Labels are sometimes useful and sometimes not. Labels can help us understand our world, but they can also stereotype us.
That’s why I think if you’re going to label people, do it with a sense of skepticism and humility.
I came across a tweet today that labels functions and types in the Myers-Briggs universe:
If you click through this presentation, you see there is a label for each of the 8 functions that begins with “Guardians…” and then there is a label for each of the 16 personality types.
Personality systems love to create these labels. So do I. Most of the time, however, I do not agree with other peoples’ labels (such as this one, definitely not accurate in my opinion).
That’s why I have my own personal way of looking at personality types, which, because of my interest in Greek mythology, involves Greek divinities.
(Side note: I actually really like this Twitter user’s screen name, Ni BlackSmith, because it implies that he or she is like Hephaestus, a creator and shaper of metal things. And it just so happens that Hephaestus goes along with the Ni function.)
In my book, Zeus Is My Type!, I talk more at length about how the 16 personality types of MBTI line up with the personalities of Olympian divinities, but in this post, for the first time, I share my labels (or archetypes, a word I don’t really like) for the types. Take a look and see what you think.
(Note that I am not a credentialed expert in MBTI, nor do I have any connection with the official MBTI organization. What follows comes from my personal perceptions and preferences.)
INFP: The artist. Hephaestus.
“Artist” in this context doesn’t mean a person who paints or draws only, but a creative person in general. INFPs are drawn to create as a way of bringing meaning to their lives. Hephaestus is not a pure artist in this sense, but of all the Olympians he is the purest creator. Sometimes the INFP is labeled as “the idealist,” which makes sense, but is a bit vague.
ISFP: The caretaker. Artemis.
The ISFP is often typed as an “artist” but I don’t see ISFPs as being drawn to creation because they are purely creative, but because they care about animals, the earth, beauty, and harmony. They are in their comfort zone when they are preserving and maintaining their environments. Artemis is a guarder and caretaker of the wilderness, and most appropriate for this label.
ESFP: The icon of joy. Dionysus.
I had the most trouble finding an “-er” noun that fits this type, so I went with what made the most sense. The ESFP’s most visible trait is a personal sense that regardless of what is going on, everything’s going to be okay. Dionysus embodies the idea of taking joy in the moment. Alternate label: party animal.
ENFP: The encourager. Aphrodite.
At their best, ENFPs make everyone around them better because they are genuinely interested in letting everyone know that they are worthy, no matter what. The ENFP is not exactly like Aphrodite in that the goddess is less of an encourager and more of an irresistible sexual force, but the energy of the ENFP is absolutely that of bringing people together in more ways than one.
ISTP: The warrior. Ares.
My personal sense of the ISTP is as the lone athlete: the mountain-climber, surfer, or ultra-marathoner who is driven to achieve as a part of finding inner peace. An ISTP doesn’t have to be as athletic, but is interested in solitary pursuits where you achieve things. Ares is not as reflective as an ISTP, but he is as action-oriented.
ESTP: The rebel. Poseidon.
ESTPs thrive when they can make their own rules. They are absolutely allergic to conventions and rules that make no sense to them and are fine with getting into trouble when they break them. Poseidon is the embodiment of the uncontrollable and untamed forces of the world that obey only their own rules.
INTP: The researcher. Apollo.
Both Apollo and the INTP are interested in intellectual things for their own sake. Apollo is often called the god of the sun, but this is a very small part of his identity. He is interested in medicine, poetry, mathematics, music, prophecy—a whole range of mostly theoretical pursuits.
ENTP: The inventor. Hermes.
I like Hermes for ENTPs because Hermes took a tortoise shell, made it into a musical instrument, then traded it to Apollo in return for forgiveness for stealing Apollo’s cattle. ENTPs are inventive with ideas, actual inventions, and with actual reality, as they are adept re-interpreters of the truth, as is Hermes.
ESTJ: The manager. Hades.
ESTJs like rules, predictability, and getting others to follow the rules. Likewise, Hades is the consummate lawful type. He didn’t really make the rules about the Underworld, but he enforces them. Disobey at your own risk.
ENTJ: The executive. Zeus.
Zeus is about rules as well, but like a good ENTJ, Zeus sees the big picture (he lives in the sky, after all) and knows why the rules are there in the first place. ENTJs are usually good leaders of organizations because they are unsentimental, logical, and practical. The lightning bolt to the chest isn’t anything personal. It’s just what needs to be done.
ISTJ: The assistant. Hera.
ISTJs are often invaluable to an organization because they are loyal, hard-working, and ethical. Unfortunately, they often don’t feel appreciated and may spend too much energy complaining about that fact. Hera definitely doesn’t feel appreciated by the unfaithful Zeus and spends her time punishing his various lovers or illegitimate offspring.
INTJ: The consultant. Athena.
“There’s always room for improvement” is the INTJ mantra. INTJs are pretty convinced they know what’s the best way to do things and actively go for it. That’s why sometimes they are called “mad scientists,” because they are sometimes so convinced of their own rightness that they go too far. But INTJs who use their power for good are like Athena, a practical person on the side who has the knowledge to make things better. Athena was the personal consultant of Odysseus, making sure all conditions were right for his homecoming to Ithaca.
ENFJ: The advocate. Prometheus.
Prometheus is not an Olympian. He is either a Titan or the son of a Titan, depending on the particular version of his myth. But there is no Olympian with an ENFJ profile, mainly because, unlike the Olympians, ENFJs are tireless strivers for doing right by people and helping people better themselves. The main motivation of the ENFJ is justice. Prometheus is a pure helper of humans, having brought fire to them and getting punished for it. Olympian divinities tend to help humans only insofar as they have to or have an incentive to do it.
ISFJ : The nurse. Hestia.
I use the word “nurse” here not as a medical worker, but in its ancient sense as a surrogate mother, nanny, babysitter, nurturer, or like occupations. A nurse was originally called a nurse because she breast-fed another woman’s baby. The ISFJ is the consummate nurturer, teacher, person who is kind and good to children, and to whom children are drawn instinctually. Hestia doesn’t have a huge amount of mythology about her, but as goddess of the hearth she is all about family togetherness. And she has no children of her own, so she is a kind of foster mother to all who are warmed by her fire.
ESFJ - The coordinator. Demeter.
ESFJs coordinate. That means they can lead when they need to, be assistants when they need to, encourage when they need to, and manage when they need to. It’s a multifarious label, and ESFJs are multifarious people who usually make everything better by doing what needs to be done. Demeter, goddess of grain, gives humans what they need to live, and as a mother, works tirelessly for her daughter, Persephone. Usually, if you have a Demeter in your organization, you don’t need a Zeus, Hades, or Aphrodite.
INFJ - The mystic. Persephone.
“Mystic” isn’t exactly perfect as a label for the INFJ, and it isn’t perfect for Persephone, either, but it fits best because both the INFJ and Persephone are delvers into the depths. Persephone enters the Underworld regularly, while INFJs spend a lot of time working hard on the inner mysteries of themselves and others. INFJs are complex, spiritual, intuitive, sensitive, even empathic. They are probably the most “magic” of the types. Alternative label: the empath.
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I like this a lot.