Personality Types

Carl Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who developed the concept of psychological types in his work on personality. He believed that each person had a unique personality that was made up of different characteristics, and that these characteristics could be organized into distinct categories or types. Jung’s theory of psychological types was based on his observations of people’s behavior, and he identified four main dimensions that he believed were important in understanding personality:

  1. Extraversion vs. Introversion: This dimension describes how people tend to relate to the outside world. Extraverts are outgoing and tend to focus on external events and people, while introverts are more inward-focused and tend to be more reserved and introspective.
  2. Sensing vs. Intuition: This dimension describes how people process information and make decisions. Sensing types tend to focus on the concrete, observable aspects of a situation, while intuitive types are more abstract and focus on the underlying meanings and possibilities.
  3. Thinking vs. Feeling: This dimension describes how people make decisions and evaluate information. Thinking types tend to be logical and analytical, while feeling types are more emotional and consider personal values and the impact on others.
  4. Judging vs. Perceiving: This dimension describes how people approach their environment and make plans. Judging types tend to be organized and decisive, while perceiving types are more flexible and open to change.

Jung believed that each person had a preference for one of these four dimensions, and that these preferences determined their personality type. He originally proposed eight different personality types, each of which was caracterized by a dominant preference in one of the four dimensions. The eight personality types are:

  1. INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging)
  2. INTP (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving)
  3. INFJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging)
  4. INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving)
  5. ENTP (Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving)
  6. ENTJ (Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging)
  7. ENFP (Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving)
  8. ENFJ (Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging)

Each of these personality types has its own set of characteristics, and people who are classified as a certain type tend to exhibit certain patterns of behavior and ways of thinking.

It is important to note that Jung himself only proposed these eight personality types. They were later on expand by proposing additional personality types.

In the mid-20th century, Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers expanded on Jung’s theory and developed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI is a personality assessment tool that is based on Jung’s theory and is designed to identify a person’s psychological preferences. The MBTI includes 16 personality types, each of which is represented by a combination of four letters: E (extraverted) or I (introverted), S (sensing) or N (intuition), T (thinking) or F (feeling), and J (judging) or P (perceiving).

The 16 personality types are generally described as follows:

ISTJ (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging):

  • App. 6-12% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are practical and logical.
  • They value stability and order and are often reliable and efficient.

ISFJ (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging):

  • App. 6-12% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are sensitive and supportive.
  • They are often considerate and care about the well-being of others.

INFJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging):

  • App. 1-3% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are creative and idealistic.
  • They are often deeply empathetic and seek to understand the needs and motivations of others.

INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging):

  • App. 1-3% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are analytical and independent.
  • They are often innovative and have a strong sense of personal vision.

ISTP (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving):

  • App. 3-7% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are practical and resourceful.
  • They enjoy solving problems and are often skilled with their hands.

ISFP (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving):

  • App. 4-9% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are sensitive and artistic.
  • They often enjoy exploring their own emotions and creativity.

INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving):

  • App. 4-9% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are introspective and empathetic.
  • They are often sensitive to the needs of others and seek to understand the world in a deeper, more intuitive way.

INTP (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving):

  • App. 3-7% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are logical and independent.
  • They enjoy analyzing and solving problems and are often creative thinkers.

ESTJ (Extraverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging):

  • App. 5-10% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are organized and efficient.
  • They enjoy taking charge and often excel in leadership roles.

ESFJ (Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging):

  • App. 8-12% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are warm and sociable.
  • They enjoy being around others and often value harmony and cooperation.

ENFJ (Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging):

  • App. 2-4% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are charismatic and empathetic.
  • They often excel in leadership roles and are skilled at bringing out the best in others.

ENTJ (Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging):

  • App. 2-4% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are confident and decisive.
  • They are often strategic thinkers and excel in leadership roles.

ESTP (Extraverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving):

  • App. 3-7% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are adventurous and spontaneous.
  • They enjoy taking risks and often excel in fast-paced environments.

ESFP (Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving):

  • App. 8-12% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are sociable and energetic.
  • They enjoy being around others and often have a strong sense of personal style.

ENFP (Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving):

  • App. 8-12% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are flexible and adaptable.
  • They often have a strong sense of personal vision and enjoy exploring new ideas and possibilities.

ENTP (Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving):

  • App. 3-7% estimated percentage in the population
  • These individuals are innovative and resourceful.
  • They enjoy solving problems and often excel in fast-paced environments.

It is important to note that it is difficult to determine the exact percentage of each personality type in the population, as different studies have found varying results. These estimates are rough and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Additionally, it is important to remember that personality is a complex and multifaceted construct, and that individuals cannot be reduced to a single personality type. The MBTI is a useful tool for gaining insight into one’s own personality, but it should not be used as a definitive measure of a person’s characteristics.

With that in mind, feel free to further explore each personality type by just clicking on it.