Whether it’s an official Myers-Briggs questionnaire or a “Which Bridgerton Character Are You?” quiz, why is that we’re fascinated with categorizing our personalities into bite-size explanations? In an article for Psychology Today, Jennifer V. Fayard, Ph.D., an Associate Professor of Psychology at Ouachita Baptist University, hypothesizes that personality tests satisfy our inherent need to belong and understand how we relate to other people. Sounds about right. So, what are the types of personalities? Below, I dive into four common models used to determine personality types: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), 16 Personalities, The Big 5 and Enneagram. Note that many of these tests rely on self-report questionnaires, which means, more or less, take your results with a grain of salt—these aren’t medical diagnoses. Still, if you’re curious, go forth and figure out what dog breed you should have based on your personality type using one of these four common models. (And finally determine whether you’re an introvert or extrovert.)
From Myers-Briggs to the Big 5, Here Are 4 Models Used to Determine Personality Type
Where are the Type A, extroverted Enneagram 1s?
What Is a Personality Test?
A personality test usually involves a suite of questions meant to bucket the test-taker into a category said to describe their behavioral archetype. The goal of the questionnaire is to analyze how you think and interact with the world, as well as the lens through which you do so. The questions may ask about topics such as, “How do you like to spend your time?”; “When there is a conflict, do you tend to…?” and “How important is it that you’re perceived as capable?” The queries are exhaustive—be prepared to set aside at least five minutes to complete one. (As a personality types enthusiast, I can usually actually guess someone’s personality type with four questions, but a more thorough line of questioning will give you better insight.)
How Do You Analyze Someone’s Personality?
If you want to be able to size up a new acquaintance on the spot, you’ll have to familiarize yourself with the personality test frameworks, which evaluate myriad traits. When you understand what drives each personality type, it becomes easier to assess the person in front of you by asking some strategic question. Personally, I love this—it’s a great way to make small talk that has depth but isn’t too prying. As I mentioned above, I have four questions I like to ask that help me determine someone’s Meyers-Briggs (MBTI) type, and I’ve developed other questions for different tests as well. To familiarize yourself with all the personalities, I recommend podcasts like Typology (Enneagram) and Type Talks (MBTI), as well as Type Talk by Otto Kroeger and Janet M. Thuesen. Feeling overwhelmed? I’d narrow it down to MBTI to get your feet wet. It’s based on Carl Jung’s personality types analysis and I find pretty much all other personality tests flow from it, or are related in some way.
The 4 Most Common Types of Personality Test Examples
1. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Personality Test
Pros
- easy to evaluate others
- explains why people interact with the world in specific ways
Cons
- expensive
Developed in the 1920s by mother-daughter team Katherine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers and based on Carl Jung's theory of personality types, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator attempts to describe personality type based on where you fall within four categories: introversion or extraversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling and judging or perceiving. Using these traits, users come up with four-letter personality types that more accurately describe their personalities (INTJ, ESFP, etc.).
In developing the MBTI, the pair addressed two related goals: first, the identification of basic preferences of each of the four dichotomies specified or implicit in Jung's theory; and second, the identification and description of the 16 distinctive personality types that result from the interactions among the preferences. According to the MBTI Foundation, these are preferences of the four dichotomies:
- Favorite world: Do you prefer to focus on the outer world or on your own inner world? This is called Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I).
- Information: Do you prefer to focus on the basic information you take in or do you prefer to interpret and add meaning? This is called Sensing (S) or Intuition (N).
- Decisions: When making decisions, do you prefer to first look at logic and consistency or first look at the people and special circumstances? This is called Thinking (T) or Feeling (F).
- Structure: In dealing with the outside world, do you prefer to get things decided or do you prefer to stay open to new information and options? This is called Judging (J) or Perceiving (P).
The MBTI Foundation has a series of paid-for services like certification and consulting services, and the test is administered by those who have completed the MBTI Certification program or on the foundation’s website for a fee. A basic online test costs $60, and a test with a personalized consultation is $175.
2. 16 Personalities Personality Test
Pros
- free version of the MBTI
Cons
- doesn’t offer consultations or certifications
In a similar vein, 16 Personalities is a framework for determining types of personalities that evolved from the MBTI with a ten-minute questionnaire. Unlike Myers-Briggs, the 16 Personalities test is free for anyone through the 16 Personalities website. (There’s no certification or consulting provided.)
This model goes a step further and groups different Myers-Briggs-like types into four groups (which you can explore in more detail on the 16 Personalities website):
- The Analysts: the Architect (INTJ), the Logician (INTP), the Commander (ENTJ), the Debater (ENTP)
- The Diplomats: the Advocate (INFJ), the Mediator (INFP), the Protagonist (ENFJ), the Campaigner (ENFP)
- The Sentinels: the Logistician (ISTJ), the Defender (ISFJ), the Executive (ESTJ), the Consul (ESFJ)
- The Explorers: the Virtuoso (ISTP), the Adventurer (ISFP), the Entrepreneur (ESTP), the Entertainer (ESFP)
3. The Big 5 Personality Test
Pros
- simple behavioral categorization
- free
Cons
- some say categories are too broad to be accurate
The history of the Big 5 Personality Test dates to 1926, and from then until 1981, the concept was refined by a slew of researchers until it was solidified by Lewis R. Goldberg. They aimed to attribute a system of scientific nomenclature to personality descriptions. The five types of personalities of this model are typically referred to as CANOE:
- Conscientiousness (efficient/organized vs. extravagant/careless)
- Agreeableness (friendly/compassionate vs. critical/rational)
- Neuroticism (sensitive/nervous vs. resilient/confident)
- Openness to experience (inventive/curious vs. consistent/cautious)
- Extraversion (outgoing/energetic vs. solitary/reserved)
Studies, like this one published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, have shown that it effectively predicts behavior, and the test is often used in academic psychological personality research. This is a popular personality test used by recruiters to determine whether a job candidate’s skills and personality would match the role. You can determine your Big 5 personality type by taking a free ten-minute, 120-question test.
4. Enneagram Personality Test
Pros
- affordable
- explains how you perceive and process the world
- wings provide additional insight
Cons
- can be mistyped due to disintegration or integration
I’ve come to understand that the MBTI personality test shows you how someone interacts with the world—but the Enneagram will show you the lens through which they do so. The test was pioneered by Oscar Ichazo to combine the teachings he encountered in Argentina and in his travels throughout Asia, leading him to found The Arica school. One of the keystones of Ichazo’s teachings was the Enneagram, an ancient symbol dating back to the philosopher Pythagoras. However, it didn’t become associated with personality types until the 1960s. This test assigns you a chief feature meant to describe your ego structure. The Enneagram consists of nine types of personalities, as listed below:
- Type 1: The Reformer
- Type 2: The Helper
- Type 3: The Achiever
- Type 4: The Individualist
- Type 5: The Investigator
- Type 6: The Loyalist
- Type 7: The Enthusiast
- Type 8: The Challenger
- Type 9: The Peacemaker
Taking the Enneagram personality test costs $20 through The Enneagram Institute, which provides you with a personalized report breaking down your scores across the nine types with a deep analysis on your top three. However, there are free versions as well—my favorite is Eclectic Energies, but it’s also available through Truity and Enneagram Universe. This is a common test used in workplaces and group/team settings—I first took this test as a student while serving on a leadership board.
Other Types of Personality Tests
There are many other types of personalities that can be evaluated with different tests, including those listed below. If you work in corporate America, there’s a good chance you have taken a personality test, as Psychology Today reports that 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies include them in evaluations for candidates in upper management positions.
- ABCD: In 1976, cardiologists Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman discovered the two main personality types: the Type A personality, who is prone to stress (and therefore cardiac issues), and the Type B personality, who is more laid-back (and less likely to have cardiac issues). Over the years, their model has been expanded to include Type C (an introverted Type A) and Type D (a melancholic Type B) personalities.
- Caliper Profile: This test is the product of over 60 years of research and evaluates personality characteristics and individual motivation. The Caliper Profile measures 22 traits and runs them against its 52 job models to help employers predict job compatibility.
- DISC Personality Test: Developed by Harvard psychologist William Moulton Marston in the 1920s, DISC is a quick, 12-question evaluation that analyzes behavioral and personality traits. It’s a great tool for improving interpersonal communication and understanding your own communication style.
- Eysenck Personality Inventory: The Eysenck test measures extraversion, introversion and neuroticism. It stems from the 1952 Maudsley Medical Questionnaire developed by British psychologist H. J. Eysenck.
- Revised NEO Personality Inventory: Formerly knowns as CANOE or OCEAN, NEO measures the “five dimensions of personality”: Agreeableness (A), Conscientiousness (C), Neuroticism (N), Extraversion (E) and Openness to Experience (O).
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Types of Personality Tests Are There?
There are many types of personality, and here, we’ve summarized nine of the most common assessments. Popular personality tests include the Myers-Briggs, 16 Personalities, Enneagram and Big Five.
What Is the Most Trustworthy Personality Test?
Each personality test makes unique evaluations, but the general consensus is that Myers-Briggs, Big Five, Enneagram and DISC are some of the more reliable.
What Are the Problems and Concerns with Personality Tests?
The main issue with personality tests is that everything is self-reported. This is where the phrase “know thyself” comes in hand. If you don’t have clear awareness of yourself, you may answer the questions misleadingly, leading to inaccurate results.
How Can I Identify My Personality?
You can identify your personality by taking any one of the myriad personality tests linked in this article. Tests can be as short as five or ten minutes, while others may require up to an hour to complete. Depending on the personality assessment, detailed analysis and in-person consultations may be available to help you better understand your personality type.
Can Your Personality Type Change?
Yes. According to the American Psychological Association, analysis has shown that while personality traits are stable, they also have the capacity to change over your entire lifetime. Thus, the idea that your personality solidifies at age 30 is untrue.
Recapping Different Types of Personality Tests
The personality tests discussed in this article included the Myers-Briggs, 16 Personalities, Enneagram, Big Five, ABCD, Caliper Profile, DISC Personality Test, Eysenck Personality Inventory and Revised NEO Personality Inventory. They are just nine of many personality tests showcasing the swath of different types of personalities. These evaluations can provide insight into how you communicate and interact with others, strengths, weaknesses, philosophies and worldviews.
