[Sawa Hinuyo]

I thought this could be of interest.

Can any from the perceptive felloe members here presume which is J.K Rowling's (yes, that one writer - I guess she may ring a few bells) MBTI personality type is?

I'll post my onw assumption later.
Antecipated thanks to everyone..!

[Serpent]

She can only be INFJ.

I have read the Harry Potter book religiously since they came out (I'm almost ashamed to say I must have read every individual book close to 20 times) and from the books we can tell that she is xNxJ. No sensor could write Harry Potter. Their style is completley different. If you look at the Agatha Christie-like plotting and twists (seriously just read Goblet of Fire) she is obviously very J in her writing. From interviews and documentaries (J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life) she is obviously Ixxx. I somehow always took her for an introvert, but can't remember why.

Finally comes the xxFx. She admits that Harry Potter was one big attempt to take back her broken childhood and we can tell that her messed up relationship with her father made her fill the story with idealized father-figures (Hagrid, Dumbledore, Sirius, Arthur etc. though none were Harry's actual dad[s]; James and Vernon who were both douche-bags). Her writing often seems very F and although I can't be sure about this one she doesn't strike me as an INTJ (nor does Harry Potter seem like it was written by one). She said she cried and cried and cried when she killed Sirius. I don't know if an INTJ would be sobbing about a character they killed.

I have been sure about this for a long time. She must be INFJ. I also belive Joss Whedon might be INFJ and if characters that are so real and so cool that feel like they exist are anything to go by (like in Harry Potter and Firefly...some people would say Buffy although I haven't got around to watching it yet), that would seem to me like a typical feature of INFJ writing.

INFJs are highly intuitive, empathetic and dedicated listeners[...]hence the nicknames Confidant, Counselor or Empath. INFJs are intensely private and deeply committed to their beliefs.

Just watch J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life and tell me that doesn't fit.

Verdict: INFJ

[Sawa Hinuyo]

Hmmm - yea, I must agree with your assessment.

Thanks for the detailed explanation.
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THough, for some reason, I look at her, and can´t help but pinpoint her as an E...

[JulietCapulet]

Yes maybe INFJ or ENFJ...

[Anhedonic Lake]

INFJ seems most likely.

[DuValK]

She comes off as an INFJ to me.

[darynthe]

I am so surprised of your veredict. She seems to me like the ultimate Sensor. The level of detail she goes into is impossible for any N. Plus all her characters are sensors too with one or two exceptions (Dumbly and Snape)

The rest of the type I can't tell for sure she looks like a T to me though.

[Serpent]

I am least sure about the T/F. She might be T, but I got the feeling she was F in how she talks about her life. I also think she fits the INFJ description. She gets millions of letters every year and a lot of them are asking for money. She takes time every day to read her letters (randomly because she can't possibly read them all) and then takes time to respond. She even gives money when she sees fit. Sitting inside every day, reading letters from fans, and responding/giving money seems very INFJ to me. She is a writer who wrote a book that opened the world of reading to millions of children and many adults as well. She doesn't owe any of us anything, if anything we owe her. Still she takes the burden of being her seriously and gives as much of herself to her fans as she can whilst having a family of her own. That screams INFJ to me.

I do not agree that Ns can't go into detail, and she might be balanced. I have a pretty balanced N/T and can both be future oriented, imaginative, inventive, theoretical and concrete, realistic and factual. She is definitely Ixxx.

INTJs are confident in their skills and knowledge, self-assured, and imaginitive; their exceptional problem-solving skills make them ideal architects, auto mechanics, and tools of the evil empire. While it requires the driving will to conquer of an ENTJ to imagine the Death Star and the evil genius of an ENTP to invent its devastating weapons systems, the skill and technical prowess of the INTJ is what makes the whole thing work.

-
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I know that is meant as a joke, but as you can see INTJ's are often noted for their imagination and problem-solving, andbut "the INTJ is what makes the whole thing work" which in the situation mentioned would be impossible without attention to detail and grounding in reality. I know from an INFP perspective it might seem far off, but attention to detail and grounding in reality comes in part from S, T and/or J. INTJ scores two out of three. INFP: none (which is what makes you so special
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).

What you see in HP as sensor-like is JKR's strong J. That's at least what I think. I just don't think an ISTJ of ISFJ would have a hope in heck of writing HP (I know an ISTJ and an ISFJ and they think writing a school-paper is beyond hard because "[they] just can't think of what to write"). As to ESFJ and ESTJ? Come on. HP has a lot of detail and is a rich world, but it is nothing if not imaginative, inventive and let's not forget how the whole concept for HP just fell into her head "intuition-style" when she was on the train. It is also partially based on playacting she did as a child when she and her friends pretended they were wizards and witches. That sounds like N behavior to me.

[Minerva]

Originally Posted by Serpent To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

What you see in HP as sensor-like is JKR's strong J. That's at least what I think. I just don't think an ISTJ of ISFJ would have a hope in heck of writing HP (I know an ISTJ and an ISFJ and they think writing a school-paper is beyond hard because "[they] just can't think of what to write"). As to ESFJ and ESTJ? Come on. HP has a lot of detail and is a rich world, but it is nothing if not imaginative, inventive and let's not forget how the whole concept for HP just fell into her head "intuition-style" when she was on the train. It is also partially based on playacting she did as a child when she and her friends pretended they were wizards and witches. That sounds like N behavior to me.

Basing your idea on ONE ISFJ and ISTJ...

I have no problem with being creative and imaginative. It comes quite easily and naturally to me. I never wonder what to write. There are 2 fantasy novels jingling around in my head and their entire plots have been figured out. I started "manuscripting" one and it has crossed 70 000 words and it is not even 1/3 done. Of course it isn't an anthology but when it is based on a British Education system when there is a story every year, is it really that difficult to stretch a story? HP's problems like the academic classes become increasingly more difficult and complex. There is also no indication that the author knew all the twists and turns of the plot before putting pen to paper at the start of each book. No one is that good and no one is expecting her to have it all figured out. Furthermore, I do not need to go into the fact that people (not ESXJs) who use S (Si or Se) as their primary cognitive function are monsters when it comes to rich detail. But I am not disputing the fact that she is INFJ... I just don't see the validity of the quote material above.

As for things falling into her head... Well I am an avid reader of Fairy Tales and I was rather disappointed with the HP series. In fact I had given it up before reaching the end. Too many things I have met before. All her creatures and basic principles have been met before over and over again. Witches, flying brooms, unicorns, school for talented wizards, flying cars, moving tree, evil and merciless wizard who craves world domination. I mean which evil warlock doesn't want to be King of the World? Sorry, but it was rather redundant. For example the Invisibility Cloak was seen in Grimm's Twelve Dancing Princesses.

Maybe I am being unusually harsh because I have read hundreds of fairy tales, myths and legends from across the globe, but there are many young people (not pointing fingers at anyone here) who have not and when I hear them talk about the things in HP and them being so creative and original I want to vomit because they have been written about for hundreds of years. Is this the limit of our creativity?

[Serpent]

Ah, I didn't write that very well. I meant a sensor couldn't write HP as it is. I feel like Tolkien had a much more sensor-like approach to fantasy (though people say he was INFP last I saw).

No offense meant to sensors basic writing skills.
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[darynthe]

Originally Posted by Serpent To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I am least sure about the T/F. She might be T, but I got the feeling she was F in how she talks about her life. I also think she fits the INFJ description. She gets millions of letters every year and a lot of them are asking for money. She takes time every day to read her letters (randomly because she can't possibly read them all) and then takes time to respond. She even gives money when she sees fit. Sitting inside every day, reading letters from fans, and responding/giving money seems very INFJ to me. She is a writer who wrote a book that opened the world of reading to millions of children and many adults as well. She doesn't owe any of us anything, if anything we owe her. Still she takes the burden of being her seriously and gives as much of herself to her fans as she can whilst having a family of her own. That screams INFJ to me. I do not agree that Ns can't go into detail, and she might be balanced. I have a pretty balanced N/T and can both be future oriented, imaginative, inventive, theoretical and concrete, realistic and factual. She is definitely Ixxx. INTJs are confident in their skills and knowledge, self-assured, and imaginitive; their exceptional problem-solving skills make them ideal architects, auto mechanics, and tools of the evil empire. While it requires the driving will to conquer of an ENTJ to imagine the Death Star and the evil genius of an ENTP to invent its devastating weapons systems, the skill and technical prowess of the INTJ is what makes the whole thing work. - To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. I know that is meant as a joke, but as you can see INTJ's are often noted for their imagination and problem-solving, andbut "the INTJ is what makes the whole thing work" which in the situation mentioned would be impossible without attention to detail and grounding in reality. I know from an INFP perspective it might seem far off, but attention to detail and grounding in reality comes in part from S, T and/or J. INTJ scores two out of three. INFP: none (which is what makes you so special To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ). What you see in HP as sensor-like is JKR's strong J. That's at least what I think. I just don't think an ISTJ of ISFJ would have a hope in heck of writing HP (I know an ISTJ and an ISFJ and they think writing a school-paper is beyond hard because "[they] just can't think of what to write"). As to ESFJ and ESTJ? Come on. HP has a lot of detail and is a rich world, but it is nothing if not imaginative, inventive and let's not forget how the whole concept for HP just fell into her head "intuition-style" when she was on the train. It is also partially based on playacting she did as a child when she and her friends pretended they were wizards and witches. That sounds like N behavior to me.

I don't see the relation with your INTJ quote to be honest. I don't see INTJs writing HP and I never said you guys weren't realists or capable of accomplishing great plans. They do and that has nothing to do with it.

One thing is that you are capable of dealing with detail and stuff and other to reach that level of naturality in doing it and excel in it like Rowling talent does.

And it is funny you are accusing me of calling her S because I am an INFP and therefore not grounded in reality. All types use all functions in different measures and I don't need to be an S to have an approximate idea of what it is like by the descriptions I read online and my daily contact with those delightful types.

In fact what I see that usually people try to type everybody their own type (usually INTJ here). To think that anybody has to be an N to make something of quality or a work of imagination is probably a cognitive bias. Just MHO.

I will give you even a bigger reason why I think she is an S. Her sense of humor. You cannot really imagine your way to an S sense of humor. Rowling's world is filled with the S sense of humor. INFJs humor is dry and complex and slightly twisted. Rowling's is a far cry from that. Hers is simple and physical and even a little vulgar. Sensors will tell you joke in a way to make you laugh like crazy, it is natural to them. N people are not such plain jokers as far I have seen. Their stuff is based on double entendres and obscure pop culture references.

[dontmesswithme]

	Originally Posted by Serpent To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Ah, I didn't write that very well. I meant a sensor couldn't write HP as it is. I feel like Tolkien had a much more sensor-like approach to fantasy (though people say he was INFP last I saw). No offense meant to sensors basic writing skills. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I don't think anybody could conjure up and write about the monumental Good vs. Evil and Love and Loss coursing through The Lord of the Rings quite like an INFP could. Tolkien was INFP.

I also think that J.K. Rowling is INFJ. Her imagination and ideas and way of speaking, in interviews, remind me very much of my mother (an extreme INFJ "gone bad", unfortunately).

[Serpent]

	Originally Posted by darynthe To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	INFJs humor is dry and complex and slightly twisted. Rowling's is a far cry from that.

But JKR is a really big Monty Python fan (hence John Cleese in the movies) and they are known for being dry and slightly twisted. Several people have noted the likeness of HP-humor with Monty Python (although I think it's more of a "WOW; British humor lol!"-factor coming from Americans).

I have read quality works which I assumed were written by sensors. I just felt N-ness coming off of HP specifically. But I'm still really interested in your categorizing. Which other works do you consider S and which do you think are N? I think that would be telling of your own cognitive bias (hey, typing other people is basically cognitive bias in itself, but it's still fun
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). I admit I have some cognitive bias, but I don't think that is why I think JKR is N.

Oh and even though many of the characters in HP are sensors, there are not only two exceptions.

Snape- INTJ
Dumbledore - INTJ
Tom M. Riddle - INTJ/Psychopath
Igor Karkaroff - INTJ
Lucius Malfoy - ENTJ

Arthur Weasley - ENTP
Sirius Black - ENFP
Luna Lovegood - INFP

etc.

[darynthe]

Originally Posted by Serpent To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

But JKR is a really big Monty Python fan (hence John Cleese in the movies) and they are known for being dry and slightly twisted. Several people have noted the likeness of HP-humor with Monty Python (although I think it's more of a "WOW; British humor lol!"-factor coming from Americans). I have read quality works which I assumed were written by sensors. I just felt N-ness coming off of HP specifically. But I'm still really interested in your categorizing. Which other works do you consider S and which do you think are N? I think that would be telling of your own cognitive bias (hey, typing other people is basically cognitive bias in itself, but it's still fun To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ). I admit I have some cognitive bias, but I don't think that is why I think JKR is N. Oh and even though many of the characters in HP are sensors, there are not only two exceptions. Snape- INTJ Dumbledore - INTJ Tom M. Riddle - INTJ/Psychopath Igor Karkaroff - INTJ Lucius Malfoy - ENTJ Arthur Weasley - ENTP Sirius Black - ENFP Luna Lovegood - INFP etc.

I don't agree with Sirious, Arthur, and Dumbledore. Malfoy you seem to be right. Karkaroff to small a character to decide.

Anyway, I can't think off my head many characters I have typed. Let me see, the protagonists of the Fountainhead are all INTJs. Mr Darcy too. Lizzy Bennet INFJ. Scarlett OHara ESFJ.

In general I would say works such as that of Ayn Rand are definetly N. Ditto Jane Austen. I would say a sensor to be Tolkien (very boring too).

But I was thinking about what you say of N-ness coming from Harry Potter. It is true somehow. But it is because it is so ambigous that you project your strong N there. It happened to me as I used to be a HUGE fan. I spent like 3 years submerged into the study fo the books and just look at how much N I thought it was: I wrote this essay on it:
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If you read it you will see that I thought differently before. But after trying to read book 6 and I think I opened book 7 (or not) I realized all I thought was just either unconsciously coming from the book or just my Intuition working overtime. Nothing of that was meant by Rowling.

[Serpent]

I'll read your essay as soon as I finish this post.
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I must admit I ripped off someone else on Sirius and Arthur without giving it much thought, but I am sure Dumbledore is INTJ/ENTJ. I was just wondering which MBTI you assigned them?

[WyohKnott]

I would also have to type her as INFJ, much as I hate to be so repetitive. INFP might also be a possibility.

I - As I recall from interviews and such, she requires alone time. This one's pretty obvious.
N - Darynthe, I can see where you're coming from with you point about the level of detail, but I have to disagree: all the books are ultimately focused on "the big picture", with some "mysteries" continuing through several books. Yes, they are supported by tiny details, but that's the style of mystery (Agatha Christie- like) I think she was emulating.
F - A major theme of the books is of the power of love/friendship triumphing over pure intellectual knowledge and skill. I can't make a stronger argument than that.
J - This one is more difficult for me, but I think the way in which she wrote the books, with all the careful planning and all, signifies J more than P.

[darynthe]

	Originally Posted by Serpent To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I'll read your essay as soon as I finish this post. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. I must admit I ripped off someone else on Sirius and Arthur without giving it much thought, but I am sure Dumbledore is INTJ/ENTJ. I was just wondering which MBTI you assigned them?

I think Sirius and Arthur are sensors. Especially Arthur. For Dumbledore he is either INFJ or INFP, IMHO. He is just too quirky for being INTJ.

[Serpent]

Yes that is what many people think, but that is only the evolved-INTJ, 116 year old Dumbledore Harry knows.

The real Dumbledore is a very ambitious, power-hungry, ego-tripping, "For The Greater Good" INTJ as we learn in Deathly Hallows. He also manipulated Harry all his life because Harry was integral to his plan to defeat Voldemort. Of course his alignment is and has always been Lawful Good, but he is(/was) a scheming, glory hogging INTJ. He mellowed a lot with age as we see, but he is still very much INTJ in how

( Show Spoiler )

he has an intricate plan set in motion that basically single-handedly defeats Voldemort after his death.

A lot of people were really pissed that JKR "ruined" Dumbledore in Deathly Hallows, but I (naturally) LOVED that she revealed he was one of the most badass, balls-to-the-walls INTJs I have seen in fiction. I can go deeper into it if necessary. It also turned out that Dumbledore did most of the heavy lifting in the effort to stop Voldemort which in essence makes the big-picture story of HP; "INTJ vs. INTJ" kind of like "Spy vs. Spy". :D

[lupinskitten]

I don't really have an opinion on this (but am finding the conversation very interesting)... however, I do want to address this:

	I don't know if an INTJ would be sobbing about a character they killed.

I think that depends on the INTJ/author, because as a novelist, I have cried many times when killing off characters that I have become particularly fond of. Some INTJ's are more emotional than others -- so simply crying over a character you were forced to kill for the sake of the plot doesn't mean she couldn't be an INTJ. (And she probably isn't, as you have pointed out.)

*shrug*

PS: I think what she did with Dumbledore was brilliant. I was shaken by it at first (honestly, more startled by her off-the-record statement later on that she saw him as a homosexual... that kind of took me by surprise) but I think it makes Dumbledore all the greater because he DID struggle with evil. Who is better? The man who never endures temptation and always chooses good, or the man who is tempted to follow a darker path and manages to maintain his goodness? I love Dumbledore for that -- and many other -- reasons. He was not without his faults, and that is what made him human -- he put Harry at risk A LOT. And yes, it was for Harry's own betterment and to take out Voldemort, but all the same... some of his choices were risky. Way risky.

"Harry Potter" is a great and in many ways gutsy series. It certainly stepped up the level of "childrens' entertainment." Can't wait for the next movie, although they better not botch it by leaving out Important Stuff this time. *sigh*

[sircockburn]

	Originally Posted by WyohKnott To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	F - A major theme of the books is of the power of love/friendship triumphing over pure intellectual knowledge and skill. I can't make a stronger argument than that.

Yes, but you have to do that with children's books. It makes kids happy for some ridiculous reason.

Meaning more book sales.... $$$

[Sawa Hinuyo]

Well...
To be fully honest, I really haven't read much of the books (pretty much a few pages of the first volume); and I've only seen glimpses of certain films.

Not trying to pejorate any fan in particular -- much the contrary. It's just that the series, for some reason, never had much pull factor for myself. Which makes me a weird case.
The reason for my interest in the lady-author, to whose this topic pertains, is due to her... -- simply magnificent -- personal life story of magnificent success.

I have seen some footage of her interviews in YOUTUBE - On 2nd impression, she does strikes as an 'I'; still can't decide on the 'N' or 'S' sunder (perhaps leaning towards 'S' though); she seems like having a well developed 'F' side...
I don't know. I am very unsure of what to make of her.

[Narphoenix]

Harry's ENFP. Dumby's ENTJ. Hermy's ENFJ.

S's would make at most 1 N hero. She's N.

[aku chi]

	Originally Posted by Narphoenix To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Harry's ENFP. Dumby's ENTJ. Hermy's ENFJ. S's would make at most 1 N hero. She's N.

Where did you get that from? I've heard Harry convincingly described as an ISFP. Hermione doesn't seem to be consistently portrayed, making a shift from ISTJ (very clear in the first book) to INFJ throughout the series. Dumbledore seems to be an INXJ; I've heard good cases for INTJ and INFJ. I'm particularly baffled that you think these three characters are extroverted (especially Dumbledore and Harry).

As for Ms. Rowling, it seems that she has a strong preference for Fi, so I'd place my bets on IXFP. This would make Ne/Si or Se/Ni her auxilary and tertiary functions, respectively. Either pairing is possible in my eyes.

[ktgrey]

Well, I guess maybe other people are better at determining someone's type than me but I can't imagine trying to type someone based off reading their books or interviews. I can't even type members of my family.

Am I in the minority here or does anyone else think that there's simply not enough evidence?

[sircockburn]

	Originally Posted by ktgrey To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Well, I guess maybe other people are better at determining someone's type than me but I can't imagine trying to type someone based off reading their books or interviews. I can't even type members of my family. Am I in the minority here or does anyone else think that there's simply not enough evidence?

There's not enough evidence to conclusively determine her type "once and for all."

All we can do is speculate. Since we're supposed to use our behavior/thought processes to determine our MBTI type, observation and her writings are not a bad way to guess. However, there's the risk for typing a false persona though.