a.j. drenth
A.J. is the principal visionary and founding father of Personality Junkie®, 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 / Myers-Briggs® typology, while remaining conversant with the Enneagram and Big Five models as well. A.J. has authored four books on typology and currently boasts the two best-selling INTP books on Amazon.com. His work has been referenced in numerous books, articles, and e-publications.
In its broadest form, A.J.’s primary interest area is human subjectivity. He is particularly concerned with how the architecture of the mind—our “subjective lens”—shapes our beliefs, values, interests, biases, etc. He believes that investigating the nature of our psychological lenses, including the contributions of personality type, can help us better understand ourselves and our presuppositions.
A.J. has also long been fascinated by the perennial question of “how to live.” On this front, he has devoted much time to exploring topics such as identity, purpose, and authenticity. He is especially interested in how clarifying our identity / purpose as individuals might help us cultivate more meaningful and effective lives. He has found typology useful in this respect as well, drawing on its insights regarding the respective strengths and roles of the personality types.
Consistent with his own type (INTP), A.J. brings an explorative and synthetic approach to personality studies. Novices and professionals alike appreciate his thought-provoking yet accessible writing style. In 2011, he partnered with his wife and fellow personality enthusiast, Elaine Schallock (below). Their collaboration has overseen a remarkable growth in breadth and depth of typological insight.
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 Personality Junkie®.
Elaine’s theories and insights are responsible for shaping much of the material found in blog posts and type profiles. 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 into 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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