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How different MBTI types respond to stress

While the whole world is in a panic due to the coronovirus, and offices are urgently trying to transfer employees to a remote location, it's time to remember how stress affects us all differently. For some, this is an eternal urge to overcome obstacles, and for some, a desire to escape to Bali or to dig in at home for the next millennium.

The Myers-Briggs Typology (MBTI) is one of the most common methods for assessing staff and hypothesizing what to do with a person: how to motivate, which team to include, what to expect, etc.

In short, the MBTI test correlates you with one of 16 types based on 4 main criteria:

  • Extraversion (E) - Introversion (I)
  • Sensations (S) - Intuition (N)
  • Thinking (T) - Feelings (F)
  • Judgment (J) - Perception (P)

All types can be divided into 4 groups: elastic (“stress-resistant” in the basic sense), viscous (slow down in proportion to the level of stress), wireframe (stress as a stimulant for further development) and fragile (not resistant to stress).

What does this mean?

Elastic (ENFP, ISTP, ESTP, INFP)

"Bent, but not broken." Faster than other groups respond to stress and begin to cope with it. They remind you of a spring that shoots as soon as it is released.
Elastic types perfectly solve problems in extreme conditions, as they do not lose their temper, and sudden changes will most likely mobilize them and give energy and drive.

The reverse side is insensitive to the problems of others, they do not understand why others cannot cope on their own. Often they themselves create stressful situations in order to stay in good shape.

Viscous (ENTP, ISFP, ESFP, INTP) They

completely ignore stress when it is a little, hoping that everything will form by itself, but as soon as the stress level goes off scale, they can simply give up.

They try to avoid the last thought that the stressful situation is happening to them, because as soon as they realize this, they immediately begin to drown a little. It often happens that the same problem that happens once or twice is perceived absolutely normal, but when this is the fifth case, the person gives up and is not able to get out of this state.

Wireframe (ESFJ, INTJ, ENTJ, ISFJ)

“That which does not kill us makes us stronger . ” Easily tolerate stress in small quantities. More serious situations are treated as challenges and hardening for the future (it may come in handy). We are ready to spend enormous efforts to achieve goals, but then they will need serious rest to restore strength.

Fragile (ENFJ, ISTJ, ESTJ, INFJ)

Of all groups, the least stress resistant. They can tolerate stress for a while, but the longer the situation lasts or the higher the level of stress, the faster they begin to want to get out at any cost. With severe overloads, external assistance is required (colleagues, friends, relatives, professionals, etc.).

Fragile ones try to avoid stressful situations to the maximum and not create them for others. Feel good about others and their condition, can provide all kinds of help and support.

Conclusions

Form your teams wisely. If everything constantly burns and burns out, it is better to focus on employees of the Elastic and Frame types, then at least you will finish the project on time and you will have resources for the future.

Links, sources and more:

You can take the test and read about your type, for example, here:
www.16personalities.com
www.psychologyjunkie.com/personality-test
my-type.ru/superpower

More stress tips and information for each type can be found here (English only):
www.psychologyjunkie.com/2015/08/02/how-each-mbti-type-reacts-to-stress-and-how-to-help

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