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The four pairs of letters are as follows. Don't get stuck on the single-word name that goes with each one, the brief explanation is more important.
From these four two-letter choices come the sixteen four-letter Types: ISTJ, ISTP, ESTP, ESTJ and so on. OUR RESULTSThe 38 responses I received break down as shown in this table:
Sensing Types Intuitive Types Introverts ISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ CD,CD,CD TS TS,TG,CD,TS, TG CD,TG ISTP ISFP INFP INTP CD,CD CD,CD,TG,TG CD CD,TS Extraverts ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP TS CD ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ CD,CD,TG TS,TS,TS,TS TS,CD,TS,TS TS,CD,CD, (Note that ``TG" includes anyone who declined to state CD or TS, besides those who specifically identified as ``transgender.") A few bits of basic analysis float to the top right away:
THE TYPES Each of the 16 Types has specific characteristics, and even a one-word description to go with it. You can get a lot more on the Types at the Websites listed in this article, but let me just describe a few of the top ones in our survey: INFJ: Compassionate, conceptual, creative, deep, determined, idealistic, intense, intimate, loyal, methodical, reflective, sensitive. INFJ's like working in small groups or alone. They like using their inspiration to help others grow and develop. (1 CD, 2 TS, 2 TG) ENTJ: Challenging, controlled, decisive, energetic, logical, methodical, objective, opinionated, planful, straightforward, strategic, tough-minded. ENTJ's like working with others especially when they can be in charge, but they have to learn to identify and value the feelings of themselves and others. (4 CD's, 1 TS) ISFP: Adaptable, caring, cooperative, gentle, harmonious, loyal, modest, observant, sensitive, spontaneous, trusting, understanding. ISFP's are gentle and considerate toward those needing help. They are open-minded and flexible, but may not be assertive enough and can be easily hurt. (2 CD, 2 TG) ESFJ: Conscientious, cooperative, harmonious, loyal, personable, planful, responsible, responsive, sociable, sympathetic, tactful, traditional. ESFJ's value getting along with others and enjoy organizing to complete tasks at hand. They may not factor in their personal needs and wants. (4 TS) COMPARISONS Here's how we compared with the general population on each letter pair:
E/I: Public: 75% Extravert / 25% Introvert All of us: 47% Extravert / 53% Introvert CD: 42% Extravert / 58% Introvert TS: 69% Extravert / 31% Introvert The CD number here is way off the general public, with far more CD's
getting their energy and inspiration from inside themselves rather than outside forces. The TS number is very close to the public one.
S/N: Public: 75% Sensing / 25% iNtuitive All of us: 45% Sensing / 55% iNtuitive CD: 47% Sensing / 53% iNtuitive TS: 38% Sensing / 62% iNtuitive All our subgroups—CD, TS and TG—are way more iNtuitive than the general public. We all take in information through a ``sixth sense" and infer things that might happen. Since all our respondents were M-to-F, perhaps we have more ``feminine intuition" than most biological men.
F/T: Public: Public: 50% Feeling / 50% Thinking All of us: 53% Feeling / 47% Thinking CD: 26% Feeling / 74% Thinking TS: 84% Feeling / 16% Thinking Our overall average is very close to the general public's 50/50. But look how different our subgroups are! The CD's organize and structure information
and make decisions in a logical, objective way. The TS's prefer to do these things in a personal, value-oriented way. (Note that Thinking might be
consdidered stereotypically male, while Feeling might be stereotypically female.)
Our overall, and both subgroups, are all more Judging than the general
public, with the TS's considerably more so. Judging points to a preference for a planned and organized life (as opposed to spontaneous and flexible). Perhaps we've had enough surprises already? WHAT THE RESPONDENTS SAID Here are a few excerpts from the comments received from survey respondents: ``I've found the INTP/ENTP description to fit fairly well. Something that I find interesting that I haven't seen in the descriptions is that I tend to be contextually extroverted. My T-side loves ideas, so in the classroom or at conferences or on professional mailing lists, I'm much more extroverted than I am in other parts of my life." ``Just took test i am ENTJ which i found very accurate...never took a test of this type but very informative... `` ``[The test] determined that I was an INFJ. When I first took the test (1/10/03), I scored as a ISFJ. Do you think that getting deeper into the TG life was the cause of it? Just wondering..." ``It was a fun little test and the results seem to fit Me to a T...I have been dressing since I was seven years old... My type was INFJ and I would consider Myself a pre-op transexual and would consider Myself Bi-sexual..." ``I tested as an ENFJ but this test has been inconsistent for me... years ago I tested with my company and got a ENTP ... I was also not in a period of dressing en femme at that time, I am dressing regularly in public now. It appears the E and the N are fixed and the feeling thinking percieving judging part has changed since my acceptance of my femininity... this kinda makes some sense. `` ``I identify myself as a Transgendered in love with women and all things of the feminine world. This test was eerie in parts in the way it described me [ISFP]. I am an artist and a writer and a sensualist -- so much of it struck right in the bullseye. Some was kind of outside of the red circle though, but still close enough to call it a score." ``[ESFJ] My test answers were significantly different from what they would have been a few years ago when I was closeted and in self-denial." WHERE TO GO FROM HERE? I personally found this exercise fascinating. In this tiny sample, there are some really significant differences between the transgender sample as a whole and the general public. There are also some very interesting differences between the CD and TS groups represented here. If you are reading this because you took the online Myers-Briggs test at my open request, what do you think your Type says about you? If you think about conversations you had with other people, or things you tried to do with them that did or didn't work out so well, can you see ways that your personality type may have influenced the outcome? What do you have to watch out for in yourself so you can improve your communication or get more satisfaction out of what you do? (This is why companies and organizations use the MBTI--to improve communication between employees, and between staff and customers.) If this article has stirred your curiosity, would you like to take the online version yourself? Go to http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp and take a few minutes to answer the 72 yes/no questions; you'll receive your 4-letter Type immediately, along with a summary of what it means. (Please remember that the full Myers-Briggs test is much more complete, and is administered by a professional facilitator who can really help you make the most of it.) If you do the test, I'd appreciate it if you would send me your result, along with your self-identification of TS, CD or something else. I'll add your responses to the ones I already have (anonymously, of course). Are you active in a TG support group or other organization? Perhaps the Myers-Briggs test could help you and your members better communicate and work together. Organizations of all kinds have found it to be valuable enough that they pay thousands of dollars to have the test professionally administered and evaluated. Finally, if you are a mental health professional or researcher, or perhaps you know such a person well, do you think this survey could (and should) be expanded into a real, valid study? Would it help a person trying to figure out where they fall in the TG universe if they knew their MBTI Type? If so, I hope you will go out and find a way to produce that research. LINKS:
Like this article? Have any comments or questions? Please Email RenoDana! |
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