Which is the ultimate ALPHA male and most masculine personality type?

Alpha Male is defined by wikipedia as "in social animals, the individual in the community with the highest rank."

One thing clear from the definition is the reference to dominance (directiveness) in the social context. Extroverted Feeling (Fe) is the cognitive function that deals with influencing external dynamics with it's focus on the social setting (unlike Te which focuses on the structural setting), so guess who is going to be naturally best at playing the social game? That's right you guessed it Fe dominants - ENFJ's and ESFJ's - as this is the area where they derive their energy from and are most stimulated by - I would say ENFJ's in particular are most likely to come of as alpha male types as Ni gives them more of a unique edge.

What should be noted is that all personalities have the ability to appear directive (as we all have an external dynamics function that we have conscious use) and can appear as 'alpha males'', but some will find it more draining than others, depending on where the external dynamics function is situated in their hierarchy i.e perceivers will find it more draining to take charge, particularly introverted perceivers, as opposed to judgers, particularly extroverted judgers (Te and Fe dominants) who will be the most stimulated by taking charge of dynamics.

Which personality type is most likely to be interested in Myers-Briggs/Jung Theory?

My initial thinking was definitely one of the NF (Idealist) personalities – in The Art of Speed Reading People, Tieger mentions “for the philosophical idealists life is a journey of self-discovery – a perpetual search for meaning. Their mission is to understand as much about themselves and others as they possibly can, in order to achieve their potential” – is this not the essence of the MBTI/Jung Personality theory? Helping people understand themselves and others better.

But, lets look at it from a more segmented perspective, dealing with the 4 key preferences:

Introvert or Extroverts? Introverts are much more likely to be interested as they prefer introspecting, which is required to discover your personality type in the first place, and lets be honest there's a whole lot of reading, which many extroverts will find draining (they'd probably rather be amongst other people discussing it).

Intuitive or Sensors? Whilst MBTI does have a wide and growing range of practical applications, it’s very much theoretically based, which means Intuitive types are much more likely to be interested.

Thinkers or Feelers? Feelers tend to be more interested in personal analysis and human nature than thinkers who are generally more interested in impersonal analysis and things/objects.

Judgers or Perceivers? Perceivers are generally more likely to be curious and looking to expand their knowledge than judgers – so they’d be more likely to find out about or stumble upon MBTI in the first place.

So, that makes sense that an NF is the most likely to be interested in Myers Briggs/Jung Personality theory, but are INFP actually the most likely to be interested in it?

Well, PersonalityCafe forums seems to agree – out of all the forums for individual types INFP’s by far have the most posts - looking at it on 17/5/2010 they have 1574 threads and 40014 posts, the next highest being INFJ’s with 952 threads, 21053 posts followed by, ENFP in 3rd with 730 threads, 15404 posts.

Quick Personality Type Test

...only 2 questions!

1. My sense of identity and biggest strength is based on:

A) My original minded conceptual perspective of the world and strong visionary drive that pushes towards how things should be in the future (go to Q2)

B) My ability to directly influence the social environment through my understanding of social norms, nurturing and guiding people and ability to read and understand others (go to Q4)

C) My ability to weigh up new information coming, so I can make subjective judgements based on my own feelings, values and morals to develop my own understanding (go to Q3)

D) My ability to directly influence the external environment through my objective understanding of structures and systems, logical decision making and planning/scheduling (go to Q4)

E) My ability to weigh up new information coming in, so I can make subjective judgements based on my personal sense of logic to develop my own understanding (go to Q3)

F) My conservative perspective of the world based on what is known to have worked effectively for me from past experience and/or proven reliable over a long period of time for others. (go to Q2)

G) My engagement in and ability to process what is happening in the present which I perceive in terms of patterns/interconnected meanings/impressions/emerging possibilities (go to Q5)

H) My engagement in and ability to process what is happening in the present which I perceive in terms of the literal physical details present (go to Q5)

2. I am more interested in:

A) Structures and Systems (if you answered 1A, you are most likely an INTJ, if you answered 1F you are most likely an ISTJ)

B) Humanity and Values (if you answered 1A you are most likely an INFJ, if you answered 1F you are most likely an ISFJ)

3. I perceive this new information through:

A) Literal physical details (if you answered 1C previously you are most likely an ISFP, if you answered 1E you are most likely an ISTP)

B) Patterns/interconnected meanings/impressions/emerging possibilities if you answered 1your are most likely an (if you answered 1C previously you are most likely an INFP, if you answered 1E you are most likely an INTP)


4. I primarily direct using:

A) My internal predictive insights based on pattern and impressions (if you answered 1B previously you are most likely an ENFJ, if you answered 1D previously you are most likely an ENTJ)

B) What has proven to work effectively based on past experience or over a long period of time for others (if you answered 1B previously you are most likely an ESFJ, if you answered 1D previously you are most likely an ESTJ)

5. I sort through the new information I perceive based on:

A) My personal feelings and values (if you answered 1G previously you are most likely an ENFP, if you answered 1H previously you are most likely an ESFP)

B) My personal sense of logical understanding (if you answered 1G previously you are most likely an ENTP, if you answered 1H previously you are most likely an ESTP)