After completing a series of miscellaneous questions for the Myers-Briggs test, I gained new perspective on my self identity. I am an ENFP.
This acronym stands for Extrovert, Intuition, Feelings, and Perception. Here is a description of this personality type:
General: ENFPs are both "idea"-people and "people"-people, who see everyone and everything as part of an often bizarre cosmic whole. They want to both help (at least, their own definition of "help") and be liked and admired by other people, on both an individual and a humanitarian level. They are interested in new ideas on principle, but ultimately discard most of them for one reason or another.
Social Relationships: ENFPs have a great deal of zany charm, which can ingratiate them to the more stodgy types in spite of their unconventionality. They are outgoing, fun, and genuinely like people. As mates they are warm, affectionate (lots of PDA), and disconcertingly spontaneous. However, attention span in relationships can be short; ENFPs are easily intrigued and distracted by new friends and acquaintances, forgetting about the older ones for long stretches at a time. Less mature ENFPs may need to feel they are the center of attention all the time, to reassure them that everyone thinks they're a wonderful and fascinating person.
ENFPs often have strong, if unconvential, convictions on various issues related to their Cosmic View. They usually try to use their social skills and contacts to persuade people gently of the rightness of these views; this sometimes results in their neglecting their nearest and dearest while flitting around trying to save the world.
Work Environment: ENFPs are pleasant, easygoing, and usually fun to work with. They come up with great ideas, and are a major asset in brainstorming sessions. Follow through tends to be a problem, however; they tend to get bored quickly, especially if a newer, more interesting project comes along. They also tend to be procrastinators, both about meeting hard deadlines and about performing any small, uninteresting tasks that they've been assigned. ENFPs are at their most useful when working in a group with a J or two to take up the slack.
ENFPs hate bureaucracy, both in principle and in practice; they will always make a point of launching one of their crusades against some aspect of it.
For the most part, I agree with theory behind this personality type. I definitely thrive off of social interaction and would much rather spend time with a friend, or even stranger for that matter, rather than hide away some place reading a book. Talking to people is how I discover the world. There is a lot to learn from people and their life experiences, and I have the ears to hear, but the mouth and curiosity to prod the questions as well.
I also agree with the work ethic - creative, brain-stormer, passionate about their work... but can get bored more easily than not. This is evident in my projects and my interests; I have changed my major 2 times and am always starting projects that eventually get left half completed. This is probably due to the fact that I run off my feelings and emotions, and if "I" (whatever that really means) am not 100% behind it... it ain't going to happen. This also reinforces the last statement of ENFPs disliking bureaucracy. If I don't buy it, I won't buy it... no matter who or what the authority. Obviously, this is in situations where I have wiggle room; I'm not going to steal from someone who I don't think deserves what they have.
How does knowing I am an ENFP relate to my art and design? Well... I am definitely creative and am known amongst my peers for thinking outside of the box. It's what I do. However, I too am a procrastinator as I run off my emotions/feelings.. and please tell me, who feels like working all the time? When I have been working overtime and need to continue on, it's hard for me to stay motivated because I need the gratification of exercising my freedom and not being strapped to a deadline. Some days I just want to go on a long walk, I mean for several days, and not worry about what I'm leaving behind. I'm sure at some point I'd want to turn around and finish what I started to begin with. Sound familiar?
Knowing my personality type, how does that explain my participation in class critiques? Well... I do know I will talk when I have something nice to stay, or something I feel can be objectively critiqued and not step on the toes of the artist. As a people person, the last thing I want to do is say something that will make someone not like me. Yet, in the end, I don't like beating around the bush, I do have opinions about pretty much anything, and I am not going to compromise myself if it's a threatening situation. I have confidence and am a "dominant" person... meaning I don't do well with passive aggression and non-confrontational situations. I will try and speak my mind more often in critiques, especially since this is a Drawing III class, not kindergarten, and as artists and designers, we need practice defending our creative decisions.
Amen.
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