Although the term “personality” is generally used to describe how a person acts and thinks, this module uses a more narrow definition of the word. In this module, “personality” is a core set of characteristics of a person that is intrinsic that is born with. Generally speaking, personality does not change in time, although behavior does. This behavioral change is due to the acquisition of knowledge, experience and training.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a commonly used method to classify personalities. There are many free MBTI online tests available. One, for example, is available at http://16personalities.com.
An MBTI consists of four letters.
Here is a quick break down of the four letters.
This is also known as “favorite world” or “comfort zone”. An introvert naturally direct attention inward, where an extravert naturally direct attention outward. This letter is, therefore, either an “E” for extravert, or an “I” for introvert.
This is also known as “information” or “input”. This is how a person naturally gets data to process. The two options are “N” for intuition and “S” for sensing.
“S” is easier to explain, so we will start with this one. “S” means a person naturally uses raw sensory data as the primary input for the conscious mind to process. Sensory includes the physical sensory of sight, sound, touch, smell, taste. Sensory also includes bodily sensations from organs. Last, but not least, sensory also includes the memory of sensing. In other words, the use of experience, history and facts also contribute to “S”.
“N” is a little harder to explain. Although intuition is a fairly well known word, it has a specific meaning in this context. Intuition is the result of unconscious abstraction of raw sensory data. The keyword here is “unconscious”. “N” means a person is leaning more on the “gut feeling” or “impression”. Note the “gut feeling” or “impression” is still a fairly low level type of information and it pops up in a person’s mind “for no particular reasons”.
A judging function is how a person consciously evaluate the input from his/her perceiving function. “Evaluate” or “judge” is a conscious way of attaching a high level meaning or value to the low level input.
The two judging functions are “F” for feeling and “T” for thinking.
“F” focuses on personal emotions, values and worths. This generally ends up with a high level answer of good/bad, like/dislike, accept/reject, comfort/hurt and happy/sad.
“T” focuses on logic, truth and correctness. This generally ends up with a high level answer of true/false, correct/incorrect, yes/no and makes sense/irrational.
Structure is how a person chooses to act, or just chooses in general. When encountered with a choice, how does a person pick one of the options?
A “J” (for judging) person makes use of a judging function (“F” or “T”) to make a decision. A “FJ” person, for example, will make a choice based on which option is more comforting. A “TJ” person will make a choice based on which option is more correct.
A “P” (for perceiving) person makes use of a perceiving function (“N” or “S”) to make a decision. A “NxP” person relies on intuition to make choices. A “SxP” person relies on sensory or experience to make choices.
While MBTI is definitely useful for aptitude evaluation, Jung’s function stack is even more refined for this purpose. You can find MBTI to function stack mapping using a search engine, so the rather tedious process to do the conversion is not discussed here.
In Jung’s function stack, a person has four functions that are consciously aware. In decreasing awareness to the consciousness:
Each function is a two letter combination. The first letter is F, T, N or S for the perceiving and judging functions already discussed in sections 2.1.2 and 2.1.3. The second letter is “e” or “i” for the attitude already discussed in section 2.1.1.
Computer science is really a branch of mathematics. Furthermore, programming involves the abstraction of details of operations. As a result, the ability to abstract is important. In addition, mathematics and programming also involve most logic and the analysis there of.
As a result, the thinking (T) and intuition (N) functions are particularly helpful in computer science. In MBTI notation, if a personality type has N and T in it, the personality suggests a computer science aptitude. In Jung’s function stack, if T and N are the dominant and anxiliary, aptitude is also suggested.
What about the other letters? How does attitude (E or I) or structure (J or P) affect aptitude?
This is where Jung’s function stack is more useful for explanations. Let’s take a quick look at the four possible dominant functions when MBTI has NT has the two middle letters.
Ni is introverted intuition. Ni suggests a strong ability to subconciously make connections between existing pieces of data and information. This is generally known as “insightful” to most people.
Ni dominant has to pair with Te auxiliary. Te auxiliary helps to objectively evaluate and “post-process” the results of deep intuition. Te also provides a way to utilize the insights from Ni to affect the external world
The Ni-Te combination is found in INTJ. Within the computer science field, INTJ is particularly well suited to hardware-oriented careers (due to the Te). INTJ is also better suited as engineers as opposed to theorists due to the Te. Elon Musk and Bill Gates are INTJs.
Ne, on the other hand, is extraverted intuition. This is the ability to subsciously generate new possibilities from existing ideas, concepts and impressions.
Ne dominant has to pair with Ti auxiliary. Ti auxiliary attempts to integrate ideas generated by Ne into a consistent internal logic framework. In other words, Ti can act as a filter so that some “noise” from Ne can be controled.
The Ne-Ti combination makes a powerful brainstormer to come up with truly unique ideas and solutions. The Ne-Ti function stack is found in the ENTP personality. Because Ne is dominant, ENTPs are more of “big idea generators” and visionaries than engineers. Steve Wozniak is an ENTP.
Ti is introverted thinking. This suggests a strong tendency to maintain and strengthen an internal logic framework to explain the outer world. In other words, Ti tends to boil things down to the core logical essence.
Ti dominant pairs with Ne auxiliary. Ne as a support function generates possible ideas to explain things.
The Ti-Ne combination is found in the INTP personality. This combination is particularly well suited to come up with new theories that are revolutionary. Most people think that the real Alan Turing (not as portraited in Imitation Game) was an INTP. Other INTPs include Paul Allen and Larry Page.
Te is a function that emphasizes applying logic to act on the external world (as opposed to explaining the external world). As such, Te is more driven by objective metrics that are observable and measurable. This also means Te dominant is more goal driven.
Te dominant pairs with Ni auxiliary. Ni as a support function offers its service to see “deep” connections of given objective data.
The Te-Ni combination is found in the ENTJ personality. Interestingly, there are not many famous ENTJ people in computer science! A possible explanation is that the ENTJ personality is also known as the “commander” personality. As such, ENTJs often find careers and paths other than computer science to be more rewarding.
This article suggests a connection between personality types and the computer science aptitude. The value of aptitude is up to each individual to determine!