Professor Bainbridge...on law, politics, religion, culture & food

A Split Myers-Briggs Personality? Moi?

Typealyzer is a site that purports to figure out your Myers-Briggs type by analyzing your blog. (HT: Sullivan) As the owner of three blogs, I perhaps present a unique opportunity to test it. Here’s the results:

StephenBainbridge.com (punditry)

ISTJ - The Duty Fulfillers: The responsible and hardworking type. They are especially attuned to the details of life and are careful about getting the facts right. Conservative by nature they are often reluctant to take any risks whatsoever.

The Duty Fulfillers are happy to be let alone and to be able to work in their own pace. They know what they have to do and how to do it.

BusinessAssociationsBlog.com (law and corporate governance)

INTJ - The Scientists: The long-range thinking and individualistic type. They are especially good at looking at almost anything and figuring out a way of improving it - often with a highly creative and imaginative touch. They are intellectually curious and daring, but might be pshysically hesitant to try new things.

The Scientists enjoy theoretical work that allows them to use their strong minds and bold creativity. Since they tend to be so abstract and theoretical in their communication they often have a problem communcating their visions to other people and need to learn patience and use conrete examples. Since they are extremly good at concentrating they often have no trouble working alone.

ProfessorBainbridgeOnWine.com (wine and food)

ESTP - The Doers: The active and playful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.

The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

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Three blogs. Three different result. But the same author. This suggests three possible hypotheses:

1. I have a split personality, with each blog being written by a different psychic persona.
2. Typealyzer is bogus.
3. The whole Myers-Briggs personality typology is a load of crap.

Personally, I’m voting for # 3. In any case, the Typealyzers have anticipated # 2:

A person can have several blogs - and often have different roles for the various blogs - perhaps as a way to live out more sides of themselves. ... Most people are, and therefore the majority of blogs are affected by how we are feeling at the moment in which period we are in. This text analysis gives a snapshot by looking at the communication style of the text.

FWIW, when I’ve taken real Myers-Briggs tests, I almost always come out as INTJ.