Darth Vader Personality examined

We all know Darth Vader is one of the most widely recognized villains and characters in history. His personality, abilities, and behavior have all been extensively discussed and described. I love Star Wars and my favorite character is Darth Vader (I usually gravitate toward villains - less for the evil, more for the depth). Below is my MBTI analysis on Anakin pre- and post-Mustafar, only as an adult. Anakin Pre-Mustafar is an ISTP, and post- is an ISTJ.

He might have a lower score, but Anakin is definitely an introvert who needs time away/alone to process (tinker). He is also often awkward in social settings, though one could argue this is not specific to one type/trait, and also that his upbringing didn't afford him a lot of social charm. Anakin stayed to himself in the Temple and only had a few close relationships (Obi-Wan, Padme, etc). Sensing is much more solid: Anakin is practical and cynical. We get insight into his worldview on Naboo when he discussed politics and the Republic with Padme and she calls him a cynic. Anakin is very black-and-white in his thinking and very narrow-minded. There is not a lot of nuance in how he views enemies. He is very down to earth and takes care of his men. He is also mechanically-inclined and loves taking risks and thrills (very close to ESTP). 

There can be no doubt that Anakin is a T. Very emotional? Yes. Makes rash decisions based off of emotions? Yes. These are the markers of someone who is unable to fully understand and process his emotions. Anakin is not in-tune with his emotions. Also, taking a step back, it is difficult to see Anakin as the ISFP from an altruistic perspective; Anakin is more tough and bold than kind and caring. He is also very calm in the heat of battle and is able to disregard fear and loss when engaging in a conflict. Perceptive (P) is clear from Anakin's rash behavior and supreme improvisational skills. He also does not seriously desire to control his surroundings until he gets closer to the climax of episode 3. Going back to his cynicism, Anakin only begins to see a way to control events and the galaxy as he gets closer to Palpatine and closer to roles of power (e.g. general, Jedi Councilor, liaison to the Chancellor, etc.).

Anakin's need for isolation and time to process alone is made extremely clear when he has turned into Darth Vader. Part of this is the physical isolation he finds thrust upon him with the loss of the few people closest to him AND a suit that puts a barrier between him and everyone and everything around him. The S does not go away but only becomes more intense. Whether he always believed it or his psyche requires him to believe it, Anakin as Darth Vader believes in absolutism and an all-or-nothing worldview in the expansion of the Empire. His differences with Palpatine also help illustrate his lack of big-picture thinking and desire to stick with missions and one-track thinking. Anakin as Vader would rather focus his time and energy to single-minded pursuits.

Vader is very much a Thinker. Any emotion is suppressed (other than rage which has less to do with emotion than trauma). Vader is tactical and able to dole out punishment with ease. As for the major change from P to J, when Anakin assumes the role of Vader he is not only donning a suit, but the ability to change the course of events around him. This allows him to turn his long-felt cynicism into something productive where he can make the changes he desired.

Darth Vader has been depicted in dozens of films and TV shows, hundreds (if not thousands) of comics, and in the minds of millions of fans for decades. Each source reveals a different aspect or manifestation of his personality, but the common threads lead me to believe he is an ISTP who turns to an ISTJ after the events of Mustafar. What do you think?