MotherStyles
I think I must have written the first line of this description:
Your type is: ISTJ —The “Responsibility” Mother
“I have a serious love affair with to-do lists. I could sit for hours reading, organizing, and rearranging my weekly calendar.”
* The ISTJ mother has a highly developed sense of responsibility: for work, home, family … particularly her children. Whether she’s overseeing daily baths or insisting on a 10 p.m. curfew, her efforts are largely focused on providing her children with order and routine. She wants them, regardless of age, to be able to count on her and the structure she provides.
* In carrying out her commitment to her responsibilities, the ISTJ mother is organized, industrious, and detail-oriented. Because her focus is the day-to-day realities of life, her children are likely to feel secure and well provided for.
* The ISTJ mother also sets a good example and provides her children with practical guidance on being a productive, responsible individual. Still, with all her seriousness, she may delight family members with her quick wit and observations about the details of life.
MotherStyles Quiz: Using Personality Type to Discover Your Parenting Strengths.
I know, it’s mostly a bunch of psycho-nonsense, but the Myers-Briggs tests always amuse and attract me. :)
I’m the ESFJ mother- “The Happy Together mother”. I took the Meyers-Brigg test at work about a month ago. It was interesting, and kind of fun-ot said I was the ESFJ type too, but it was a lot more involved. I’m basically the extraverted feeling version of you. Which I guess just means I’m more emotional! Have you actually taken the test yourself too?
I took one version a couple times in high school and once a year or so ago, when the book “Please Understand Me” was making its way around again. :) I tested INFJ in mid-high-school, but I think that was based more on who I thought I was than who I actually was. :) As a senior as last time I took it I was clearly an ISTJ — definitely J, more S&T since being married I think, and a borderline I/E. I am an introvert, but I’m a social introvert: I like parties and having people over, but I derive energy and recuperation from alone-time. Since being married, Matt has moved closer to E on the scale, too, I think…it’s interesting how time, people, and circumstances can change us. :)
I’m interested to see if Elly takes this…I’m curious if she’ll choose P or J… :)
Hey! Are you trying to put me on these silly scales again? pffft…personality tests.
Since being married, Matt has moved closer to E on the scale, too, I think
Right. Not that you would know, because Matt adamantly refuses to get involved in all this crazy personality test buffoonery. My philosophy is that if I need a test to determine my personality, then I’ve already failed it.
Someday I’m going to do a study on the phenomenon of personality tests. My hypothesis is that you cannot measure a personality without changing that personality is some way, thus invalidating the measurements. In other words, in taking these tests, the subjects are inclined (consciously or no) to alter their personality to either fit the results more closely or alter their personality to be more radically different from results perceived as undesirable. It would, in many ways, be a fascinating study, but only if I could somehow debunk Meyers-Briggs. I think it would be a lot of work. I will most likely require a government grant.
Well… I just clicked in the boxes that sounded most like me – I was torn between the last two distinctives. I ended up choosing ISFP. I don’t know if it’s really accurate though. But this did sound familiar: “A people pleaser from Day One, it took me 30 years to figure out I could say ‘no.’” I hope it doesn’t take me 30 years (although it feels like I say that a lot to my children!) I enjoy taking personality tets, but I should copy what Mary Pride said about the Myers-Briggs test on my blog – just for perspective. :-)
Hm, yes, you should post that — I’m curious. I’m especially curious since she has a similar section in her Getting Started book. :)
if I need a test to determine my personality, then I’ve already failed it.
See…maybe I only posted this because I wanted to give you a chance to be funny! :)
I really can’t defend myself; I find such things fascinating…I have an inner psychologist somewhere down deep. Matt saved me from myself. :) I had considered a counseling degree when I was 16 or so and thought I needed some kind of career plan.
Out of curiousity, I chose some of the options I felt I could go either way on (S/N, mainly, but I/E for fun), and the ENTJ “Executive Mother – how can I tweak my system to everyone’s advantage?” could work for me, also. :)
It’s just fun….I think the I/E & P/J distinctions can be a good thing to know about yourself before starting to homeschool. An extrovert will be looking at multiple programs and co-ops and love the flexibility for activities while the introvert will be happy to be home all day. The perception person will do well going from a general idea and being relaxed, while the judging person needs a clear plan and won’t feel things are being done if she’s relaxed.
Umm, actually, the section about personality types in “Getting Started” was what I was referring to. :-)
Hi, All -
Google alerted me that you were discussing my book MotherStyles and I couldn’t resist joining in with a few comments.
First off, the profiles posted on my website are meant only as a “taste” of your mothering style. Because so much of what mothers hear from experts is about what they are doing wrong, I wanted to show mothers that I was focusing mainly on what they were doing right. I encourage you to go further by reading the book. Maybe you can buy a copy and pass it around your group. Personality type is a rich theory that can be applied in a myriad of helpful ways day-to-day within the family (and in friendships).
Secondly, I agree that personality type only goes so far in explaining who you are as a person. Yet having this framework can definitely fill in your understanding of yourself and others. It is a way to deal with differences in a nonjudgemental and objective way. Personally, I love exploring different contructs to better understand the people in my life, and Myers-Briggs is one of the most affirming and well-researched frameworks around.
I think your conversation about this is very intelligent and thoughtful. If I can answer any questions, please contact me at JPMoms@aol.com