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The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality types can be helpful for figuring out why you – and others around you – think and behave the way you do. The MBTI system uses combinations of letters to differentiate between the 16 personality types they’ve come up with, and two of these letters are J and P, which stand for Judging and Perceiving.
In this article, we’ll discuss what each of these personality traits means, as well as their differences and similarities.
Key Takeaways:
| Judging | Prospecting |
|---|---|
| People with the Judging personality trait tend to love making plans and backup plans. | People with the Prospecting personality trait tend to be flexible and good at adapting to all of life’s circumstances. |
| People with the Judging personality trait tend to naturally always think ahead and think through their options. | People with the Prospecting personality trait often seize opportunities as they come. |
| People with the Judging personality trait are typically good at coming up with plans in response to unexpected circumstances. | People with the Prospecting personality trait are typically highly creative and passionate in their ideas and problem-solving. |
| People with the Judging personality trait can easily be too rigid toward themselves and others if they aren’t careful. | People with the Prospecting personality trait can easily become indecisive and have trouble focusing on one thing if they aren’t careful. |
What Is Judging?
Judging is one of the two personality traits the MBTI uses to describe how individuals plan for the future and respond to the choices they have in front of them. People who have the Judging personality trait typically have a plan, enjoy structure, and are decisive.
Here are the basics of what the Judging personality trait typically involves:
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Love of plans. People with the Judging trait tend to have a plan in place, whether that’s a workday to-do list, a vacation itinerary, or a five-year life plan. Often people with this trait also have backup plans for their plans because they feel better knowing they have something in place in case something goes wrong.
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Thinking ahead. This goes hand-in-hand with their love of making plans, but people with the Judging trait are typically the people who are constantly looking ahead and weighing their options for everything they do. They rarely wait until the last minute to decide something, if possible.
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Ability to come up with a plan when the unexpected happens. Judging personalities may prefer to make and stick with the plan, but that doesn’t mean they can’t respond well to the unexpected.
These personality types are the people you want to have around when your flight is delayed, and you have to figure out what to do next because they’re typically pretty good at thinking that through quickly – it just might frustrate and wear them out.
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Can be too rigid. A Judging personality’s love of rules, principles, and structures makes them hard workers, but they can easily become too firm in these. They often hold themselves – and others – to standards that are too high if they aren’t careful.
What Is Prospecting?
Prospecting is one of the two Meyers-Briggs personality traits used to describe how someone plans for the future and responds to choices and circumstances in front of them. Someone with the Prospecting trait typically approaches life as a world of opportunities waiting to be discovered.
Here are a few additional elements of the Prospecting personality trait:
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High levels of flexibility. People with the Prospecting personality trait tend to be very good at going with the flow and quickly adapting to whatever life throws at them. They tend to react to circumstances rather than planning for them, which can mean they aren’t as stressed when things go awry.
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Seize opportunities as they come. Since they typically like to see where life takes them rather than trying to control it, Prospecting personalities are often good at seizing opportunities as they come up. This can lead them to success, but it can also result in impulsive decision-making, which can quickly become damaging.
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Creative and passionate. Those with the Prospecting personality trait tend to be highly creative, coming up with a constant stream of options and ideas. This makes them effective solution-finders and problem-solvers.
Prospecting personalities also often get excited and passionate about the ideas they come up with, even if they move on to another one quickly.
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Can be indecisive and have trouble focusing. Because people with the Prospecting personality trait can see so many exciting possibilities, they can often fall into indecisiveness if they aren’t careful. Many people with this trait also say that they aren’t naturally good at focusing on one thing for very long.
Judging Vs. Prospecting FAQ
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Are INFJs Judgers or Prospectors?
INFJs are Judgers. The last letter of the INFJ personality type is J, which stands for Judging. If the last letter was a P, as in the INFP personality type, they would be Prospectors.
People with the INFJ personality type are often known for being highly principled, using their firm beliefs to help them reach their goals or find solutions for the injustices they encounter in the world. These traits stem in large part from the Judging trait.
INFPs, on the other hand, while they share many personality traits with INFJs, tend to be more imaginative, creative, and open-minded in their approach to solving the injustices and suffering in the world. This is thanks to their Prospecting personality trait.
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What is the skill of the Judging personality trait?
The skills of the Judging personality type are planning and self-motivation. People with the Judging personality trait tend to approach the future by making plans and backup plans.
While this often means they are easily stressed or frustrated by unexpected circumstances, it doesn’t mean they can’t respond to them well: Judging personalities are also good at making plans on the fly.
In addition to being good at making plans, Judging personalities are also good at motivating themselves, as they naturally set goals and make to-do lists to help them reach those goals. This, combined with their principled natures, makes them hard workers.
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What does it mean when a person is Prospecting?
When a person is Prospecting, it means they tend to see life as a series of opportunities and prefer to see what comes rather than making lots of plans.
People with the Prospecting personality trait tend to go with the flow and are typically good at reacting to unexpected circumstances and seizing opportunities that come their way. They’re also often highly creative and can come up with a myriad of ideas or solutions to problems.
Prospecting is a Myers-Briggs personality trait, and it’s the counterpart to the Judging trait, which refers to someone who naturally makes plans and sticks to them in virtually every area of life.
Author
Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.
