Monday 28 August 2017

3 Ways I Use MBTI for Characters // because lists and letters are fun

The words 'Myers Briggs Personality test' has haunted me basically from right at the beginning of my blogging life. People randomly used letters to describe their personality. People asked me what 'MBTI' I was and for all I knew that might've meant 'massively bouncy tiny iguana.' 

It was actually only this year-ish that I really bothered to work out what this mysterious thing actually was.

Each of the older half of the family took the test. I almost gave up halfway through because I was bored, BUT NO. I persevered until the end. (And that was the day that I discovered that I was an extrovert. And it absolutely made sense, I'd just never considered the fact that it was even a possibility. I thought I was just hyper. xP) 
For anyone who was wondering and doesn't already know - I'm ENFP. For anyone who is still as clueless about the Myers Briggs test as I used to be - yay I'm not the only one. Go check it out. :P

But since my personal discovery of these mysterious four letters and the meaning they have, I've found them really intriguing and actually quite useful when it comes to characters. And that's what we're going to talk about today.



How does the MBTI help me with characters? Well, there's multiple ways I find it useful, but let's go with three...

1: It's an easy way to describe a character if asking for personality advice

No one's the same, obviously, but it can really be quite useful to be able to ask an ENTP friend (for example) about how they react to situations and how they think and show emotions, as research for an ENTP character. I've done this multiple times and it has absolutely helped with the realistic aspects of the characters I've done it for. I don't copy off everything they say (and I often try get as many of that 'type' as I can to see a lot of points of view) but it really good to have that inside perspective on how they see things.


2: Researching in general

If you look up 'angsty characters' you'll get a huge variety of posts and articles.
If you look up 'INTJ characters' it narrows down the search and in a matter of moments becomes at least 50% more applicable to said character.

I've used this tactic multiple times too and it really does help weed out the less related articles.


3: Doing the test from their POV is actually a really good experience

Whatever test you're doing (there's a fair few out there), there are always questions that honestly just don't relate to your characters and their situations. BUT it can be really interesting to work out what would so-and-so do in that sort of a place? How would he react? It's just another way that I've worked out some teensy little details about my characters that really do help me know them better as an overall person.


Bonus - the MBTI of some of my characters!! Because you definitely wanted to know this. (Shh, don't argue. Of course you wanted to know.)

Rogue Escarlate and co.
- Will Escarlate: ENTP
- Ben Kit: INFP

A Sprig of Green
- Braden Argo: ISTJ
- Michayla: another INFP

Adventures of Lando Erif
- Lando Erif: ISFJ
- Titus Kanter: ISTP
- Thomas Kanter: ISFP
(Interesting note: the twins were 1-3% off identical in everything but the thinking/feeling section which they were 10% apart in. So - very similar.)
(Also interesting note: all three of them start with 'IS' which is interesting. Although Lando was close to 'IN.' *strokes chin thoughtfully*)


And there you have it! Keep your eyes open for a BIG and IMPORTANT and EXCITING post this Friday. *looks mysterious*


Do you use MBTI for your characters?
What are some of the benefits you've found?

Disclaimer: I'm absolutely not advertising this test or site or anything. I've just used it in the past and have found that it can be somewhat useful. :P

27 comments:

  1. YES ENFP TWIN. And MBTI is so helpful for characters, it's just good to remember to not put them in their "personality" box. But it is super helpful and I have started doing it with my characters.

    Anna | www.worldthroughherheart.blogspot.com

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    1. YES. *fistbumps* :P Oh yep that is a brilliant point that I forgot to mention. It's always, always important to not make them like that - because then they'll be cardboard cut outs and lose their originality. *nods*

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  2. Awesome post, Jane!:) I have actually never done that... Though I have taken which character are you quizzes for my characters, And I have gotten interesting answers.
    I loved reading your post,
    -Quinley

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    1. Yeet you shall have to give it a try maybe. (And if you do, tell me how it goes!) Haha wow, I can imagine that would be interesting. xD
      Thank you!!

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  3. Wow you're an ENFP? I'm an INFP! I find the MBTI tests helpful as well, and can definitely see how it could be very helpful in character development. Great post! Keep up the good work!

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    1. Yep! OOOH YAY. Many INFP friends. <3 (I thought I was INFP actually, until I realised that shock-and-horror I was actually extroverted. xP) I really love the MBTI because it does give that cool inside look into how other peoples' minds work.
      Thank you Ashley! :D

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    2. Oh really? Haha that must have been a dark day :P I'm joking extroverts are the best, really!

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    3. It was a very dark day. XP Because the rest of my family is most definitely introverted (with the exception of my dad) it had simply never crossed my mind that I might be otherwise. xD

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  4. Aw MBTI yas <33 I love how you lowkey compared 'angsty characters' to 'INTJ characters'. I love MBTI and it helped me unravel the first MC that I used it on, who was the hardest of hardcore ESTPs xp

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    1. Yaas. Hehe, someone noticed. XD I couldn't resist.
      Same though. It really does help. (*squints* Could that ESTP be Mike?)

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  5. I am an entp. And so far I haven't actuallu made my characters do a test I just pick the type from the descriptions :D this post was really great <3

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    1. Ooh cool! (I'll have to ask you for ENTP advice then *nods* :P) Oh nice, that does work too. And sometimes it works better than doing the actual test because some of the questions are super vague. xD
      Aw thanks. ^-^

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  6. Finding out MBTI for characters is so helpful! Aren't you glad I nagged you to do that test :) That's what big sisters are for right.

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    1. It is!! Haha yes I am glad. XD Absolutely, you've obviously done a very good job. *awards you with pizza*

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  7. No INFJ?? *pouts*

    People have recommended finding characters' MBTI type before, but I actually forgot and hadn't considered doing it with my current WIP. I shall do that! It should be interesting seeing the three sisters' differences. And I never considered using a character's MBTI type to check that someone like that would actually behave that way!

    It's interesting to see that, even though you're an extrovert, all but one of the characters listed are introverts?
    Jem Jones

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    1. Lando /almost/ was. But not quite. xP

      Ooh yes you should!! You'll have to tell me if it helps. :D

      *blinks* Whoa yeah that is interesting...How strange...I wonder if there's a reason for that or if it's just 'coincidence.' *strokes chin thoughtfully*

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  8. Good post! I love MBTI and typing my characters.
    Ooh, I like how Ben Kit and Michayla are INFPs; I'm an INFP!!
    A really good friend of mine *blush* is an ENFJ, and just so you know, an ENFJ-INFP relationship/friendship is pretty much perfect. It seems like their personalities are perfect for each other. So they (usually) get along really well. That's just a fact I thought I would share hoping that it would help in future character personality pairings in friendships; etc.
    Just a tip; NEVER make an INFP friends with an ENTJ or ENTP. That would be a horrible friendship.

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    1. Thanks! Ooh that's cool. *nods*
      Yas you can be...triplets? xD
      OOH OKAY. *notes all this down* Good to know.
      O-O Is it a terribly bad thing that I already have an INFP + ENTP brotherly friendship? *cringes*

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    2. No, I don't think so. Anyone can be friends with anyone; it is just harder for some MBTI types. :-D You're good. *thumbs up*

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    3. PHEW. XD That's good to hear. :P

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    4. Oh, yeah; no, I didn't exactly mean that its that way in ALL cases! But in some cases they don't get along so well. Just because the iNFP would probably end up being totally manipulated by the ENTJ or ENTP. but not all the time. :)
      Sorry, I should have clarified that. *sweats; laughing nervously*

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    5. Oh dear! I just looked and saw that Will Escarlate is an ENTP. O-O
      Oops. Sorry! I hadn't realized that! :-o

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    6. Haha it's okay, that's fine. XD It is actually an interesting relationship to start off with, but Ben is the sort of kid who can be friends with basically anyone so... xP

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  9. YAY I LOVE MBTI TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XD *high fives*
    I use MBTI is my stories. *nods* :-) It really helps with figuring out different reactions and relationships of characters. ;-D

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    1. YAAAS. *high fives you back* XP
      Yeep that's cool. It really is so helpful, even in real life. Just ack yes. Very cool.

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  10. I use the MBTI a lot for various characters! It really helps me out!!!!! I also like the Love Language one for my characters. :D

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    1. Oooh Love Language for you characters. *blinks* I never thought of doing that. I might have to try this...

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