The Night King on Game of Thrones / Image by Helen Sloan/HBO
Game of Thrones characters run the gamut of personalities. Let’s see how your favorite Game of Thrones characters fit into personality categories based on science!
Remember in high school when your guidance counselor came into one of your classes to talk to you about personality traits?
Mine came in during sixth period English class senior year to give us the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to help us determine what we should study in college. After answering a bunch of questions, the test identifies you as one of 16 personalities with variations of the letters E, I, N, S, T, F, P, and J.
Think of it as a Venn Diagram with letters, not sections.
According to Carl G. Jung, who developed psychological types, the source and direction of a person’s energy can be classified as extraverted (E) or introverted (I). A person perceives information either by sensing (S) or intuition (I). Then, a person processes information by either thinking (T) or feeling (F).
Isabel Briggs Myers, who studied Jung’s theories closely, developed the fourth psychological type, which is how a person applies the information he or she processed, judging (J) or perceiving (P).
NOTE: I am an ENFJ or a protagonist. One of the careers for this personality type happens to be a writer, so it looks like I’m the right track!
Since the final season of Game of Thrones is so tight-lipped, I wonder if we can find some hints as to what we can expect from our favorite characters based on their Myers Briggs personality type.
Since there are 16 Myers Briggs personalities, I’ll name one character for every personality.
Let’s dive in!
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen (Credit: Macall B. Polay/HBO)
ENFJ – Daenerys Targaryen
Many people with an ENFJ personality type are kings and queens. That’s because they are engaging, charismatic, and social people. They also excel at reading people and persuasive. It comes in handy for getting people to do what they want.
Think of it. Dany was in exile and, yes, her brother arranged her marriage to Drogo, but she took charge pretty quickly and never stopped gaining power and followers. The people who serve her love her and she took over places that needed a leader. She listened to the people and gave them what they wanted (breaker of chains, hello?).
And while ENFJs enjoy helping others, sometimes their intentions aren’t always selfless. Dany may have freed a lot of people, but she was stoked to gain so many armies and lands to rule to build her resume to take back Westeros.
Sophie Turner, Jon Snow (Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO)
INFJ –Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen)
An INFJ personality believes their purpose in life is to help others. They tend to be soft-spoken but have strong convictions. They very rarely use their energy for personal gain; it’s always for the benefit of others.
Jon Snow is a perfect example of an INFJ because his life has been all about helping other people. He left the Starks to join the Night’s Watch because he knew it could be an opportunity for him to not only do good but also find his place in the world.
He became a significant asset to the Watch, training and helping his brothers develop their fighting skills. His avocation for the Wildlings coming south of the Wall rose eyebrows from some of his brothers, but it was all in the name for the greater good.
He quite literally puts other before himself time and time again and will stop at nothing to protect Westeros from the greater threat up north.
Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister (Image: HBO)
ESFJ – Cersei Lannister
She’s currently sitting on the Iron Throne, and it was quite a ride getting there. Cersei’s vindictive side stems from her fierce protectiveness over her three children. Sure, she loves having power, but it pales in comparison than the way she feels about her offspring (with her brother). She will stop at nothing to protect those she loves.
I never said she was good at it though. Because all three of her children are no longer with us… well, except for the one she’s carrying right now.
ESFJ personalities love the spotlight. And I think the more power she has, the more she loves the attention. When someone wrongs her, she offers paybacks in spectacular fashion (the Great Sept wildfire explosion). And, she takes credit for it all.
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Maisie Williams (Credit: Macall B. Polay/courtesy of HBO)
ISTP – Arya Stark
ISTP personalities tend to be down-to-earth and logical. And Arya, while seemingly unbalanced at times is very rational. She has a hit list of everyone who has done her or her family wrong.
So, it’s only reasonable that she will wrong these people – An eye for an eye!
ISTPs are also up for anything and can adapt when needed. When Arya found herself in Westeros without her family, she had to figure out how to survive, even if that meant disguising herself as a boy so that her true identity could be hidden.
Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister (Image by HBO)
ENTJ – Tywin Lannister
Tywin is your typical ENTJ, who is a leader and not afraid to seize opportunities. Before his own son killed him, he was the one calling all the shots. And everyone had to fall in line.
Not only was he the head of House Lannister and his own army, he then became Hand of the King for his grandson, Joffrey. So, he was acting as the king, without actually sitting on the Iron Throne. And being in charge makes him perfectly content. As long as he gets his way, he’s happy.
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister (Credit Macall B. Polay/HBO)
ENTP – Tyrion Lannister
An ENTP personality likes to surround his or herself with people whom they can have intellectual conversations. They also are logical and accept challenges with innovation and energy.
Tyrion’s entire life was a challenge. Born a dwarf, his father and sister always treated him with vitriol. So, what does he do? Makes the best of things! He read books, became intelligent, and surrounded himself with people he could talk to and entertain him. He even had a meaningful relationship with his…“girlfriend,” Shae – that is until she betrayed him.
For someone who faced adversity his entire life, he found a way to survive. Even when his trial-by-combat fighter lost, he found a way to survive, and now he’s the Hand to Queen Daenerys. She values his opinion because he’s inventive, yet logical.
Aidan Gillen as Petyr Baelish (Credit Helen SloanHBO)
INTJ – Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger)
INTJ personalities are the ultimate strategists. They’re in it for the long con if that’s the best course of action because they will step back and consider all possibilities. I bet a lot of INTJs have won competition shows like Survivor and Big Brother because they’re always two steps ahead.
How appropriate that the personality dubbed “the Mastermind” is associated with Littlefinger? He started from nothing with aspirations to take the Iron Throne. He developed a lie that got Ned Stark killed, thus beginning the War of the Five Kings. Unfortunately for him, his plotting and lies caught up to him.
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister and Conleth Hill as Varys (Credit: Macall B. Polay/HBO)
INTP – Varys (The Spider)
INTPs are observant and analytical. They also enjoy being on their own, almost like a loner. But they hold themselves and others to high standards.
Varys was the Master of Whispers before he hooked up with Tyrion when he fled Kings Landing to find Daenerys. He’s manipulative, like Littlefinger, only his goal isn’t to get the Iron Throne. His goal is to preserve peace in Westeros. He uses his persuasion and network of “little birds” to his advantage. Any decision he makes is for himself, even if it is at the benefit of others.
Sean Bean as Ned Stark (Image by HBO)
ISTJ – Eddard “Ned” Stark
ISTJs are hard-working, organized, and strives to uphold integrity. Basically, you can always count on the Inspector to do the right thing…the honorable thing, even if it kills him. And that’s what happened to Ned Stark.
He literally couldn’t stand the fact that people were lying. He couldn’t let it go. He could have just lived happily in the North doing his thing, but he had to keep picking at the scab that was Cersei Lannister and the true patronage of her brood. I get why he did it. But he believed in honor and truth so much that it led to his own demise and the demise of a crap-ton of other people, too.
Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth (Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO)
ISFJ – Brienne of Tarth
There is a number of characteristics that describe an ISFJ personality is loyal, considerate, and unselfish. And if those don’t describe Brienne of Tarth, I don’t know what does!
Though Brienne isn’t exactly warm, she’s sensitive and takes any task she is given to heart. When her allegiance was first with Renly Baratheon, she tried her best to protect him. And then when it lied with Catelyn Stark, even after her death she serves her daughters as their protector. She’s the ultimate caretaker, although, they don’t really need it.
She’s fiercely loyal, almost to her own detriment. But I’d rather have her on my side than against me because this mama bear will go to battle for her cubs, whether that be the Starks or not.
Richard Madden as Robb Stark (Image by HBO)
ESTJ – Robb Stark
The Supervisor is the one who is happy taking on a leadership role. Naturally, Robb Stark is an ESTJ because when his father died, he was the head of House Stark and immediately fell into that role.
ESTJs are orderly, traditional, and results-oriented. Do you know what “results-oriented” means? It means that someone believes that the outcome means more than the actions that got you there.
So, when Robb was betrothed to Walder Frey’s daughter, and fell in love with and married Talisa anyway. He did it without thinking about his actions or the consequences, which ultimately led to his demise.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister (Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO)
ESTP – Jaime Lannister
Someone with an ESTP personality doesn’t want to be bored with the details, he or she just wants to go out and do the damn thing. Like for Jaime Lannister, the fact that he has affairs with his sister is just minor details.
No, but seriously, the Doer is great at negotiating and can be unconventional at times. Jaime has also proven to be good at talking his way out of situations, especially since he’s been down an appendage. He also goes against the grain, like when he helped his brother escape, or cut ties with Cersei once and for all. But he didn’t get the nickname “the King Slayer” for nothing. He’s a fierce worrier who acts first, asks why later.
Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell (Image by HBO)
ESFP – Oberyn Martell
An ESFP is the life of the party who thrives off the energy of other people. Oberyn Martell, though only with us for one season, was quite the entertainer. Yes, he came to King’s Landing to exact revenge on The Mountain and the Lannisters for his sister’s death. And he found that opportunity by fighting on behalf of Tyrion in a trial by combat against the Mountain.
Tell me that wasn’t an entertaining fight! He was so whimsical and grandiose that he got cocky, and ultimately lost his life.
But his short time on Game of Thrones gave us a taste of his lavish lifestyle and quickly became a fan favorite. Of any character on the show, Oberyn is by far the best performer.
John Bradley as Samwell Tarly and Hannah Murray as Gilly (Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO)
ISFP – Samwell Tarly
ISFPs are great listeners and friends. They also love life, can be spontaneous and likes to be at peace. Of all the Game of Thrones characters, it makes sense Jon Snow’s best friend Sam is an ISFP.
Sam’s father forced him to enter the Night’s Watch so that he, the oldest in his family, couldn’t inherit the head of House Tarly. (Man, I really don’t feel bad for him now.) Even though he isn’t the best fighter or even the bravest of the bunch, he’s smart and perceptive.
He’s a great listener. When Bran told him of Jon’s actual lineage, he was able to recount something Gilly read to him at the Citadel, that may have made no sense then, but proved what Bran was saying was the truth. It reveals one of the biggest mysteries of Game of Thrones: who the actual heir of the Iron Throne is. Thanks to Sam (and Bran) we know!
Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell (Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO)
ENFP – Margaery Tyrell
An ENFP creates his or her own destiny in life, based on their intuition and cleverness. Margaery always adapted to her surroundings.
The Champion personality loves to start new projects. She was meant to be a queen, and it took her a few betrothals to finally become one. When one king kicked the bucket, she found another, until she finally sat beside one. She had to be optimistic and inventive to overcome such obstacles. Although, she couldn’t overcome her final one: getting out of the Great Sept before it blew up by wildfire.
Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy and Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark (Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO)
INFP – Sansa Stark
An INFP tends to find the beauty in otherwise harrowing times. They are usually reserved and quiet, but they can also be creative and passionate.
Sansa Stark personifies and INFP perfectly. We watched Sansa grow from a shy little girl to a fierce and confident woman. She may have gone through traumatic and horrifying experiences, but it only made her true personality come to life. They made her stronger.
What’s your Myers Briggs personality type?
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