Myers-Briggs Type Indicator And Jung
Myers-Briggs personality test is one of the most well-known personality testing instruments. However, it is not accepted by the entire scientific community. This is because it is not a test that meets the standards of reliability and validity. Nevertheless, MBTI is still extremely popular.
Who has not read about the INFJ personality, the profile that is characterized by introversion, intuition, emotion and judgment? The INFP personality can also resonate with you, as Carl Jung described it as the ” Healer “. Regardless, it’s an obvious fact: these letters organized in labels like INTJ, ESTP definitely attract people’s attention and arouse curiosity.
It would not be wrong to say that it is still one of the most widely used instruments despite the limitations. It is a kind of inventory in the format of a self-report. In other words, you can do it yourself online and discover what your personality type is. It follows the standard developed by Katherine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs-Myers in 1942.
This instrument is based on Carl Jung’s well-known book Psychological Types . Even though you may not know it, Jung was the first to introduce the concepts and extroversion. In addition, he established eight personality types from this dichotomy. Myers-Briggs personality test draws on this typology and lifts it a notch. Keep reading to find out more about this test.
Myers-Briggs personality test – purpose, characteristics and reliability
Isabel Myers and her mother Katherine were fascinated by Jung’s theory when they came across it. Thus, they undertook to apply his theory in a practical way to help people understand individual differences. In other words, to deepen the knowledge of human personality and in turn facilitate an approach to human potential and limitations.
They began to develop this indicator during World War II. They had already published articles of great interest, such as “Meet Yourself: How to find yourself through the personality box” and “Up from barbarism”.
When they presented the Myers-Briggs personality test for the first time, they did so with the idea of ​​facilitating job selection. The goal was to help people choose the jobs that could best enhance their happiness and personal fulfillment.
Two years later, they improved this instrument a bit by publishing a manual on how to use it. In 1956, it changed its name to the current form: Myers-Briggs type indicator.
What information does the Myers-Briggs type indicator give us?
Myers-Briggs personality test tells you how to get information about your personality type. This test describes up to 16 very specific types.
The goal of MBTI is therefore to help you facilitate self-discovery; to know what is your way of treating the world, behaving and relating. To discover your strengths to be able to choose different professional preferences. Even knowing how compatible you are with other people.
What does the Myers-Briggs personality test measure?
This personality test is built on four scales:
Extroversion (E) – Introversion (I)
Note that everyone has both extroversion and introversion. However, there is always a greater tendency for one of them.
Sensing (S) – Intuition (N)
This dimension refers to two ways of interacting with what surrounds you. Thus, sensual people tend to emphasize reality and do so through their senses.
However, the intuitive is carried away by more abstract factors such as emotions, patterns and impressions. The latter is also more imaginative and thoughtful.
Thinking (T) – Feeling (F)
This dimension provides information on how to make decisions. Some are more logical and objective (reasoning and thinking) while others are more emotional.
Judging (J) – Perceiving (P) (Perception)
The last scale tells you how to interpret your surroundings and how to decide. Thus, it is they who judge and always make certain decisions. On the other hand, there are those who are more flexible, perceptive, sensitive and adaptable.
According to the results you get in each of these four dimensions, a code will take the form of a series of letters that will define your personality.
- ISTP – The Craftsman
- ISFJ – The Protector
- ISFP – Artists
- INFJ – Advokaten
- INFP – Healers
- INTJ – Architects
- INTP – The Thinker
- ESTP – The convincing
- ESTJ – The director
- ESDP – The Brave
- ESFJ – Caregivers
- ENFP – The Master
- ENFJ – The donor
- ENTP – The converter
- ENTJ – The Commander
The use and reliability of the personality test
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, the Myers-Briggs personality test is not an instrument with good acceptance from “experts”. This is a popular and controversial instrument. First of all, the descriptions are somewhat diffuse to describe behavior.
In fact, they are so diffuse that the scientific community points out that this instrument falls within what they refer to as the Forer effect, which is a description of feeling immediately identified.
Similarly, you should note that despite criticism, lack of reliability and validity, this instrument is often used in professional areas.
As an Allen Hammer research study explains, it is commonly used in many schools to help students figure out career choices. It is also a recurring test in personal development, as well as the test people do online to find out more about themselves.
However, it will always be more successful if a specialized professional explains the results and ultimately gives you adequate guidance. In any case, no one can deny that it is still an attractive and interesting resource.
