What is personality?
Personality is the collection of unique attributes, traits, and behaviors that define an individual. It’s a complex mosaic of characteristics, including ones’ temperament, thought patterns, feelings and their consistent behavior across various situations.
Varied factors shape our personality – genetic predisposition and environmental experiences are two of them. Psychologists have developed different models to categorize these features for better understanding — among the most prominent are the Big Five personality traits model, The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and Enneagram Model.
These systems offer insight into your personality by examining how individuals perceive their environment, what motivates them, and how they make decisions when interacting with others or coping with different life situations.
What are the 3 Most Popular Personality Models?
The Big Five Personality Traits, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and Enneagram Types represent three of the most popular personality models studied and utilized today. The MBTI is a generally recognized assessment tool designed by Isabel Briggs Myers and Katherine Cook Briggs, categorizing individuals into one of 16 distinct personality types based on Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types.
This model aids in providing unique insight into your personality characteristics, how you interact with the world around you, and how you make decisions.
On the other hand, we have the Big Five Personality Traits model which has received substantial recognition for its research-based approach. It focuses on five broad dimensions – openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism – these traits are seen as inherent individual differences that remain fairly stable throughout adulthood.
Then there’s Enneagram Types; while not traditionally research-based like Big Five or MBTI but still widely used for personal development purposes. It offers nine different character traits illustrating possible motivations behind human behavior which can help people control their emotions better to achieve their goals.
Each of these models offers valuable perspectives towards understanding our personalities in depth.
Personality Type Comparisons in Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a comprehensive personality typing framework that examines people through four key dimensions: sensing-intuition, thinking-feeling, judging-perceiving, and extraversion-intraversion.
The system qualifies individuals into 16 unique categories based on the course of their conscientiousness in these areas. This widely accepted psychological assessment was crafted by Katherine Briggs and Isabel Myers during the mid-20th century to earmark inherent individual differences and potential strengths.
Each category in MBTI signifies a different mix of mental tendencies or preferences. For instance, an INTJ type (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging) refers to someone who usually prefers solitude over social gatherings (introverted), has future-focused insights instead of relying on tangible information (intuitive), makes decisions objectively (thinking), and appreciates structure and planning rather than spontaneity (judging).
By identifying innate traits across these parameters, MBTI can be used as a tool for self-understanding and personal growth. It continues to hold weight among psychologists due to its focus on recognizing multiple facets within human personality which are often not featured prominently in other models like Big Five.
16 Personalities Comparisons Chart
The 16 Personalities Comparisons Chart offers a structured overview as per the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
Following is the HTML table providing a summarized view of these types.
| Personality Type | Strengths | Weaknesses | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| INTJ | Independent, logical, strategic | Stubborn, judgmental, aloof | ENFP, ENTP, INFJ, INTP |
| INTP | Intellectual, curious, flexible | Insensitive, indecisive, absent-minded | ENTJ, ENTP, INFJ, INFP |
| ENTJ | Confident, decisive, organized | Arrogant, impatient, controlling | INTP, ENTJ, ENFJ, INFJ |
| ENTP | Resourceful, adaptable, quick-witted | Argumentative, insensitive, unreliable | INTJ, ENTP, ENFP, INTP |
| INFJ | Compassionate, insightful, determined | Overly idealistic, sensitive, perfectionistic | ENFP, ENFJ, INTJ, INFJ |
| INFP | Empathetic, creative, open-minded | Overly idealistic, indecisive, too sensitive | ENFJ, ENFP, INFJ, INFP |
| ENFJ | Charismatic, empathetic, supportive | Overly selfless, sensitive to criticism, idealistic | INFJ, ENFP, ENTJ, ENFJ |
| ENFP | Enthusiastic, creative, sociable | Overly emotional, indecisive, easily overwhelmed | INFJ, ENFJ, INFP, ENFP |
| ISTJ | Reliable, responsible, practical | Stubborn, judgmental, inflexible | ESTP, ISTJ, ISFJ, ESTJ |
| ISFJ | Supportive, dependable, responsible | Overly cautious, sensitive to criticism, indecisive | ESFJ, ISTJ, ISFP, ESTJ |
| ESTJ | Efficient, organized, practical | Controlling, stubborn, impatient | ISTP, ESTJ, ENTJ, ESFJ |
| ESFJ | Warm, empathetic, responsible | Overly concerned with others’ opinions, emotional, indecisive | ISFJ, ESFP, ENFJ, ESTJ |
| ISTP | Adventurous, logical, independent | Insensitive, impulsive, easily bored | ESTP, ISTP, ISFP, INTP |
| ISFP | Artistic, sensitive, gentle | Overly sensitive, indecisive, conflict-avoidant | ESFP, ISFP, INFP, ISTP |
| ESTP | Energetic, bold, practical | Impulsive, insensitive, easily bored | ISTP, ESTP, ESFP, ENTJ |
| ESFP | Outgoing, friendly, spontaneous | Attention-seeking, impulsive, easily overwhelmed | ISFP, ESFP, ESTP, ESTJ |
This chart provides easy comparison among the 16 personality types, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and compatible types, thereby aiding in a deeper understanding of these complex personality types.
Personality Comparisons in the 9 Enneagram Types
The Enneagram is a powerful tool for understanding personality, as it dives deep into the internal motivations, fears, and driving forces behind behavior. It categorizes individuals into 9 distinct types based on core beliefs about how the world works.
Each type has its own unique perspective and approach to life.
For example, Type 1 (the Perfectionist) is motivated by a desire to be good and right in everything they do. They have high standards for themselves and others, seeking perfection in all aspects of life.
On the other hand, Type 4 (the Individualist) values authenticity and uniqueness. They are highly attuned to their emotions and long for deep connections with others.
Type 6 (the Loyalist) is driven by fear and seeks security above all else. They are loyal and vigilant in protecting themselves from potential threats or dangers. In contrast, Type 8 (the Challenger) desires control and power.
They are assertive leaders who value independence but also seek justice.
These examples show just a glimpse of the rich complexity within each Enneagram type. By understanding these differences, we can better appreciate our own strengths and weaknesses as well as those of others around us.
Enneagram Comparisons Chart
Below is an illustrative comparison of the nine different Enneagram types. This chart can help elucidate the unique nature of each type and the corresponding behaviors, motivations, and fears.
| Personality Type | Basic Desire | Basic Fear | Key Motivation |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Perfectionist (Type 1) | To be good and right | Being corrupt, evil, or defective | Desire to be virtuous and follow the rules |
| The Helper (Type 2) | To be loved and needed | Being unwanted or unloved | Desire to be appreciated and helpful |
| The Achiever (Type 3) | To be successful and admired | Being worthless or without value | Desire to be recognized and accomplished |
| The Individualist (Type 4) | To be unique and authentic | Being inadequate or without identity | Desire to understand themselves and their purpose |
| The Investigator (Type 5) | To be capable and competent | Being useless or helpless | Desire to understand the world and gain knowledge |
| The Loyalist (Type 6) | To have security and support | Being without support or guidance | Desire for safety and to avoid anxiety |
| The Enthusiast (Type 7) | To be satisfied and fulfilled | Being deprived or trapped in pain | Desire for joy and new experiences |
| The Challenger (Type 8) | To protect themselves and control their environment | Being controlled or harmed by others | Desire for power and independence |
| The Peacemaker (Type 9) | To have inner stability and peace of mind | Being in conflict or tension | Desire for harmony and inner peace |
This comparison chart provides a brief overview of each Enneagram type’s basic fear, basic desire, and key motivation. The Enneagram system offers deeper insights into an individual’s core motivations and fears, and can be highly beneficial in personal development and team-building contexts.
How do you compare the 9 Enneagram Types and the 16 Myers-Briggs Personality Types?
The 9 Enneagram types and the 16 Myers-Briggs Personality types offer distinct frameworks for understanding human personality. While both systems aim to provide insights into individuals’ behaviors, motivations, and preferences, they approach this task from different angles.
The Enneagram system categorizes personalities into nine primary types based on core fears, desires, and motivations. Each type is associated with specific traits and behavioral patterns that can help individuals gain self-awareness and personal growth.
On the other hand, the Myers-Briggs Personality Types are based on four dichotomies: extraversion vs introversion, sensing vs intuition, thinking vs feeling, and judging vs perceiving. These dichotomies reveal preferences in how individuals interact with the world, process information, make decisions and organize their lives.
The Myers-Briggs system emphasizes cognitive processing styles and attitudes towards decision-making processes whereas the Enneagram system dives deeper into core motivations of individuals.
9 Enneagram Types and 16 MBTI Types Comparisons Chart
The 9 Enneagram Types and 16 MBTI Types comparison chart presents an insightful connection between the two personality systems.
| Enneagram Types | MBTI Types |
|---|---|
| The Perfectionist/Reformer (Type 1) | ISTJ, ESTJ |
| The Helper (Type 2) | ESFJ, ENFJ |
| The Achiever (Type 3) | ESTJ, ENTJ |
| The Individualist/Artist (Type 4) | ISFP, INFP |
| The Investigator/Thinker (Type 5) | INTP, INTP |
| The Loyalist (Type 6) | ISFJ, ISTJ |
| The Enthusiast (Type 7) | ENTP, ENFP |
| The Challenger/Leader (Type 8) | ESTP, ENTJ |
| The Peacemaker (Type 9) | ISFP, INFP |
This table is a simple representation of each Enneagram Type’s most similar MBTI types.
The Myers-Briggs (MBTI) and Enneagram systems may have their own individual frameworks, but these correlations offer a comprehensive perspective on understanding one’s personality type.
Hence, this chart can act as a unique tool for further self-discovery and self-improvement.
Comparing the Big 5 Traits
The Big Five Traits, also known as the Five Factor Model, provide a framework for understanding individual personality characteristics. These traits include openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Each trait represents a different aspect of an individual’s personality and can help determine how they interact with others and perceive the world around them.
Openness refers to a person’s willingness to embrace new experiences and ideas. Those high in openness are imaginative and curious, while those low in openness tend to be more practical and traditional.
Conscientiousness measures how organized, responsible, and goal-oriented someone is. Highly conscientious individuals are often diligent planners who prioritize their commitments.
Extraversion defines someone’s level of sociability and outgoing nature. Extroverts thrive on social interactions and draw energy from being around others, while introverts prefer solitude or smaller groups of people.
Agreeableness assesses an individual’s tendency towards kindness, compassion, cooperativeness, and empathy.
Finally, neuroticism reflects emotional stability versus instability. High neuroticism indicates a propensity for anxiety or mood swings whereas low neuroticism implies emotional resilience.
It is important to note that these traits exist on spectrums rather than as absolutes – most people fall somewhere between the two extremes for each trait. While one person may score high in extraversion but low in agreeableness (an assertive type), another might have average scores across all five traits (a balanced type).
Understanding these dimensions can provide valuable insights into our own personalities as well as how we interact with others in various contexts.
Big 5 Traits Comparison Chart
The Big Five Traits Comparison Chart provides an insightful overview of the five key personality dimensions: extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism.
| Personality Traits | Strengths | Weaknesses | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extraversion | Outgoing, sociable, energetic | Can be talkative, impulsive, attention-seeking | Compatible with extraverts, ambiverts |
| Agreeableness | Compassionate, cooperative, empathetic | May avoid conflict, difficulty asserting boundaries | Compatible with most individuals |
| Conscientiousness | Organized, responsible, diligent | May be perfectionistic, inflexible, overly cautious | Compatible with conscientious individuals and might have a conflict with high openness |
| Emotional Stability | Calm, resilient, emotionally balanced | Can experience anxiety, mood swings, emotional reactivity | Compatible with most individuals |
| Openness | Curious, imaginative, open to new experiences | May be unconventional, overly abstract, indecisive | Compatible with open-minded individuals and might clash with highly conscientious people |
This chart allows individuals to compare their own scores on these traits and gain a better understanding of their unique personality profile.
What personality types are similar?
The Big Five, MBTI, and Enneagram systems all provide different frameworks for understanding personality types. However, there are some similarities between them that can help us compare and find commonalities.
You can use this chart as a starting point to understand where and how the models overlap.
| Enneagram Types | MBTI Types | Big 5 Trait |
|---|---|---|
| The Perfectionist/Reformer (Type 1) | ISTJ, ESTJ | Conscientiousness |
| The Helper (Type 2) | ESFJ, ISFJ | Agreeableness |
| The Achiever (Type 3) | ENTJ, ESTP | Extraversion |
| The Individualist/Artist (Type 4) | INFP, INFJ | Neuroticism & Openness |
| The Investigator/Thinker (Type 5) | INTP, INTJ | Openness |
| The Loyalist (Type 6) | ISTP, ISFP | Conscientiousness |
| The Enthusiast (Type 7) | ENTP, ENFP | Extraversion |
| The Challenger (Type 8) | ESTP, ENTJ | Extraversion |
| The Peacemaker (Type 9) | ISFP, INFP | Agreeableness & Emotional Stability |
By exploring these connections, we can gain a deeper understanding of how different personality converage and diverge from each other.
What personality types are very different?
In both the Big 5 Traits and MBTI, there is a dichotomy within both of these personality models. Furthermore, there is overlap between the Big 5 Traits and MBTI Dichotomies.
| Big 5 Traits | MBTI Types |
|---|---|
| Extraversion | Extraversion (E) |
| Introversion | Introversion (I) |
| Agreeableness | Feeling (F) |
| Disagreeableness | Thinking (T) |
| Conscientiousness | Judging (J) |
| Spontaneity | Perceiving (P) |
| Emotional Stability | NA |
| Neuroticism | NA |
| Openness | Intuition (N) |
| Closedness | Sensing (S) |
The two biggest difference between these two models is that Big 5 is on a contiuum instead of categories and MBTI does not have a type that corresponding to Neuroticism.
With all this being said, whenever two types or traits are at oppsite ends of the spectrum then the people who exhibit these traits/types will be very different from each other.
For example, two personality types that are often considered to be very different are the extraverted and introverted types.
Extraverts tend to thrive in social situations, enjoying being around people and seeking external stimulation.
They are outgoing, talkative, and energized by interactions with others. On the other hand, introverts prefer solitude and quiet environments where they can recharge their energy. They are more introspective, reserved, and feel drained by excessive social interactions.
Another contrasting pair of personality types is the judging (J) type and perceiving (P) type. Individuals with a judging preference like structure, orderliness, and prefer making plans in advance.
They strive for closure and enjoy sticking to schedules. In contrast, those with a perceiving preference value flexibility, spontaneity, and adaptability. They prefer keeping their options open rather than making firm decisions.
These differences highlight how individuals have unique ways of interacting with the world around them based on their personality preferences. It’s important to recognize these differences as each type brings valuable perspectives and strengths to various situations.
What is the Personality Compatibility between the MBTI Personality Types?
When it comes to personality compatibility between MBTI types, the belief is that individuals with complementary traits can have harmonious relationships. For example, an extraverted person may thrive in a relationship with an introverted partner who offers balance and understanding.
Similarly, someone who values logic and rationality (thinking preference) may find compatibility with another individual who prioritizes empathy and emotions (feeling preference).
Understanding the potential for compatibility between different MBTI types can be valuable in navigating interpersonal relationships and improving communication. By recognizing each other’s strengths and weaknesses based on their respective personality preferences, people can build stronger connections and work together more effectively.
What is the compatibility between the Enneagram Types?
Each Enneagram type has its own unique characteristics and tendencies, which can influence how well they get along with others.
For example, Type One, known as “The Perfectionist,” tends to value structure and order, which may clash with the more spontaneous and adaptable nature of Type Seven, known as “The Enthusiast.”
To get an overview of compatabilty, visit our Personality Compatibilty Page or talk with our AI Assistant.
What is the compatibility between the Big 5 Traits?
The compatibility between the Big Five Traits can vary depending on the specific traits and characteristics of individuals. T
he important thing to consider is that no one is just one trait. So in fact, we are all a mix of traits and this mix of triats interacts with our partners mix giving rise to the nature of our relationship. The first step to understanding this dynamic is taking a personality test and becoming aware of our own mix of traits.
Now, it’s important to note that compatibility is not solely determined by one’s Big Five traits.
Other factors such as shared values, interests, communication styles, and personal experiences and development.
Therefore, while understanding your own Big Five Traits can provide insights into potential compatibilities or conflicts with others, it should not be seen as an absolute determinant of compatibility but rather as one piece of the puzzle when fostering meaningful social connections.
FAQs
1. What are the Big Five Personality Traits?
The Big Five Personality Traits, also known as the Five Factor Model, include openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. These traits provide a framework for understanding and analyzing individual personality characteristics.
2. What is the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) system?
The MBTI system categorizes individuals into one of 16 personality types based on four dimensions: extraversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving. It provides insights into how people perceive the world and make decisions.
3. How does Enneagram Types classify personalities?
Enneagram Types categorize personalities into nine distinct types based on core motivations and fears. This system helps individuals understand their dominant fears and motivations to gain self-awareness and personal growth.
4. Can I use these personality frameworks interchangeably?
While there may be overlapping concepts between Big Five traits, MBTI types, and Enneagram types, these frameworks capture different aspects of human personality. It’s important to remember that each framework offers unique perspectives on characterizing individuals’ behaviors, preferences, and motivations.
Resources
- https://www.truity.com/blog/myers-and-briggs-vs-enneagram-whats-different-and-whats-same
- https://www.traitlab.com/blog/mbti-big-five-personality-traits
- https://www.verywellmind.com/the-myers-briggs-type-indicator-2795583
- https://www.crystalknows.com/resource/big-five-vs-16-personality
- https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-7