Your Character's Personality Type

[moonmomma]

This is a cool idea I found in the forums at Absolute Write (absolutewrite.com/): Take the Myers-Briggs Personality Type test from the POV of one of your characters. Here's a free online version of the test: www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm. (It's the big box on the left; read the instructions first.)

The results page has links to personality type descriptions, including careers they're best suited for and how they are in relationships. Come share your results here!

[moonmomma]

I did this for Roric Rossony, the male main character in The Empty God (which title I'm still not happy with and trying to think of a new one).

ISTJ (Inspector):

The one word that best describes Inspectors is superdependable. Whether at home or at work, Inspectors are extraordinarily persevering and dutiful, particularly when it comes to keeping an eye on the people and products they are responsible for. In their quiet way, Inspectors see to it that rules are followed, laws are respected, and standards are upheld.

Inspectors (as much as ten percent of the general population) are the true guardians of institutions. They are patient with their work and with the procedures within an institution, although not always with the unauthorized behavior of some people in that institution. Responsible to the core, Inspectors like it when people know their duties, follow the guidelines, and operate within the rules. For their part, Inspectors will see to it that goods are examined and schedules are kept, that resources will be up to standards and delivered when and where they are supposed to be. And they would prefer that everyone be this dependable. Inspectors can be hard-nosed about the need for following the rules in the workplace, and do not hesitate to report irregularities to the proper authorities. Because of this they are often misjudged as being hard-hearted, or as having ice in their veins, for people fail to see their good intentions and their vulnerability to criticism. Also, because Inspectors usually make their inspections without much flourish or fanfare, the dedication they bring to their work can go unnoticed and unappreciated.

While not as talkative as Supervisor Guardians [ESTJs], Inspectors are still highly sociable, and are likely to be involved in community service organizations, such as Sunday School, Little League, or Boy and Girl Scouting, that transmit traditional values to the young. Like all Guardians, Inspectors hold dear their family social ceremonies-weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries - although they tend to be shy if the occasion becomes too large or too public. Generally speaking, Inspectors are not comfortable with anything that gets too fancy. Their words tend to be plain and down-to-earth, not showy or high-flown; their clothes are often simple and conservative rather than of the latest fashion; and their home and work environments are usually neat, orderly, and traditional, rather than trendy or ostentatious. As for personal property, they usually choose standard items over models loaded with features, and they often try to find classics and antiques - Inspectors prefer the old-fashioned to the newfangled every time. (from keirsey.com/handler.aspx?s=keirsey&f=fourtemps&tab=2&c=inspector)

Guardian lovers have a tendency of coming across as boring. The true gold of their love is often well hidden behind ordinary daily acts of caring and sacrifice. Guardian lovers are likely to be stable, dependable, and predictable. Carrie's Guardian husband died of cancer. He had almost never said he loved her. After he was gone, she discovered that he had spent those last months putting their finances in order so that she and their young girls would never have to worry. She finally realized that taking care of her was his way of showing his love.

Guardian lovers usually have a set of high standards of behavior for themselves and often for their loved ones too. If they have been trained or have taught themselves how, they are generally very good at remembering and appropriately commemorating anniversaries, romantic milestones, birthdays, and holidays.

Alex is an Inspector (ISTJ) Guardian. He is nearing 30 and is unmarried. He has been too busy getting his career in order to think much about women. He has never dated much because he's very shy and not particularly popular with the ladies even though he's tall and handsome. He views dating as only a means of finding a mate. Now it's hard for him to find suitable women. However, his cousin recently set him up on a blind date. He's fallen for her head over heels. (from keirsey.com/personalityzone/lz26.asp

Some of the questions were kind of hard to answer, but basically this is Roric to a T. The one things that's left out is he does have this idealistic streak of being devoted to the scholarly, scientific search for truth, which is what finally leads him to make his Big Mistake and turns everything upside down.

One thing that's interesting to consider, as I edit the novel and fine-tune the characterizations, is how much of Roric's personality is innate, and how much is a result of the abuse he experienced as an adolescent. What kind of person would he have been if he hadn't been abused, and how much of that comes out once he comes to terms with his past?

[claregurl]

I did this from the POV of Stella Diora, the main character of the Just A Myth series, and got an INTP result. I, personally, do not think that is the type of personality she has, but it does line up with some points. One of the things I made sure to do with my characters (especially Stella) is to give them distinct personalities, and I believe this is one of the examples of that.

[moonmomma]

And now for Perarre Tabrano, the female main character:

ISFP (Composer):

More than the other Artisans, Composers are in tune with their senses, and so have a sure grasp of what belongs, and what doesn't belong, in all kinds of works of art. While the other Artisans are skilled with people, tools, and entertainment, Composers have an exceptional ability-seemingly inborn-to work with subtle differences in color, tone, texture, aroma, and flavor.

Although Composers often put long, lonely hours into their artistry, they are just as impulsive as the other Artisans. They do not wait to consider their moves; rather, they act in the here and now, with little or no planning or preparation. Composers are seized by the act of artistic composition, as if caught up in a whirlwind. The act is their master, not the reverse. Composers paint or sculpt, they dance or skate, they write melodies or make recipes-or whatever-simply because they must. They climb the mountain because it is there.

This ability to lose themselves in action accounts for the spectacular individual accomplishments of some Composers, and yet on their social side they show a kindness unmatched by all the other types. Composers are especially sensitive to the pain and suffering of others, and they sympathize freely with the sufferer. Some have a remarkable way with young children, almost as if there were a natural bond of sympathy and trust between them. A similar bond may be seen between some Composers and animals, even wild animals. Many Composers have an instinctive longing for the wilds, and nature seems to welcome them.

Composers are just as plentiful as the other Artisans, say nine or ten per cent of the population, but in general they are very difficult to observe and thus greatly misunderstood. Very likely the difficulty comes from their tendency not to express themselves verbally, but through their works of art. Composers are usually not interested in developing ability in public speaking, or even in the art of conversation; they prefer to feel the pulse of life by touch, in the muscles, in the eyes, in the ears, on the tongue. Make no mistake, Composers are just as interested as other types in sharing their view of the world, and if they find a medium of non-verbal communication-some art form-then they will express their character quite eloquently. If not, they simply remain unknown, their quietness leaving their character all but invisible. (from keirsey.com/handler.aspx?s=keirsey&f=fourtemps&tab=4&c=composer)

"Girls just wanna have fun" is a great motto for Artisan women. They treat romance as they do the rest of their lives - an exciting titillating game. Flirting is a high art form for them as they encourage and discourage the opposite sex. When being wooed, they enjoy novelty, grand gestures, and spontaneity. They dislike the boring and predictable and fear getting in a rut. Artisan women tend to be sensual and enjoy giving and receiving physical affection.

Ashley, an Artisan Crafter (ISTP), is a quiet person but she had no trouble finding boyfriends. Her main problem was that she was attracted to "bad boys" who really were bad news. She began to concentrate on her studies and had several date-free years. She was beginning to wonder if she'd ever date again when she met her current boyfriend. He's calm and steady, but has a killer mentality when playing sports. She finds competing with him a real turn-on and appreciates that he also has long term goals.

Cassie is an Artisan Composer (ISFP). Her boyfriend was an exciting, unpredictable man who lived dangerously. She moved in with him and began caring for his four children. When he became abusive, she left and successfully sued for sole custody of their own baby. Even so, for a long time, she was still in love with him. Her new boyfriend is the exact opposite - dependable, respectable, and kind. She's not sure if she should marry him because she's afraid she'll get bored. (from keirsey.com/personalityzone/lz22.asp)

This was kind of interesting. Perarre isn't an artist, but a linguist/translator. But she's very gifted, and brings an artistic flare to her work, not just translating the words but getting the feeling and hidden meanings behind the words. (Her magical Reading talent helps with this too, but even considering that, she has a special touch for adding life and meaning to her translations.) The really interesting thing is that as far as relationships go, she's more like Ashley in the example above, who is a different type, than Cassie. Formerly attracted to bad boys (and determined to be a bad girl), she took a break from all that and is now strongly attracted by Roric's dependability and integrity, and by how he treats her as his intellectual and professional equal.

One thing that was encouraging, on further reading, is that Guardians (Roric) and Artisans (Perarre) are a combination that works well together. ;D I knew it. (keirsey.com/personalityzone/lz15.asp)

[moonmomma]

Jun 1, 2010 22:24:05 GMT -5 claregurl said:

I did this from the POV of Stella Diora, the main character of the Just A Myth series, and got an INTP result. I, personally, do not think that is the type of personality she has, but it does line up with some points. One of the things I made sure to do with my characters (especially Stella) is to give them distinct personalities, and I believe this is one of the examples of that.

Some of the questions are really hard to answer. I found that a few of them could easily go either way, or both ways, for my characters, and in experimenting I found that changing my answer on just those few questions gives a completely different result.

Whether it's accurate or not, it really makes you get inside your character's head!

[plasticat]

I got ISTJ for Dekk Rant. I completely disagree but I agree that it does get you into your character's head.