16 Personalities is a free online test that claims to be able to accurately place you into one of 16 different personality types, which can then predict how you are likely to behave. The overall aim is to provide you with insights to help you with personal growth and relationships. The personality type descriptions can also help find out more about others – what drives, inspires and motivates those around you. 531,000,000 tests have been taken so far, across 37 languages. So, what is it all about…?
The test aims to find out the following things about your personality:
Our minds – how we interact with our surroundings:
Introverted people prefer solitary activities and get exhausted by social interaction. They tend to be quite sensitive to external stimulation (e.g. sound, sight or smell) in general.
Extraverted people prefer group activities and get energised by social interaction. They tend to be more enthusiastic and more easily excited than introverts.
Our energy – how we see the world and process information:
Observant people are highly practical, pragmatic and down-to-earth. They tend to have strong habits and focus on what is happening or has already happened.
Intuitive people are imaginative, open-minded and curious. They prefer novelty over stability and focus on hidden meanings and future possibilities.
Our nature – how me make decisions and cope with emotions:
Thinking people focus on objectivity and rationality, prioritising logic over emotions. They tend to hide their feelings and see efficiency as more important than cooperation.
Feeling people are sensitive and emotionally expressive. They are more empathic and less competitive than Thinking types, and focus on social harmony and cooperation.
Our tactics – our approach to work, planning and decision-making:
Judging people are decisive, thorough and highly organized. They value clarity, predictability and closure, preferring structure and planning to spontaneity.
Prospecting people are very good at improvising and spotting opportunities. They tend to be flexible, relaxed nonconformists who prefer keeping their options open.
Our identity – how confident we are in our abilities and decisions:
Assertive people are self-assured, even-tempered and resistant to stress. They refuse to worry too much and do not push themselves too hard when it comes to achieving goals.
Turbulent people are self-conscious and sensitive to stress. They are likely to experience a wide range of emotions and to be success-driven, perfectionistic and eager to improve.
What are the 16 personality types?
The Architect – Imaginative and strategic thinkers, with a plan for everything
The Logician – Innovative inventors with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge
The Commander – Bold, imaginative and strong-willed leaders, always finding a way – or making one
The Debater – Smart and curious thinkers who cannot resist an intellectual challenge
The Advocate – Quiet and mystical, yet very inspiring and tireless idealists
The Mediator – Poetic, kind and altruistic people, always eager to help a good cause
The Protagonist – Charismatic and inspiring leaders, able to mesmerize their listeners
The Campaigner – Enthusiastic, creative and sociable free sprits, who can always find a reason to smile
The Logistician – Practical and fact-minded, whose reliability cannot be doubted
The Defender – Very dedicated and warm protectors, always ready to defend their loved ones
The Executive – Excellent administrators, unsurpassed at managing things – or people
The Consul – Extraordinarily caring, social and popular people, always eager to help
The Virtuoso – Bold and practical experimenters, masters all kinds of tools
The Adventurer – Flexible and charming artists, always ready to explore and experience something new
The Entrepreneur – Smart, energetic and very perceptive people, who truly enjoy living on the edge
The Entertainer – Spontaneous, energetic and enthusiastic people – life is never boring around them
Why take a personality test?
The 16 personalities test gives you an in-depth understanding of your personality traits. You can learn more about your strengths and weaknesses, how you deal with emotions, romantic relationships, friendships, parenthood, your career path and workplace habits.
Armed with this knowledge of yourself you can, in theory:
– Be better equipped to deal with difficult situations
– Improve your self-discipline
– Make career decisions
– Improve your social life and personal relationships
– Create a personal roadmap to success
However, we would caution against be take the results too seriously. Test such as this one can give an interesting insight into your personality traits, but the results should ideally be viewed as guidelines. The best idea is just to take what you need from it to inspire you, and help you succeed.