Sometimes two personality types can appear alike on paper, and if the light shines on the description exactly right, the nuances can become blurred. For example, it can seem like Mediators (INFPs) are just more contemplative Adventurers (ISFPs) and Adventurers merely more practical Mediators. In a way, that’s the difference between the two in a nutshell. But each personality type is decidedly distinct from all the others, including the two we’re discussing here.
To make the differences more apparent, we dug up examples from our various polls to illustrate where these personality types vary. Of course, citing one piece of research doesn’t mean that we only used a singular poll to set the types apart, but because of space, we chose just a few survey items to illustrate the differences here. So the charts below should be viewed as examples that represent other, similar poll results. Let’s start with how the two personality types are alike.
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How Mediators and Adventurers Are Alike
The pivotal characteristic that makes Mediators and Adventurers so much alike seems to be their shared sensitivity.
- Mediators and Adventurers are perhaps two of the most sensitive of the 16 personality types. If either of the two happens to be Turbulent, this sensitivity becomes intensified. The upside of this sensitivity is that they usually care about other people a lot. The downside is that they may suffer from hurt feelings more often than others or hesitate to act to avoid rejection.
- These two personality types tend to form friendships that are close but not necessarily extensive in number. Both Mediators and Adventurers tend to be good friends to the handful of people they let inside their inner circle.
- Adventurers and Mediators lean toward being creative, and they feed this creativity with their open-mindedness and curiosity.
- Stress can be a problem for both personality types. Due to their sensitivity, they often regard themselves as vulnerable, and feeling exposed can create a sense that many situations in their lives are dangerous, or at least something to worry about.
- Both are prone to people-pleasing. These personality types tend to project their sensitivity onto other people. Their projections can make them excessively careful about anything that they think might hurt someone else, whether the pain that they fear causing is real or only a reflection of the Mediator’s or Adventurer’s own perceived vulnerabilities. Often, this sensibility goes beyond just making sure that nobody gets hurt to trying excessively to keep others happy.
- Low self-esteem has a higher probability of being an issue with either personality type, regardless of Identity. While, of course, those with the Turbulent Identity will struggle more with self-esteem, almost by definition, Assertive Mediators and Adventurers are likely to struggle more than most other Assertive types due to their increased sensitivity.
How Adventurers and Mediators are Different
So, we have established that there’s a lot that Mediators and Adventurers share. But let’s look at some of the things that distinguish one from the other.
The core of any differences between Mediator and Adventurer personality types involves the different ways in which each regards practicality. The Observant trait of Adventurers looks to that which can be effective in concrete terms. On the contrary, Mediators often call into service their more speculative imagination and focus less on the concrete. The following chart is a stark illustration of how these sensibilities play a role in the lives of each.
Occam’s razor is the principle that advises its adherents not to complicate matters more than necessary. Occam suggested looking to the simplest and most obvious explanation for anything until there is a reason to look further.
Between Mediators and Adventurers, Adventurers are the personality type more likely to be followers of Occam. Mediators are more likely to let their imagination populate their thinking with what-ifs and other forms of speculation. They are constantly making connections between what might appear to be disparate things, and they tend to be more abstract.
For example, 51% of Mediators say that other people often describe their method of solving problems as overly complex, compared to 31% of Adventurers. This poll would suggest that Adventurers feel that they have a more minimalist, direct approach to handling problems than Mediators. The following chart shows Mediators’ tendency to read into things in movies and songs, while Adventurers are more content to enjoy things straightforwardly.
photorealistic fashion. Both might create imaginative pieces, but one is prone to using a more tangible medium, and the other finds more abstract ways to express themselves.
Practical Kindness vs. Idealism
By virtue of their shared Feeling personality trait, both Adventurers and Mediators are likely to be moved by the plight of others. But when it comes to their generosity and caring, Adventurers again show more practicality.
Rather than just giving money that a charity or person might waste, Adventurers are more likely to want guarantees that they are using the contribution effectively and addressing the presented needs. It would be unfair to say that Mediators spend their charity money foolishly, but they’re likely to ask fewer questions and assume more goodwill.
According to our research, Mediator personalities are also more likely to admit to being impulsive, which may come into play when faced with a chance to give. As a result, they may take less time to ponder all the ramifications of their contributions.
Adventurers want concrete results and may be warier of intentions until they receive certain assurances. This hard-nosed approach can make Adventurer personalities appear less generous, although they may be just as willing to give after receiving assurances. Mediators can put an almost romantic spin on their idealism, making the criteria for their giving less exacting and perhaps giving the appearance of the Mediator being more generous.
Saint Augustine argued that the future doesn’t exist because it hasn’t happened yet, and the past doesn’t exist because those bygone times have already evaporated. And following this logic, the present is a fleeting thing that doesn’t exist because the present becomes the past the moment it happens.
Augustine hinted at what Einstein would one day say: our subjective concept of time is misleading. The meaning behind the ticking of the clock is all perception and constructs. So much for mindfulness, right?
Observant personality types like Adventurers are more likely to focus on what we call the present. Intuitive types like Mediators are more likely to explore the future and past with the vehicle of their imagination.
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