you will grind at a task only to return a well-packaged piece of garbage?
High conscientiousness suggests that you can get done really simple tasks that don't require judgement.
It's good to know you can rely on someone to get groceries.
But what use is that beyond the most superficial of job responsibilities & personal relationships?
It's good to know you can rely on someone to get groceries.
But what use is that beyond the most superficial of job responsibilities & personal relationships?
4. Agreeableness
Perhaps the most useless of the B5 personality traits. Again, you don't need a test to be able to spot people's level of agreeableness in a quick chat.
Some people prefer a less confrontational personal style. So what?
Perhaps the most useless of the B5 personality traits. Again, you don't need a test to be able to spot people's level of agreeableness in a quick chat.
Some people prefer a less confrontational personal style. So what?
We've all met people whom we'd rather avoid because of their toxic argumentativeness.
But high-agreeableness people can be even more annoying and offputting than the disagreeable. This applies with even more gravity in non-mediocre, high-power, high-value company.
But high-agreeableness people can be even more annoying and offputting than the disagreeable. This applies with even more gravity in non-mediocre, high-power, high-value company.
What makes a lasting impression is the character you present and articulate, not the level of "agreeableness".
Yes, presentation is essential, but you can be polite, charming and disagreeable all at once. Or agreeable and swaying even the most intransigent.
Yes, presentation is essential, but you can be polite, charming and disagreeable all at once. Or agreeable and swaying even the most intransigent.
Countless times I've been reluctant to introduce someone to a group of (say, career-relevant) people because that someone might try too hard to be agreeable.
The concern: the person would harm one's own reputation & mine because bombing with the group because too agreeable.
The concern: the person would harm one's own reputation & mine because bombing with the group because too agreeable.
Meanwhile, high disagreeableness can amount to little more than white noise & pointless disruption.
Some of the most penetrating ideas & criticism re my work have come from people who are very high on agreeableness - and without prompting.
Some of the most penetrating ideas & criticism re my work have come from people who are very high on agreeableness - and without prompting.
5. Introversion/extroversion
Messing up this orientation is the biggest embarrassment of the Big 5. Because that's how Jung originally proposed it 100 years ago - as an orientation, not skill/sociability (an ideal-type illustration he used).
Messing up this orientation is the biggest embarrassment of the Big 5. Because that's how Jung originally proposed it 100 years ago - as an orientation, not skill/sociability (an ideal-type illustration he used).
Extroversion very often is much less obvious than you might expect - much less so than the other four "traits".
Perhaps the only universal tell - with some experience - is that extroverts literally "look out" into the world. Introverts don't.
Perhaps the only universal tell - with some experience - is that extroverts literally "look out" into the world. Introverts don't.
In practice, orientation by itself is simply about getting people's & your own need for time alone or time chatting, as the case may be.
An introvert without alone time will go berserk just like an extrovert without talk time will go psychotic. Sooner rather than later.
An introvert without alone time will go berserk just like an extrovert without talk time will go psychotic. Sooner rather than later.
Understand that extroversion/introversion is only that - an orientation. It's not about activity/passivity or liking/disliking people.
Some of the most engaged & active people I know are terribly introverted.
Extroverts make excellent couch potatoes & inertia junkies.
Some of the most engaged & active people I know are terribly introverted.
Extroverts make excellent couch potatoes & inertia junkies.
To Jung, orientation was primary but his "Personality Types" is mostly a philosophical work with ideal-type descriptions in psychoanalytic terms.
Orientation only gets interesting (and useful!) when combined with the four cognitive functions he proposed to become the MBTI.
Orientation only gets interesting (and useful!) when combined with the four cognitive functions he proposed to become the MBTI.
Jung's typology suggested four cognitive "functions" (and please don't think of them as actual organs or sections in the brain):
- two perceiving functions: sensing and intuition (~how you relate);
- two judging functions: thinking and feeling (~how you decide).
- two perceiving functions: sensing and intuition (~how you relate);
- two judging functions: thinking and feeling (~how you decide).
The MBTI assigns each function an orientation (E/I) and a cognitive role (dominant, tertiary etc.), giving rise to 16 personality types.
These types have very different expression in men and women, so in practice they are actually 32.
These types have very different expression in men and women, so in practice they are actually 32.
Jung's psychological types were based on 20 years of psychoanalytic practice.
Myers & Briggs wanted to make his theory practical to help women find the best jobs as they entered the workforce in WWII.
Many others built further models and tests based on Jung and the MBTI.
Myers & Briggs wanted to make his theory practical to help women find the best jobs as they entered the workforce in WWII.
Many others built further models and tests based on Jung and the MBTI.
The MBTI typology was developed by many practitioners through thinkering and there is no definitive source I can refer other than my own experience & practice.
Even the term MBTI I use loosely to convey the main influence on my practice.
Even the term MBTI I use loosely to convey the main influence on my practice.
Because there isn't enough skin in the game of psychometrics, there is a proliferation of "tests" and "theories".
Personality type has become synonymous with astrology and esoterica because most "resources" are abstract & theoretical.
Skepticism is more than warranted.
Personality type has become synonymous with astrology and esoterica because most "resources" are abstract & theoretical.
Skepticism is more than warranted.
Instead of "theory", I will give you my practice:
- Why I find Jung/MBTI/Kiersey to be a useful “type” framework in personal psychology.
- What I do and what I avoid with the MBTI or any other personal psychology.
- The basics of personality type & how to benefit from it.
- Why I find Jung/MBTI/Kiersey to be a useful “type” framework in personal psychology.
- What I do and what I avoid with the MBTI or any other personal psychology.
- The basics of personality type & how to benefit from it.
Heuristics for GETTING PEOPLE (personal psychology as practice)
These are not hard-and-fast rules, nor based on any theory. They are not about ethics or morality or you being “special”. They are motivated entirely by usefulness & painful practice – my own.
These are not hard-and-fast rules, nor based on any theory. They are not about ethics or morality or you being “special”. They are motivated entirely by usefulness & painful practice – my own.
1. It’s called personal psychology because it’s personal. Everyone is different.
FORGET THIS AT YOUR PERIL.
To speed up your getting to know someone, ask about background, family, work, avocations - anything they have DONE and anyone they've been around for long. No shortcuts.
FORGET THIS AT YOUR PERIL.
To speed up your getting to know someone, ask about background, family, work, avocations - anything they have DONE and anyone they've been around for long. No shortcuts.
2. NEVER size up someone's personality on a single attribute.
If you do, you will be very wrong - no exceptions. You will miss opportunities or infect your life with human garbage.
People who are aggravating at first sight can bring great value - and vice versa.
If you do, you will be very wrong - no exceptions. You will miss opportunities or infect your life with human garbage.
People who are aggravating at first sight can bring great value - and vice versa.
3. People will always tell you who they are if they have your attention.
Just PAY ATTENTION when they do.
This usually happens earlydays if you're curious enough to ask. But most don’t listen into the answers, so the person tunes out quickly – back to worthless banter.
Just PAY ATTENTION when they do.
This usually happens earlydays if you're curious enough to ask. But most don’t listen into the answers, so the person tunes out quickly – back to worthless banter.
4. Personality type is NOT a good predictor of job performance.
Yes, types tend to self-select into certain careers. But your personality type is not your experience & calling - those you create.
Misusing psychometrics for career choice is a major reason the MBTI got a bad rep.
Yes, types tend to self-select into certain careers. But your personality type is not your experience & calling - those you create.
Misusing psychometrics for career choice is a major reason the MBTI got a bad rep.
5. Projection is anti-perception.
We project. A lot. Because easy & leads away from cognitive dissonance.
To get people, watch out for the feelings, thoughts, decisions they project on you & others.
To get people, beware of projecting your feelings, thoughts etc. on them.
We project. A lot. Because easy & leads away from cognitive dissonance.
To get people, watch out for the feelings, thoughts, decisions they project on you & others.
To get people, beware of projecting your feelings, thoughts etc. on them.
6. "Values" are noise, actions are signal.
In psychology (practice), ignore people's politics, religion, beliefs etc.
People with polar-opposite psychology can state identical values. But they will feel and ACT differently in the same circumstances.
In psychology (practice), ignore people's politics, religion, beliefs etc.
People with polar-opposite psychology can state identical values. But they will feel and ACT differently in the same circumstances.
7. Self-knowledge enables people-knowledge.
You'll never GET people you aren't without getting yourself.
This requires extreme honesty. What do you fear? What makes you weak? Why do you feel the way you do?
Heuristic: the greater your resistance, the closer you are to insight.
You'll never GET people you aren't without getting yourself.
This requires extreme honesty. What do you fear? What makes you weak? Why do you feel the way you do?
Heuristic: the greater your resistance, the closer you are to insight.
8. The dialectic is fundamental psychology.
Opposites sustain their opposites. In psychology, this manifests most clearly as (often haphazard) compensation. Weak people talk up respect. Ruthless people talk up kindness. Disorderly people talk up order.
Opposites sustain their opposites. In psychology, this manifests most clearly as (often haphazard) compensation. Weak people talk up respect. Ruthless people talk up kindness. Disorderly people talk up order.
Learning to spot the dialectic – and the psychology it reveals – can be as easy as reminding yourself of it every day.
Just be consistently aware that it exists and you'll start seeing it naturally. As long as you pay attention to OTHER people.
Just be consistently aware that it exists and you'll start seeing it naturally. As long as you pay attention to OTHER people.
9. Perception is Y.
Perception is about everything. People naively mistake getting thought process for the crux of psychology (practice). Without perception, it’s game OVER before your psychology even started.
No surprises: this is also the most challenging task.
Perception is about everything. People naively mistake getting thought process for the crux of psychology (practice). Without perception, it’s game OVER before your psychology even started.
No surprises: this is also the most challenging task.
Because perception is closest to contact with the real world.
Because you have to let go of what you think you know about reality to get anywhere with perception.
Because you can't experience others' perceptions. Which makes getting your own mis/perception even moar critical.
Because you have to let go of what you think you know about reality to get anywhere with perception.
Because you can't experience others' perceptions. Which makes getting your own mis/perception even moar critical.
10. Non-events are events.
Watch out for the blank space. What people don't do, don't say, don't emote. Things that didn't happen are the ultimate signal, and triply so in getting personality & psychology.
Pay attention.
Watch out for the blank space. What people don't do, don't say, don't emote. Things that didn't happen are the ultimate signal, and triply so in getting personality & psychology.
Pay attention.
NOTE: This thread is still live.
11. There is no mind-body problem.
Understand: mentality & physicality are one, and a dynamic system. To see psychology in the moment & through time, you need to take into account the conditions of physicality: water, food, sleep, exercise, habitation.
Understand: mentality & physicality are one, and a dynamic system. To see psychology in the moment & through time, you need to take into account the conditions of physicality: water, food, sleep, exercise, habitation.
12. Type itself is a dynamic.
The biggest mistake to avoid in using personality type is to take it as a static object, set of interests, views, skills etc. Personality is a dynamic, not a state, not an object, not a sack of fixed “traits”.
The biggest mistake to avoid in using personality type is to take it as a static object, set of interests, views, skills etc. Personality is a dynamic, not a state, not an object, not a sack of fixed “traits”.
13. Reduce complexity to gain insight.
The dynamics of human psychology are infinitely complex. To reach in in one go is a fool's errand. Reduce to clarify. Instead of recognizing the dynamic, eliminate types it isn't.
The dynamics of human psychology are infinitely complex. To reach in in one go is a fool's errand. Reduce to clarify. Instead of recognizing the dynamic, eliminate types it isn't.
PERSONALITY TYPE & PERSONAL GROWTH
Static frames are a major barrier to getting the most out of personality type, especially re personal development.
We tend to revert to static frames when we try to reduce a complex dynamic system to cause-effect.
Static frames are a major barrier to getting the most out of personality type, especially re personal development.
We tend to revert to static frames when we try to reduce a complex dynamic system to cause-effect.
Personal psychology is a dynamic system:
• internally – different systems, perceptions, instincts etc. interacting;
• externally – relative to stimuli in the moment;
• globally – along the path of lifetime growth.
To start getting type growth, never forget this.
• internally – different systems, perceptions, instincts etc. interacting;
• externally – relative to stimuli in the moment;
• globally – along the path of lifetime growth.
To start getting type growth, never forget this.
How does a personality type develop or "mature"? Some useful paradigms:
I. Dealing with the child,
II. Developing the inverse.
III. Cracking the ego-complexes.
I. Dealing with the child,
II. Developing the inverse.
III. Cracking the ego-complexes.
I. Dealing with the child is the simplest task for the maturing individual.
Some call this "developing" the inferior, but that's not quite it. It's more about facing the inferior function and owning it – which effectively disables its blowup expression.
Some call this "developing" the inferior, but that's not quite it. It's more about facing the inferior function and owning it – which effectively disables its blowup expression.
For exmaple, the ENTJ inferior is Fi, which deals with things like authenticity, honor and calling out bullshit.
If you've seen an ENTJ blow up in anger, you'd know that whatever words are discernible at that time would be coached in such terms.
If you've seen an ENTJ blow up in anger, you'd know that whatever words are discernible at that time would be coached in such terms.
An ENTJ who's dealt with Fi would simply be unaffected by acts of betrayal or dishonor and will have developed workarounds to process (internally) and discard (externally) – NOT developed Fi to a level where it works as well as it does for INTJ.
