As a political science major, it's hard not to notice (or participate in...) the buzz around campus as the 2016 Election comes to a close in less than a month. On my way back to my apartment earlier, I became curious as to what the Myers-Briggs personality types of the presidential candidates may be.
For those of you who are staring at your phones in confusion, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (or MBTI) is a personality test that classifies your personality into four separate categories: I or E for Introversion or Extraversion, S or N for Sensing or Intuition, T or F for Thinking or Feeling, and J or P for Judging or Perceiving. Taking the test, you're placed into one of two options in each of the four categories, creating a four-letter type personality. For example, my personality type is ENTJ = Extraversion, Intuition, Thinking, and Judging.
***Just because I know my MBTI type, I am not saying I am an expert on these things.
With that being said, I did some Google searching and reading so you don't have to!
Donald Trump (R) -- (ESTP)
The Career Assessment Site has a section focused on MBTI Famous Celebrities, and Trump falls into the ESTP category. The ESTP, relying heavily on their Sensing traits, can lead the ESTP to have a high interest in everything around them; therefore, being true to his type, Trump enjoys having a hand in everyone's pie. Due to the Thinking approach to situations, CAS says that Trump's business are built on logical analysis and reasoning, a common trait of ESTP's. It has also been found that Trump has prioritized his work over family at times. Also known for risk-taking, he's not backed away from challenges, sometimes resulting in financial downfalls - almost reaching personal bankruptcy in the late 80's. The article goes further to say that ESTP's most important life values could include home/family, health, financial security, friendships, and autonomy.
Truity agrees with the CAS site that Trump is an ESTP, and goes further to say that he is dynamic, showy, and wants to get the job done. Apparently, they have the ability to make you believe anything that comes out of their mouth.
Some other ESTP's? Madonna, Teddy Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill.
Hillary Clinton (D) -- (INTJ or ENTJ)
A couple different sources disagree on whether Hillary is an Extrovert or an Introvert, but the ones I read all agree that Clinton is some kind of -NTJ. The Huffington Post's Michael Melcher believes she is a "Misunderstood INTJ", and that Hillary is often criticized for being open, choosing her words carefully, and being private - this comes by way of her Thinking trait. He often compares her to her husband, a supposed ENFP, a more or less opposite. Truity also says that Clinton is an INTJ; they are monumental problem-solvers, can hack any system that doesn't suit them, and can sometimes come off as too blunt or arrogant. However, Personality Growth is one of the ones that disagrees that she is an introvert... they rule that Clinton is an Extrovert, an ENTJ. She shows her Extraverted Thinking side because she feels the need to organize the world around her and because she knows how to navigate the political world.
Some other INTJ's? Bill Gates, Al Gore, and Vladimir Lenin.
Some other ENTJ's? Gordon Ramsey, Harrison Ford, and Margaret Thatcher.
Bernie Sanders (D, Democratic Socialist) -- (INFJ or INFP)
I'm throwing this one in there for my man, Bernie.
Truity says that Bernie would be an INFJ; wonder where his feelings about peace and inspiring a better future come from? That's right, Bernie's a Feeler, so he knows how to appeal to an audience in accordance to morals, inequality, and other public issues - getting to the heart of the matter rather quickly. However, Personality Pathways agrees he's got the INF, but more of the Perceiving rather than Judging. INFP's are the champions of causes with a die hard passion to get shit done, and his passion for righting the wrongs of oppressed groups comes from his Feeling characteristic. The differing Perceiving characteristic could explain his ease of communication with everyone around him as well as his ability to understand and adapt to everything thrown his way.
Some other INFJ's? Mahatma Ghandi, Adolf Hitler
Some other INFP's? J.K. Rowling, John Kerry, and Rousseau
What are your thoughts on each of the candidates' MBTI personality types?
#feeltheBern
