From: Please Understand Me, David Keirsey & Marilyn Bates, Prometheus Nemesis Book Company.

Del Mar, CA 1978154

The Keirsey Temperament Sorter
1. At a party do you 13. Are you more 23. Facts
a. Interact with many, including a. Punctual a. “Speak for themselves”
strangers b. Leisurely b. Illustrate principles
b. Interact with a few, known to you 14. Does it bother you more having 24. Are visionaries
2. Are you more things a. Somewhat annoying
a. Realistic than speculative a. Incomplete b. Rather fascinating
b. Speculative than realistic b. Completed 25. Are you more often
3. Is it worse to 15. In your social groups do you a. A cool-headed person
a. Have your “head in the clouds” a. Keep abreast of other’s b. A warm-headed person
b. Be “in a rut” happenings 26. Is it worse to be
4. Are you more impressed by b. Get behind on the news a. Unjust
a. Principles 16. In doing ordinary things are you b. Merciless
b. Emotions more likely to 27. Should one usually let events occur
5. Are you more drawn toward the a. Do it the usual way a. By careful selection and choice
a. Convincing b. Do it the unusual way b. Randomly and by chance
b. Touching 17. Writers should 28. Do you feel better about
6. Do you prefer to work a. “say what they mean an mean a. Having purchased
a. To deadlines what they say” b. Having the option to buy
b. Just “whenever” b. “Express things more by use 29. In company do you
7. Do you tend to choose of analogy” a. Initiate conversation
a. Rather carefully 18. Which appeals to you more b. Wait to be approached
b. Somewhat impulsively a. Consistency of thought 30. Common sense is
8. At parties do you b. Harmonious human a. Rarely questionable
a. Stay late, with increasing energy relationships b. Frequenlty questionable
b. Leave early, with decreased 19. Are you more comfortable in making 31. Children often do not
energy a. Logical judgment a. Make themselves useful enough
9. Are you more attracted to b. Value judgments b. Exercise their fantasy enough
a. Sensible people 20. Do you want things 32. In making decisions do you feel more
b. Imaginative people a. Settled and decided comfortable with
10. Are you more interested in b. Unsettled an undecided a. Standards
a. What is actual 21. Would you say you are more b. Feelings
b. What is possible a. Serious and determined 33. Are you more
11. In judging others are you more swayed by b. Easy-going a. Firm than gentle
a. Laws than circumstances 22. In phoning do you b. Gentle than firm
b. Circumstances than laws a. Rarely question that it will all be 34. Which is more admirable:
12. In approaching other is your inclination said a. The ability to organize and be
to be somewhat b. Rehearse what you’ll say methodical
a. Objective b. The ability to adapt and make do
b. Personal
35. Do you put more value on the
a. Definite
b. Open-ended
36. Does new and non-routine interaction
with others
a. Stimulate and energize you
b. Tax your reserves
37. Are you more frequently
a. A practical sort or person
b. A fanciful sort of person
38. Are you more likely to
a. See how others are useful
b. See how others see
39. Which is more satisfying:
a. To discuss an issue thoroughly
b. To arrive at agreement on an issue
40. Which rules you more:
a. Your head
b. Your heart
41. Are you more comfortable with work that
is
a. Contracted
b. Done on a casual basis
42. Do you tend to look for
a. The orderly
b. Whatever turns up
43. Do you prefer
a. Many friends with brief contact
b. A few friends with more lengthy
contact
44. Do you go more by
a. Facts
b. Principles
45. Are you more interested in
a. Production and distribution
b. Design and research
46. Which is more of a compliment:
a. “There is a very logical person”
b. “There is a very sentimental person”
47. Do you value in yourself more that
you are
a. Unwavering
b. Devoted
48. Do you more often prefer the
a. Final an unalterable statement
b. Tentative and preliminary
statement
49. Are you more comfortable
a. After a decision
b. Before a decision
50. Do you
a. Speak easily and at length
with strangers
b. Find little to say to strangers
51. Are you more likely to trust
a. Experience
b. Hunch
52. Do you feel
a. More practical than ingenious
b. More ingenious than practical
53. Which person is more to be
complimented: one of
a. Clear reason
b. Strong Feeling
54. Are you inclined more to be
a. Fair-minded
b. Sympathetic
55. Is it preferable mostly to
a. Make sure things are arranged
b. Just let things happen
56. In relationships should most things
be
a. Renegotiable
b. Random and circumstantial
57. When the phone rings do you
a. Hasten to get to it first
b. Hope someone else will answer
58. Do you prize more in yourself
a. A strong sense of reality
b. A vivid imagination
59. Are you drawn more to
a. Fundamental
b. Overtones
60. Which seems the greater error:
a. To be too passionate
b. To be too objective
61. Do you see yourself as basically
a. Hard-headed
b. Sort-hearted
62. Which situation appeals to you more:
a. The structured and scheduled
b. The unstructured and unscheduled
63. Are you a person that is more
a. Routine than whimsical
b. Whimsical than routine
64. Are you more inclined to be
a. Easy to approach
b. Somewhat reserved
65. In writings do you prefer
a. The more literal
b. The more figurative
66. Is it harder for you to
a. Identify with others
b. Utilize others
67. Which do you wish more for yourself:
a. Clarity of reason
b. Strength of compassion
68. Which is the greater fault:
a. Being indiscriminate
b. Being critical
69. Do you prefer the
a. Planned event
b. Unplanned event
70. Do you tend to be more
a. Deliberate than spontaneous
b. Spontaneous than deliberate
Answer Sheet

Enter a check for each answer in the column for a or b. Then add up the numbers in each column:

a b a b a b a b a b a b a b
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31 32 33 34 35

36 37 38 39 40 41 42

43 44 45 46 47 48 49

50 51 52 53 54 55 56

57 58 59 60 61 62 63

64 65 66 67 68 69 70

E I ↓ ↓ ↓
→ → →
S N T F J P

Directions for Scoring

1. Add down so that the total number of “a” answers is written in the box at the bottom of each column
(see next page fore illustration). Do the same for the “b” answers you have checked. Each of the 14 boxes
should have a number in it.

2. Transfer the number in box No. 1 of the answer sheet to box No. 1 below the answer sheet. Do this for
box No. 2 as well. Note, however, that you have two numbers for boxes 3 through 8. Bring down the first
number for each box beneath the second, as indicated by the arrows. Now add all the pairs of numbers and
enter the total in the boxes below the answer sheet, so each box has only one number.

3. Now you have four pairs of numbers. Circle the letter below the larger number of each pair (see answer
sheet below for illustration). If the two numbers of any pair are equal, then circle neither, but put a large X
below them and circle it.
Report Form for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
The MTNI reports your preferences on four scales. There are two opposite preferences on each scale. The four scales deal with where you like to
focus your attention (E or I), the way you like to look at things (S or N), the way you like to go about deciding things (T or F), and how you deal
with the outer world (J or P). Short descriptions of each scale are below.

E You prefer to focus on the outer world of people and things or I You prefer to focus on the inner world of ideas & impressions

S You tend to focus on the present and on concrete information N You tend to focus on the future, with a view toward patterns &
gained from your senses possibilities

T You tend to base your decisions on logic & on objective F You tend to base your decisions primarily on values & on
analysis of cause and effect subjective evaluation of person-centered concerns

J You like a planned & organized approach to life & prefer to P You like a flexible & spontaneous approach to life & prefer to
Have things settled keep your options open.

REPORTED TYPE Write the circled letters in the four boxes.

PREFERENCE SCORES Indicate the number you scored for each letter.

You have now identified your “type.” It should be one of the following:

INFP ISFP INTP ISTP

ENFP ESFP ENTP ESTP
INFJ ISFJ INTJ ISTJ
ENFJ ESFJ ENTJ ESTJ
If you have an X in your type, yours is a mixed type. An X can show up in any of the four pairs: E or I, S or N, T or F and J or P.
Hence there are 32 mixed types beside the 16 listed above.

XNTP EXTP ENXP ENTX

XNTJ EXTJ INXP INTX
XNFP EXFP ENXJ ENFX
XNFJ EXFJ INXJ INFX
XSTP IXTP ESXP ESTX
XSTJ IXTJ ISXP ISTX
XSFP IXFP ESXJ ESFX
XSFJ IXFJ ISXJ ISFX

Having identified type, the task now is to read the type description and to decide how well or how poorly the description fits. You will find a description or
portrait of you type on the page indicated in the table of contents. If you have an X in your type, yours is a combination of two types. If, for example, the E and I
scores are equal and the type is, say, XSFJ, then you would read both ISFJ and ISFJ portraits and decide for yourself which parts of each description are
applicable.

One may also profit from reading the portrait of one’s opposite to see how things are “on the other side.” (How one proceeds after reading one’s own type
portrait depends largely upon temperament. Some of the types will read several other portraits before returning to the text, while other will return immediately to
the text. Some may never read all sixteen of the type descriptions.) As will be shown, the typology is useful if an observer can distinguish between four types of
temperament. It is not at all necessary to make these finer distinctions. However, such differences can become useful after long study.

Sensing Types
ISTJ
Serious, quiet, earn success by
concentration and thoroughness.
Practical, orderly, matter-of-fact,
logical, realistic, and dependable.
See to it tat everything is well
Introverts
organized. Take responsibility.
Make up their own minds as to
what should be accomplished and
work toward it steadily, regardless
of protests or distractions.
ISTP
Cool onlookers—quiet, reserved,
observing and analyzing life with
detached curiosity and unexpected
flashed of original humor. Usually
interested in cause and effect, how
and why mechanical things work,
and in organizing facts using logical
principles.
ESTP
Good at on-the-spot problem
solving. Do not worry, enjoy
whatever comes along. Tend to like
mechanical things and sports, with
friends on the side. Adaptable,
Extroverts
tolerant, generally conservative in
values. Dislike long explanation.
Are best with real things tat can be
worked, handled, taken apart, or put
together.
ESTJ
Practical, realistic, matter-of-fact,
with a natural head for business or
mechanics. Not interested in
subjects they see no use for, but can
apply themselves when necessary.
Like to organize and fund activities.
May make good administrators,
especially if they consider others’
feelings/perspective.
Characteristics frequently associated with each type
ISFJ
Quiet, friendly, responsible, and
conscientious. Work devotedly to
meet their obligation. Lend stability
to any project or group. Thorough,
painstaking, accurate. Their interests
are usually not technical. Can be
patient with necessary details. Loyal,
considerate, perceptive, concerned
with how other people feel.
ISFP
Retiring, quietly friendly, sensitive,
king modest about their abilities.
Shun disagreements; do not force
their opinions or values on other.
Usually do not care to lead but are
often loyal followers. Often relaxed
about getting things done, because
they can enjoy the present moment
and do not want to spoil it by undue
haste or exertion.
ESFP
Outgoing, easygoing, accepting,
friendly, enjoy everything and make
things more fun for other by their
enjoyment. Like sports and making
things happen. Know what’s going
on and join in eagerly. Find
remembering facts easier than
mastering theories. Are best in
situations that need sound common
sense and practical ability with people
as well as things.
ESFJ
Warm-hearted, talkative, popular,
conscientious, born cooperator, active
committee member. Need harmony
and may be good at creating it.
Always doing something nice for
someone. Work best with
encouragement and praise. Main
interest is in things that directly and
visibly affect people’s lives.
INFJ
Succeed by perseverance, originality,
and desire to do whatever is needed or
wanted. Put their best efforts in to
their work. Quietly forceful,
conscientious, concerned for other.
Respected for their firm principles.
Likely to be honored and followed for
their clear convictions as to how best
to serve the common good.
INFP
Full of enthusiasms and loyalties, but
seldom talk of theses until they know
you well. Care about learning, ideas,
language, and independent projects of
their own. Tend to undertake too
much, then somehow, get it done.
Friendly, but often too absorbed in
what they are doing to be sociable.
Little concerned with possession or
physical surroundings.
ENFP
Warmly enthusiastic, high-spirited,
ingenious, imaginative. Able to do
almost anything that interests them.
Quick with a solution for any
difficulty and ready to help anyone
with a problem. Often rely on their
ability to improvise instead of
preparing in advance. Can usually
find compelling reasons for whatever
they want.
ENFJ
Responsive and responsible.
Generally feel real concern for what
other think or want, and try to handle
things with due regard for the other
person’s feelings. Can present a
proposal or lead a group discussion
with ease and tact. Sociable, popular,
sympathetic. Responsive to praise
and criticism.
Intuitive Types
INTJ
Usually have original minds and great
drive for their own ideas and purposes.
In fields that appeal to them, they have a
fine power to organize a job and carry it
through with or without help. Skeptical,
critical, independent, determined,
sometimes stubborn. Must learn to yield
less important points in order to win the
most important.
INTP
Quiet and reserved. Especially enjoy
theoretical or scientific pursuits. Like
solving problems with logic and analysis.
Usually interested mainly in ideas, with
little liking for parties or small talk.
Tend to have sharply defined interests.
Need careers where some strong interest
can be used and useful.
ENTP
Quick, ingenious, good at many things.
Stimulating company, alertly and
outspoken. May argue for fun on either
side of a questions. Resourceful in
solving new and challenging problems,
but may neglect routine assignments.
Apt to turn to one new interest after
another. Skillful in finding logical
reasons for what they want.
ENTJ
Hearty, frank decisive, leader in
activities. Usually good in anything that
requires reasoning and intelligent talk,
such as public speaking. Are usually
well informed and enjoy adding to their
fund of knowledge. May sometimes
appear more positive and confident than
their experience in an area warrants.