Marshall Applewhite MBTI Personality Type
Personality
What personality type is Marshall Applewhite? Marshall Applewhite is an ENFJ personality type in MBTI, 1w2 - so/sx - 152 in Enneagram, SLOAI in Big 5, EIE in Socionics.
In Cults: Inside the World's Most Notorious Groups and Understanding the People Who Joined Them by Max Cutler with Kevin Conley, Applewhite is described: -dreams of becoming a minister. He began his studies as a philosophy major and became an active member of several campus organizations (PG 352) -By his sister Louise as " always born a leader and very charismatic. He could get people to believe anything."(PG 352) - a magnetic personality who signed up for a capella choir, the judiciary council, and the campus association of prospective Presbyterian ministers.(PG 352) -was a music director (PG 352) -received a master's degree in musical theatre, playing the leads in South Pacific and Oklahoma! Charles Byers, a former professor who was close with Applewhite... described him as "happy-go-lucky" and "popular with students" (PG 353) -After Colorado (UofC) he began his life as a troubadour taking any job connected to music. Tried his hand... at Opera... failed to catch on as a stage actor. (PG 353) -became a professor of music and choral director. (PG 353 & again, pg 355) -Many acquaintances from this era remember Applewhite as a well-dressed, charismatic figure who enjoyed being the center of attention and was exceedingly generous and endlessly social (pg 355). ** from these descriptions ENFJ seems accurate to me. INtuitives are more likely to lean towards philosophical studies in higher education. NFs particularly may be interested in religious or spiritual leadership positions given that they are very values-driven according to Briggs & Keirsey. They would also suggest that xNFJs are often very successful in teaching and religious leadership positions, easily developing a following of students. Idealists are often described as "Happy-go-lucky", and generous. I mention occupations and passions because Keirsey's Personology often relies on observing skillsets. The descriptions of his desire and delight at performing lead roles and pursuing the stage in New York seems like an Extroverted endeavor, as well as does "enjoying being the center of attention" and "endlessly social". Plus, later in the book it describes him meeting his accomplice and partner Bonnie Lu Nettles, and their very spiritual meeting, as if divined by the stars seemed like something Idealists might say. As well, they both studied and taught mysticism and theosophy and seemed to truly believe their visions and spiritual ideas. I can see Idealists, who tend to lean towards these spiritual perspectives, as developing a synergistic unity and commitment to their spiritual ideas and wishing to also share those with others. The other personality type cult leaders I've studied tend to say a lot of things that sound spiritual, but they didn't seem to live it themselves, and instead focused more on the manipulation and coercion to feed their addictions, or acquire power and money. Applewhite was more "inspired" and "enthusiastic" about his ideas, seeming genuine, than being particularly convincing and charming about them. -The neuroscientist Sam Harris from his podcast Making Sense says: "This is not a brilliant person, this is not someone who's bowling you over with his ability to connect ideas or turn phrases" (pg366) and that, "In terms of logic or expressiveness or charisma, Applewhite was underwhelming." (PG 367) Connecting ideas and logic would be strengths NTs would have, Turning phrases and expressiveness strengths of SPs. However I think NFs could have these as well, so it's not necessarily a deal breaker. Also described was their "simplicity in presentation, which did not have the theatrical touches of other New Age preachers" (pg 367). I get the impression here that the way they delivered their message was very direct and organized, which J types are particularly good at. They don't complicate things, or go off on side tangents, as xNxP types are more likely to do (Me being one, lol). Their rituals were often described as monastic and included strict schedules. The monastics often displayed a desire for separation, limitation and extreme control of their bodies: this is more of an iNtuitive's agenda, given that they more often value their INtuition over their Senses. Also, the goal in this cult was to reach "Human Metamorphosis". Such ritualistic efforts at transcending ones body towards perfection are often in the spirit of xNxJ types, who have very keen motivation towards direct goals, to sticking to schedules, and would desire to do so with their iNtuitive values towards reaching closer to their form of enlightenment. ( I understand my rationalizations could be false, I could very well be mistaken, but these are my genuine and honest attempts at applying theory which I've been doing for nearly 20 years, and I have no intention ever to stereotype or offend. It can be very difficult to discern type without knowing a person. I'd appreciate it if you disagree to state your reasons kindly and with evidence.)
Biography
Marshall Herff Applewhite Jr. (May 17, 1931 – March 26, 1997), also known as Do, among other names — was an American cult leader who founded what became known as the Heaven's Gate religious group and organized their mass suicide in 1997, claiming the lives of 39 people.
