Myers Briggs Personality types for Primarchs (and frater)

[disease]

So in my work place we have been encouraged to do some self development and take the Myers-Briggs personality test. For those of you who don't know what this is, it's a tool which allows you to learn more about how you interact with the world and other people based on 16 different personality types. The types themselves are determined by factors such as tendency to be introverted/ extroverted, to discuss problems with others or use logical thinking alone etc...

 

I thought it might be fun for us to try the following:

 

1. Take the test ourselves and enter our own results into a collective B+c poll (mods I might need help with this). We all know it takes a certain kind of person to love playing with / collecting / painting / thinking about little soldiers of the far future, but I wonder if our distribution of personalities correlates with the wider population? ( I would expect we have a much higher percentage of introverts, thinkers and artisans).

 

2. See if we can use our brain power to analyse the personalities of the mighty Primarchs. This in itself may be a futile task based on the fact that Primarchs are not human, and that what we know of the Primarchs is based on the writings of multiple authors (who may have conflicting ideas of how a particular character behaves). It could end up that all the Primarchs fall in just a handful of categories.

 

Sound interesting? You can take a free test yourself here: http://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

 

And a summary of all the personality types can be found here:

http://www.16personalities.com/personality-types

Clicking each avatar gives a wealth of information in differing scenarios.

 

 

 

So to kick things off, I came out as ISTP aka, 'Virtuoso' in the Explorer category: A bold and practical experimentor, and a master of tools. In other words, a mechanic or artisan.

 

In my opinion, this could be a trait shared by many of the Primarchs, but would would probably best fit Perturabo or maybe Ferrus. While Vulkan too is a very capable weapon-Smith, Vulkan has a strong need to connect with and protect humans, something not really shared by the coldness of Perty and Ferrus. Furthermore, my personality type is somewhat introverted, quiet and rather logical, which again seems more akin to the thinking of Pert - Vulkan is ruled by his emotions and is more extroverted, regularly seeking the council of his command structure and brother Primarchs.

 

Off the bat, I think there is a case for the Lion to be INTJ, and perhaps Fulgrim would fit ISFP, but I'll let you guys decide

 

:)

[Skalpynock]

Last time we tried, the thread got locked. Don't try real-life stuff with fictional characters, especially when they are demi-gods outside the reach of human psychology.

[Raktra]

My personality type is "handsome".

[Aleph Null]

I always thought that Perturabo was ISTP and Dorn ISTJ, and it shows how they can be so similar on the surface yet so different in thought process.

Both are "practical" in a sense but ISTJs have a strong sense of self and are highly idealistic, they essentially see themselves a certain way and live out that role.

On the other hand ISTPs are more "pragmatic" and tend to break everything down (mentally, hah). It's a mindset that might well be described as reductionism.

ISTP's inferior function is "Extroverted feeling" which can make them hypersensitive to how other people perceive them, It's a lot of theory so I won't bother explaining here, but if you search "Inferior Fe" you'll find what I mean.

It demonstrates perfectly what Perturabo's grievances with the Emperor and imperium's perception of him and his legion are, essentially underappreciation.

I'd agree that you can't really apply it to characters, especially in a universe with so many different authors, but I'd say his portrayal in "Angel Exterminatus" would fit the description.

[codyrstuart]

So, I came out as INFJ-T, the Advocate. That would explain why I like helping people and hate desk jobs. Essentially, it says that the Advocate is decisive, altruistic, and creative, but is emotional and perfectionistic to a fault. Which of the Primarch would best line up with those traits/ideals?

[depthcharge12]

So, I came out as INFJ-T, the Advocate. That would explain why I like helping people and hate desk jobs. Essentially, it says that the Advocate is decisive, altruistic, and creative, but is emotional and perfectionistic to a fault. Which of the Primarch would best line up with those traits/ideals?

Possibly Sanguinius. He's the heart to heart guy that hates sitting on a throne.

[The boater]

I've taken many Meyers Brigs tests (including this one) And I always float between INTJ and ENTJ. The "mind" trait being my most turbulent.

From that perspective, I personally think that the twins match that bill to the letter. Peturabo might fall into that category To a degree as well, but I see him more as a ISTP. I see sanguinous to be an Infp with gulliman showing qualities of both istj and ENTp

[1ncarnadine]

I just like to think of what would happen if you actually tried to make a Primarch take a Myers-Briggs test.

 

Guilliman would decide it wasn't comprehensive enough and write a twelve volume series on how the test should be run. It would take him a handful of hours.

 

Alpharius and the Lion would just lie about everything.

 

Perturabo would probably just kill you.

[codyrstuart]

 

So, I came out as INFJ-T, the Advocate. That would explain why I like helping people and hate desk jobs. Essentially, it says that the Advocate is decisive, altruistic, and creative, but is emotional and perfectionistic to a fault. Which of the Primarch would best line up with those traits/ideals?

Possibly Sanguinius. He's the heart to heart guy that hates sitting on a throne.

Why, oh why, couldn't I be more like Russ?!

[disease]

I just like to think of what would happen if you actually tried to make a Primarch take a Myers-Briggs test.

 

Guilliman would decide it wasn't comprehensive enough and write a twelve volume series on how the test should be run. It would take him a handful of hours.

 

Alpharius and the Lion would just lie about everything.

 

Perturabo would probably just kill you.

 

This really made me chuckle. Guiilman would force it on the other primarchs too, declaring it was vital for the safety of the imperium. Dorn of course, would oppose, and there would be a Mexican Standoff much along the lines of 'do my damn test or I'll shove this chainsword in the area where the Emperors light does not touch!'

 

'MAKE ME!'

 

'Gaaah, you such an ISTJ!'

[Legionary Pallas]

I've done one of these before & got an INTP. Got the same result a week ago.

 

Which Primarch is most like an INTP?

[worldshatterer]

Well I'm an INTJ and Iron Warriors player. Not sure how well Myers-Briggs works on fictional characters when they are being written by multiple different authors with entirely different takes on a characters personality. 

[GoogleusMaximus]

I think the Lion would end up as ITNJ if he were entirely honest|
Perturabo would likely end up being INTP

And Alpharius... ENTP, or at least that seems to be what he encourages in his legion

But again we must remember that they are not human and attempting to quantify them in the same way you would a human is futile... they are entirely separated from humanity

[Emperor's Furor]

I got Mediator (INFP-T), so I'm apparently like Tolkien and Shakespeare.

[Ordo Machinum]

And here I thought I was relating to Ferrus Manus... maybe I'm more on board with Perturabo...

It appears I am designated as INTJ-T.

"INTJs are defined by their tendency to move through life as though it were a giant chess board, pieces constantly shifting with consideration and intelligence, always assessing new tactics, strategies and contingency plans, constantly outmaneuvering their peers in order to maintain control of a situation while maximizing their freedom to move about. This isn’t meant to suggest that INTJs act without conscience, but to many Feeling (F) types, INTJs’ distaste for acting on emotion can make it seem that way, and it explains why many fictional villains (and misunderstood heroes) are modeled on this personality type."

Famous INTJ-T's:

Samantha Power

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Colin Powell

Vladimir Putin

Christopher Nolan

Ludwig van Beethoven

Friedrich Nietzsche

Fictional INTJ-T's:

Walter White (“Heisenberg”) from Breaking Bad

Petyr Baelish (“Littlefinger”) from Game of Thrones

Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones

Gandalf the Grey from The Lord of the Rings

The Architect from The Matrix

Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games

Seven of Nine from Star Trek: Voyager

[depthcharge12]

I am a Debater ENTP-A. The ultimate devils advocate. I'll question and take wrong positions just to try people lol.

 

If you can't tell from my unorthodox tactics on one of the many tactica threads, I take the crazy schemes and ideas - I'm not phased by outside opinion. I'm a better dreamer and thinker than a methodical "do-er". Better on the fly doing things.

 

I think it almost sounds like Horus: on the fly, the Mournival for the devils Advocate, and the mental sparring with the single most potent human in existence.

[The boater]

And here I thought I was relating to Ferrus Manus... maybe I'm more on board with Perturabo...

It appears I am designated as INTJ-T.

"INTJs are defined by their tendency to move through life as though it were a giant chess board, pieces constantly shifting with consideration and intelligence, always assessing new tactics, strategies and contingency plans, constantly outmaneuvering their peers in order to maintain control of a situation while maximizing their freedom to move about. This isn’t meant to suggest that INTJs act without conscience, but to many Feeling (F) types, INTJs’ distaste for acting on emotion can make it seem that way, and it explains why many fictional villains (and misunderstood heroes) are modeled on this personality type."

Famous INTJ-T's:

Samantha Power

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Colin Powell

Vladimir Putin

Christopher Nolan

Ludwig van Beethoven

Friedrich Nietzsche

Fictional INTJ-T's:

Walter White (“Heisenberg”) from Breaking Bad

Petyr Baelish (“Littlefinger”) from Game of Thrones

Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones

Gandalf the Grey from The Lord of the Rings

The Architect from The Matrix

Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games

Seven of Nine from Star Trek: Voyager

Honestly I don't see peturabo being an INTJ. Especially with how he is described in Angel Extermanatus. INTJ's tend to be more jack of all trades master of none, where peturabo definitely falls more into the category of a prodigy. He also cares very little for learning and adapting new ideas even if he can adapt fast to a changing battlefield. His singular mindset (and brilliance at it) is what got his legion pigeon holed into the role they had.

No I'd say if any of the primarchs were INTJs it would be the twins, with one being turbulent and the other not.

[1ncarnadine]

 

Honestly I don't see peturabo being an INTJ. Especially with how he is described in Angel Extermanatus. INTJ's tend to be more jack of all trades master of none, where peturabo definitely falls more into the category of a prodigy. He also cares very little for learning and adapting new ideas even if he can adapt fast to a changing battlefield. His singular mindset (and brilliance at it) is what got his legion pigeon holed into the role they had.

No I'd say if any of the primarchs were INTJs it would be the twins, with one being turbulent and the other not.

 

 

Well, this is partly why trying to ascribe Myers-Briggs types to fictional characters is kind of an exercise in futility. Depending on author's voice and their interpretation of a character, a primarch's personality could change from novel to novel. Or seem to change, if we're relying on a different character's perspective of a primarch within a novel (how Argel Tal views Lorgar, as an example). And then there's the reader's interpretation and personality type getting involved and muddling results further.

 

And then there's the issue of Myers-Briggs tests being accurate to begin with. Personally, I've taken the test at different points and sometimes gotten wildly different results. So, people change, sometimes a little or a lot within a short period of time, and Primarchs are close enough to "people." I guess it's comforting or anchoring for some to be able to say "I am this" though. It's just my opinion, but I think people are more complicated than that. Like, there are pretty complex interactions with how people actually think vs how they think of themselves and respond on a questionnaire.

[Emperor's Furor]

I think the Mediator could apply to Sanguinius in some way.

 

INFP personalities are true idealists, always looking for the hint of good in even the worst of people and events, searching for ways to make things better. While they may be perceived as calm, reserved, or even shy, INFPs have an inner flame and passion that can truly shine. Comprising just 4% of the population, the risk of feeling misunderstood is unfortunately high for the INFP personality type – but when they find like-minded people to spend their time with, the harmony they feel will be a fountain of joy and inspiration.

[Excessus]

This again?

[Terminus]

I am a debater, therefore I disagree with the premise of this thread being in this subforum.

[disease]

This is only meant to be a bit of fun, and compared to a lot of the dirge that appears on the forums, it is. Much like the whole 'I'm making a Horus heresy movie, what actors would you use' or 'who would win in a fight, sanguinus or Angron' etc - there will always be a difference of opinion. Why this appears to be such a cause for concern, I can't explain. If you don't fancy taking part... Then don't?

[Terminus]

I am a Debater ENTP-A. The ultimate devils advocate. I'll question and take wrong positions just to try people lol.

 

Me too. Except I'm better at it. ;)

[disease]

A quick summary of possible outcomes:

 

 

ANALYSTS:

 

INTJ - Architect: Imaginative and strategic thinkers, a plan for everything

INTP - Logican: Innovative Inventors, an unquenchable thirst for knowledge

ENTJ - Commander: Bold, imaginative and strong willed leaders, will find a way or make one

ENTP - Debater: Smart and curios thinkers, cannot resist an intellectual challenge

 

 

DIPLOMATS:

 

INFJ - Advocate: Quiet and mystical, yet very inspiring and tireless idealists

INFP - Mediator: Kind and altruistic, always eager to help a good cause

ENFJ - Protagonist: charismatic and inspiring leaders, able to mesmerise their listeners

ENFP - Campaigner: Enthusiastic, creative and sociable free spirit, gets the best from those around them

 

 

SENTINELS

 

ISTJ - Logistican: Practical and fact minded, reliability cannot be doubted

ISFJ - Defender: Dedicated and warm protector, will defend loved ones at any cost

ESTJ - Executive: Master administrator, excellent at organising and managing people

ESFJ - Consul: Extraordinary popular, social and caring, always eager to help

 

 

EXPLORERS

 

ISTP - Virtuoso: Master of tools, bold and practical experimentor

ISFP - Adventurer: Flexible and charming artist, always eager to explore something new

ESTP - Entrepreneur: Smart, energetic and very perceptive, lives on the edge

ESFP - Entertainer: Spontaneous, energetic, never boring, always moving

[disease]

So based on the above, I think the following could apply (take with usual pinch of salt)

 

Horus- ENTJ, commander

Sanguinus- INFJ, Advocate

Lorgar - Perhaps ENFJ, protagonist

Lion- INTJ, architect

Fulgrim - ISFP, Adventurer

Dorn - ISTJ, defender

Perturabo. - ISTP, Virtuoso

Guilliman - ESTJ, Executive

 

 

That's not to say that these primarchs dont exhibit other values, it's just my opinion of what fits them best, according to the source material I've read. I think there are many instances when people (or primarchs) fall into multiple categories