The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality test to determine how an individual perceives the world and makes decisions. Through a series of questions, the test determines if a person is:
– Extroverted (E) vs. Introverted (I)
– Sensing (S) vs. Intuitive (N)
– Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)
– Judgment (J) vs. Perception (P)
These results are a broken down a series of letters so that people can determine where they are on the personality test. When I worked for the Writing Center, everyone took the MBTI and conversations revolved around who was a ENFP and who was an ISTP. Honestly, I had no clue what was what, so I was a little lost in terms of what everyone was talking about. There were too many letters for me to keep up with and ultimately, I’m not a big fan of a test where there is no right answer.
How can you hate him? He's George Michael!
Yeah, I’m the kind of person who reads a magazine’s personality type and flips to the answers to figure out how best to answer the quiz. Otherwise, I will overthink my answers on these types of tests or I will imagine what I think should be the right answer rather than answering questions honestly with guy reactions. Even after taking the test, I wonder if I answered the questions “correctly” because, in my mind, there is a “right or wrong” personality. Remember the episode of Arrested Development where George Michael is taking the eye test and can’t decide on “1 or 2”? That’s me.
With all of this in mind, I am suggesting here today that we should throw out the MBIT in favor of a simpler personality test; the TMNTPT or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Personality Test.
We're just your average, everyday, ethnically diverse cast!
Rationale: Cartoons have always been about diverse casts of characters to reach the largest number of viewers (Captain Planet being the perfect example of overkill on this concept), but the problem with most cartoons is that they revolve around essentially human leads for kids to relate to. Take, the Real Ghostbusters, for example. The personalities were great, but not too terribly defined. Each character had specific characteristics, to be sure, but none of them were so over the top as to create a character type (or an operational word for our purposes would be actant).
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers is another example of ill-defined actants. Sure, Billy was the nerd of the group, but were any of the characters really defined in any way other than by weapon, Zord or color?
Then, there was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. These heroes in a half-shell weren’t human, so they couldn’t be related to by looks, so it was up to personality for kids to connect with. Of all cartoons, the TMNT had the most defined and diverse series of actants to the point of even announcing those character types in the theme song! Therefore, it stands to reason that of all the cartoons one could choose as a litmus test on personality, TMNT is the perfect one.
Experiment: Go watch any TMNT movie or the cartoon (the cartoon is probably preferred in this case because the turtles’ character types are more clearly defined than in the films). Now, think about whcih turtle you like the best and write down the reasons why.
If you already know who your favorite turtle is, then you may skip rewatching the movie, but I suggest watching the first film anyway, because it still holds up after all this time. Yeah, it makes me get teary-eyed, and no, I won’t apologize for it.
Side-question: Remember when Pizza Hut used to be the best place in the world? Maybe I’m biased because I’m from a small town.
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Are you done watching the movie or the cartoon yet?
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All right. Now that it’s over and you have some notes, here are your results in the form of Greimas’ Semiotic Square (for those of you who know and care, that is TWO Dr. Burling references in the same blog post. I’m proud of me).
Leonardo – The Leonardo types are serious, respectful, and often assume leadership roles. Leo types assume responsibility not just for their actions, but for the actions of others as well. They believe in working together and they have indomitable hope that things will work out if the team tries hard enough.
Raphael – Here is the inverse of Leo. Raphs are loners, they can be self-destructive at times, irresponsible, irrational, sarcastic and they feel “above” the system. Often conceited and critical of others, Raph types are the most independent to the point of detriment to their team. Often times, Raph types drift from group to group with little to no attachment to anyone.
Donatello – Opposite of Raphael’s irrationality is Donatello’s introspective thinking. Don can be funny at times, but he is the brains of the team. Even though he is introspective, he isn’t afraid of putting his ideas into action.
Michaelangelo – Mike is an extroverted party dude. Mikes thrive upon unity. They try to make everyone happy and they see the good in everyone. A Mike is the opposite of a Raph in that a Mike has to have others to define himself. Without a team, a Mike is alone and has no one to help define his personality.
I know what you’re thinking, “Oh, but I can see myself as a Leo, and kind of a Don, and sometimes a Mike depending on certain days” well, then you didn’t take the test seriously and you have invalidated everything. Either you are or aren’t. You either do or do not. There is no try.
Forgive me, sensei, for I could find no place in the square for you.
You know who said that? Splinter.
Or was that Yoda? We’ll chalk it up to Splinter.
I’m a Mike. I’m bothered when I’m in a group that isn’t unified. I try to make others laugh, but I find that all of my closest friends are Raphs. These are also the friends who can just as easily leave me and be friends with others. Leos aren’t so bad because they are loyal. They need a team as much as Mikes do, but Dons seem to be fine alone as well. Sure, Dons come out to talk and hang out from time to time, but they could just as easily be in study as in a social situation.
Ultimately, we all have our faults and I’m sure my list is not exhaustive. So, what do you think? Where do you stand? How can these personalities be improved?
I grew up as the eldest of four brothers so I liked Leonardo growing up. constantly having to be placed in charge of my brothers and have to set the example for them as well. Leo really resonated with me. god those movies were good, even the third one.
your definitions are really spot on and give a good representation of the diversity of their personalities and social habits. the one way to improbe the test is to add some questions, cause right now its “I like Raph, and Ive seen the movies, so I’m Raph.” not much self discovery in there.
I’m a Leo (not the sign, the turtle!). And Pizza Hut is cool simply because of Book-Its. Yeeeeaaah, book-its.
I’m Raph…maybe a little TOO Raph.
I’m Leonardo in terms of the personality. However, I always liked Michaelangelo more when I was younger. I guess that’s inner me wanting to be more outgoing and carefree.
I’m married to Donatello, which is great because he makes me laugh. It’s bad because he always cracks jokes when I want him to be serious, he never pays attention because he’s thinking too much, and he’s smarter than me so he’s always right.
And finally…I might have never tasted a Pizza Hut greasy pan pizza without the amazing Book-It program!
Ralph is my favorite, though i know i’m nothing like him personality wise.
I so miss Pizza-Huts lunch buffet. great memories of doing the theater shows in high school, and for the children’s matinee’s we were allowed to leave school after, so we either went there or the chinese buffet. Then they closed down all the eat in pizza-huts.
“Right field…it’s important, you know? You gotta learn how to catch; you gotta learn how to throw. That’s why I play in right field, way out where the dandelions grooooow.” *tear
I am definitely a Leo. My wife and I lead high school youth group at our church and at first we ordered pizza from Pizza Hut, because we thought Pizza Hut was still cool. Little did we know that Dominoes is all the rage these days. I grew up in a small town where we had to drive to another small town to eat at Pizza Hut. Not only was the pizza tubular, they had a gnarly arcade as well.
Our Pizza Hut was the only place to be in Bolivar. They had Marvel Superheroes, Metal Slug, and the Die Hard arcade game. Granted, Breadaux had a Neo Geo machine with Bust a Move on it, but still, the Hut was the place to go.
Domino’s went out of business in Bolivar and then it came back and their pizza still sucked.
Actually, I miss Mazio’s as well. Mazio’s had the Punisher arcade game and that one ruled.
My favorite Ninja Turtle was Donatello. For many years I even cited purple as my favorite color, such was my devotion. I refused to play any other character in the TMNT Arcade game, although lately when I play Turtles in Time, I find myself choosing Leo because he seems more rounded. I like the reach of Don’s bo, but Leo seems a bit faster and easier to control.
Your TMNT personality test seems as accurate as any other test I’ve encountered. I’ll bring it up at work so we can subject new employees to it.
And since the conversation seems to be veering toward Pizza Hut, it was the only chain pizza place in my hometown. I still harbor a love for it and eating Pizza Hut brings back fond memories. My wife tolerates PH but prefers other places. While PH may not be my favorite pizza, it is my comfort pizza.
I got gyped on the book-it program, I got the same number of points (or however it worked, can’t remember) for reading stuff like Jurassic Park in 3rd grade as other people pulling little 25 page books from the library
For some reason Pizza Hut makes me think of dipping pizza crusts in root beer, while dominos reminds me of White Water in Branson and playing Mortal Kombat 3. Personally, I miss Little Ceaser (even though I don’t even remember if it was good, I think they just cut it all fucked like and had annoying ads).
Remember the Land Before Time puppets they had at pizza hut?
Hell yes I do! I had all three!
Hmm…what a predicament I seem to be in. I am stuck between Donny, Raph, and Mikey. No way in HELL I am Leo, even though I am the oldest of 3, and have to be responsible. My brother is definitely a Donny, and my sister is a Mikey/Raph, but I have no idea what I am, besides that Leo is OUT. Actually, scratch Mikey too. Even though I love him to death, I can’t even remember the last time I had fun being around people. Hmm…oh, I got it! I’m a Donny, but I stole Raph’s sarcasm while he was sleeping. Okay then. That’s all. Oh, wait! I want to figure out my only friend’s turtle. Hmm…Mikey. Ok, I’m done now.