The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is an introspective self-report questionnaire. It indicates different psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions.
There are 16 different personality types according to the Myers-Briggs test. Each is made up of a combination of four traits: extraversion (E), sensing (S), thinking (T), judgment (J), introversion (I), intuition (N), feeling (F), perception (P). So, for example, if you're an ISFJ (like me), then you're intuitive, sensing, feeling, judging personality, and that combination of traits predicts some oddly accurate things about you.
Not only does knowing our personality type help us to understand who we are and how we react in certain situations, but it’s also a great suggestion as to who we might be compatible with, and how we are within relationships.
If you don't know your Myers-Briggs personality, take this free test, and then figure out how you are in a relationship.
ISTJ - The Duty Fulfiller
ISTJs are committed, loyal partners, who will put forth tremendous amounts of effort into making their relationships work. ISTJs are generally willing and able to do anything which they have defined as a goal. So, if maintaining a good relationship is important to the ISTJ, they are likely to have a good relationship.
ESTJ - The Guardian
ESTJs are very enthusiastic people who are driven to fulfill their obligations and duties. They like to be in charge and may be very controlling of their mates and children. They seek stability and security in their lives, and once they have made a commitment, it is lifelong and unalterable. They bring with them into the relationship a strong and dependable nature, which is oriented in traditions and security. They are highly energetic people, who never seem to lose their energy when performing duties and fulfilling obligations.
ISFJ - The Nurturers
ISFJs place a great deal of importance on their personal relationships. They're generally very giving and loving people, who place the needs of others above their own. ISFJs are committed to their relationships. They have very intense feelings, which is not immediately apparent to others because they tend to hold things inside themselves without expressing them unless they have a strong reason to do so.
ESFJ - The Caregivers
ESFJs are warm-hearted individuals who highly value their close personal relationships. They are very service-oriented, and their own happiness is closely tied into the happiness and comfort of those around them. ESFJs give their intimate relationships a lot of special care and attention. They're usually traditional and take their commitments very seriously.
ISTP - The Mechanics
ISTPs are generally extremely capable individuals who are good at most things which interest them. They are usually bright, interesting, and exciting individuals with a lot to offer. ISTPs live entirely in the current moment, which makes them especially interested in new sensations and experiences. They strongly dislike routine and strict schedules and resist being controlled by others. They are fiercely independent and need their own space within a relationship. When involved in relationships which provide for their basic needs and presents them with new experiences, the ISTP will be happy to do what's necessary to keep the relationship alive and well. If a relationship becomes boring or oppressive to the ISTP, they will try to fix it, or move on.
ESTP - The Doers
ESTPs are enthusiastic and friendly people who approach everything in a Big way. They can be extremely charming, especially at the beginning of a relationship. They're also quite generous, and known for "sweeping their partners off their feet". They're very sensual and earthy and usually live fast-paced lives where their focus is on the present moment. They bring a lot of fun and energy into their personal relationships. They make the most of their relationships on a daily basis but they tend to get bored easily and may be prone to switching relationships frequently.
ESFP - The Performers
ESFPs are fun and delightful to be with. They live for the moment and know how to make the most of each moment. They are genuine, warmly interested in people, and love to make others happy. ESFPs love to be in love and will try to make the most of each moment. They take things on a day-by-day basis, and are uncomfortable thinking too much about the future, or making plans far in advance. For this reason, ESFPs are not natural long-term commitment people.
ISFP - The Artists
ISFPs are warmhearted, gentle people who take their commitments seriously, and seek lifelong relationships. They are very private people, who keep their true feelings and opinions reserved or hidden from others. This may cause them to constantly defer to their mates in their intimate relationships, which may cause problems if their mates are not extremely aware of the ISFP's feelings. Although they may appear to be light-hearted, they are in fact extremely serious and take their relationships seriously. Unlike other SP types, people with the ISFP type desire and seek lifelong, committed relationships.
ENTJ - The Executives
ENTJs put a lot of effort and enthusiasm into their relationships. Since their major quest in life is to constantly take in knowledge and turn that into something useful, the ENTJ will try to turn everything into a learning experience. Within the context of relationships, that means they will constantly seek knowledge and revise the rules and definitions of their relationships. They value their relationships highly, especially those relationships which present them with new challenges and stimulate their learning.
INTJ - The Scientists
INTJs believe in constant growth in relationships and strive for independence for themselves and their mates. They are constantly embarking on "fix-up" projects to improve the overall quality of their lives and relationships. They take their commitments seriously but are open to redefining their vows, if they see something which may prove to be an improvement over the existing understanding. INTJs are not likely to be "touchy-feely" and overly affirming with their mates or children, and may at times be somewhat insensitive to their emotional needs.
ENTP - The Visionaries
Typically good-natured, upbeat and laid-back, ENTPs can be delightful people to be around. ENTP's goals for their intimate relationships are similar to their other personal goals: improvement and growth. They constantly ask themselves questions such as: How can the relationship be improved? Where is the relationship headed? Am I growing in the relationship? They are likely to enthusiastically embrace new ideas and projects for themselves and their mates which they feel will propel them along their goal of growth and knowledge discovery.
INTP - The Thinkers
INTPs live rich worlds inside their minds, which are full of imagination and excitement. They tend to be difficult to get to know well and hold back parts of themselves until the other person has proven themselves "worthy" of hearing the INTP's thoughts. INTPs approach their intimate relationships quite seriously - as they approach most things in life. They take their vows and commitments seriously and are usually faithful and loyal. They are usually pretty easy to live with and be around because they have simple daily needs and are not overly demanding of their partners in almost any respect.
ENFJ - The Givers
ENFJs put a lot of effort and enthusiasm into their relationships. To some extent, the ENFJ defines themselves by the closeness and authenticity of their personal relationships, and are therefore highly invested in the business of relationships. They're totally dedicated to the relationship, and to their partner, and have a special skill for warmth and affirmation which brings out the best in their mates. They take their commitments seriously and are likely to put forth a lot of effort into making a relationship work once they have committed themselves to it.
INFJ - The Protectors
INFJs are warm and affirming people who are usually also deep and complex. They're likely to seek out and promote relationships that are intense and meaningful. They tend to be perfectionists and are always striving for the Ultimate Relationship. They seek long-term, lifelong relationships, although they don't always find them.
ENFP - The Inspirers
ENFPs take their relationships very seriously, but also approach them with a childlike enthusiasm and energy. They seek and demand authenticity and depth in their personal relationships, and will put forth a lot of effort into making things work out. They are warm, considerate, affirming, nurturing, and highly invested in the health of the relationship.
INFP - The Idealists
The INFP internally feels his or her life intensely. In the relationship arena, this causes them to have a very deep capacity for love and caring which is not frequently found with such intensity in the other types. INFPs do not share their intensity of feeling with anyone; they tend to be reserved about expressing their inner-most feelings, and reserve their deepest love and caring for a select few. With the Feeling preference dominating their personality, harmony and warm feelings are central to the INFP's being. They feel a need to be in a committed, loving relationship. If they are not involved in such a relationship, the INFP will be either actively searching for one, or creating one in their own minds.
