The 16 Personalities

Did you know people can be divided into 16 personalities?

Personality Types

Organizers

Engineers

INTJ

Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging

Healers

INFJ

Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging

Protectors

ISFJ

Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging

Builders

ISTJ

Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging

Analysts

Dreamer

INFP

Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving

Scientists

INTP

Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving

Athlete

ISFP

Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving

Fixer

ISTP

Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving

Fighters

Executive

ENTJ

Extroverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging

Humanist

ENFJ

Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging

Producer

ESTJ

Extroverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging

Host

ESFJ

Extroverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging

Explorers

Adventurer

ENFP

Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving

Inventor

ENTP

Extroverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving

Doer

ESTP

Extroverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving

Performer

ESFP

Extroverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving

Understanding the 16 Personalities

Hey, my name is Erik, and I’ve spent more than a decade exploring personality types. But what are the 16 personalities?

Depending on your personality, you have a unique combination of personality traits and characteristics, that separate you from other personality types. But what do the different traits in your 16 personalities code mean?

The 16 personalities core traits

Personality TraitSubtraits
IntroversionStability, Modesty, Independence, Sensitivity
ExtroversionAssertiveness, Initiative, Collaboration, Adaptability
IntuitionOpenness, Optimism, Big-picture thinking, Rationality
SensingAgreeableness, Presence, Prioritization, Skepticism
FeelingOpenness, Agreeableness, Optimism, Presence
ThinkingPrioritization, Skepticism, Rationality, Big-picture thinking
JudgingInitiative, Assertiveness, Stability, Independence
PerceivingAdaptable, Collaborative, Modest, Sensitive

Introversion, like all the other personality traits is a general, broad category and spectrum. You can be more or less introverted or extroverted, depending on in part, your genetics, and in part, your personal development.

Introversion vs. Extroversion: Stability vs. Initiative

To determine if you lean towards introversion or extroversion, consider your responses to social interaction and solitude. Introverts often find solace and energy in being alone, valuing stability, modesty, independence, and sensitivity. Extroverts, on the other hand, draw energy from being around others, exhibiting traits like assertiveness, initiative, adaptability, and a strong inclination for collaboration. Recognizing where you fall on this spectrum can illuminate your preferred methods of recharging and connecting with the world around you.

Intuitive vs. Sensing: Openness vs. Practicality

Distinguishing between intuitive and sensing preferences involves understanding how you perceive and interact with the world. If you’re intuitive, you’re likely to be open to new experiences, optimistic, inclined towards big-picture thinking, and rational in your approach. This means you lean towards innovation, future possibilities, and abstract concepts. Sensing individuals prioritize practicality, displaying agreeableness, a strong sense of presence, an ability to prioritize, and a healthy skepticism. Sensing types focus on the present, relying on concrete facts and direct experiences.

Thinking vs. Feeling: Logic vs. Compassion

To find out if you’re more of a thinker or a feeler, consider your decision-making process. Thinkers prioritize logic, exhibiting skills in prioritization, skepticism, rationality, and an affinity for the big picture, making decisions based on objective criteria and logical reasoning. Feelers, conversely, navigate decisions with compassion and empathy, valuing openness, agreeableness, optimism, and a strong sense of presence. This trait influences a more subjective approach to decisions, heavily factoring in personal values and the emotional impact on themselves and others.

Judger vs. Perceiver: Structure vs. Adaptability

Identifying whether you’re a judger or a perceiver can clarify your approach to planning and flexibility. Judgers value structure and order, demonstrating initiative, assertiveness, stability, and independence. This orientation towards life emphasizes organization, planning, and a methodical approach to tasks. Perceivers appreciate adaptability and spontaneity, characterized by their adaptability, collaborative spirit, modesty, and sensitivity. If you’re a perceiver, you likely prefer keeping options open and making decisions as you gather more information.

You’ll find that certain traits can overlap with each other.

The 16 Personalities cognitive functions

Because of their different combination of traits, each personality type has their unique thinking patterns, which we map out and explore as cognitive functions.

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