Today we had the last of our Psychology class, which is kind of sad, because I have really been enjoying it. Among other things, we had a discussion about how the four different trait spectrums in the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory combine to create 16 different specific personality types. Each student (and teacher) had taken the test online, so we got to see who was most similar, who what most different, and how the change in just one trait characteristic (like from ENFP to INFP) made a huge different in the personality style.
We've only been able to dip into this subject; people have spent years and acquired all sorts of advanced degrees trying to analyze this data. However, for those who are interested in learning more on just a working-knowledge level, I recommend the work of David Keirsey. He has written two books, Please Understand Me and Please Understand Me II, that I think are the best non-specialists books on this subject. Keirsey not only has descriptions of each personality type, but groups them into four categories of personality style (which he calls Personality Temperaments): Guardians, Idealists, Artisans, and Rationals. I don't necessarily agree with all of his analyses and groupings...but, then, he has a PhD in Psychology and I don't, so don't listen to me.
You can take a free test for your Keirsey-style MBTI personality type and learn more about your personality type at: http://www.keirsey.com/default.aspx# .
While I've been using this tool with my son for years, I think it is definitely a great thing to introduce to middle schoolers. This is the time in their lives when they are really trying to figure out who they are compared to their peers and family, and a familiarity with personality type can really help them understand both themselves and others.
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