If I'm curious to know about a person, I find Myers-Briggs to be one of the most intriguing ways to understand them. When I am reminded that such a personality inventory exists, I will read back on my own personality type, despite having thoroughly read each section of its analysis dozens of times, as I've been a very strong INFJ for the past eight years or so. Each time I read through my description, I feel extremely comforted. I imagine-- or rather, I know-- that it is akin to the ironic comfort in receiving a diagnosis that confirms your symptoms, consequently leaving me to feel 1) less alone and 2) like I now have a valid course of action. Suddenly, things make sense. My personality makes sense. My behavior makes sense. My thinking makes sense. It all just makes sense.
But why do I need to feel comfort about who I am? Why do I feel the need to have an official psychological explanation to accept and justify my own identity?
I suppose that, for me, in today's society, without social media to help me see how liked I am or cared about I am, I can only validate myself through a self-reported, psychological assessment to provide reassurance that it is acceptable to be who I am. At least for now, until I can sustainably figure out how to do this without Jungian theory.
