Myers Briggs, the Enneagram, and your characters

It becomes folly if you use MBTI and Enneagram for characterization based on only using their measuring tests. A whole character cannot be made by saying he's an INFJ or 4w3 by itself. I recommend for those who would like to try exploring a better use for these models - learn the framework behind the personality type. The integrating and disintegrating potentials in the Enneagram for example - if you look closely in classic literature, the Enneagram shows how characters created by authors unfamiliar with the Enneagram conform to the character arc the system predicts. (I also added a link to Judith Searle's articles on The Enneagram page, for those who feel interested in 'character arcs' or how story genres can apply.)

Or for MBTI - you need to look at the evaluating functions behind the type; the ESFJ and INFP overall description becomes generalized as you notice not all Chinese people like getting straight A++ under extreme pressure. What's an FiSi loop? to say? Or how your repressed inferior function prods you to personal growth?

When used more properly into the whole, you can provide more accurate characterization for your special snowflakes. I also use them to help dissect other people's characters. Now.. let us put the validity of these 'tools' on the backburner, and return to looking at our own characters under these lenses.

edited 17th Aug '11 1:58:09 PM by QQQQQ

Although I know Bryan's a definite INTJ, I'm still not sure what Finn is. I'm split between ISFJ, INFJ, and INFP, All I know that he's I and F.

Thinking about it. INFP is probably the best bet. It goes well with Bryan's INFJ, with only one letter (I) clashing (I read that N's goes well together).

You can easy build a work just based out of tropes just as easily as you can build one from no tropes or even no plotting, most of the stuff in contemporary genre literature, blockbuster Hollywood and AAA gaming is built that way.

Though if you don't have a deep understanding like the above post mentioned I do see the issue In just saying " I want an ISTP Badass Normal" and expecting a very good character to come out of it.

It's pretentious to argue that you cannot build a work based off tropes/tests/ectra and, quite frankly starts sound like a True Art fallacy.

I know it was already in defused mode but that was a point I felt had to make.

edited 17th Aug '11 3:48:13 PM by Vyctorian

Actually I more used that to get my characters rather then taking a test of characters already done. For one thing some of the descriptions fascinated me and I wanted to write them down.

One of my characters is a Spirited Young Lady and a Determined Starship Captains Wife who acts as The Lancer to The Captain and as the female half of a Battle Couple. She is an ENTP with a passion for being good at everything including things she is definitely not good at. She is known for her ingenuity as The Scrounger and her skill as a merchantess. When the ship is in danger from pirates or whatever, she filters data from the sensors to make sure The Captain gets the information he needs without being flooded, as well as giving useful tactical tips. She sometimes seems like an ESTP but is more like a ENTP and that is how she is designed. Ingenuity is the word to describe her most. She would fit the role of The Kirk.

Another character is The Captain's brother who is The Medic. He is a saintly character with a passion for healing-The McCoy. Idealism is the word that best describes him. He is obviously an INFP and in fact I drew him almost directly from the desription of INFP.

The Captain himself is The Spock and is best described by the word calculation. He is cold-blooded, icy, and socially awkward, not a jerk but something of a Tin Man. But he is definitely a genius. Probably an INTJ but possibly INTP.

This is just part of my ensemble, and I used Myers-briggs a lot in formatting it. However I never took a test based on pretending to be these characters. It sounds like an interesting thing to try.