Personality Types and the Four Outlooks
A closer look at the MBTI types
Welcome back to another post where I nerd out about Myers-Briggs for a while.
In the last installment, I provided a bit of background about MBTI, explained a bit about what it is and what it isn’t, and why I think it could be valuable for Catholics. If you haven’t read it yet, it might be good to, since this post builds on the ideas I put forward in the last one. You can find it here: The Personality Type God Gave You
If you enjoyed that post and want more, I am happy to provide. Today I’d like to go into a bit more depth about the Myers-Briggs types and posit some of my own ideas about them. You may have run across the idea that the 16 types can be separated into four distinct categories, those being the SJs, SPs, NFs, and NTs, based on their shared motivations and characteristics. I’d like to give my own take on that here.
But let’s start with some background. To my knowledge, the first person to advocate for these four categories was David Keirsey, psychologist and author of the Please Understand Me series. He refers to these four categories as “temperaments”, and initially named the four after various Greek gods, later trying to integrate them with four of the societal roles in Plato’s Republic. I won’t be ripping off his system here, since referring to the four categories as the “four temperaments” would just confuse the large number of people familiar with the Four Temperaments I mentioned last time.
And as cool as a crossover between MBTI and Platonic philosophy sounds, there have been serious questions raised about how well Keirsey even understands Plato. (See “For further reading” below if you’re curious.)
16Personalities, similarly, uses the four categories, dividing them into the Sentinels (SJs), Explorers (SPs), Diplomats (NFs), and Analysts (NTs). I think this interpretation is more viable, but because I feel like being obnoxious today, I’m going to propose my own system.
I’ll be referring to these categories as the “Four Outlooks”. The term “Temperament” is already taken, “Charism” has its own connotations within Catholicism, and “Disposition” is a bit too much of a mouthful. I think “Outlook” captures the idea of how a given person or group of people views and interacts with the world well enough. And because we’re all good Catholics here, I’ve named the Outlooks after different saints that I think personify them well. I’ll be calling the SJs the Leonines, the SPs the Petrines, the NFs the Salesians, and the NTs the Thomists.
So why these divisions between the types? What makes the SJs, SPs, NFs, and NTs unique? And how did I choose the saint to name each Outlook after? I don’t know why you’re asking these questions, since I’m clearly going to answer them later in the post.
The Leonine (SJ) Outlook
“I have neither permitted, nor shall I permit, the things which have been settled by the Holy Fathers to be violated by any innovation.”
-Pope St. Leo the Great
Pope St. Leo the Great was a champion of order and orthodoxy during his reign as pontiff. Taking the papal throne in the year 440, he was faced with an explosive outbreak of heresy, with Manichaeism, Pelagianism, and others surging through the Church. Leo stood firm and diligently worked to uphold Church Tradition, even in the face of social and political turmoil. His most well-known writing, the Tome of Leo, irrevocably condemned the teachings of the heretic Eutyches, swiftly eliminating all of his popular support and restoring orthodoxy to the Church. This dutiful commitment to order, and the promotion of valuable customs, in my mind, perfectly encapsulates the SJs’ Outlook.
The SJs share a hardworking spirit, a level-headed demeanor, a desire for order, and a strong appreciation of tradition. Diligent souls, those with the Leonine Outlook are often protective of the people and institutions they care about. When faced with difficulties, as Myers herself states, they “habitually compare past and present situations”, using their lived experience to find solutions.
Skilled with concrete facts and details, they are excellent in situations requiring patience and caution. With their firm grounding in practical experience, they tend to regard innovation and novelty with a skeptic’s eye. They’re not closed-minded or stubborn, but convincing them to embrace change will require you to use plenty of real-life examples to justify your point. They are very unlikely to do something new just for its own sake, and value customary practice highly.
Reliable, realistic, and orderly, Leonines are the type of people you can count on to make sure things and people are taken care of. Though even the extroverts among them can be somewhat modest, their contributions should never be taken for granted.
The Leonines come in four distinct flavors: Mint Chocolate Chip (ISFJ), Birthday Cake (ESFJ), Vanilla (ISTJ), and Rocky Road (ESTJ). And here they are:
The ISFJ “Defender”: Level-headed, gentle, and sensibly cautious, using their skill with practical considerations to care for others and tend to their needs. Examples include Clara Barton and St. Teresa of Calcutta.
The ESFJ “Caregiver”: Warm, sympathetic, expressive, and highly gregarious, with a need for order and a good sense of realism and responsibility. Examples include Andrew Carnegie and St. Elizabeth of Hungary.
The ISTJ “Inspector”: Dutiful, well-grounded, and reliable, often bastions of consistency and rationality amidst disorder, which they aim to eliminate. Examples include George Washington and St. Charles Borromeo.
The ESTJ “Supervisor”: Emphatic champions of law and order, actively dedicated to solving practical problems and protecting against confusion and irrationality. Examples include Margaret Thatcher and Pope St. Leo the Great.
The Petrine (SP) Outlook
“So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he…jumped into the sea.”
-John 21:7
St. Peter the Apostle was a bold, active man. Energetic and adventurous, Peter threw himself into everything life sent him and figured things out as he went. With his dynamism and his goal of making a concrete impact on the world, I think he brilliantly personifies the spirit of the SPs.
For the Petrines, reality exists to be explored. The present moment offers adventure, and plenty of enjoyment to be had. Their daring and exploratory demeanor leads them to take others around them on their adventures, whether they go willingly or get dragged kicking and screaming. Even the more introverted Petrines have an audacious spirit to them that makes them fun to be around.
Petrines, like their namesake, are men and women of action. Concrete acts of charity are where they thrive. If a Petrine were to enter the religious life, he would almost certainly be drawn to an active order rather than one emphasizing contemplation. Rather than being interested in theological ideas and debates, Petrines would much rather live out their faith through concrete action, and it takes tangible facts to convince them of something.
Many Petrines are blessed with artistic talent, with plenty of musicians, painters, actors, and the like throughout history demonstrating Petrine tendencies. Others are drawn to sports or craftsmanship, but whatever their interests may be, they’ll enjoy activities that let them affect and reshape the world around them. This doesn’t come from the Intuitive’s desire for change, but from giving their undeniable dynamism an outlet into the present moment.
There’s four genres of Petrine: Classical (ISFP), Dubstep (ESFP), Jazz (ISTP), and Heavy Metal (ESTP). Here’s a brief introduction:
The ISFP “Adventurer”: Natural-born explorers, often artistically gifted, seeking out enriching and meaningful experiences and bringing warmth to relationships and situations. Examples include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.
The ESFP “Entertainer”: Vibrant, enthusiastic, and companionable go-getters, whose passion and drive lead them into all kinds of adventures. Examples include Steven Spielberg and St. Peter the Apostle.
The ISTP “Crafter”: Reserved but astute analysts of tangible problems, often skilled with tools or machinery, who seek to boldly explore and master the puzzles they find in the world. Examples include Bruce Lee and St. Damien of Molokai.
The ESTP “Dynamo”: Clever, capable, and adaptable hustlers who use their wits, charisma, and skill in concrete problem-solving to navigate whatever challenges they encounter. Examples include George S. Patton and Bl. Miguel Pro.
The Salesian (NF) Outlook
“It is wonderful how attractive a gentle, pleasant manner is, and how much it wins hearts.”
-St. Francis de Sales
St. Francis de Sales, known for his authorship of Introduction to the Devout Life, and for his pioneering the idea that holiness is possible for the laity, had a very distinctive spirituality. De Sales had an insightful, philosophic perspective on the spiritual life, emphasizing meekness, compassion, and mercy. With his insightful speculation, focus on gentleness, and desire to help others find spiritual fulfillment, I think he perfectly symbolizes the NF Outlook.
The Salesians merge the imaginative nature of Intuition with the personal warmth of Feeling, and the result is a group of people who Myers describes as “both enthusiastic and insightful”. Frequently blessed with a combination of empathy and thoughtfulness, the Salesians seek to understand themselves and others. Fascinated by human nature, Salesians will go to great lengths to explore it through philosophic reflection and by aiming to forge meaningful relationships with others.
Salesians are often linguistically gifted, with Dante Alighieri, Oscar Wilde, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and J. R. R. Tolkien among their ranks. Their desire to probe the depths of the human experience is often mingled with their sense of a need to reveal what they’ve learned to the world, and to improve this world. After all, Intuition is attracted to abstract possibilities, and the possibility of positive change is more than enough to motivate Salesians. Plenty of humanitarian movements were pioneered by Salesians.
Salesians are deeply committed to their values, and to their desire to uncover the potential in themselves and others. Through their poetic, philosophic, and humanitarian genius, the Salesians help to build up the Kingdom of God on earth, trying to make their ideals a reality.
Like the Leonines, there’s four flavors of Salesian: Lemon-Lime (INFJ), Watermelon (ENFJ), Blue Raspberry (INFP) and Cherry (ENFP). Here’s a quick snapshot of the four:
The INFJ “Advocate”: Keen observers and analysts of human nature, with social grace and amiability masking a hidden will of steel and a restless imagination. Examples include Fyodor Dostoyevsky and St. Francis de Sales.
The ENFJ “Mentor”: Gregarious and engaging natural leaders with a missionary spirit, guided by an intuitive vision and a wealth of insight. Examples include Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Mary MacKillop.
The INFP “Dreamer”: Deeply emotional and poetic souls focused on understanding what is meaningful to them, and aiming to help the world through their beliefs and insights. Examples include J. R. R. Tolkien and St. Therese of Lisieux.
The ENFP “Inspirer”: Amiable and imaginative free spirits with idealistic and passionate hearts, who take delight in exploring ideas and relationships. Examples include Walt Disney and St. Philip Neri.
The Thomistic (NT) Outlook
“Reason in man is rather like God in the world.”
-St. Thomas Aquinas
I don’t think there’s a better saint to symbolize the NT Outlook than the Angelic Doctor himself. As a youth, Thomas was fascinated by one simple yet profound question: “Who is God?” The rest of his life was dedicated to finding an answer to this question. Along the way, Thomas would develop and expound upon teachings of morality, Scriptural exegesis, and the very nature of God Himself, and this is by no means an exhaustive list. We owe a lot to St. Thomas’ mission to- as far as human reason would allow- discover the identity of Truth Himself. And his curiosity and desire to find truth are why he lends his name to the fourth Outlook.
As Keirsey states, “The NT begins his search for explanations as soon as he has the language for questioning.” The curiosity that comes from an Intuitive preference is made all the more evident when paired with the Thinker’s desire to analyze and investigate an issue to find the truth of the matter. As Intuitives, they, like their namesake, are drawn to a variety of abstract topics. Thomists are likely to appreciate G. K. Chesterton’s assertion that downplaying reason makes for bad theology, and will demand that others take the importance of reason seriously.
In addition to their pursuit of knowledge, Thomists are keenly aware of the possibilities opened up by this knowledge. Namely, they are drawn to outside-the-box thinking when it comes to problem-solving, and have no problem disregarding “conventional wisdom” when it’s clear a new approach is needed. Much is owed to their efforts: Thomas made a lasting impact on theology and philosophy, James Madison did the same for lawmaking and governing, and so did Isaac Newton (who, fun fact, was an adamant opponent of atheism) for natural science. Thomists relish the thought of making groundbreaking discoveries to solve mankind’s problems, using innovation and strategy to advance the common good.
Though the phrase “Knowledge is power” has been used to justify a great deal of immorality, it will likely still resonate positively with Thomists, who weaponize the intellect to defend the Church Militant as apologists, polemicists, and defenders of truth. Though intellectual arrogance is an occupational hazard for them, a healthy, well-developed NT will do a great deal to prove faith and reason are indeed allies.
And though even the more extroverted Thomists aren’t exactly social butterflies, don’t let that fool you- they can be the life of the party when they want to be. The funniest person I’ve ever met was a clear-cut INTP.
Like the Petrines, there’s four distinct genres of Thomist: Strategy (INTJ), First-Person Shooter (ENTJ), Puzzle (INTP), and Adventure (ENTP). Without further ado, here they are:
The INTJ “Strategist”: Calculating and inventive visionaries characterized by foresight, an oft-hidden passion, and a combination of thoughtfulness and determination. Examples include Nikola Tesla and St. Catherine of Siena.
The ENTJ “General”: Driven, decisive, and forceful individuals with a penchant for leadership, a flair for innovation, and a love for ideas. Examples include Alexander Hamilton and St. Paul the Apostle.
The INTP “Architect”: Thoughtful and reserved but curious, seeking to fashion logical and insightful analyses of the abstract topics that catch their interest. Examples include Albert Einstein and St. Thomas Aquinas.
The ENTP “Challenger”: Ingenious innovators, often skilled in debate, who use their wit and understanding to solve problems and improve conditions. Examples include Leonardo da Vinci and St. Teresa of Avila.
Hopefully this post has helped you learn a little more about MBTI. Or maybe it’s raised just as many questions as it’s answered. When I first read about the four “temperaments” in Keirsey’s works, I remember thinking I identified with all of them to some degree (except the SPs). If you have more questions, not to worry! There will be more MBTI content in the future, starting with some “deeper dives” into the personality types.
But until then…the NTs are really cool, and I wish the Internet would stop complaining about them. Especially ENTPs, they get way too much hate.
For further reading:
“Did Keirsey Understand Plato?” IDRlabs, 30 Oct. 2013, www.idrlabs.com/articles/2013/10/did-keirsey-understand-plato/. Accessed 7 Feb. 2024.
Isabel Briggs Myers, and Peter B Myers. Gifts Differing : Understanding Personality Type. Palo Alto, CA, Davies-Black Pub, 1995.
Keirsey, David, and Marilyn M. Bates. Please Understand Me : Character & Temperament Types. Del Mar, CA, Prometheus Nemesis Book Company, 2006.
“Personality Types.” 16personalities.com, NERIS Analytics Limited, 2011, www.16personalities.com/personality-types. Accessed 5 Feb. 2024.
Thanks for this! It's the first time I realized my MBTI type (INFP) can be associated with the Salesian Outlook. Very informative post. Looking forward to reading more.