If you’re into personality type theory, then you understand the practical value of knowing someone’s personality traits. When you know someone’s personality type, you start to see the hidden mechanics of why they are how they are. Not only can it bring you closer to the people you wish to be close with but it also makes it much easier to avoid confusion and conflict with even casual acquaintances and coworkers. So yay for our free personality test and host of amazing personality type descriptions, right?
Not so fast.
It isn’t always convenient to get someone to take our personality test, especially when you don’t know them very well. But with the right guidance and approach, you might just be able to make a useful estimate of their personality type anyway. I have written a few articles on this before, and I shall once again endeavor to be your guide in observationally assessing someone’s personality traits. Here, we’ll focus on the Judging-Prospecting trait spectrum and how to tell which end someone is likely on. Let’s get to it!
Key Differences between Judging and Prospecting Personality Types
Distinguishing between Judging and Prospecting personalities is largely about observing their habits when it comes to planning, organization, and dedication. Overall, focusing on a planned course of action to completion tends to be a Judging thing, and frequent changes of focus, including changing goals, tends to be a Prospecting thing. Hold the “Actually…” demurs, please, I’m talking about overall group statistics, not an absolute rule regarding individuals. There are focused, disciplined Prospecting folks and spontaneous, chaotic Judging folks – it’s just not typical, especially when all areas of life are considered. I’ve brought data to substantiate this assertion, and I’ll get into it in a moment.
The point is, you might be able to guess whether someone has a dominant Judging or Prospecting trait by how wedded they are to planned routine, and this is often visible in the way that they conduct their daily affairs. Compared to Prospecting personality types, Judging personalities are less likely to deviate from a set plan and more likely to have established a detailed one to begin with. And lest this make Prospecting types sound deficient, take note that life often calls for us to adapt to the unexpected, and Judging types’ love for predetermination can inhibit this, ultimately leading them astray. A metaphor for this might be veering off a road that curves unexpectedly. While focus and dedication have obvious benefits, inflexibility can often lead to disaster.
Statistically Guided Guessing
So within the planning/organization wheelhouse, let’s consider a few specific statistics and think about how they can reveal people’s personality traits. While no single behavioral metric can reasonably be seen as proof, there are several that can add up to a reasonable estimate as to whether someone is a Judging or Prospecting personality. I’ll present some research questions and response rates and explain how this information can guide your real-world observations and estimations.
“Do you like to have a general plan for each day, or do you prefer to see where the day takes you?”
There’s a solid 80/20 split between Judging and Prospecting personalities in response to the above question, with most “P” (Prospecting) types preferring to see where their day takes them, and most “J” (Judging) types wanting a general plan. It should be possible to observe someone’s behavior and see which pattern they usually follow when free of externally imposed structure. There’s a difference between the internal influence of personality that shapes our behavior and outside constraints that modify those natural inclinations.
For example, if you’re trying to estimate the personality traits of a coworker, the fact that they attend to their prescribed workflow and tasks might not indicate the Judging trait. But they’re following a plan, right? In this context, someone with a Prospecting personality may follow the given plan because it’s their job to do so rather than an innate approach to life. Their personal life habits may provide a better reference. If the same person’s weekends are full of freewheeling rather than planned engagements, that’s a potential Prospecting indicator. When estimating any personality trait, it’s always good to consider how external influences can push behaviors away from the expression of innate preferences and more into adaptive responses.
Sometimes you need to personally see someone’s day unfold to understand whether it was planned or not. For example, an acquaintance might tell you what they did the other day, without mentioning whether it was planned or spontaneous. “I went to the dog park and then got some pizza with the pooch. Then I went shopping and checked out the new nursery and garden store. I bought a cute solar birdbath.” Not much help in guessing their traits. But if you were tagging along, you might be able to see how their day unfolded. Were those activities planned, or did they happen on impulse? Was the purchase in response to a known need, or was it a sudden inspiration? Was the pizza place a favorite destination that they anticipated with joy or a new experience that was spotted with excitement along the way?
If most of the voluntary events in a person’s day are not intended in advance, even if a broad framework of intent is present, that’s likely a tick in the “P” column. If most of the specifics in their day were conceived in advance, that’s probably a tick in the “J” column. An anecdotal example would be that when my Prospecting partner and I (a Judging personality type) go shopping together, I know which stores I want to visit and what I want to buy before leaving the house. My partner approaches a day of shopping with a rough intent in mind but makes most decisions on the fly, unexpectedly adding new destinations along the way. Let’s move on to another research question.
“Do you need to have a highly organized workspace?”
About 75% of Judging personalities surveyed agree to the above question, versus just 29% of Prospecting personality types. This might be something that you can observe in a coworker or even a friend if you visit them at work or in their hobby space. Unless required by the job, Prospecting types may not feel the need for a high level of organization and may be fine with surprising levels of disarray. It’s important to note that while organization has its advantages and most people might suppose that it’s ideal to keep one’s workspace organized, this research hints at some of the strengths of Prospecting personalities. Where chaos and disorder might paralyze Judging personalities, Prospecting types might be able to function well enough.
If you observe someone’s workspace and it’s extremely tidy and organized, it’s reasonable to assume that they’re more likely on the Judging end of the trait spectrum. If their level of organization is forced, minimal, or nonexistent, they may be a Prospecting personality. Again, no one observed facet of behavior is proof of someone’s personality traits, but if many observations form a consistent pattern, that’s the basis for a decent guess. Let’s look at another research question.
“Would you say you are dedicated and focused on your goals, only rarely getting sidetracked?”
About 74% of Judging personalities agree to the above question, versus 20% of Prospecting personality types. And in another research question, Judging personalities were about 50 percentage points more likely to say they get their plans back on track without delay when they get temporarily put on hold. While it’s safe to say that goal orientation is an area where Judging and Prospecting personality types are likely to differ greatly, it’s not necessarily true that Prospecting types aren’t goal-oriented – they may simply have different types of goals.
A changing focus that allows for the abandonment of unfulfilling goals and the establishment of new ones can potentially be an asset. Too many people cling to destructive or unsatisfying courses in life merely out of obligation or habit, and Prospecting types may be more likely to break free from such shackles. Compared to Judging personalities, their goals may change more often or be shorter term, but they aren’t without goals. Beginning a new goal can bring Prospecting personalities a degree of excitement that fulfills them, contrasting with the satisfaction that Judging personalities get from completing a goal. Goals are important to both, even if in different ways. This difference is something that you may be able to observe in friends and family.
If someone is frequently trying new hobbies or activities or is setting new goals for themselves, it could be an indicator of the Prospecting trait. If someone tends to have fewer goals yet sticks with them for longer, they’re more likely to be a Judging personality type. Pro tip: When making this kind of observation, pay more attention to what people do than what they say. Some personalities, specifically the Intuitive Diplomat and Analyst Role groups, have big imaginations. They often animatedly discuss “goals” (really ideas) that they never act on, and all this mental and verbal dynamism can make it harder to see the Judging and Prospecting differences in how they approach goals when they do act.
But goals, focus, planning, and organization aren’t the only areas of observable difference between Judging and Prospecting personality types. There are subtler, more emotional differences as well. Consider the following research question.
“Would you rather have more control than more excitement in your life?”
When surveyed, Judging personality types are about twice as likely as Prospecting types to agree with the above question. Judging personalities tend to prefer a sense of order and predictability in their lives, and this underpins the behaviors that we’ve previously discussed. For them, planning, organization, and goal achievement are about creating structure, but not just for the sake of efficiency. It’s also about something more – the desire for security. It’s not always enough for Judging types to have structure – they want to build their ideal structure. Constructing their preferred kind of order helps give them a sense of control that serves as a source of both satisfaction and comfort.
Prospecting personalities, on the other hand, seem to prefer a degree of novelty in their lives. Their version of the relatively universal desire to avoid subversion of their will may relate more to maintaining freedom, with them drawing comfort and satisfaction from being able to do what they want, when they want. It’s the same root human desire for control but addressed in a different way – by keeping their options open, so that they’re not trapped. For Prospecting types, too much structure or obligation can be synonymous with constraint. It’s interesting to note that about 70% of Judging types surveyed agree that they get a sense of security from their responsibilities, versus about 41% of Prospecting types. Whereas someone with a Judging personality may be reassured by the idea that some things don’t change, someone with a Prospecting personality is heartened by knowing that everything won’t stay the same.
The question of preferring control versus excitement hints at profound differences in personal worldviews. Likely, those differences are visible across many observable everyday behaviors and decisions, and this can be helpful to you in telling the difference between Judging and Prospecting personality types. However, doing so might be easier when observing instances where people don’t get what they prefer rather than when things are peachy. Human nature being what it is, most people have a stronger reaction to things going against their desires than going smoothly.
For example, if someone seems especially upset whenever they’re caught up in events that lack structure or predictability, chances are they’ve got a big dose of the “J,” as it were. Being forced to adapt to unexpected changes can throw them off-kilter – or even make them grumpy. On the other hand, if someone chafes at routine and frequently embraces the unexpected as a source of excitement, that’s likely the effects of the Prospecting trait at play. These personalities are more likely to chase novel opportunities without much contingency planning or expectation. It might take some time to observe someone’s pattern regarding these habits, but it’s one more element to add to your overall sum of observations.
Conclusion
Novelty or structure. Spontaneity or planning. Disorder or organization. Excitement or security. If you can sort out your impressions of someone along the lines of these concepts, you can probably make a good guess about their place on the Judging-Prospecting personality trait spectrum. One note of caution is to restrain your own bias in the process. You are likely predominantly Judging or Prospecting, and this affects how you view someone else’s habits and behavior. Try to see others objectively, according to an average worldview more than your own personal views. Not everyone defines organization the same, for example, and what one person sees as a reasonable plan could seem like foolhardiness to another.
I think it’s critical to approach any and all observations of someone’s personality traits as a way to appreciate who they are. Being curious about someone’s personality traits is a good thing. It’s tempting to criticize each other’s differences, but in truth, seeing the unique ways that others think, feel, and act can be as marvelous as it is foreign. There’s nothing wrong with some personality type voyeurism – when it’s conducted with a mindset of kindness and respect.