The Personality Types You Probably Shouldn't Date, Based On Myers-Briggs Type

Compatibility can have a significant impact on whether a relationship can work out in the long run. One way to assess compatibility is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which is a personality assessment that categorizes people into one of 16 personality types. If you've ever looked into the MBTI, you likely know that understanding your personality type can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, ideal career path, and more. But knowing your Myers-Briggs type can also tell you who you're compatible with—and who you're not so compatible with.

The MBTI uses four foundational categories of personality to create its 16 possible personality types. The categories are:

That's because, as clinical psychologist Kristina Hallett, Ph.D., ABPP, previously wrote for mbg, where you fall in the MBTI can tell you a lot about the kinds of people you'll naturally mesh with. For example: "The way your potential partner approaches the world and communicates (similar in sensing/intuition) is a good indicator of initial attraction," she explains. "On the other side of the spectrum, differences in extroversion/introversion may cause the most conflict in long-term relationships."

In addition to that, Nardi adds that a couple with one SP (Sensing/Perceiving) and one NT (Intuitive/Thinking) typically won't last as long as an SJ-NF pair (Sensing/Judging and Intuitive/Feeling). "This does not mean less rewarding, just not as long. Why? Both SP and NT types are pragmatic, while SJ and NF are affiliative," he says, noting that affiliative types "tend to be more focused on or invested in sustaining relationships."

And just as a note, Nardi adds that Feeling types do not inherently have more emotional intelligence (EQ) than Thinking types. Both types have the capacity to build up their EQ; it just looks a bit different depending on whether you're a T or F.

Compatibility is never black and white, though personality tests like the MBTI have, historically, had success1 in gauging which pairings have the most staying power. But whether or not you and your S.O. are compatible in the eyes of Myers-Briggs, understanding your own types can help you understand each other better and figure out which areas of your relationship might need a little more attention.