The Beastiary: Entry II, Analysts

The topic of this entry is the Analyst Myers-Briggs Types: INTJs, INTPs, ENTJs and ENTPs. These types are known as Analysts because they combine the Introverted and Thinking traits, granting them increased ability to deal with abstract concepts and process large amounts of factual information. They often excel in the more strictly logical portions of disciplines and are more often than not more comfortable with ideas and information than they are with people. 

The creatures I will be discussing during this entry are...Devils, Doppelgangers, Sphinxes and Wisps.

Image posted by The Koochinko

INTJs (The Strategist) - Devils

First off, I would like to make it clear that, as with all of my MBTI related stuff, there is no judgement present and I am not here intending to say that INTJs are in any way immoral. I am, however, saying that, from a perspective of personality, there are links with Devils (as they are presented in popular culture and beyond), which, it is important to note are not necessarily evil in and of themselves.

Having made the clear, why are INTJs comparable with Devils?

A central quality for the Strategist is a high degree of self-confidence, which can, in some cases, lead to arrogance or at least a tendency towards stubbornness. This concept of INTJ pride, ties in nicely to the fact that devils are often presented as wielding great power, a nod to the INTJ tendency to be very adept within certain fields, but also of their power tied with their ambition and their self-confidence. These are initial reasons, however, and the main reason I have decided to compare INTJs and Devils is because of the Strategist's wit and ability to think quickly and, most of all, to develop contingency plans and be consistently prepared. This kind of behaviour is displayed in Devil characters as they always have a way of turning the situation to their advantage. Centric to the personality of the Strategist is their ability to quickly understand a system of rules and exploit them to their advantage and this very much reminded me of the idea of Devilish Pacts, or contracts with the Hells. In such cases, mortals will promise something to the Devil, usually their soul, in exchange for that which they desire, though the Devil nearly always manages to exploit the terms of the contract so that the mortal ends up with nothing. 

Interestingly enough, despite their ability to flourish in organised environments, INTJs often wish to break out and assert their liberty and this can be seen within devils as well. In spite of their contracts and bargains, both of which are governed by many rules, Devils are nearly always portrayed as wishing to get out of Hell, to leave behind those structures and assert themselves. 

Image by Dumonchelle Draws

ENTPs (The Inventor) - Doppelgangers

For the purposes of this entry, I will consider Doppelgangers in the sense they are presented within D&D. Essentially, they are humanoids who have the power to change their appearance at will, appearing as any other humanoid they wish, even able to perfectly imitate the appearance of another if they chose to. In spite of this, however, they do not gain access to the mind of those they chose to appear as, so their resemblances, whilst convincing, can be as shallow as appearance.

I gave the ENTP this role because of their love of debate and their devil's advocate nature, which allows them to assume and reassume various positions in discussion, allowing them to effectively alter their argumentative "face" as they see fit, even if, sometimes, others are able to see through it. It is, however, difficult to see through the shapes they assume as ENTPs are known for their charisma and their social fluency, much as a Doppelganger would have to be able to adapt to whatever face he (or she) was wearing at any individual moment, so too can Inventors effectively reinvent themselves and present themselves different depending on who they are with or what mood they are in, more so than other types. Furthermore, ENTPs often suffer from boredom and like to "shake things up", constantly moving on and progressing, just as a Doppelganger might change their shape, having tired of living within their former one. This having been said, they possess, as do all types, a more stable inner core, a "true personality" which is much like the ENTP.

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INTPs (The Architect) - Sphinxes

Just as INTPs possess great skill with abstract thought and problem solving, so too do Sphinxes. In much lore, these winged lions are presented as loving wordplay, puzzles and, above all, riddles. This is the central reason why I have compared them to the INTPs, who are open-minded by nature and often possess deep and powerful imaginations, which allow them to think exceptionally creatively. Furthermore, much like the Sphinxes who are known to sit or lie around all day, passing hours in deep thought, Architects can be withdrawn and even absent-minded at times, especially when their minds are going over some problem or complication. Architects can become truly devoted to their projects, which they only ever adopt out of a love for them (in most cases) and thus, like the Sphinxes, can become devoted to them at the expense of everything else. INTPs can, occasionally, become condescending, especially when they are speaking to those who cannot interface with their thinking as readily as they (which happens to be most people), and this is similar to the way in which Sphinxes can become bored by those who come across them, unless their visitors are willing to engage in a game of wit. 

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ENTJs (The Commander) - Will-o'-the-Wisp

Ah, we return to the infamous Commanders once again. Now, I know that many people, not to mention many ENTJs, would probably find the fit between their type and Will-o'-the-Wisps to be wanting in some way. It is within the ENTJ mindset to consider themselves to be something more robust and I would agree that this type is mentally hardy and certainly very capable. I am not, in assigning them the Wisps, arguing that this type could not easily fit many other, perhaps more traditionally fantastical, creatures, though I am saying that I think that they suits wisps equally well. 

The central reason for my selecting this match is that ENTJs, as their namesake suggests, are strong-willed, leader oriented types, able to deal with both facts and abstract ideas in order to make quick decisions and fit them into a wider strategy or plan. This, to me at least, resonates with the image of the wisps appearing out of thin air to lead travellers and adventurers along a new path, for good or ill. After all, wisps have been known to lead wanderers to their doom for no reason other than a desire to do so. (ENTJs can, after all, be ruthless when they want to be). 

Furthermore, wisps are shown as being agents of a "hard fate" or a destiny which the character cannot ultimately chose to avoid. Likewise, ENTJs are known for their ability to hold their ground and be quite insistent, often leading to confrontations with other types (and other ENTJs) who do not like to be commanded, even by the Commander. Wisps will be listened to and refuse to be lightly ignored, much the same for ENTJs. Though wisps themselves tend to exist as relatively minor characters, this does not mean that they do not have a profound impact on that which goes on around them.

Thus ends the second Beastiary entry. In the third installment, I will be discussing the Sentinel types: ISTJs, ISFJs, ESTJs and ESFJs - Vampires, Valkyries, Dragons and Erinyes.