I love the Myers-Briggs personality type indicator (MBTI). In fact, I have a written an entire book about MBTI and Greek mythology.
So when I saw a link to a blog post about MBTI and sorting personalities into Harry Potter houses, I immediately clicked.
And the results of my research are below.
The premise of this blog post is that there are four houses in Hogwarts School (Griffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff) and sixteen basic MBTI personality types. So naturally, four personality types should go well with each of the houses.
So far, so good. Although I would say that personality types of human beings are not so easily sorted into quarters, I'm willing to see what types the blog post picked out for each house.
Griffindor: According to the blog post and the Harry Potter fan wiki, Griffindor values bravery, daring, nerve and chivalry. Now, I will tell you, who doesn't value this and want to be part of it? I, an INFP, would love to be part of Griffindor. I am not exactly that brave or daring, but I like being around people who are, and in fact if I were around such types, I think I could muster up more bravery or daring than I otherwise might.
Unfortunately, INFPs are not allowed into Griffindor. That is the house for the ENFJ, ESFP, ESFJ, and INFJ. All these types are really my favorite people. And they tend to be quite brave and daring. I would love to be in this house.
Slytherin: This house values ambition, cunning, leadership, and resourcefulness. All things to which I am allergic. And I am quite glad INFPs are not allowed into this house, either. Slytherin admits ENTJ, ENTP, ESTJ, and ESTP. All of whom mostly drive me crazy. This is a lovely place to warehouse all people who don't have a sensitive bone in their bodies. I say, Vive la Slytherine. Far away from me.
Ravenclaw: I have never understood the existence of the other two houses in Harry Potter, since I see the first two as rivals and therefore all you really need for a good story, but nevertheless, they are here and they have values. Ravenclaw values intelligence, creativity, knowledge, and wit. Here is another bingo for me. I like all of these things. Sometimes Ravenclaw might get a bit nerdy for me, but the creativity would redeem that. Hey, allow an INFP into Ravenclaw? Nope, no chance. Only INTP, INTJ, ISTP, and ENFP get in. Humph. That would be a fun group to be in. With all the introverts geeking out by themselves, you'd have the ENFPs trying to get us out of our shells and having fun. Perhaps the ENFPs would be a bit exhausted doing that, but they'd have a good time with it.
Hufflepuff: And now, the deal breaker. Finally we come to the blog post's preferred home for the INFP, the house that always struck me as needing to have a mascot that was a cloud or a bubble. Hufflepuff's values-- hard work, patience, justice, and loyalty-- are not nearly as inspiring to me as Griffindor's. I mean, I'm not against any of this, but every one of these values is learned for me rather than natural.
And just look who I'm paired with: ISTJ, ISFJ, and ISFP. Pardon me, but... blah. Four sets of introverts all ignoring each other? No other intuitives besides the INFP with whom to have a deep conversation? A relentless insistence on the concrete world, service, doing the right thing just because?
Well, the blog post says, INFPs are "very loyal and believe very strongly in justice. They fit very well into everything the Hufflepuff house stands for."
No, child, no. INFPs are creative, deep thinkers, and idealists. We go crazy when we're with people who don't think mainly towards the big picture.
We INFPs are not going to be sorted into a bin that doesn't suit us just because of symmetry.
So now, the adjustment.
By the way, All tl;dr types must get off the train at this stop.
If we are going to say that around 25 percent of Hogwarts students must go into each house, and that furthermore (for the sake of argument) Hogwarts students reflect the personality distribution of the general public (I don't agree with this, but still), then we must take into account the frequency of each personality type and group them so that around 25 percent go into each house AND the personality types are compatible with the house's values.
(BTW, To do this, we will need, unfortunately, to violate the "four personality type" rule for each house. But I think it works out anyway.)
At present, according to the blog post, Griffindor would have 24.8 percent of Hogwart's students, based on the MBTI Foundation website of frequency of personality types. Slytherin would have 18 percent, Ravenclaw 18.9 percent, and lo and behold, Hufflepuff would have the balance, a whopping 38.3 percent.
So that's right out.We need to change things.
For Griffindor, things work out nicely. We will put ENFJ (2.5 percent of the general population) and ESFP (8.4), both fearless types, with the ISFJ (13.8), who are very helpful, sensitive supports to those who need to do daring deeds. Let's add the "squirrel with a bazooka" INFJs, who are absolute rocks, and that gives us 26.3 percent.
For the resourceful leaders, Slytherin, the original four types are perfect for this house, but as they make only 18 percent, we need at least one more type to up the numbers. That type would be the ISTP (5.4), who are quiet but effective risk-takers and rule-breakers. That would give Slytherin 23.4 percent, a little low, but then, they would think they are rare and can do more with less.
Ravenclaw, the intelligent knowledge seekers, would count INTP (3.3) as charter members of that group. ENFPs (8.1) are witty and intelligent, and the ISFP (8.8), are quiet, thorough observers. Here also would be the new and more compatible home for the INFP (4.4).
(If I can't be with the bold, daring types, at least put me with the intelligent and witty ones.)
All told, 23.6 percent. This house, with all its perceiving types, wouldn't end up getting a lot done, but think of the fun they'd have on deadline night. Quite a party with the ENFPs livening things up.
Hufflepuff, the loyal, patient ones interested in justice, will get by with 3 types: ESFJ (12.3), ISTJ (11.6), and the INTJ (2.1). INTJs are great leaders with a thirst for justice; ESFJs excellent middle-managers who are good with people; ISTJs perfect foot soldiers for the agenda laid out by the INTJ. That makes a total of 26 percent.
And that's that. Not exactly symmetrical, but much more compatible AND distributed more evenly.
Not that you needed that, but you're welcome anyway.
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