Which Character Matches Your Myers-Briggs Type?

I love using psychological personality assessments to design my characters. Even though the MBTI may be a bit outdated for therapeutic use, it’s a fun way to conceptualize and categorize my characters! Which characters from The Guardian match your type? Do you resemble them at all?

INTJs are quiet, conceptual, logical, and organized. They’re known as the “architects”: intellectual, creative, rational, and skeptical.

In The Guardian, the prophet Hiroshi is quiet but determined, generous but logical, and he always plans ahead. When Iliya and Reth come to him for help, he’s quick to offer his strategic prowess and material aid. He doesn’t leave much room for spontaneity or emotional irrationality, but his kindness is unparalleled.

Abrahov, a religious leader of the remote desert village Ziya, is deeply rooted in tradition. He leads with a quiet but firm confidence, steadfast order, and a logical mind. Though he’s slow to change, he’s ready to do whatever it takes to protect his village, and ultimately he’s open to new ideas when needed.

Iliya’s little brother Baq acts rationally and logically, but his feelings run deep below the surface. He sees more than he lets on, and he understands the intuitive connections between events and people. INTPs have a rigorous intellect and can get lost in their own minds sometimes, but their insights can be groundbreaking. Though I don’t reveal this in canon, Baq grows up to be a university professor! (Theoretical mathematics or philosophy, I haven’t decided!)

ENTJ is a very important type in The Guardian. Known as ambitious leaders, ENTJs use their logic and intellect to command rooms and move mountains.

One of the most important characters in The Guardian, Reth Alem creates detailed plans and strategies, and he has the charisma to make them happen. A deep thinker, Reth easily makes diplomatic connections that facilitate the realization of his complex ideas. However, because he’s always thinking ten steps ahead, he can sometimes overlook the present needs and realities of the people he’s trying to help. And he’s completely unprepared for the way his feelings for Iliya take over. ;-) #HeFallsFirst

Other minor characters in the ENTJ type include Cwen, the CEO of P&C in future USA, and Jasleen Veda, the Director of Marketing for Pan in future India and mother to another important character, Alisha. Both Cwen and Jasleen are highly ambitious, powerful, and influential women whose voices command rooms and whose strategies run industries. ENTJ seems like an appropriate match for their high-level achievements in the business world.

ENTPs are quirky visionaries who question the status quo, think big, and innovate with enthusiasm. This perfectly describes Vera, editor of a very important media outlet in The Guardian. When the corporate-run government has a chokehold on the media, Vera writes around their machine and brings Reth and Iliya’s revolutionary ideas to the masses.

Main character energy alert! Iliya, the main character of The Guardian, is INFJ: introverted (our girl hates big parties), intuitive (she sees the big picture and loses sight of the details), feeling (emotion over logic), and judging (decisive and orderly). Though she avoids planning ahead and can be very flexible when the situation calls for it, she trusts her gut and decisively acts on instinct, always adhering to her strong sense of morality and ethics. She charts her own path and acts in service of others.

Before Iliya, I’d never written a compelling FMC before. They always felt like a stand-in for the reader, a blank slate for the reader to project themselves onto. But Iliya’s personality filled in little by little as I crafted The Guardian (I’m a pantser!) The first scene came to me in a dream: Iliya with her guardian, running away from demons through the alleys of her small village. After that, the rest fell into place: caretaker of two younger siblings, prophet miracle-worker with a strong sense of duty and a distrust of authority. With each new character she met, Iliya’s personality filled in a bit more: her flaws, her strengths, her adaptations, her conflicts. Years later, when my editor told me Iliya felt like a real person, it was one of the best compliments I’ve ever received about my writing.

Iliya’s personality differs from my own, but there are plenty of similarities: I’m ENFJ, so we overlap on 3 of the 4 dimensions.

Tenzin, a minor character from the Pan epicenter in future India, works with Vera as a journalist. A Tibetan Buddhist, Tenzin has a calm demeanor and a poetic view of the world. He cares about social justice and advocates for positive change, so INFJ seemed like a good fit for him as well.

Iliya’s mother Cassandra, though addled and tortured by visions, is imaginative and sensitive. INFPs are creative, expressive dreamers, which perfectly matches Cassandra’s lofty connection to the spiritual world and her former artistic career as a professional dancer.

ENFJ is my sign! So it’s no surprise that tons of characters in the book ended up as ENFJs. :) ENFJs are warm and empathetic coaches, teachers, advocates, and leaders. It was a good personality type for Mrs. Sonia, the teacher in Iliya’s home village; Jonamos, the activist in the isolated desert village Ziya; Kuron, Reth’s father and executive of Pan-C, a spoke village of the Pan epicenter in future India; and Pamela, Iliya’s enthusiastic and loving little sister. (Sneak tidbit about Pamela—she grows up to become a pediatrician, inspired by the way Reth’s mother helped her in The Guardian!)

ENFPs are outgoing, energetic, imaginative, enthusiastic, and joyful.

This perfectly describes Meihui, a corporate spy who joins up with Reth and Iliya. Although far from home, Meihui approaches life with a carefree positivity and empathetic kindness. As a corporate spy from The Republic (in future China) originally sent to spy on Toyosoni (in future Japan), Meihui has the courage of her convictions and her friendly, sarcastic humor to get her through tough situations. She’s always ready with a quippy comment or a friendly greeting.

Felicia, Alisha’s spiritual guardian, also embodies a warm, enthusiastic, positive attitude. Alisha relies on her for moral as well as spiritual support, and her caring protection pairs well with Alisha’s intellectual prowess! (For a free scene about Felicia’s former human life, subscribe to my newsletter!)

Jian-min Liu, a prophet from The Republic in future China, may seem pretty evil on the surface. But in his own mind, he’s doing the right thing—protecting and advancing the interests of his epicenter at all costs. He’s quiet, logical, loyal to his epicenter, and methodical in his approach. Whenever his government needs him, he’s ready to fulfill his god-given duty—and he doesn’t need to be in the spotlight to do it. He’s content to operate in the background, largely unnoticed, until it’s time to strike. I think ISTJ best matches his personality: quiet, practical, logical, and decisive. (I’ve read ISTJ is actually the most common personality type, so if you’re in this category, you’re in good company!)

Vivek, Alisha’s father, is a renowned engineering professor. Though his logical intellect is unparalleled, it’s emotion that mainly guides his decision-making and priorities. He cares deeply for his family and would do anything to support them. Even when he can’t understand Alisha’s decisions, he offers warmth and comfort. He’s quiet, orderly, responsible, friendly, and practical, so ISFJ seems like the best match.

The Guardian—arguably the book’s namesake, though I’ll leave that up to the readers—was difficult for me to assign. After all, we’re observing his spiritual afterlife, not his human life. That said, he still has an observable personality, so I think it’s important to include him.

“The Supervisor” seemed like a perfect type descriptor for The Guardian—decisive, forceful, orderly, efficient, and determined. He has a clear sense of right and wrong, and he tolerates little rebellion from Iliya against his directives. He’s easily frustrated, highly expressive, and can occasionally seem cold to the point of cruelty—but he cares deeper than he shows, he’s loyal to the end, and he never gives up, even when things seem hopeless.

Reth’s mother Opal, an oncologist in Pan-C (a spoke town of the Pan epicenter in future India), was also difficult to assign due to her shifting traits. Sometimes generous, sometimes selfish; sometimes warm, sometimes cold; sometimes intellectual, sometimes sensitive; sometimes rule-following, sometimes rebellious; Opal is a woman of enigmas. It’s part of what makes her such a compelling foil to Reth’s developing sense of morality. But she does have some stable traits: expressive and sociable (E), practical and present-focused (S), rational and logical (T), and decisive and orderly (J).

Alisha is one of my favorite characters in The Guardian and probably the character I most closely relate to personally (though she’s undoubtedly much smarter than I am!) I struggled to assign her personality type because she’s capable of so many things: both intuitive and practical, both logical and empathetic. In the end, I went with ESFJ: sociable, practical and present-focused, prioritizing emotion, and decisively planning ahead. She’s an innovative engineer, melding technology and magic to further the impact of her miracles. She’s a warm friend who brings enthusiasm and energy to every encounter. She’s a conscientious student and daughter who strives to complete her assignments with high-quality efficiency. ESFJs are generous, reliable, decisive, and people-oriented, which seems like a great match for Alisha.

We only briefly see Gabriel, prophet of Brasa in future Brazil, but he makes an impact with his bold, expressive, value-driven determination to protect his epicenter. ESFJ seems to fit his demeanor and priorities.

I didn’t actually create any characters with the ISTP personality type! Maybe that’s because it’s my exact opposite type (ENFJ). ISTPs are known to be individualistic, straightforward, and spontaneous. They like getting their hands dirty and using their 5 senses. If you’re ISTP, clearly I need to get to know you better! Maybe you’ll find some characters with your type in my next book!

I also didn’t create any ISFP characters! The only letter we share is F, so I guess it’s still a tough personality type for me to wrap my head around. ISFPs are supposedly quirky, open-minded, flexible, creative, warm, and friendly. Like with ISTP, clearly I need to get to know you better, and maybe you’ll find an ISFP in my next book!

ESTPs are known to be energetic, spontaneous, active, and adventurous. They appreciate material pleasures and can be competitive and impulsive. This perfectly describes both Amithi (Reth’s sister) and Dr. Alexandria (a doctor in Iliya’s home village).

Amithi, a budding fashionista, admires the energy and wealth of the epicenters, and her adventurous spirit takes her on impulsive helicopter flights well beyond her hometown.

Dr. Alexandria also admires the resources of the epicenters and eschews the more parochial perspective of his fellow villagers. He sweeps into every room with energetic charm and a forceful take-charge attitude.

ESFPs are social, playful, spontaneous people who love seizing the moment.

Grayce’s loud voice, unapologetic sense of humor, and bold personality may be the first things new people notice about her, but inside she also has a fiercely warm heart and steadfast values. As the prophet of P&C in future USA, she handles people of all walks of life with the same friendly exuberance and focus on the present moment.

Frank Canton, the baker in Iliya’s village, loves love. He cares about others to a fault—and sometimes can’t see past his own neediness. He’s friendly, warm, and generous, and he jumps at the opportunity to connect with loved ones—even if they don’t always reciprocate.

If you’ve stuck with me this far, congratulations! What do you think? Do you resemble the character(s) with your personality type? Let me know on my socials!