In our article “Generosity, Giving, and Personality Types,” we delve into the fascinating inner workings of each personality type’s gift-giving tendencies. And “The 16Personalities Gift Guide” is full of thoughtful advice on gift ideas for every personality type. Both are deep, meaningful, informative articles.
But this isn’t that kind of article.
Sure, it’s about personality types and gift-giving (right in time for the holidays!), but deep and meaningful? Not so much. Instead, let’s poke a little fun at some possible personality type pitfalls. You know, the eye-rolling attitudes and tendencies that might occasionally surface in some people. (Not you, obviously…)
We hope it brings a grin, not chagrin. Laughing lightens our souls, as does confession. So, if you recognize a tiny part of yourself (or someone else) herein, feel free to say so in the comments below.
So, with a grain of salt at the ready to make any forthcoming crumbs of truth more palatable, let’s consider some humorous ways the 16 personality types might mess up holiday gifting.
Analysts: Holiday Gifting Seems Like Mindless Consumerism
Architect: Complains about the laborious hassle of choosing gifts for people and just ends up buying the same generic tech gadget for everyone.
Logician: Dislikes the obligation of calendar-mandated gifting and just happens to schedule an international vacation during the holidays. “Oops!” Sends postcards as gifts.
Commander: Doesn’t keep track of everyone’s individual desires. Gives electronic gift certificates so everyone can get exactly what they want – by buying it themselves.
Debater: Buys everyone books that contradict their beliefs and challenges them to read them instead of staying “ignorant.”
Diplomats: Holiday Gifting Equals Social and Self-Worth
Advocate: Buys thoughtful individual gifts for people. Gets quietly upset when the responses aren’t as appreciative and the reciprocation isn’t as grand as they’d envisioned.
Mediator: Overthinks gift ideas to paralysis and procrastinates to avoid the stress. Shops haphazardly at the last minute and worries that people won’t like their gifts.
Protagonist: Gives people gifts carefully chosen to help them overcome personal problems. Kindly explains how each person “needs a little help making progress.”
Campaigner: Donates to their own chosen political cause in the name of others, regardless of those people’s personal views. Says their gift is “joining the right side of history.”
Sentinels: Holiday Gifting Is Tradition, So Don’t Be Weird about It
Logistician: Gives completely impersonal, practical items as gifts, along with receipts, in case people want to return them for something “silly.”
Defender: Doesn’t quite agree with people’s gift requests but gets them what they want anyway. Masks their disappointment as gentle concern.
Executive: Announces their intended gift ideas, gauges people’s responses, and then downgrades the gift of anyone who isn’t thrilled by their original proposal.
Consul: Takes note of what everyone wants, weighs it carefully against their own opinion, and gets people what they “really need” instead.
Explorers: Holidays Are a Good Time to Get Stuff
Virtuoso: Buys themselves some nice new tools and gadgets for their hobby, then has no money to get decent gifts for other people.
Adventurer: Buys everyone questionable “miracle” products at the local shopping mall after some fast-talking kiosk sellers convince them that they’re the greatest new thing.
Entrepreneur: Holds a multilevel marketing holiday party and invites everyone to “achieve the gift of financial independence.”
Entertainer: Buys people extravagant gifts. Ruins their credit and gets into serious financial trouble. Joins the Logician on vacation to escape the problem.
Say It Isn’t So
What?! Did we really just say all that? We are surely jesting. Or maybe we’re offering subtle cautionary tales to help improve the holidays. How realistic are these hypothetical portrayals? Tell us your gifting habits in our “Holiday Gifting” survey and share your story of how holiday gifting went wrong in the comments below!
Further Reading
- Curious which personality types love giving gifts the most? Find out in this insightful research article: “We Love to Give Gifts – But Perhaps to Different Degrees.”
- Evolve your holiday expectations with our helpful personal growth article: “An Attitude of Gratitude.”
- Discover soul-warming self-care ideas for every personality type in the “16Personalities Holiday Survival Guide.”
- And learn how each personality Strategy group can reduce stress and enjoy seasonal festivities in their own way: “Handling the Holidays, by Strategy.”
Comments
Please to join the discussion.