Why You’d Make a Great Traitor, Based on Your Myers and Briggs Personality Type
In case you missed it, The Traitors made its dramatic return to American screens in January for its third season. For the uninitiated, the Traitors is basically a murder mystery on steroids. It thrusts 22 strangers into a moody Scottish castle, where a handful are secretly chosen as ‘traitors.’
These traitors are tasked with eliminating the rest—‘faithfuls’—without getting caught. Each night, the whole group votes to banish someone they suspect is a liar, but if traitors remain, they secretly ‘murder’ a faithful once midnight strikes.
To avoid getting discovered, the traitors must master the art of appearing like a faithful: blending in, earning trust and subtly steering suspicions away from themselves and onto innocent players. And that got me thinking—life is full of moments where you have to keep a cool poker face. What aspect of each personality type would give them the traitorous upper hand?
Read on to discover why your type is natural at deception. And if you don’t know what your type is yet, take the TypeFinder test here.
ESFJ: You’re Disarmingly Friendly
ESFJs are naturally warm-hearted, outgoing individuals who excel at finding common ground with others. When it’s time to tell a lie, you might feel the urge to shrink into yourself—but this would only raise suspicion! You are your most traitorous when you lean into your natural talents. Your warmth, friendliness and charm will disarm the people around you, making them believe you’re far too open and trustworthy to be tricking them. You snake in the grass.
ISFJ: You're Too Loyal to Be a Turncoat
Dependable, kind and loyal ISFJs don’t love the idea of lying to anyone...and that’s what makes you so good at it. When push comes to shove and you’re forced to betray your allies, no one will suspect a thing. You have this incredible ability to make people feel valued and understood, using your empathy to stay fully present and taking interest in the people around you. Your geniality will put others at ease, leaving them none the wiser to your hidden agenda.
ENFJ: You’re Super Charismatic
ENFJs are visionary, inspiring individuals who deeply care about the people around them. Your greatest strength when it comes to playing Judas is your charisma. As a natural leader, you have an uncanny ability to make people feel seen and heard, and it’s this very strength that will help you avoid suspicion. Be your usual outgoing, passionate self—the people around you will be too caught up in your charm to think you’re lying!
INFJ: You Possess the Gift of Foresight
Imaginative and compassionate, INFJs are known for their uncanny ability to understand other people’s motives and predict their future behaviors. This intuition is your greatest advantage when it comes to being a traitor. You’ll easily be able to anticipate how other people will respond to your lie: what questions they’ll ask, how they’ll react and what evidence they’ll want to see. With this insight, you can map out your responses to make your lie undetectable from the get-go. And people will think you're just being kind.
ESFP: You’re the Tension-Reliever
You're fun-loving and charming, ESFP, with a big heart and ounces of energy. Having to lie, though, can make you anxious and insular. But this would be a huge tell—a departure from your normal, extraverted nature. To pull it off, your best bet is to lean into your fun side: make jokes, engage with others and live in the moment. If you do this, you’ll fly under the radar. People need you in the castle to slice through the tension, so they’ll want to keep you around.
ISFP: No One This Gentle Could Be a Double Crosser
While telling a lie might make you clam up on the inside, ISFP, all people see is your calm and peaceful demeanor. How could anyone suspect this sweet, sensitive soul of being a traitor? Resist the urge to over explain yourself or show signs of stress. Instead, be the humble, soft-spoken person you usually are—no one will have any idea that you're stabbing them in the back with a cruel blade of falsehood.
INFP: Your Lies Are Creatively Complex
With a vivid imagination and a natural talent for storytelling, you, INFP, are perfectly equipped to weave a lie that feels both compelling and genuine. Before going into action, you take your time to carefully craft your narrative, daydreaming up the vivid details so you’re equipped to answer any questions. Your skill for painting a picture with words will allow you to create a lie that’s deeply convincing—fooling those around you effortlessly.
ENFP: You’re an EQ Subversive
ENFPs are empathetic, enthusiastic souls that have a knack for connecting with all sorts of people. Your high emotional intelligence and creativity will be your biggest assets as a ‘traitor’. With a keen understanding of others and a natural gift for storytelling, you’ll be able to weave a lie that totally convinces your audience. They'll think you're a collaborator when you're really a con artist.
ENTJ: You’ve Got Strategy For Days
Intelligent, confident and strong-willed, you approach everything—including deception—like a well-planned mission, ENTJ. Once you’ve set your sights on pulling off a lie, almost nothing will stand in your way. Your long-range focus will help you anticipate obstacles before they arise, allowing you to adjust your strategy and stay in control. With your no-nonsense attitude, people will think you’re far too calm and collected to be deceiving them. They'll probably start following you, and soon you'll have your own merry band of co-sneaks who don't even know they're being used for your own gain.
INTJ: You’re A Little Mysterious
INTJs are strategic, driven individuals who value their independence above all else. You couldn’t care less about being the loudest in the room, or even being noticed—your mind is too busy calculating ten steps ahead. This air of mystery can make you seem a little elusive, leaving people wondering what’s going on in your head. And that, right there, is what makes you a master of deception. When you lie, you won’t over-explain or second-guess yourself—you’ll say it, mean it, and move on. And because no one ever quite knows what you’re thinking, they won’t question a thing.
ESTJ: You’re Incredibly Decisive
While some liars might let their emotions get the better of them, ESTJs are the ultimate cool-headed deceivers. You’re great at making decisions based on logic and objectivity so, when it’s time to spin a lie, you’ll approach it like a goal to be accomplished. Your detail-oriented nature will plan out all the steps, anticipate any problems and deliver your lie with absolute confidence. People will believe whatever you tell them because you say it with conviction.
ISTJ: The Conscientious Conspirator
ISTJs are perhaps the most dependable and responsible of all the 16 types. AKA—not the kind of person to turn traitor. And therein lies your greatest strength when it comes to being a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Your reputation as steadfast and conscientious means the people around you will simply assume you’re telling the truth, because it’s the “right” thing to do. Plus, you know how to maintain your composure, so you won’t give anything away when it’s show time.
ENTP: You’re a Quick Thinker
Smart, adaptable and naturally charming, your greatest traitorous asset is your ability to think on your feet, ENTP. While some might crumble when probed with difficult questions, you will thrive, using your quick wit to fire out believable answers and turning the finger of suspicion back on your inquisitor. And with your natural gift for persuasion, you won’t just tell a lie—you’ll sell it, making sure everyone around you is convinced.
INTP: You’re a Master of Distraction
INTPs love nothing more than a stimulating conversation. Endlessly curious and brimming with knowledge, you can effortlessly guide any discussion in multiple directions. When it comes to lying, this is your greatest strength. You’ll subtly slip a lie into a regular conversation then, before anyone has a chance to question it, you’ll redirect the conversation somewhere else entirely. They say the best lies are sprinkled with truth, and you’re a master at the art of intelligent deception.
ESTP: You’re a Natural Born Improviser
ESTPs were born to think on their feet, steal the spotlight, and work a room. Those three elements make you a natural at lying your way out of a tight spot. You have a knack for making any lie fit any situation, switching up details to suit your needs. Nerves won't get the best of you, and your "group leader" energy will make people believe your word is the gold standard. They'll have no clue you're making it up as you go along.
ISTP: You’re Cool as a Benedict Arnold's Handshake
Some of the biggest tells that give a liar away, like fidgeting, rambling or getting emotional, are simply not in your nature, ISTP. Your reaction to stress is “the less I do, the better.” This laid-back attitude makes it easy for you to lie without breaking a sweat. You are the ultimate sleeper agent—zen on the outside but spring-coiled and ready to strike with tactical brilliance when the opportunity comes.
