The Development of the Myers-Briggs Test
The MBTI tool was developed by Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother Katharine Cook Briggs in 1942.
The MBTI is rooted in Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types, which proposed four essential psychological functions: judging (thinking and feeling) and perceiving (sensation and intuition).
Jung believed that one combination of these functions is dominant for a person most of the time.
Jung’s theory also posits that individuals are either introverts or extraverts, which is why E or I is the first letter in the personality type code. The remaining three functions operate in the opposite orientation.
The Four Dichotomies
This assessment aims to assign individuals into one of four categories based on how they perceive the world and make decisions, enabling respondents to further explore and understand their own personalities.
The four categories are: introversion or extraversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, and judging or perceiving. Each person is said to have one preferred quality from each category, producing 16 unique personality types.
Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I)
- These are opposite ways to direct and receive energy. Do you prefer to focus on the outer world (E) or your inner world (I)?
- This dichotomy describes how people respond and interact with others and orient themselves within the world around them.
Extraverts tend to be action-oriented – focusing on other people and things, feeling energized by the presence of others, and emitting energy outwards.
Introverts are more thought-oriented. They enjoy deep and meaningful social interactions and feel recharged after spending time alone.
Test
- After attending a large social gathering, do you usually feel: A. Energized and ready for more interaction B. Drained and in need of alone time
- When faced with a problem, do you prefer to: A. Talk it out with others B. Reflect on it alone
- Which word resonates with you more: A. Outgoing B. Reserved
Scoring: If you answered mostly A, you may lean towards Extraversion (E). If you answered mostly B, you may lean towards Introversion (I).
Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)
- Do you prefer to focus on the basic information you take in (S), or do you prefer to interpret and add meaning (N)?
- This dichotomy describes how people gather and perceive information.
- Sensing-dominant people tend to prefer to focus on facts and details and perceive the world around them through their five senses.
- Intuition-dominant types are more abstract in their thinking, focusing on patterns, impressions, and future possibilities.
Test
- When learning something new, do you prefer: A. Step-by-step instructions B. A broad overview of concepts
- In decision-making, do you rely more on: A. Past experiences and concrete facts B. Potential future outcomes and abstract theories
- Which word appeals to you more: A. Practical B. Imaginative
Scoring: If you answered mostly A, you may lean towards Sensing (S). If you answered mostly B, you may lean towards Intuition (N).
Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)
- When making decisions, do you prefer to first look at logic and consistency (T) or first look at the people and special circumstances (F)?
This dichotomy describes how people make decisions and use judgments.
Thinking types use logic and facts to judge the world, while feeling types tend to consider emotions.
Test
- When making a difficult decision, do you prioritize: A. Logical analysis and objective facts B. The impact on people involved and personal values
- In a debate, are you more concerned with: A. Winning the argument with sound logic B. Maintaining harmony and considering all perspectives
- Which word do you identify with more: A. Objective B. Empathetic
Scoring: If you answered mostly A, you may lean towards Thinking (T). If you answered mostly B, you may lean towards Feeling (F).
Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)
- In dealing with the outside world, do you prefer to get things decided (J), or do you prefer to stay open to new information and options (P)?
This dichotomy describes how people tend to operate in the outside world and reveals the specific attitudes of the functions.
Those judging dominant tend to be more methodical and results-oriented and prefer structure and decision-making.
Perceiving dominant individuals are more adaptable and flexible and tend to be good at multitasking.
Test
- Do you prefer to: A. Have a detailed plan for your day B. Go with the flow and adapt as needed
- When working on a project, do you like to: A. Finish one task completely before moving to the next B. Juggle multiple tasks and switch between them
- Which word describes you better: A. Structured B. Flexible
Scoring: If you answered mostly A, you may lean towards Judging (J). If you answered mostly B, you may lean towards Perceiving (P).
The dominant function is the primary aspect of personality, while the auxiliary and tertiary functions play supportive roles.
The 16 Personality Types
ISTJ – The Logistician
These individuals tend to be serious, matter-of-fact, and reserved. They appreciate order and organization and pay a great deal of attention to detail.
They like to plan things out in advance and place an emphasis on tradition and law. They are responsible and realistic and can be described as dependable and trustworthy.
ISFJ – The Defender
These individuals are friendly, responsible, and reserved. They are service and work-oriented, committing to meeting their obligations and duties.
They are loyal, considerate, and place a lot of focus on the care of others. They are non-confrontational and value an orderly and harmonious environment.
INFJ – The Advocate
People with this personality type are serious, logical and hardworking. They are also compassionate, conscientious, and reserved.
They value close, deep connections and are sensitive to the needs of others, but also need time and space alone to recharge.
INTJ The Architect
These people are highly independent, self-confident and prefer to work alone. They are analytical, creative, logical, and driven.
They place an emphasis on logic and fact rather than emotion and can be viewed as perfectionist.
They tend to have high expectations of competence and performance for themselves and others.
ISTP – The Crafter
People with this personality type are fearless and independent. They love adventure, new experiences, and risk-taking.
They tend to be quiet observers and are not well attuned to the emotional states of others, sometimes coming across as insensitive or stoic.
They are results- oriented, acting quickly to find workable solutions and understand the underlying cause of practical problems.
ISFP – The Artist
These individuals are quiet, friendly, easy going, and sensitive. They have a strong need for personal space and time alone to recharge.
They value deep connection and prefer to spend time with smaller groups of close friends and family.
They are highly considerate and accepting, avoiding confrontation and committed to their values and to people who are important to them.
INFP – The Mediator
These people are creative, idealistic, caring, and loyal. They have high values and morals, and are constantly seeking out ways to understand people and to best serve humanity.
They are family and home-oriented and prefer to interact with a select group of close friends.
INTP – The Thinker
People with this personality type are described as quiet, contained, and analytical. They are highly focused on how things work and on solving problems, and tend to be good at logic and math.
They are more interested in ideas and theoretical concepts than in social interaction. They are loyal and affectionate to their closest friends and family, but tend to be difficult to get to know.
ESTP – The Entrepreneur
These individuals are action-oriented, taking pragmatic approaches to obtain results and solve problems quickly. They are often sophisticated, charming, and spontaneous.
They are outgoing and energetic, and enjoy spending time with a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. They focus on the here and now and prefer the practical over the abstract.
ESFP – The Entertainer
These people tend to be outgoing, friendly, and impulsive, seizing energy from other people. They love to be the center of attention and enjoy working with others in new environments.
They can be described as easy going, fun, and optimistic. They are spontaneous and focused on the present moment, and enjoy learning through hands-on experiences with other people.
ENFP – The Champion
These individuals are enthusiastic, creative, energetic, and highly imaginative. They have excellent people and communication skills and are good at giving others appreciation and support.
They do, however, seek approval from others. They value emotions and expression. They dislike routine and might struggle with disorganization and procrastination.
ENTP – The Debater
People with this personality type can be described as innovative, outspoken, and lively. They are idea-oriented and are more focused on the future rather than on the present moment.
They enjoy interacting with a wide variety of people and love to engage with others in debates. They tend to be easy to get along with, but also can be argumentative at times. They are great conversationalists and make good entrepreneurs.
ESTJ – The Director
These people are responsible, practical, and organized. They are assertive and like to take charge, focused on getting results in the most efficient way possible. They have clear standards and place a high value on tradition and rules.
They can be seen as rigid, stubborn, or bossy as they are forceful in implementing their plans. However, they tend to excel at putting plans into action because they are hardworking, self-confident, and dependable.
ESFJ – The Caregiver
These individuals are warmhearted, conscientious, and harmonious. They wear their hearts on their sleeves and tend to see the best in others.
They enjoy helping others and providing the care that people need, but want to be appreciated and noticed for their contributions. They are careful observers of others and excel in situations involving personal contact and community.
ENFJ – Protagonist
These people are responsible, warm, and loyal. They are highly attuned to the emotions of others and capable of forging friendships with essentially anybody.
They have a desire to help others fulfill their potential, and they derive personal satisfaction from helping others. They tend to make good leaders as they are highly capable of facilitating agreement among diverse groups of people.
ENTJ – The Commander
These individuals like to take charge. They value organization and structure and appreciate long-term planning and goal setting.
They have strong people skills and enjoy interacting with others, but they are not necessarily attuned to their own emotions or the emotions of others.
They have strong leadership skills and tend to make good executives, captains, and administrators.
Benefits of MBTI
Below are some of the strengths and possible benefits of the MBTI:
- Enhanced self-awareness: The MBTI can be useful for individuals to understand their own preferences and how they might approach different situations.
- Framework for understanding others: The MBTI can help people understand and appreciate differences in others, potentially improving interpersonal relationships and team dynamics.
- Stress Management: Understanding one’s MBTI type may provide insights into personal stressors and effective coping mechanisms.
- Learning Preferences: MBTI may indicate preferred learning styles, helping educators tailor their teaching methods and students optimize their study habits.
- Personal Growth: MBTI can highlight areas for potential personal development by encouraging exploration of less-preferred functions.
Criticisms of MBTI
The MBTI has been criticized as a pseudoscience and does not tend to be widely endorsed by psychologists or other researchers in the field. Some of these critiques include:
- Categorization vs. Continuous Traits: The MBTI forces individuals into dichotomous categories (e.g., introvert or extrovert) when personality traits are more likely to be continuously distributed. This can lead to oversimplification and misrepresentation of an individual’s personality.
- Low Test-Retest Reliability: Studies have shown that the MBTI has relatively low test-retest reliability, meaning individuals can get different results when taking the test multiple times. This inconsistency raises concerns about the stability and accuracy of the MBTI in identifying a person’s “true type”.
Lack of Predictive Validity: Despite its popularity in workplace settings, the MBTI has shown limited predictive validity for job performance or other important outcomes. This lack of empirical support undermines its effectiveness as a selection or development tool.
Conceptual Overlap with the Big Five: Research suggests that the MBTI dimensions overlap significantly with the more robust and widely accepted Big Five personality traits. This overlap calls into question the unique contribution of the MBTI.
- Not based on scientific framework: The scales show relatively weak validity as the psychological types created by Carl Jung were not based on any controlled studies and many of the studies that endorse MBTI are methodologically weak or unscientific.
- Vague language: The terminology of the MBTI is incomprehensive and vague, allowing any kind of behavior to fit any personality type.
Take the MBTI (Paper Version)
Sources
Francis, L. J., & Village, A. (2022). The Francis Psychological Type Scales (FPTS): Factor structure, internal consistency reliability, and concurrent validity with the MBTI.Mental Health, Religion & Culture,25(9), 931-951. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2022.2041584
Furnham, A. (2022). The big five facets and the MBTI: The relationship between the 30 NEO-PI (R) Facets and the four Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) scores.Psychology,13(10), 1504-1516.
Myers, I. B. (1962). The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: Manual (1962).
Myers, Isabel B.; Myers, Peter B. (1995) [1980]. Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type. Mountain View, CA: Davies-Black Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89106-074-1.
Pittenger, D. J. (2005). Cautionary Comments Regarding the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 57(3), 210-221.
Stein, R., & Swan, A. B. (2019). Evaluating the validity of Myers‐Briggs Type Indicator theory: A teaching tool and window into intuitive psychology.Social and Personality Psychology Compass,13(2), e12434. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12434
The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®. The Myers & Briggs Foundation: MBTI Basics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/
