Quick and Dirty Typing Guide
So I saw this ask, and I kind of have a problem with it bc the “list of preferences” isn’t a very good typing method. SO, I decided to share my quick-type guide I like use for BASIC TYPING. I like to ask a few basic questions for quick-typing. Mind, they’re based in some stereotypes and are only a couple questions, but they’re just for guiding to a type when there isn’t a quiz readily available. Then I suggest reading up on the cognitive stack to compare (a single-letter difference can make a HUGE difference in the cognitive stack, the least amount of difference being the E vs I comparisons).
My letter-by-letter comparisons:
E vs. I - Avoid questions like “do you like people?”/”do you prefer books over parties”/etc bc that is some extreme stereotyping bs. Try:
“How long does it take for a social situation to exhaust you?”
I - they tend to only be able to handle a few hours for the most part. The more people in a social situation, the less time (though it really depends on the person they’re with). Though, some can go up to a day with the right person, but that tends to be a single person.
E - they can either do long stretches of time with a few people, or a few hours or more with many people. The only exceptions are the “ambivert” types (ENxPs), but even they can go for longer stretches of time than their introverted counterparts (depending on the group or person).
Either way, these are trends we’re talking about here, and they fall similarly to to “how do u feel about people” kinds of questions. My preferred question is:
“Do you take time to yourself when you need to process information or do you find someone you trust to talk it out with to process?”
I - they can process and think things through by themselves, but they do need that time to themselves to do so. For example, when making a big decision, they may mull it over by themselves for a few days or maybe grind it out themselves in a few minutes to a few hours. They do not need to externalize their thoughts.
E - they tend to be the ones who need to talk things out to process, but they do need someone to bounce off of. When Es have a big decision, they may go talk to a parent, a sibling, a friend, etc., to explain the context and talk about where they want to go/where they should go/etc. They don’t get very far internalizing their thoughts.
Both questions are based in stereotypes, though, since the E/I only refers to if you introvert or extrovert your dominant cognitive function. More on that later.
N vs S - I’m sure there are some really stupid and stereotypical tests on this, none of which I’ll use. I won’t say I’m not biased towards intuitives (I am), but sensor stereotypes tend to be very annoying and rigid and narrow-minded, and I’m not for that.
"Define time."
Yes, I’m aware this request is confusingly vague. That’s on purpose, it’s meant to make people default.
S - they will tend to default to facts, concrete experience. Measurements particularly, because sensors tend to perceive in either a single point or a very limited set of points (why they end up being more detail-oriented than intuitives).
N - they tend to default to ideas, abstract concepts. They tend to paint a whole picture (or worse, a theatrical production) because they perceive in MANY sets of points and how they all relate (that “big picture” thinking).
Another pretty stereotypical one, but without the intuitive bias, because it does semi-relate to how each type actually perceives.
F vs T - I kind of hate the whole “feelers have a lot of feelings” thing. Not because I don’t have a lot of feelings, but just my feelings aren’t what makes me a feeler. So, avoid the “feelings” questions.
Ask them about something they hate and why they hate it.
T - they make judgments and decisions based on logic. They are like a quick “true/false” machine. They generally give their reasoning based on what makes sense, so they will tend to hate things that are irrational, illogical, or don’t make sense.
F - they make judgments based on values. They have a hierarchy of “right/wrong” that they go through to even decide how they feel. They usually give reasoning based on their beliefs, so they tend to hate things that violate their core values.
This is probably the least stereotyped differentiation on this guide, but it isn’t flawless. Anything that doesn’t really require much thought (or is too on-the-spot) can cause people to default to their tertiary function (if their tert is a judging function) which can be opposite to their actual judging function. You kind of wanna incite a rant with this one, that’ll really get you insight.
P vs J - The number of times I’ve heard “I’m not a P because I’m really judgmental” or “I’m not a J because I’m not judgmental”.... There’s not a lot I hate more than that.
“When you’re taking a trip, what is the first thing you do?”
P - they are gonna lean more towards the “leap before they look” type. This question is meant to figure out if they’re gonna wing it, and Ps generally tend to wing it.
J - they are the “look before you leap” kind of person. They’ll answer this question with a structured plan (and possibly a scheduled itinerary) of method of travel, trip activities, what/when to pack, and so on.
Contrast this with the F vs T question, this is probably the most stereotyped question of all the letters. The P or J in a type actually refers to whether on not a person extroverts their perceiving function or their judging function.
Like I’ve said, it’s not super accurate, but it’s really easy to get into a ballpark for a type. Further reading (especially of cognitive functions!!) will help to pinpoint a type.
Another thing, you can be very borderline on a letter, but you cannot be both. Because even switching one letter will significantly change a cognitive stack. But, that is a post for another time! Either way, everyone tends to be one letter or the other, and any doubt can be cleared up in your cognitive stack.
Thanks for reading, and happy typing!!
