The new MBTI
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator has been largely discredited in terms of any explanatory force. And the Big Five personality traits test has basically the exact same issues.
It's time for a new test to show you your personality. Don't worry - I have you covered.
I'm proud to introduce the Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It is based on countless hours of hiking and immeasurable scientific research. As they say in the business, it is completely MECE - mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive. Everyone fits neatly into exactly one category. Of course, you can shift over time, but you'll always be in one. See below to learn more about where you fit in. Comment at the end with your type!
They say life is a journey. The Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy has taken this insight to the next level by defining personality types by how you are on a typical journey. A hike. It may be in the woods. It may be through the swamp. It may be up a mountain. But hikes share certain characteristics. You usually have a destination, either a summit, a body of water, or your starting point if it happens to be a hiking loop. You usually have something to see, both at the end and along the way.
When you read the descriptions below, see the one that fits you best when you're on a hike. (See the guiding questions if it's not obvious). That is your Hiker Personality Type (trademark pending), which applies to you in all situations in life. In the future, I will describe how these different personalities best interact with each other and what composition is necessary for the best teams. For now, take comfort in knowing you have a scientifically-backed personality type you can reply with when someone asks about your MBTI.
Type 1 - The Summit Seeker
This one should be obvious. You are a go-getter that sees each hike as an opportunity to compete against yourself. It's you vs. the hike - can you complete it? Faster than you have before? You rarely stop and smell the roses. You aren't here to notice the scenery around you. There's a destination you are supposed to get to and there's nothing that will come in the way of you getting there. You aren't overly competitive with others, just with yourself. It's about reaching the summit, not who gets there first.
Guiding questions - Do you find hikes as an opportunity to push yourself to your limits? Do you see the completion of the hike as the primary goal? Do you find yourself passing things others notice along the way?
Type 2 - The Tree Climber
The main difference between you and a Summit Seeker is you believe getting there first does matter, even if you may never outwardly admit it. You find yourself trying to be at the front of a hiking group. Trying to be the first at whatever your goal may be. To see an animal on the hike. To get to the destination. Or even the last to take a break. You like to define your own goals on the hike and you like to define them in a way that you can come out on top. You'll create mini-tasks on the hike, like climbing a tree. Whatever it is, you want to do it and you want to do it first and best.
Guiding questions - Do you view hiking as a competition? Do you want to be the one that finishes first? Do you find yourself creating mini-competitions along the way? Do you find yourself most comfortable at the front of a hiking group?
Type 3 - The Flower Picker
You are a very different type of hiker to the first two. You want to engage with the world around you. It's not about the destination, it's about the world around you along the way. You don't want to just see nature, you want to experience it. Hiking isn't a passive experience, it's an active one. At the zoo, you're the one tapping on the glass. You see flowers and you want to pick them. You see an animal and you want to feed it. You see a lake and you want to jump in. You're not here for the view, you're here for the full experience.
Guiding questions - Do you find the hike more fulfilling than the destination? Are you happy to stop along the way for whatever catches your fancy? When you see something that excites you, is your instinct to get closer and interact with it however you can?
Type 4 - The Bird Watcher
As a bird watcher, you view hiking as an opportunity to immerse yourself in a world that is not your own. Like a Flower Picker, you are not focused on the destination of the hike. What separates you is that you believe the place around you should be treated with respect. It's not your place to interact with nature, only to observe. You focus your efforts on seeing the world around you in all its beauty, from the detailed specifics to the big picture. You may have a competitive spirit, but it manifests in how well you notice. Whatever the hike, you want to engage your senses while minimizing your impact.
Guiding questions - Do you find the hike more fulfilling than the destination? Do you spend your time looking around and noticing things big or small? When you see something exciting, are you happy just to observe?
There will be further research released over the coming years, but this should serve as an initial guide to your Hiker Personality Type (trademark pending) and allow you to better understand yourselves and the people around you. Again, feel free to comment with your type below.