Which Type Is Electronic Musician Bjork?

Originally Posted by Kharyzmatiq

How can you be sure that all of the qualities here can't point to Ni? Idiosyncrasy, openness, introspection, and abstractness are all facets of an Ni-dom individual as well. I'm not saying you are wrong, but your explanation is way too vague and terse to lead to such a definite conclusion. Do you have further evidence to support your claim?

My response was compact, but I expound on it the best I can. I found her type (INFP) on a website that displays her personality type but I wanted to explain it, instead of just referring you to that site. Ni function is about synthesis, uniting the seemingly paradoxical in order to create a new realization, a new vision, eventually a new goal. This is very much an internal process, it corresponds to introversion. I being an INTJ myself and having a Ni dominate function, I can see this description being applicable to how I gather information and I see this in my younger sister, who also has Ni-dom but is an INFJ. Extroverted intuiters (Ne-auxiliary) notice different abstractions and patterns, contemplating different "what if" possibilities. This function corresponds well with the letter P in INFP, because perceivers do not limit themselves to one construct, they remain open to their environment, ideas, etc. In an INFP artist like Bjork, this results in a burst or bursts of creativity. Bjork is a mature artist, but she had to go through several incarnations, experimenting with different musical outfits to realize who she is. She was in a good number of bands before going solo, (KUKL, Tappi Tikarrass, The Sugarcubes). Even now she still experiments with different musical styles. Her vocal style is very passionate, imploring and idiosyncratic. Bjork herself stated that she was "one of the most idiosyncratic people around." I agree with her.

INFPs are adept to idiosyncrasy, in a way that an INFJ cannot be, because for a INFJ the stimulus comes from within; they are grounded. Notice how you cannot really confine Bjork to any one genre and/or category. It would be difficult/foolish to attempt such a feat because Bjork talents are varied and somehow transcend distinction. Fi-dom in Bjork is shown in her emotional, abstract lyrics. Bjork creates imagery through metaphor, like poetry. Individuals with Fi-dom place importance on their internal values being congruent with their external actions. The primary desire for this function is harmony. I can see this harmony in Bjork's music.

Bjork as a person (in my opinion) seems sweet, but can be moody. She has a lot of inner-strength, she doesn't crack easily. Recall how she dropped her "pixie" image for a more mature, warrior-image. This change was echoed in her Homogenic album. This change corresponds with my impression of INFPs.

Lastly, her influence is boundless. She connects to people on a deeper level. Her music is popular in it's own right, but it has a cult-like following. A good number of artists patterned their work after Bjork's music. She is the archetype of the female avant garde musician. She taps into her own vast pools imagination and creativity.This is why her music strikes an accord with so many.



So finally, she's an introverted, abstract (Ne auxiliary), exploring feeler. She's INFP.

INFP functional stack (Source Type Logic)

Introverted Feeling
INFPs live primarily in a rich inner world of introverted Feeling. Being inward-turning, the natural attraction is away from world and toward essence and ideal. This introversion of dominant Feeling, receiving its data from extraverted intuition, must be the source of the quixotic nature of these usually gentle beings. Feeling is caught in the approach- avoidance bind between concern both for people and for All Creatures Great and Small, and a psycho-magnetic repulsion from the same. The "object," be it homo sapiens or a mere representation of an organism, is valued only to the degree that the object contains some measure of the inner Essence or greater Good. Doing a good deed, for example, may provide intrinsic satisfaction which is only secondary to the greater good of striking a blow against Man's Inhumanity to Mankind.

Extraverted iNtuition
Extraverted intuition faces outward, greeting the world on behalf of Feeling. What the observer usually sees is creativity with implied good will. Intuition spawns this type's philosophical bent and strengthens pattern perception. It combines as auxiliary with introverted Feeling and gives rise to unusual skill in both character development and fluency with language--a sound basis for the development of literary facility. If INTPs aspire to word mechanics, INFPs would be verbal artists.

Introverted Sensing
Sensing is introverted and often invisible. This stealth function in the third position gives INFPs a natural inclination toward absent- mindedness and other-worldliness, however, Feeling's strong people awareness provides a balancing, mitigating effect. This introverted Sensing is somewhat categorical, a subdued version of SJ sensing. In the third position, however, it is easily overridden by the stronger functions.

Extraverted Thinking
The INFP may turn to inferior extraverted Thinking for help in focusing on externals and for closure. INFPs can even masquerade in their ESTJ business suit, but not without expending considerable energy. The inferior, problematic nature of Extraverted Thinking is its lack of context and proportion. Single impersonal facts may loom large or attain higher priority than more salient principles which are all but overlooked.

INF seems like a given (I really don't see Björk as a sensing type). But I would say she gives me more of INFP vibes than INFJ vibes. When I read about her latest album, I was like "Wow, that is so... Conceptual. She might be an Ne-user."


I would assume Thom Yorke is the closest male analog to Björk. He's often typed as an INFJ, so that might be used as a template for differences in approach. Björk is more outwardly exploring, while Yorke seems to be heavily into the use symbols.

Thom Yorke and Bjork have similarities in their methodology; how they approach making music. I read somewhere that Yorke is an INFP, and it would make sense, considering Yorke's abstract lyrics. Listening to Radiohead I noticed these abstractions began with their conceptual OK Computer album and this trend pervaded in their later albums. Use of symbolism can still correspond to an Ne-user. Ne gathers from what is present, so the use of symbols is common is extraverted intuition. Ni-dominate users such as an INFJ have a completely new realization, directed towards spiritual or societal transformation. For example the legendary folk musician Leonard Cohen is an example of an INFJ artist.

Extraverted Intuiting (Source Cognitive Processes)

Extraverted iNtuiting involves noticing hidden meanings and interpreting them, often entertaining a wealth of possible interpretations from just one idea or interpreting what someone’s behavior really means. It also involves seeing things “as if,” with various possible representations of reality. Using this process, we can juggle many different ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and meanings in our mind at once with the possibility that they are all true. This is like weaving themes and threads together. We don’t know the weave until a thought thread appears or is drawn out in the interaction of thoughts, often brought in from other contexts. Thus a strategy or concept often emerges from the here-and-now interactions, not appearing as a whole beforehand. Using this process we can really appreciate brainstorming and trust what emerges, enjoying imaginative play with scenarios and combining possibilities, using a kind of cross-contextual thinking. Extraverted iNtuiting also can involve catalyzing people and extemporaneously shaping situations, spreading an atmosphere of change through emergent leadership

I vote INFP too :)

Bjork seems a clear INFP to me.

Originally Posted by Brel

My response was compact, but I expound on it the best I can. I found her type (INFP) on a website that displays her personality type but I wanted to explain it, instead of just referring you to that site. Ni function is about synthesis, uniting the seemingly paradoxical in order to create a new realization, a new vision, eventually a new goal. This is very much an internal process, it corresponds to introversion. I being an INTJ myself and having a Ni dominate function, I can see this description being applicable to how I gather information and I see this in my younger sister, who also has Ni-dom but is an INFJ. Extroverted intuiters (Ne-auxiliary) notice different abstractions and patterns, contemplating different "what if" possibilities. This function corresponds well with the letter P in INFP, because perceivers do not limit themselves to one construct, they remain open to their environment, ideas, etc. In an INFP artist like Bjork, this results in a burst or bursts of creativity. Bjork is a mature artist, but she had to go through several incarnations, experimenting with different musical outfits to realize who she is. She was in a good number of bands before going solo, (KUKL, Tappi Tikarrass, The Sugarcubes). Even now she still experiments with different musical styles. Her vocal style is very passionate, imploring and idiosyncratic. Bjork herself stated that she was "one of the most idiosyncratic people around." I agree with her.

INFPs are adept to idiosyncrasy, in a way that an INFJ cannot be, because for a INFJ the stimulus comes from within; they are grounded. Notice how you cannot really confine Bjork to any one genre and/or category. It would be difficult/foolish to attempt such a feat because Bjork talents are varied and somehow transcend distinction. Fi-dom in Bjork is shown in her emotional, abstract lyrics. Bjork creates imagery through metaphor, like poetry. Individuals with Fi-dom place importance on their internal values being congruent with their external actions. The primary desire for this function is harmony. I can see this harmony in Bjork's music.

Bjork as a person (in my opinion) seems sweet, but can be moody. She has a lot of inner-strength, she doesn't crack easily. Recall how she dropped her "pixie" image for a more mature, warrior-image. This change was echoed in her Homogenic album. This change corresponds with my impression of INFPs.

Lastly, her influence is boundless. She connects to people on a deeper level. Her music is popular in it's own right, but it has a cult-like following. A good number of artists patterned their work after Bjork's music. She is the archetype of the female avant garde musician. She taps into her own vast pools imagination and creativity.This is why her music strikes an accord with so many.

So finally, she's an introverted, abstract (Ne auxiliary), exploring feeler. She's INFP.

Thanks for that very thorough explanation, and after brooding on it for a while, I completely agree with you. I've read over a few of her interviews, and they definitely scream Fi. She spoke of how as a youngster she was extremely sollitary, and how she decided to connect with others simply to challenge herself, not because of an innate desire to connect (I cannot see an Fe-dom/aux having this view at all). She also flips birds and drops the F-bomb quite liberally, and has this general spirit of difference and contrast, while NFJs tend to delight over the kindred rather than the opposite, and are generally polite and appropriate in behaviour. The whole premise of the song "Wanderlust" ("I feel at home whenever the unknown surrounds me") clearly demonstrates the extraverted nature of her intuition. Perhaps my adoration for her artistry skewed my analysis of her type; that is, I probably wanted her to be an INFJ. But as you've explained, it's quite obvious that she prefers the functions of the INFP.

I'd say Bjork INFJ. Thom Yorke INFP.

I have't paid attention to Bjork until I saw this video recently:


then I was hooked.
Observe her body movements. It seems like she's lost in The Flow. I can relate to that so well, but then again just because I relate to someone so well doesn't mean they're the same type as I am. I still know very little about her, but I just found that mesmerizing to watch.

Originally Posted by Kayness

I have't paid attention to Bjork until I saw this video recently:


then I was hooked.
Observe her body movements. It seems like she's lost in The Flow. I can relate to that so well, but then again just because I relate to someone so well doesn't mean they're the same type as I am. I still know very little about her, but I just found that mesmerizing to watch.

The real beauty of this woman's work is that even when she's up on stage - she never really seems to be there in the moment. She seems to be withdrawn into her own little world. It's hard for me to see her as anything except Ne [and not just because of the imaginative/creative stereotype]. However, her withdrawn nature could also be an indicative of either a 5w4, or 4w5 core - which to me is very much possible.

So .. anyways -- my word on her typing is INFP 5w4 sp/sx. Even if Ne/Se isn't that clear -- I think Fi is pretty much a given.