Do Popular Personality Tests Truly Unrevel Who We are?
Dear readers, welcome to the Insight Corners curated by our YAC members! I’m Angus, one of the editors here.
Personality tests have been trendy for a long time. From the Enneagram in the past to the more recent MBTI and Big Five, Gen Z has been using these tests to explore and understand themselves. Many even use MBTI as a guideline for making friends. On this journey, let’s dive into how MBTI is influencing teenagers.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) categorises one’s personality type based on how they respond to certain hypothetical situations and preferences. It uses four sets of personality traits: Introversion vs. Extraversion, Sensing vs. Intuition, Thinking vs. Feeling, and Judging vs. Perceiving. These four dimensions combine into eight traits to form the 16 types.
Whether it’s in Instagram bios or Threads updates, it’s common to see people sharing their personality test results. These days, people tend to introduce themselves with, “I’m an E person, what about you?” Driven by trends and curiosity, many of us have engaged in these tests, identifying closely with them like our ID cards, placing full trust in their outcomes.
Honestly, I’ve taken the MBTI test myself — not once, but twice. When I discovered I had shifted from being an “INFJ Advocate” to an “INTJ Architect” (which I heard is described as the “smart guy”? Haha), a few questions popped into my head. How did I change from a Feeling type to a Thinking type? Why am I still an introvert? I thought I was becoming more outgoing, but does this mean I’ll always be shy and quiet? Does this mean I’ll always stand silently on the sidelines during discussions? These questions worried me when I was in Form 3. I spent hours browsing social media pages about INTJ, researching my strengths and weaknesses, and trying to understand this new version of myself.
Whenever I introduced myself at events and mentioned my MBTI type, I would awkwardly say those four letters — INTJ — and feel like I could hear people laughing at me in their heads, thinking, “I knew this guy wouldn’t be good at talking.” Those four letters made me feel ashamed, like I wanted to disappear.
As I grew older and started seeing more sides of myself, I began to realise something: these tests are just tools, not crystal balls. They help us explore our personalities, but they can’t define the one and only “me.”
As the lyrics of Panther Chan’s song “Star” (《凡星》) say, “Anyone can shine.” Everyone has their unique personality, and how we express ourselves changes depending on time and situation. For example, I might be reserved in a group setting but chat away in a one-on-one conversation with a friend. Someone else might seem outgoing and warm but still deeply value time alone to recharge. Personality is like a spectrum, which is not binary or black and white. It’s full of complexity and diversity, like the multifaceted colours of light refracted through a prism, shining in different colours. I understand why personality types were created as they make it easier for people to understand and communicate. But over time, it seems like they’ve started to oversimplify human traits into extremes. The colourful, vibrant world is turning into just black and white, leaving it strangely unfamiliar.
Another issue with these tests is the stereotypes and limitations they create. It is not just for others but for ourselves too. For instance, thinking that extroverts must always lead teams and handle presentations while introverts are better suited for behind-the-scenes work. This mindset can unintentionally rob people of the chance to try new things and challenge themselves. Isn’t that the opposite of what these tests should achieve?
Who says introverts can only play passive roles? In Form 5, I took on the role of a school club president. Who says INTJs are always cold and distant? Around my friends and peers I admire, I can be outgoing and sociable too. Who says INTJs should only become architects? My dream is to be a nurse or a pharmacist — jobs that require strong communication skills and teamwork. I believe I can break free from the limits of MBTI and live my authentic self!
And you can too! I hope you’ll let go of any biases tied to your MBTI or others’. Be curious about yourself, and understand your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t let the test results box you in. Try new things, connect with different people, and observe your reactions in various situations. By embracing all aspects of yourself, you’ll discover more opportunities and possibilities along your journey in life.
