‘Best’ Pairings Theory Explained

The purpose of this survey is to test whether the “ultimate” pairing theory is true, where two MBTI types are best suited for each other. There are three ‘best’ pairings for each MBTI type: the golden pair, the silver pair, and the bronze pair. These are the pairings that I have observed to be the most popular on social media, with the golden pair consisting of individuals with complementary cognitive functions. ESTP and ISTJ being Si and Se doms, Ti and Te aux, and so on. The silver pairing has complementary dominant and inferior functions, while their auxiliary and tertiary functions are inverses. The bronze pairings are considered a good match in socionics, as they share the same cognitive functions but are simply reversed relative to each other. The golden pair is the optimal pairing for each MBTI type, which consists of individuals with the same S/N and F/T. An example of a golden pair is ISFP x ESFJ, as both are sensors and feelers. The silver pair is the 2nd-best pair for each MBTI type, including individuals with the same S/N. An example of what this looks like is INFP x ENTJ; they are both intuitives. Lastly, the bronze pair is the 3rd most common match for each MBTI type, comprising individuals with the absolute opposite MBTI types. An example of this is ISTJ x ENFP as they have no letters in common.

The most common pairing that is talked about is the golden pair, which people may think my definition of a golden pair is correct, while others may think my definition of the silver pair is actually the golden pair. The bronze pair is not very talked about, and depending on who you are getting information from, in general, about the top 3 MBTI matches, etc., my system may be different from theirs. How I was able to think that these were the golden, silver, and bronze pairings is due to being inspired by a Reddit post that spoke about the top 3 best matches for each type that had the same logic as what my survey had stated. These are my personal beliefs on what the golden, silver, and bronze pairings are for this particular type of theory and to make this report easier to explain.

To assess whether the top 3 MBTI matches are agreed upon by most people, the arrangement for each MBTI type has been evaluated. In addition, each participant had chosen 1-16 MBTI types available on who they think actually best fits them along with who they are currently most closest with. The question “Do sensors and intuitives get along?” was added for the sake of evaluating the hypothesis “Do sensors and intuitives in a friendship/relationship not work?”