a.j. drenth
A.J. is the principal visionary and founding father of PersonalityJunkie™, which he conceived in 2009 with the aim of exploring the theoretical underpinnings of psychological type and related areas of personality study. His research has primarily involved Jungian typology (and its relative, the Myers-Briggs® taxonomy), while occasionally touching on the Enneagram and Big-Five models as well.
Consistent with his own personality type (INTP), A.J. prefers to take an explorative approach to personality studies, often incorporating philosophy and Socratic methodology into his writing and analysis. Personality novices and professionals alike resonate with A.J.’s intellectual yet informal style, which seeks to guide, rather than direct, readers along a path toward self-understanding and personal growth. A self-professed autodidact, A.J. has become a recognized authority on personality psychology with over a decade of self-guided research and writing, and has been referenced in numerous books, articles, and e-publications.
In 2011, A.J. partnered with his wife and fellow personality enthusiast, Elaine Schallock (see Bio below). With a shared focus on personality theory, A.J. and Elaine use their contrasting styles (a veritable introverted intuitive Yin/Yang as INTP and INFJ, respectively) to create a sum greater than its personality parts. Their collaboration has overseen a remarkable growth in breadth and depth of typological insight, the value of which is self-evident: from its humble beginnings, PersonalityJunkie™ has grown to see over 1 million visitors annually, generated over 50,000 newsletter subscribers, and sold over 20,000 books. In addition to these accomplishments, A.J. has authored four e-books and currently boasts the two best-selling INTP books on Amazon.com.
elaine schallock
Elaine has been an ardent follower and student of personality theory since she was first introduced to the Myers-Briggs taxonomy over 20 years ago. A true Jungian, she began conducting independent research and writing about typology in 2010, shortly before beginning her collaboration with A.J. and PersonalityJunkie™.
Elaine’s theories and insights are responsible for shaping much of the material found in blog posts and type profiles, particularly PersonalityJunkie’s most popular profile – the INFJ. Along with these contributions, Elaine is skilled at helping others understand themselves and facilitating their personal growth within the context of typology. She has used this gift over the years to provide personal advice and insight to readers seeking more direct guidance.
As an INFJ, Elaine is especially passionate about depth psychology and understanding the subconscious factors that come in to play with respect to psychological type. Her work has focused largely on the inferior function and its role in the individuation process. She is currently in the process of authoring two books utilizing these key concepts. You can find a list of Elaine’s recent posts here.
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