INFP

A few days ago I received an invitation in Facebook to complete a Myers-Briggs survey. Being a bit of a skeptic about any quiz offered in Facebook I thought this would be my chance to show the world that FB quizzes are a waste of time. Having completed a very thorough Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) evaluation with 150 questions around a year ago I was certain the 30 question survey would not be close. I was wrong. As it turned out I still came out with the exact same profile INFP.

If you are familiar with the MBTI types you may remember that "I" stands for "introversion." People who work with me usually are surprised at this score as I do well presenting and facilitating in front of large groups of people. It is not that I'm unable to do these things, it is just that presenting, training, facilitating, or just talking to strangers is something that I really would rather not do.

I guess the big surprise for me came with the explanation of my Type. According to the quiz, "you are idealistic, loyal to your values and to people who are important to you. You want an external life that is congruent with your values. You are curious, quick to see possibilities, and can be a catalyst for implementing ideas. You seek to understand people and to help them fulfill their potential. You are adaptable, flexible, and accepting unless a value is threatened. Famous people with your same INFP personality include: Mary the Blessed Virgin, Helen Keller, William Shakespeare, John F. Kennedy Jr., Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Julia Roberts."

But it wasn't the description of my Type that struck me as odd it was the thought of Mary the Blessed Virgin taking the Myers-Briggs and getting my same score. What are the odds that the mother of Jesus was an INFP? And could she have completed other personality test like the DISC Assessment? I scored high in "I" and low in "D" on DISC, so could Mary the Blessed Virgin be an "I" as well? Want to really freak me out? Tell me she was left handed, a Cancer and had a weakness for chocolate ice cream and I'll tell you I missed my dream girl by about 2,000 years. Do you think she completed her quiz on Facebook as well?

So, sorry Facebook quiz but I have to tell you that I don’t believe you. While you may have best guessed your way to my personality Type I don't think you really know what you're talking about.