Spanko personalities?

I’ve long treated psychometric tests with healthy disdain: it’s not so much that they’re inherently flawed, as that the people administering them in a work environment often don’t really seem to understand the tools that they’re using.

Now I find reason to be interested in them again. A recent post at The Headmaster’s Office blog wondered about the correlation between one’s profile in these tests and one’s tendencies in the kinky world. He and I share the same “Myers Briggs” profile (ENTJ), which made me wonder whether there was something in this. And I noticed that one of the questions in the test asks whether “You value justice higher than mercy”: kinky or wot?

So, in the interests of scientific analysis, I’m wondering – does your profile relate at all to your kinky preferences. It would be fascinating if all of the spankers here shared the same profile, and all of the spankees the opposite. The test’s here, and the most impressive site for interpreting the results, with a description of each profile type, is here – if you feel like playing, do share your results!

Hey, we could even end up nominated for this year’s Nobel Prize for Psychology for our work. (And yes, I know: that’s a very ENTJ statement).

47 thoughts on “Spanko personalities?

  • 30 March, 2008 at 11:17 am
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    I’m INTJ. Off the scale of I, but pretty moderate in all the other regards.

    Personality tests amuse me; I mostly find myself trying to figure out how they work and how to fool them. Oh, is that a “T” thing to say?

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 12:43 pm
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    Not sure about that. This time I’m apparently ESFP, but I don’t recognise myself in the description, and I’m pretty sure I was something completely different the last time I tried it!

    Does that mean I’m a multiple spanko personality?

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 1:05 pm
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    I’m an ENFP which I think is pretty accuarate but I’m more extraverted then they said I was.

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 1:28 pm
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    I’m an ISTJ, with a keen sense of right and wrong, and a devotion to duty!

    I’ve been consistent on this over the years I’ve been doing this test, and I always feel it sums me up nicely :-)

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 1:47 pm
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    Snap littlenic,I’m ISTJ too! Although I’m completely useless with figures and accounts( more into arts and history) and tend not to be found wearing homespun clothes!!!

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 2:24 pm
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    I’m ISFJ apparently. Half of the description fits me, but the other half seems like complete bollocks to me, if I may say so. I scored 67% on Introverted but only 1% on Sensing, but what does that mean? Well, if you’d make that Sensible, I’d have a great excuse to get into trouble!

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 2:47 pm
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    I’m INTJ and 100% Introverted, apparently. 75% Thinking and Moderate on the other two. Oh, and definitely a spankee.

    It was fascinating to read the analysis of my ‘type’ – I recognised much of what was said as being characteristic of me. I was particularly interested that I shared my classification with a couple of Hannibals, both the Carthaginian general and Dr Lecter of ‘Silence of the Lambs’. I’d love to see copies of their questionnaires.

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 2:56 pm
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    I scored out as an INTJ, fairly evenly on most counts, light on intuitiveness. The description fits me to a tee. I tend to distrust most test like these, mainly because I think the people taking them do try to influence the results.

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 3:19 pm
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    ISFJ – 44% introverted, 1% sensing, 88% feeling (whoa!) and 44% judging (i didn’t think i was that judgemental but hey). i’m a bit disturbed that the description sounds *just* like my mother – as much as i love my mum, i really really don’t want to turn into her!

    also, i would hope that just because i’m sympathetic and like to do nice things for other people, etc, that this shouldn’t necessarily burden me with the title of ‘doormat’…and i really don’t think i’m ‘conventional’ at all! 😛

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 3:36 pm
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    Can I just point out here that “Intraversion” and “Extraversion” as used by this test have slightly different meanings to the usual, so don’t take it to heart if it tells you you’re introverted and you think you’re not (or vice versa). As per Myers-Briggs, they are used more to talk about where you get your energy from (e.g. are you self-powered or do other people “lift you up”), not how sociable you are!

    Also, judging doesn’t equal judgemental at all…

    Ultimately, these things, whilst they can possibly give you an insight into yourself, are much more useful when applied.

    For example, I’ve used them before with work teams – once you’ve analysed where everyone in a team stands, you can help the team to identify their potential weak areas and problems and then help them to work out how to compensate etc. So if you’ve got a team of all extroverts apart from one individual, you can work together to help them see why that person might not be quite so up for the constant meetings and collaboration that the rest of them love… and there’s lots of other similar examples i’ve come across (e.g. how they make decisions, work with data etc.)

    And now I’ve completely hijacked the thread, with what was meant to be a simple message, as Abel said, of “They’re fun, but don’t worry too much about the results”, I’ll wander off to spend the rest of the afternoon in solitary pursuits as befits my introversion! :-)

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 3:42 pm
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    I think the fact that so many of us have done the test might suggest that we’ve all got far too much time on our hands. But then again it was between the quiz or a Theater Studies essay…

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 3:53 pm
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    littlenic – ah, thanks for the clarification :-). don’t worry, i wasn’t taking it hugely seriously 😉

    evie – lol, snap – the internet is such a fabulous essay-avoidance tool! and *way* more interesting than writing bullshit about linguistics…

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 5:10 pm
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    Linguistics, theatre studies… mine’s a medical case study 😉

    God, we’re all so easily distracted.

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 5:25 pm
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    Heh becaue distractions are better. And I’ve changed my mind, I’m taking this test very seriously because apparntly I have the same personality as Ariel from the Little Mermaid- only the best movie *ever*.

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 5:49 pm
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    How strange …. I did the test and I too am ENTJ …. so it does seem to be a dom profile :-)

    ENTJ …. Every novice tanned judiciously?

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 6:00 pm
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    A spanker and INTJ here – judging (I like to judge according to my profile 😉 ) by the posts so far, there’s no clear “spanko” type huh?

    Cheers
    Chross

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 6:17 pm
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    I’m an ENFP apparently, which is a bit bizarre because when we had to do them as part of a workshop at uni I was an ENTJ. However I’m apparently only slightly expressed as a ‘P’ so not too much of a change.

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 6:18 pm
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    Having just read another of the descriptions this does sound rather familiar though…

    “ENFPs hate bureaucracy, both in principle and in practice; they will always make a point of launching one of their crusades against some aspect of it.”

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 8:42 pm
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    We’ve got the same one, Chloe- you, me and Ariel the Mermaid.

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  • 30 March, 2008 at 10:41 pm
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    I’m INFJ, and the descriptions for it describe me pretty accurately. Not sure how it relates to my kinky tendencies – as this thread seems to prove, there’s no ‘typical’ kinkster!

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  • 31 March, 2008 at 4:14 am
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    I’m INFJ as well. In kink language I’m a bottom but not a sub for what it’s worth.

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  • 31 March, 2008 at 4:49 am
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    I’m consistently ENTP– very strong on N, just barely E (though the ENTP description definitely fits me better than the INTP one), and moderately T and P.

    I agree with Littlenic’s explanation and suggested uses. One of the things I like about it is it shows the ways in which your greatest faults and strengths are often opposite sides of the same coin.

    If I’m only one letter away from Abel, does that mean I have to switch? :-)

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  • 31 March, 2008 at 8:39 am
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    I’m INTJ and so is the man who spanks me… works for us :)

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  • 31 March, 2008 at 9:39 am
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    I’ve just spent hours with statistical databases analysing the results, and can confirm that…

    There does seem to be a common theme for spankos, in terms of being “-NJT”. “I” wins marginally – I think I’m the only one rating as an “E”, and that’s only narrow.

    Spankees, however, come in all shades, with no obvious common pattern of scores. If you total up each letter, the likeliest scores are INFJ, but only a couple of folks actually have that particular combination.

    Suggests an interesting use of the test in the work environment – if someone comes out as a “-NTJ”, the trainer might now ask, “So do you spank people?”!

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  • 31 March, 2008 at 11:28 pm
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    I’m another INTJ. Moderate in all aspects. Those who know me will, I am sure, speak for my moderation. Right, girls?

    Marina Margaret Heiss’s description of what INTJ means is worryingly, troublingly insightful. Too much I’d like to deny there. But what I like best is the list of fictional INTJs:

    Cassius (Julius Caesar)
    Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
    Gandalf the Grey (J. R. R. Tolkein’s Middle Earth books)
    Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs)
    Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis
    Ensign Ro (Star Trek–the Next Generation)
    Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Hamlet)
    George Smiley, John le Carre’s master spy
    Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs)

    Rosencrantz AND Guildenstern. How could it be otherwise? But Lecter AND Starling? That’s good. And Cassius? O for a lean and hungry look.

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  • 1 April, 2008 at 7:22 am
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    Abel, I’m an ENTJ as well… though most definitely a spankee, which certainly makes things interesting.

    Though it’s good to know I’ll be able to switch easily if I ever need to.

    And if I’m honest, I think even when I’m submissive I still feel somewhat in control, and empowered by it… so maybe I’m more dom/top than I realize…

    Hmmm… must go have deep introspection now.

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  • 1 April, 2008 at 9:00 am
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    Since I haven’t posted here very much, you probably don’t know as much about me, so maybe it won’t mean as much. But, I’m an INTJ. The T/F component is about evenly split and I’m not very strongly skewed toward any extreme.

    The INXXs are, I think, about 10% of the population, altogether. I wouldn’t be surprised to find introverted-intuitive over represented in this group, though, because it seems like this group is generally intelligent (in a studious kind of way) and focused on feelings and inner thoughts. (Indeed, I’m seeing about 9 out of 27 responses in the INXX category.)

    It wouldn’t surprise me if there are a number of INTJs in the crowd, especially as doms. INTJs want people to “make sense”.

    Wikipedia has a credible article on M-B.

    Anyone for Enneagram?

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  • 1 April, 2008 at 9:46 am
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    I’ve just taken this test. It comes out as INFJ. I read the profile and have never before felt so understood.

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  • 1 April, 2008 at 11:02 am
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    Elizabeth – LOL You’re *supposed* to be in control when you’re bottoming. It doesn’t mean you’re toppish, just that you’re engaging in a sane, consensual activity!

    Rich – wouldn’t it be easier if people just “made sense”, though 😉

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  • 1 April, 2008 at 7:45 pm
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    Ooo, I’m really late adding my tuppence to this thread (trouble with clocks n all, I guess!), but it seems that I’ve changed and am v excited and need to share: for the first time ever, I’ve come out as an E! I’ve always been an I previously when I’ve done Myers-Briggs; today I’m ESFJ. Only J is strongly-expressed though, probably not to the surprise of anyone who knows me 😉 The others show the usual bit-of-everything contradictions that make up me!

    One line in the description is a gem: “In fact, ESFJs may take affront at the aloof, detached nature of dominant Ti types, or conversely, be drawn to them.” Hmm, wonder which applies to me? 😉

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  • 1 April, 2008 at 8:27 pm
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    Hmmm…

    HH. Moderate.

    Not a natural association in my mind, I have to confess 😉

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  • 1 April, 2008 at 9:46 pm
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    There is something in this “tops are -NTJ” thing, isn’t there, as we seem to have 100% compliance with the theory. Wow!

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  • 1 April, 2008 at 11:21 pm
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    There’s an obvious flaw in your logic, Abel. Keep in mind that it’s the INxx’s who are most likely to take the test in the first place and post about it on blogs. 😉

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  • 1 April, 2008 at 11:53 pm
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    LOL I acknowledge the potential flaw, Niki, but it’s worth noting that there’s a fair mix of E’s and F’s amongst those who commented, if one includes bottoms/subs as well as tops/doms… And there’s still the matter of the consistent in the NJ part, too.

    So I still hold that every single dom/top who replied coming out as -NTJ is quite an interesting coincidence – as is the lack of an obvious pattern amongst bottoms/subs.

    But I’m not a qualified assessor on this stuff, as I said at the outset, so we’re probably heading waaaaay beyond my levels of insight into the test!

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  • 2 April, 2008 at 9:07 am
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    I’ll add mine a little late

    ESTJ

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  • 2 April, 2008 at 11:13 am
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    Just catching up on a little light reading and have been amazed by this post and its replies. By the way, I’m another INTJ, although close to the line on each element. I’ve used profiles regularly over the past twenty years and have found it helpful to redo my oen every few years. I’ve basically come out the same each time but with some interesting variations in the actual scoring.

    But INTJs are supposed to be rare! NTJs are not terribly common. What are we all doing here? I will have to dig out the old books again and follow this up.

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  • 3 April, 2008 at 1:10 am
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    Abel,

    Thanks for calling this thread to my attention. Glad to see this topic generated so much interest and responses. It is quite fascinating.

    I will bookmark your blog. I need to spend more time here. :-)

    Larry (MichiganHeadmaster)

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  • 3 April, 2008 at 6:42 am
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    Hi, Larry – and thanks in turn for sparking the thought on this. *Do* spend more time here: the young ladies who contribute to our little debates are certainly in need of headmasterial comment!

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  • 3 April, 2008 at 10:38 pm
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    I’m a spankee, never anything else, and also an ISFJ. My husband, always a spanker, is an ENFP. Perhaps it’s the “F” component that distinguishes spankos!

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  • 28 December, 2008 at 12:45 pm
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    Hello Abel and Haron

    I’m so glad to have just come across this post!
    This is something that my Disciplinarian and I have talked about on many occasions..he is trained in Myers Briggs…

    I shall have to pass on this post to him and get his * expert * opinion … * smiles *

    It will also come in handy for the thesis I am doing for my MSC whereby I’m interested in how personality and values influence sexual expression.

    Many thanks!

    Olivia

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  • 28 December, 2008 at 1:30 pm
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    Ohh…and I am an INFP…and have been on the last 4 occasions I had to do one of these…

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  • 9 February, 2010 at 11:40 pm
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    I’m an INFP, and my guy is ENTJ. Opposites attract!

    Thank you so much for sharing your blog with me!

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  • 22 April, 2014 at 10:36 pm
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    Seems it’s time to revive this post following today’s twitter madness on personality types.

    I am INFJ mostly and on some occasions it changes to ENFJ. In any case the preference for feeling is very high.

    http://www.personalitypage.com/INFJ.html

    When I read this I knew this is the right result for me 😉
    “They are usually right, and they usually know it.”

    And I don’t mind at all that I share the type with Goethe, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela!

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  • 22 April, 2014 at 11:01 pm
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    I am INFJ. Though my best friend said (and I trust her opinion) that I change to INTJ when I need to (at work, school,…). I read both descriptions and I still think INFJ fits me best.

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  • 23 April, 2014 at 6:18 am
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    ISTJ (89% 38% 38% 44%)

    – have a keen sense of right and wrong

    – give the initial impression of being aloof and perhaps somewhat cold. Effusive expression of emotional warmth is not something that ISTJs do without considerable energy loss.

    – easily frustrated by the inconsistencies of others, especially when the second parties don’t keep their commitments. But they usually keep their feelings to themselves unless they are asked. And when asked, they don’t mince words.

    Oh, and I always “value justice higher than mercy”!

    Interesting, I think only one of your readers said they are ISTJ.

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