Everyone’s personality is different. While pop psychology has tried to categorize personality types, most people relate to more than one. This list of personality types shows the range of personality traits for each type.

Everyone has a unique personality. Your lasting behaviors and traits, including your interests, abilities, major traits, and emotional patterns, make up how you respond to the world. Your personality helps determine your behavior and interactions with others.

The field of pop psychology has several theories to identify different personality types and how they develop. Each theory has a list of personality types based on different traits. However, personality is widely considered to be a spectrum, with most people relating to more than one type.

This self-report questionnaire is designed to identify a person’s personality type, including preferences and strengths.

It was created in the 1940s by Katherine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Myers and is based on Carl Jung’s theory of personality types. The goal was to help people better understand themselves and select occupations aligned with their personality strengths and weaknesses.

The MBTI personality indicates different personality types based on your identification with a character preference. When combined, 16 different personality types are identified. The 4 preference scales are:

  • extraversion/introversion (E/I)
  • sensing/intuition (S/N)
  • thinking/feeling (T/F)
  • judging/perceiving (J/P)

The resulting 16 personality types are then defined as:

  • ISTJ: practical, realistic, responsible, enjoys creating an orderly life
  • ISFJ: friendly, thorough, responsible, considerate, concerned about others
  • INFJ: insightful, organized, seeks connection through ideas and material possessions
  • INTJ: independent thinkers, creative, analytical, high standards for themselves and others
  • ISTP: tolerant, highly independent, quiet observers, interested in cause/effect and values efficiency
  • ISFP: quiet, creative, friendly, kind, very connected to the present moment, tends to avoid conflicts
  • INFP: idealistic, curious, flexible, accepting, wants to improve the world
  • INTP: theoretical, logical, can focus in-depth on an issue, sometimes critical, always analytical
  • ESTP: spontaneous, outgoing, focused on the present, loves to learn by doing
  • ESFP: outgoing, exuberant lover of life, flexible, spontaneous, often makes work fun
  • ENFP: imaginative, confident, enjoys putting creativity to work, craves affirmation but always returns it
  • ENTP: sharp, outspoken, stimulating, bored by routine, tends to have many projects in the works
  • ESTJ: decisive, results-focused, may be forceful in implementing plans
  • ESFJ: warm-hearted, harmony-driven, often sees the best in everyone
  • ENFJ: empathetic, highly attuned to the feelings and needs of others, very understanding, often a good catalyst for growth
  • ENTJ: confident, frank, decisive, enjoys long-term planning and goal-setting

Even though the relationship between these personality types and future outcomes has weak scientific backing, the MBTI is often used by businesses, colleges, and government agencies.

While people may find personal value in the MBTI, results are often inconsistent, with individuals getting different results when they retake the tests.

These four personality types were initially identified by Hippocrates in ancient Greece. They were then redefined by two cardiologists who noticed dramatic differences in types of behaviors. This led them to categorize personalities as such:

  • Type A: These people tend to be competitive, aggressive, hostile, and more likely to have heart issues.
  • Type B: This type of person tends to be more relaxed and patient and is less likely to have heart issues.
  • Type C: This type is more precise, logical, and detail-oriented.
  • Type D: This personality type has a tendency to be pessimistic and anxious.

These personality types might be helpful for making sense of general behavior patterns, but people can exhibit traits of more than one personality type.

There has been no correlation found between Type A personalities and heart issues. However, a separate review showed a tendency toward cardiovascular disease in people who had more negative personality traits and identified closer to a type D personality type.

The Enneagram tool is based on a form of Islam called Sufiism to help people find self-discovery and meaning in life. It’s a circular model with intersecting lines representing stress and growth.

It uses integration and disintegration to represent the ways you will respond to various life challenges.

Each point on the circle represents a personality type, numbered 1 through 9.

  1. The Reformer: They’re rational and idealistic. Their actions are principled and self-controlled, often perfectionistic.
  2. The Helper: They’re caring and generous. They’re people-pleasers who may be possessive at times.
  3. The Achiever: They’re success-oriented, pragmatic, adaptive, image-conscious, and driven.
  4. The Individualist: This type is emotionally honest, creative, moody, and self-conscious.
  5. The Investigator: They’re intense and cerebral. They can be innovative and preoccupied.
  6. The Loyalist: They’re committed, responsible, and an excellent troubleshooter, but also anxious and defensive.
  7. The Enthusiast: This type is fun-loving, spontaneous, extroverted, and playful, but also distracted and scattered.
  8. The Challenger: They’re powerful and confident, direct and decisive, but also controlling and confrontational.
  9. The Peacemaker: They’re easy-going, self-deprecating, avoid conflict, and border on complacent.

There’s a lack of research on the validity of the Enneagram model, but it claims to be helpful in personal and spiritual growth.

Psychologist Carl Jung described these personality types in the early 1900s. He suggested that the main difference between people is between the source and direction of their expression of energy. This led to his suggestion of two contrasting personality types, introverts vs extroverts.

It’s Jung’s initial theory that eventually led to the development of the MBTI personality types.

In general, it’s said that an introvert is energized by being alone and prefers smaller groups of people, while an extrovert is energized by being around people.

Additionally, introverts tend to:

  • enjoy alone time
  • prefer quiet environments
  • be more reserved in social settings
  • avoid conflict
  • avoid the spotlight
  • have an active inner thought process
  • feel emotions deeply

In contrast, extroverts:

  • enjoy social settings
  • thrive around people
  • don’t need much alone time
  • aren’t afraid of risk
  • are outgoing and adaptable
  • prefer to talk out problems

Most people do not fit neatly into one category or another and likely have a mix of introverted and extroverted traits.

In modern times it’s common to use your Greek zodiac sign to help learn things about your personality type (or someone else’s). Your zodiac sign is determined by the sun’s position in the sky at the time of your birth.

There are 12 zodiac signs, but each sign fits into one of 4 categories. These categories are defined by the classical elements of fire, water, earth, and air. Each of these elements governs 3 zodiac signs:

  • Fire: Leo, Sagittarius, and Aries. Known for being bold, energetic, and passionate.
  • Air: Aquarius, Gemini, and Libra. Known for being social, communicative, and intellectual.
  • Water: Pisces, Scorpio, and Cancer. Known for being emotional and intuitive.
  • Earth: Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo. Known for being grounded and practical.

Some people believe that knowing your sign’s element can help you understand your nature and who you might be compatible with.

While there’s no real science to support the connection between zodiac signs and personality, a 2010 survey suggested that about 34% of respondents consider astrology personality types and information to be at least “sort of scientific.”

Is there a personality type system that does have scientific backing?

Most of the research looking into personality types finds that an individual’s personality is hard to put into a single box.

Humans are complex creatures, and many facets of our genetics, how we’re raised, and other life experiences can influence our personality. You can learn more in these articles:

Everyone has a unique personality, which is based on a complex combination of factors. The field of pop psychology has several different theories to categorize personality types and how they behave.

Some of the more popular evaluations are the MBTI, Type ABCD, the Enneagram model, Astrology, and Introvert vs. Extrovert.

While none of these personality type theories has solid scientific support, they may be useful in helping you understand more about yourself and how you might interact with others.