Personality refers to the enduring characteristics and behavior that comprise a person's unique adjustment to life, including major traits, interests, drives, values, self-concept, abilities, and emotional patterns.
A large new study published in Nature Human Behavior, however, provides evidence for the existence of at least four personality types: average, reserved, self-centered and role model.
Some personality psychologists believe that personality disorders result from biological or genetic influences, while others feel that they are caused by a person's experiences early on that prevent normal development of thought and behavior patterns.
Personality tests can be used to help clarify a clinical diagnosis, guide therapeutic interventions, and help predict how people may respond in different situations. Personality is something that we informally assess and describe every day.
Personality theories in psychology aim to provide a framework to understand human personality, including the causes and motivation for thoughts, behaviors, and social interactions. Like many concepts in psychology, theories of personality have evolved over time, often building and incorporating pieces of prior work.
In Jung's model of the psyche, the personal unconscious exists alongside the conscious mind and the collective unconscious, the latter of which contains universal archetypes shared among all humans. These three components interact with each other and contribute to an individual's overall personality and behavior.
The INFJ personality type is the undisputed top 1 rarest personality type in the general population coming in at just 2%. INFJs are especially rare among men with only 1% of men qualifying as this personality type. It is slightly more common in women at around 2%.
ISFJ: The ISFJ personality is known as “the protector,” “the defender,” or “the guardian” type. ISFJs are affirming, caring, and practical nurturers. This is the most common personality type among the general population.
INTJ's and ENTJ's are the rarest personality types for females. Less than 1 out of 100 each.
So, which personality type is the most intelligent? INTPs and INTJs are the most likely to be intelligent. They are analytical individuals who are natural problem solvers. Both types can take abstract concepts and explore them in depth.
INTP. According to Comen, both INTJs and INTPs are among the smartest, adding that thinking is actually "the primary life goal" for INTPs, as opposed to the key tool. These people are most likely to be engineers and mathematicians, Robledo says.
People with the ISTP personality type are often described as hard to read. On the one hand, they are quiet, reserved, and introspective. But when a problem or crisis arises, they spring into action and will often take the lead in troubleshooting to find a quick, effective resolution.
The INFJ is one of the rarest and most misunderstood personality types. These types are often seen as mysterious, daydreamy, and even confusing. However, there's a lot more to the INFJ than one sees at first glance. Fascinated by patterns and symbols, INFJs are drawn to the hidden meanings in life.
For example, Jung disagreed with Freud's focus on sexuality as a key motivating behavioural force, as well as believing Freud's concept of the unconscious as too limited and overly negative.
Without independent verification of assertions via rigorous and controlled research, both Freud's and Jung's ideas are more philosophy and opinion than verified truths (with a small “t”), no matter how sophisticated, brilliant—and even logical—their insights about the nature of mind appear to be.
Although Jung was initially an associate of Sigmund Freud, he disagreed with Freud's theory that our life experiences dominate our personality and the kind of individual we are.
The ENFP. You'll never give up because you nearly always see alternatives, possibilities, and potential in the world. While other people might feel the walls are closing in on them, you can nearly always find a window of opportunity. In the midst of the unexpected your best ideas and insights often come to light.
The Anarchist.
This rebellious personality type is perhaps one of the most exasperating to manage. These types enjoy behaving recklessly and acting out in ways others find off-putting, uncomfortable or even obscene. This type of person has a difficult time socializing with others and are quick to boredom.
Why Do Conscientious People Tend to Live Longer? So, when it comes to longevity, the trait of conscientiousness appears to be the most consequential predictor. But scientists and laypersons are not only interested in prediction; we also want to explain—to know why things relate in the way they do.
A major personality trait – openness to experience – is probably the only personality trait associated with high intelligence in general. One reason could be people who are open to new experiences could also be curious, willing to learn, and try new things out.
Introverts with intuition, which possess the highest mean intelligence scores, also have the highest grades: INFJ and INTJ have the highest grades for all 16 types and INTP and INFP's have the highest grade point average for all P types (Myers, 1985).
On average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence. But statistics show that around 70% of gifted people are introverts. People are considered “gifted” when they exhibit above-average intelligence or a superior talent for something, such as music, art or math.
Extroverted, intuitive, feeling, and perceiving people draw you in thanks to their charming and personable nature. "They can make others feel immediately at ease from the first encounter, and have the natural skill of holding their audience's attention so they can win them over," Coulston says.
So which personality types are happiest? ESTPs and ENFJs have personality traits most conducive to life satisfaction and happiness. Both types enjoy being around people, are optimistic, have a great sense of humor, and are always up for trying new things.