Personality types are ways of describing consistent patterns in how people think, feel and behave. On YouTube, the most popular approaches are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) with its 16 types, the Big Five traits used in academic psychology, and the Enneagram with its nine types. Videos range from TED talks by psychologists to animated explainers and creators who act out each type.
Last updated: 10 November 2026
Reading time: about 7 minutes
How we wrote this article: this article was written by Saj Ali. Every video and channel was checked on YouTube in November 2026, with view and subscriber counts rounded from YouTube at the time of checking. Research on personality is linked to the original studies.
Personality on YouTube in brief
- Start with. Brian Little’s TED talk, Who are you, really?
- Introversion. Susan Cain’s TED talk, The power of introverts.
- Big Five. Sprouts’ animated explainer and Jordan Peterson’s lectures.
- MBTI. Frank James, Psych2Go and Personality Hacker.
- Enneagram. Frank James’s intro to the nine types.
Contents
- The Main Personality Models
- Best TED Talks on Personality
- Best Videos on the Big Five
- Best Channels for MBTI and the 16 Types
- Best Videos on the Enneagram
- What Research Shows About Personality
- Personality at Work and in Relationships
- How to Use Personality Videos for Growth
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
- Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
- Sources
The Main Personality Models
| Model | Structure | Where it comes from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Five (OCEAN) | Five traits on a scale: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism | Decades of research in academic psychology | Understanding traits with strong research support |
| MBTI | 16 types from four preferences: E/I, S/N, T/F, J/P | Based on Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types, developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers | Self-reflection, teamwork and communication |
| Enneagram | Nine types, each with a core motivation and fear | Modern teachers drawing on older traditions | Exploring motivations and personal growth |
| Introversion and extraversion | A spectrum of how people gain and spend energy | Jung, then trait psychology | Understanding social energy |
Each model offers a different lens. Many people find it useful to look at themselves through more than one. Take our personal values quiz or emotional intelligence quiz for other angles on self-awareness.
Best TED Talks on Personality
| Video | Speaker | Length | Views |
|---|---|---|---|
| The power of introverts | Susan Cain | 19 min | 17.8M |
| Who are you, really? The puzzle of personality | Brian Little | 15 min | 14.0M |
| What’s Your Type? | Jean Kummerow, TEDxGrinnellCollege | 21 min | 1.1M |
| Do personality tests work? | Merve Emre, TED-Ed | 5 min | 1.3M |
Why watch: Susan Cain, author of Quiet, explains why introverts bring valuable strengths. Psychologist Brian Little describes how people can act “out of character” in service of things they care about, through what he calls free traits. Jean Kummerow, a psychologist who has worked with the MBTI for decades, explains how type can improve understanding between people. Merve Emre’s TED-Ed lesson tells the history of the Myers-Briggs test.
Best Videos on the Big Five
| Video | Channel | Length | Views |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Big Five Personality Traits | Sprouts | 6 min | 1.8M |
| Measuring Personality: Crash Course Psychology #22 | CrashCourse | 11 min | 3.5M |
| Introduction to Traits, Psychometrics and the Big 5 | Jordan B Peterson | 50 min | 1.9M |
Why watch: Sprouts gives a quick animated overview. Crash Course explains how psychologists measure personality. Jordan Peterson’s university lecture goes deep into the research behind the five traits.
Best Channels for MBTI and the 16 Types
| Channel | Subscribers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Psych2Go | 13.2M | Animated videos on introverts, personality types and relationships |
| Frank James | 1.4M | Funny skits where the 16 types act out everyday situations, plus explainers |
| C.S. Joseph | 70K | In-depth lessons on cognitive functions |
| Personality Hacker | 56K | Joel and Antonia Mark on using type for personal growth |
| Erik Thor | 43K | Detailed type and cognitive function discussions |
Popular videos to start with:
- Myers-Briggs Explained in Less than 5 Minutes (Frank James, 1.0M views)
- What are the Cognitive Functions of the 16 Personalities? (Frank James, 589K views)
- 16 Personalities Interacting in Class (Frank James, 1.1M views)
Best Videos on the Enneagram
| Video | Channel | Length | Views |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intro to the Enneagram: What are the 9 Personality Types? | Frank James | 11 min | 726K |
| The Enneagram Explained with Movie Characters | Josh Keefe | 15 min | 1.1M |
The nine Enneagram types are often named:
| Type | Common name | Core motivation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reformer | To be good and right |
| 2 | Helper | To be loved and needed |
| 3 | Achiever | To be valued and successful |
| 4 | Individualist | To be unique and authentic |
| 5 | Investigator | To understand and be capable |
| 6 | Loyalist | To feel safe and supported |
| 7 | Enthusiast | To be happy and free |
| 8 | Challenger | To be strong and in control |
| 9 | Peacemaker | To have inner and outer peace |
What Research Shows About Personality
| Study | Finding |
|---|---|
| Roberts et al., 2007 | In long-term studies, personality traits predicted mortality, divorce and career success as strongly as socioeconomic status and cognitive ability |
| Roberts et al., 2017 | A review of 207 studies found personality traits changed during interventions such as therapy, especially emotional stability, with changes lasting at follow-up |
Two key lessons: personality matters for real-life outcomes, and it is not fixed. Traits can shift over time and with deliberate effort, which is why personality models are useful tools for growth rather than labels.
Personality at Work and in Relationships
Personality videos are popular because they help people make sense of everyday differences.
| Situation | How personality knowledge helps |
|---|---|
| Teamwork | Seeing why some colleagues want detail and others want the big picture |
| Leadership | Adapting your style to what motivates each person |
| Romantic relationships | Understanding different needs for time alone, planning or spontaneity |
| Family | Recognising that a quiet child may be recharging, not unhappy |
| Career choice | Matching work to your energy and strengths |
Introverts and extraverts, for example, often need different amounts of social time to feel their best. Knowing this can turn “Why don’t you want to come out?” into a calmer conversation about balance. Our guides to improving communication in relationships and shyness and social confidence build on these ideas.
How to Use Personality Videos for Growth
- Take a reputable test. The Big Five is widely used in research. The official MBTI assessment is given by certified practitioners.
- Watch with curiosity, not certainty. Use your type as a starting point for reflection.
- Look at strengths and blind spots. Note one strength to use more and one habit to work on.
- Use it in relationships. Watching how other types think can build empathy for partners, family and colleagues.
- Revisit it. People often see themselves differently as they grow.
- Ask others. Friends and family can tell you which description sounds most like you, which often adds a useful outside view.
| If you want to… | Watch |
|---|---|
| Understand introversion | Susan Cain’s TED talk |
| Learn the science | Crash Course and Sprouts on the Big Five |
| Learn MBTI quickly | Frank James’s 5-minute explainer |
| Explore motivations | Frank James’s Enneagram intro |
| Understand yourself at work | Brian Little’s TED talk |
See also our guides to the Johari window, emotional intelligence and love languages vs attachment styles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best YouTube video on personality?
Brian Little’s TED talk, Who are you, really? The puzzle of personality, and Susan Cain’s The power of introverts are two of the most watched and respected.
What are the Big Five personality traits?
Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism, often remembered as OCEAN.
Who explains MBTI on YouTube?
Popular channels include Frank James, Psych2Go, Personality Hacker, C.S. Joseph and Erik Thor.
What are the nine Enneagram types?
Reformer, Helper, Achiever, Individualist, Investigator, Loyalist, Enthusiast, Challenger and Peacemaker.
Can your personality change?
Yes. A review of 207 studies found personality traits changed during interventions such as therapy, and the changes lasted at follow-up.
Which personality model has the most research?
The Big Five has the largest body of academic research behind it.
Key Takeaways
- The Big Five, MBTI and Enneagram are the most popular personality models on YouTube.
- Susan Cain’s and Brian Little’s TED talks are great starting points.
- Frank James and Psych2Go make types easy to understand.
- Personality predicts important life outcomes and can change over time.
- Use your type for reflection and empathy, not as a fixed label.
Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
Use these pages alongside this one:
- Johari Window – see yourself as others do
- Personal Values Quiz – find what matters most to you
- Emotional Intelligence Quiz – score your four EI skills
- Leadership Style Quiz – find your leadership style
- Best Self-Help YouTube Channels – more channels to follow
- Shyness and Social Confidence – building confidence as an introvert
- Browse all self-help techniques – compare every method on Self Help Supermarket.
Sources
- Roberts, B. W., Kuncel, N. R., Shiner, R., Caspi, A., and Goldberg, L. R. (2007). The power of personality: The comparative validity of personality traits, socioeconomic status, and cognitive ability for predicting important life outcomes. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2(4), 313–345. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6916.2007.00047.x
- Roberts, B. W., Luo, J., Briley, D. A., Chow, P. I., Su, R., and Hill, P. L. (2017). A systematic review of personality trait change through intervention. Psychological Bulletin, 143(2), 117–141. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000088
- Cain, S. (2012). Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. New York: Crown.
- YouTube listings for each video and channel, checked November 2026. https://www.youtube.com/
Self Help Supermarket guides are for general information and are not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.