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Comment by octo_t | Hacker News Reader

I was under the impression the Meyer-Briggs was essentially pseudo-science?

Yup, see for example: http://science.tumblr.com/post/13853183116/the-big-five-pers...

Take note that the Big five, the other major personality typology, though more empirical, is not without problems either. http://differentialclub.wdfiles.com/local--files/personality...

The test is rubbish. On the other hand, much like a horoscope, it provides a basis for conversation and reflection.

Given that it apparently was (is?) being used as an HR screening tool, I'm afraid it's not always harmless conversation fodder.

Eh, just learn the test well enough that you can figure out what they want, and then give them the result which gets you hired.

In general, investing energy in deceiving people would have a greater cost than landing one job vs another would have a benefit.

not it wouldn't. it takes no effort at all to see what people expect or game these tests.

Yet the poll-results show that HN is predominantly INTP/INTJ, which Myers-Brigg would predict for this audience!

I was thinking the same thing ;)

Even more interesting given that those two are among the rarest archetypes in the general population by some estimates: http://www.capt.org/mbti-assessment/estimated-frequencies.ht...

Also, no wonder we're all "judgmental".

A group of cows is a herd, a group of crows is a murder, and a group of INTJs is an argument.

Typical ESFP response....

Is this a reference to something? I have a vague memory of a show/movie where someone said that same thing about someones refutation of astrology. Something like: "typical aries" or whatever. I just can't remember what it was.

It's more of a meme (in the original sense) or trope than a specific reference.

Actually, I wouldn't be surprised at all if those who jump in to denounce Myers Briggs have similar personality types.

Among all those I know who've taken it, myself included, it's been strongly indicative of their personality. And as I noted in another comment, three different tests have yielded the same results for me.

my results have been similar over the years, but have varied a bit. I was a bit more surprised that my IQ percentile didn't budge one bit over 30 years (tested as a kid, teen and adult).

When I first discovered this test, I made all my friends take it. Out of them, two stood out as highly skeptical to the whole concept, and disagreeing with the resulting type.

Somewhere at the bottom of the description for their type, and only for their type out of the 16, it mentioned specifically that this type 'hates these kinds of things' (or something like that).

Typical Model-D kafkatrap [1] :-)

    [1]: http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=2122

I agree, but I'm also not surprised to see INTJ as the most up-voted type.

Same. I think this poll and Myers-Briggs are only interesting insofar as they are a reflection of how we want to see ourselves.

I've variously gotten ENTJ or INTJ over the years.

It's at least consistent pseudo-science. I opened this page, saw it was Meyers-Briggs, and immediately thought "Welp, I bet there are a lot of ENTJ and INTJ". Lo and behold.

Exactly. I guess I don't totally understand all the complaints about "Pseudo-science" if its so consistent. That at least means something. This is the third time I've taken the test, and given the same result every time.

As I understand it, ENTJ and INTJ are no more than 9% of the general population[1] (12% max, if male only), and yet they are dominating the poll here; and that very much aligns with types expected to be common among the Hacker News population. That has got to mean something.

But then, I guess that's why I'm not a Guardian type[2] (Enforcing/Certifying specifically[3]).

[1]: http://www.capt.org/mbti-assessment/estimated-frequencies.ht... [2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardian_temperament [3]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keirsey_Temperament_Sorter

Yes, no, and maybe. The typical MBTI only reveals to you exactly what you had told it moments before, so it is very accurate. Test results will change, however, because you change over time.

Interesting counterpoint - more than one test-giver has told me that, no, in fact, your 'score' doesn't change. I don't believe that for a moment, because taking the test is rather mood dependent - I've taken MB multiple times, and while overall, I come out similar in some areas (always an I, for example), the T and F have changed on occasion. It make total sense - my view of things changes over time - but these administrators were rather adamant that it doesn't change.

I guess if I'm an INTJ, taking the test the next day, I wouldn't expect to be an ESFP, but... over 10 years, I wouldn't be surprised to see an INTJ get a different 'score'.

There is one guy that actively researches the topic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNSlbnjqhV8 (I've linked to a short message he has on the subject, but he has a hour + 1/2 long video on youtube with his experiments data and results)

Me too. What is pseudo-science doing on HN?

There are many pseudo-coders here.

And pseudo-entrepreneurs (who may be real coders)

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