Friends and Personality
What personality type are you attracted to in your friendships?
From what I can remember my elementary school best friend was probably an ESTJ, my junior high best friend an ENFP, my high school and college good friends were ISTJs (I’m guessing this is what Katie is), ENFPs and INFJs. I don’t know if I can come up with some pattern about what this means about me, and really doubt if I actually want to systematise something as personal as friendships, but I know the things that have attracted me to certain friends have tended to be some sort of depth of personality and interiority, to know and share deep thoughts (this often means that this potential friend is an Introvert — likes to be alone and think of things — or at least an intuitive (N) and/or Feeling person. I’ve always preferred discussing the personal over the abstract, but do enjoy a bit of abstraction thrown in for good measure — and of course, to prevent too much navel-gazing.
It’s pretty pathetic: I don’t seem to have much time for those who aren’t introspective to some degree; I abolutely cannot fathom a personality that is all exterior. I wish I had more grace than that (maybe I just have too much J!). I also tend to gravitate towards those that ride a fine line between iNtuition and Sensing and Feeling and Thinking. I have enough rational logic (although Bryce might beg to differ as my common sense category is woefully short-shifted) as I’ve grown up to want those who can evaluate their feelings without running away within them, enough of a grounded base in more factual things than being tossed around with every trend of (insert appropriate adjective here) fashion. I have always been attracted to extroverts because they’re so engaging and fun to be around; I like being friends with Ps but often the flakiness can really get to me. But my best friends have tended to be those with whom I feel comfortable to share my big ideas (or insignificant ones); and this comfortable factor usually stems from intuiting that a potential friend also likes to dream, analyse, be creative and reflective. That’s my 2 cents; feel free to share yours. 
April 20th, 2005 at 5:12 pm
You were close on me! I usually score as an ISFJ, but I do think I ride the line between that and ISTJ.
April 20th, 2005 at 5:29 pm
It’s interesting - although I am an ENFP many of those scores are moderate. I like to reflect and to be alone and to be creative and am bored with small talk and want to talk on a deeper level - how does all of that relate to my Meyers Briggs classification. Many of by best friends are I’s but I don’t the rest of their scores, and that would be interesting to know.
April 21st, 2005 at 10:52 pm
Katie, I wasn’t totally sold on the ISTJ thing for you, so I’m glad you’re somewhere inbetween!
April 22nd, 2005 at 5:26 pm
My best friend is an ISFP; most of the guys I’ve been strongly attracted to are ENFJs; my roommate’s a ENTJ, which has been very, very interesting. I’m an INFJ myself. Mmmm, introspection.