Quiet, stylish, driven and yet “notorious” for her hard-hitting, impassioned dissents, the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was one of the most complex and inspirational public figures of the last few decades. And if it feels like RBG-types are hard to find, you’re absolutely right.
RBG was an INTJ personality type. And INTJ women are the rarest gender-type match in the Myers-Briggs system.
Orphaned Anne (with an e) Shirley has arrived in Green Gables, much to the surprise of ISTJ Marilla Cuthbert. But when Marilla’s neighbor, ESTJ Rachel Lynde, comes to investigate the situation, her acidic honesty makes for a painful conversation.
“Couldn’t ya send her back?” asks Rachel, when Anne steps forward.
“Well, we’re still considering on it,” mumbles Marilla.
“Considering on it? What is there to consider? I mean, a boy would have been bad enough but…”
From the beginning of storytelling, epic adventures have had their heroes — the larger-than-life, charismatic persona who is willing to endure fantastic quests in order to right a wrong or secure their place in infamy. Though the particular quest may differ from story to story, there are similarities in these tales. Generally, there’s an obstacle that requires immense strength or extreme cleverness to conquer.
And often, the hero has a trusted companion to help him do it.
It’s no surprise that ENTP personalities stand to offer a unique perspective on success. Our type has a reputation for being both enterprising and unconventional in our methods. The notion that we are more likely than others to explore alternative paths in life has even been backed up by science.
Tragic and misunderstood, a good villain is a complex character who is created not only to pull apart a hero’s worst tendencies, but to poke holes in human nature itself. They have their own rules and beliefs, working within a system they have either created or sworn fealty to. And no matter how monstrous they can be, they always have an underlying shred of recognizable humanity.
INFJ is the rarest personality type among Myers and Briggs' 16 personalities, making up only 2 percent of the population. Idealistic and dedicated, people with this personality type feel best when helping others realize their potential and live their own truth.
What comes to your mind when you think about your favorite book? When I think about my favorite reads, I remember the characters I fell in love with and with whom I wouldn’t mind trading places for a day. What I’ve come to realize is that in literature – as in life – we often identify with characters who share the same hobbies, interests and personality traits we do.
Rebels have been part of our culture since the beginning of story telling. Sometimes they’re the good guys, the heroes who stand up for the poor, the weak and the ones without voices. Sometimes they’re the outcasts; the misfits and dreamers who don’t belong. But they always served a moral purpose, teaching a lesson about right and wrong on both individual and societal scales.
Picture a typical INTP. What comes to mind? The spunky mad scientist who hasn’t seen daylight in the last three months? How about the mathematician with zero social skills? These images couldn’t be further from the truth. INTPs can and do excel in a variety of fields outside of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, with their own offbeat and individualistic flair.
Do you ever wonder what Jesus Christ’s personality was like? Have you felt curious at times about what he was like as a son, neighbor, friend, student, teacher? What kind of experience do you suppose it was to interact with him?
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