Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
MyersBriggsTypeIndicator
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
TheMyersBriggsTypeIndicator(MBTI)assessmentisa
psychometricquestionnairedesignedtomeasurepsychological
preferencesinhowpeopleperceivetheworldandmake
decisions.[1][2][3]ThesepreferenceswereextrapolatedbyKatharine
CookBriggsandIsabelBriggsMyersfromthetypologicaltheories
proposedbyCarlGustavJung,andfirstpublishedinhis1921book
PsychologicalTypes(Englishedition,1923[4]).Jungtheorizedthat
therearefourprincipalpsychologicalfunctionsbywhichwe
experiencetheworld:sensation,intuition,feeling,andthinking.[5]
Oneofthesefourfunctionsisdominantmostofthetime.
TheoriginaldevelopersofthepersonalityinventorywereKatharine
CookBriggsandherdaughter,IsabelBriggsMyers.After
extensivelystudyingtheworkofJung,theyturnedtheirinterestin
humanbehaviorintoadevotiontoturnthetheoryofpsychological
typestopracticaluse.[2][6]Theybegancreatingtheindicatorduring
WorldWarIIinthe1940s[2]throughtheirownoriginalresearch,[2]
withthebeliefthataknowledgeofpersonalitypreferenceswould
helpwomenwhowereenteringtheindustrialworkforceforthefirst
timetoidentifythesortofwartimejobsthatwouldbe"most
comfortableandeffective"[1]:xiiiforthem.Theinitialquestionnaire
grewintotheMyersBriggsTypeIndicator,whichwasfirst
publishedin1962.TheMBTIisconstructedfornormalpopulations
andemphasizesthevalueofnaturallyoccurringdifferences.[7]
RobertKaplanandDennisSaccuzzostatedthat"theunderlying
assumptionoftheMBTIisthatweallhavespecificpreferencesin
thewayweconstrueourexperiences,andthesepreferencesunderlie
ourinterests,needs,values,andmotivation."[5]
Contents
Achartwithdescriptionsofeach
MyersBriggspersonalitytypeand
thefourdichotomiescentraltothe
theory.
CarlJungin1910.IsabelBriggs
MyersandKatharineCookBriggs
extrapolatedtheirMBTItheoryfrom
Jung'swritingsinhisbook,
PsychologicalTypes
1Concepts
1.1Type
1.2Fourdichotomies
1.3Attitudes:extraversion/introversion(E/I)
1.4Functions:sensing/intuition(S/N)and
thinking/feeling(T/F)
1.4.1Dominantfunction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
1/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
1.5Lifestyle:judging/perception(J/P)
2Historicaldevelopment
2.1DifferencesfromJung
2.1.1Judgingvs.perception
2.1.1.1Orientationofthetertiary
function
3Applications
4Formatandadministration
4.1Additionalformats
4.2Translationsintootherlanguages
5Preceptsandethics
6Typedynamicsanddevelopment
7Cognitivelearningstyles
7.1Extraversion/Introversion
7.2Sensing/Intuition
7.3Thinking/Feeling
7.4Judging/Perceiving
8Correlationstootherinstruments
8.1Keirseytemperaments
8.2BigFive
8.3Personalitydisorders
9Originsofthetheory
10Criticism
10.1Terminology
10.2Factoranalysis
10.3Correlates
10.4Reliability
11Utility
12Seealso
13Notes
14Referencesandfurtherreading
15Externallinks
Concepts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
2/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
AstheMBTIManualstates,theindicator"isdesignedtoimplementatheorythereforethetheorymustbe
understoodtounderstandtheMBTI".[8]:1
FundamentaltotheMyersBriggsTypeIndicatoristhetheoryofpsychologicaltypeasoriginally
developedbyCarlJung.[1]:xiiiJungproposedtheexistenceoftwodichotomouspairsofcognitivefunctions:
The"rational"(judging)functions:thinkingandfeeling
The"irrational"(perceiving)functions:sensationandintuition
Jungbelievedthatforeverypersoneachofthefunctionsareexpressedprimarilyineitheranintrovertedor
extravertedform.[1]:17FromJung'soriginalconcepts,BriggsandMyersdevelopedtheirowntheoryof
psychologicaltype,describedbelow,onwhichtheMBTIisbased.
Type
Jung'stypologicalmodelregardspsychologicaltypeassimilartoleftorrighthandedness:individualsare
eitherbornwith,ordevelop,certainpreferredwaysofperceivinganddeciding.TheMBTIsortssomeof
thesepsychologicaldifferencesintofouroppositepairs,ordichotomies,witharesulting16possible
psychologicaltypes.Noneofthesetypesarebetterorworsehowever,BriggsandMyerstheorizedthat
individualsnaturallypreferoneoverallcombinationoftypedifferences.[1]:9Inthesamewaythatwriting
withthelefthandishardworkforarighthander,sopeopletendtofindusingtheiroppositepsychological
preferencesmoredifficult,eveniftheycanbecomemoreproficient(andthereforebehaviorallyflexible)
withpracticeanddevelopment.
The16typesaretypicallyreferredtobyanabbreviationoffourletterstheinitiallettersofeachoftheir
fourtypepreferences(exceptinthecaseofintuition,whichusestheabbreviationNtodistinguishitfrom
introversion).Forinstance:
ESTJ:extraversion(E),sensing(S),thinking(T),judgment(J)
INFP:introversion(I),intuition(N),feeling(F),perception(P)
Thismethodofabbreviationisappliedtoall16types.
Fourdichotomies
Thefourpairsofpreferencesordichotomiesare
showninthetabletotheright.
CarlJung
Subjective
Objective
Notethatthetermsusedforeachdichotomyhave
Perception iNtuition/Sensing Introversion1/Extraversion1
specifictechnicalmeaningsrelatingtotheMBTI
whichdifferfromtheireverydayusage.For
Judging Feeling/Thinking Introversion2/Extraversion2
example,peoplewhopreferjudgmentover
perceptionarenotnecessarilymorejudgmentalor
MyersBriggs
lessperceptive.NordoestheMBTIinstrument
measureaptitudeitsimplyindicatesforone
Subjective
Objective
[8]:3
preferenceoveranother. Someonereportingahigh
Deductive iNtuition/Sensing Perception/Judging
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
3/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
scoreforextraversionoverintroversioncannotbe
correctlydescribedasmoreextraverted:theysimply
haveaclearpreference.
Pointscoresoneachofthedichotomiescanvaryconsiderablyfrompersontoperson,evenamongthose
withthesametype.However,IsabelMyersconsideredthedirectionofthepreference(forexample,Evs.I)
tobemoreimportantthanthedegreeofthepreference(forexample,veryclearvs.slight).[9]The
expressionofaperson'spsychologicaltypeismorethanthesumofthefourindividualpreferences.The
preferencesinteractthroughtypedynamicsandtypedevelopment.
Attitudes:extraversion/introversion(E/I)
MyersBriggsliteratureusesthetermsextraversionandintroversionasJungfirstusedthem.Extraversion
means"outwardturning"andintroversionmeans"inwardturning".[10]Thesespecificdefinitionsvary
somewhatfromthepopularusageofthewords.NotethatextraversionisthespellingusedinMBTI
publications.
Thepreferencesforextraversionandintroversionareoftencalled"attitudes".BriggsandMyersrecognized
thateachofthecognitivefunctionscanoperateintheexternalworldofbehavior,action,people,andthings
("extravertedattitude")ortheinternalworldofideasandreflection("introvertedattitude").TheMBTI
assessmentsortsforanoverallpreferenceforoneortheother.
Peoplewhopreferextraversiondrawenergyfromaction:theytendtoact,thenreflect,thenactfurther.If
theyareinactive,theirmotivationtendstodecline.Torebuildtheirenergy,extravertsneedbreaksfrom
timespentinreflection.Conversely,thosewhopreferintroversion"expend"energythroughaction:they
prefertoreflect,thenact,thenreflectagain.Torebuildtheirenergy,introvertsneedquiettimealone,away
fromactivity.[11]
Theextravert'sflowisdirectedoutwardtowardpeopleandobjects,andtheintrovert'sisdirectedinward
towardconceptsandideas.Contrastingcharacteristicsbetweenextravertsandintrovertsincludethe
following:
Extravertsare"action"oriented,whileintrovertsare"thought"oriented.
Extravertsseek"breadth"ofknowledgeandinfluence,whileintrovertsseek"depth"ofknowledge
andinfluence.
Extravertsoftenprefermore"frequent"interaction,whileintrovertsprefermore"substantial"
interaction.
Extravertsrechargeandgettheirenergyfromspendingtimewithpeople,whileintrovertsrecharge
andgettheirenergyfromspendingtimealonetheyconsumetheirenergythroughtheopposite
process.[12]
Functions:sensing/intuition(S/N)andthinking/feeling(T/F)
Jungidentifiedtwopairsofpsychologicalfunctions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
4/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
Thetwoperceivingfunctions,sensingandintuition
Thetwojudgingfunctions,thinkingandfeeling
AccordingtoJung'stypologymodel,eachpersonusesoneofthesefourfunctionsmoredominantlyand
proficientlythantheotherthreehowever,allfourfunctionsareusedatdifferenttimesdependingonthe
circumstances.
Sensingandintuitionaretheinformationgathering(perceiving)functions.Theydescribehownew
informationisunderstoodandinterpreted.Individualswhoprefersensingaremorelikelytotrust
informationthatisinthepresent,tangible,andconcrete:thatis,informationthatcanbeunderstoodbythe
fivesenses.Theytendtodistrusthunches,whichseemtocome"outofnowhere".[1]:2Theyprefertolook
fordetailsandfacts.Forthem,themeaningisinthedata.Ontheotherhand,thosewhopreferintuitiontend
totrustinformationthatislessdependentuponthesenses,thatcanbeassociatedwithotherinformation
(eitherrememberedordiscoveredbyseekingawidercontextorpattern).Theymaybemoreinterestedin
futurepossibilities.Forthem,themeaningisintheunderlyingtheoryandprincipleswhicharemanifested
inthedata.
Thinkingandfeelingarethedecisionmaking(judging)functions.Thethinkingandfeelingfunctionsare
bothusedtomakerationaldecisions,basedonthedatareceivedfromtheirinformationgatheringfunctions
(sensingorintuition).Thosewhopreferthinkingtendtodecidethingsfromamoredetachedstandpoint,
measuringthedecisionbywhatseemsreasonable,logical,causal,consistent,andmatchingagivensetof
rules.Thosewhopreferfeelingtendtocometodecisionsbyassociatingorempathizingwiththesituation,
lookingatit'fromtheinside'andweighingthesituationtoachieve,onbalance,thegreatestharmony,
consensusandfit,consideringtheneedsofthepeopleinvolved.Thinkersusuallyhavetroubleinteracting
withpeoplewhoareinconsistentorillogical,andtendtogiveverydirectfeedbacktoothers.Theyare
concernedwiththetruthandviewitasmoreimportant.
Asnotedalready,peoplewhopreferthinkingdonotnecessarily,intheeverydaysense,"thinkbetter"than
theirfeelingcounterparts,inthecommonsensetheoppositepreferenceisconsideredanequallyrational
wayofcomingtodecisions(and,inanycase,theMBTIassessmentisameasureofpreference,notability).
Similarly,thosewhopreferfeelingdonotnecessarilyhave"better"emotionalreactionsthantheirthinking
counterparts.
Dominantfunction
AccordingtoJung,peopleuseallfourcognitivefunctions.However,onefunctionisgenerallyusedina
moreconsciousandconfidentway.Thisdominantfunctionissupportedbythesecondary(auxiliary)
function,andtoalesserdegreethetertiaryfunction.Thefourthandleastconsciousfunctionisalwaysthe
oppositeofthedominantfunction.Myerscalledthisinferiorfunctiontheshadow.[1]:84
Thefourfunctionsoperateinconjunctionwiththeattitudes(extraversionandintroversion).Eachfunction
isusedineitheranextravertedorintrovertedway.Apersonwhosedominantfunctionisextraverted
intuition,forexample,usesintuitionverydifferentlyfromsomeonewhosedominantfunctionisintroverted
intuition.
Lifestyle:judging/perception(J/P)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
5/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
MyersandBriggsaddedanotherdimensiontoJung'stypological
modelbyidentifyingthatpeoplealsohaveapreferenceforusing
eitherthejudgingfunction(thinkingorfeeling)ortheirperceiving
function(sensingorintuition)whenrelatingtotheoutsideworld
(extraversion).
MyersandBriggsheldthattypeswithapreferenceforjudgingshow
theworldtheirpreferredjudgingfunction(thinkingorfeeling).So
TJtypestendtoappeartotheworldaslogical,andFJtypesas
empathetic.AccordingtoMyers,[1]:75judgingtypesliketo"have
matterssettled".
Thosetypeswhopreferperceptionshowtheworldtheirpreferred
perceivingfunction(sensingorintuition).SoSPtypestendto
appeartotheworldasconcreteandNPtypesasabstract.According
toMyers,[1]:75perceptivetypespreferto"keepdecisionsopen".
Adiagramdepictingthecognitive
functionsofeachtype.Atype's
backgroundcolorrepresentsits
Dominantfunction,anditstextcolor
representsitsAuxiliaryfunction.
Forextraverts,theJorPindicatestheirdominantfunctionfor
introverts,theJorPindicatestheirauxiliaryfunction.Introverts
tendtoshowtheirdominantfunctionoutwardlyonlyinmatters"importanttotheirinnerworlds".[1]:13For
example:
BecausetheENTJtypeisextraverted,theJindicatesthatthedominantfunctionisthepreferredjudging
function(extravertedthinking).TheENTJtypeintrovertstheauxiliaryperceivingfunction(introverted
intuition).Thetertiaryfunctionissensingandtheinferiorfunctionisintrovertedfeeling.
BecausetheINTJtypeisintroverted,however,theJinsteadindicatesthattheauxiliaryfunctionisthe
preferredjudgingfunction(extravertedthinking).TheINTJtypeintrovertsthedominantperceiving
function(introvertedintuition).Thetertiaryfunctionisfeelingandtheinferiorfunctionisextraverted
sensing.
Historicaldevelopment
KatharineCookBriggsbeganherresearchintopersonalityin1917.Uponmeetingherfuturesoninlaw,
sheobservedmarkeddifferencesbetweenhispersonalityandthatofotherfamilymembers.Briggs
embarkedonaprojectofreadingbiographies,andshedevelopedatypologybasedonpatternsshefound.
Sheproposedfourtemperaments:Meditative(orThoughtful),Spontaneous,Executive,andSocial.[13][14]
Then,aftertheEnglishtranslationofPsychologicalTypeswaspublishedin1923(havingfirstbeen
publishedinGermanin1921),sherecognizedthatJung'stheorywassimilarto,yetwentfarbeyond,her
own.[1]:22Briggs'sfourtypeswerelateridentifiedascorrespondingtotheIs,EPs,ETJsandEFJs.[13][14]
HerfirstpublicationsweretwoarticlesdescribingJung'stheory,inthejournalNewRepublicin1926(Meet
YourselfUsingthePersonalityPaintBox)and1928(UpFromBarbarism).
Briggs'sdaughter,IsabelBriggsMyers,addedtohermother'stypologicalresearch,whichshewould
progressivelytakeoverentirely.MyersgraduatedfirstinherclassfromSwarthmoreCollegein1919[1]:xx
andwrotetheprizewinningmysterynovelMurderYettoComein1929usingtypologicalideas.However,
neitherMyersnorBriggswereformallyeducatedinpsychology,andthustheylackedscientificcredentials
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
6/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
inthefieldofpsychometrictesting.[1]:xiiiSoMyersapprenticedherselftoEdwardN.Hay,whowasthen
personnelmanagerforalargePhiladelphiabankandwentontostartoneofthefirstsuccessfulpersonnel
consultingfirmsintheU.S.FromHay,Myerslearnedtestconstruction,scoring,validation,and
statistics.[1]:xiii,xxIn1942,the"BriggsMyersTypeIndicator"wascreated,andtheBriggsMyersType
IndicatorHandbookwaspublishedin1944.Theindicatorchangeditsnametothemodernform(Myers
BriggsTypeIndicator)in1956.[15][16]
Myers'workattractedtheattentionofHenryChauncey,headoftheEducationalTestingService,andunder
theseauspices,thefirstMBTIManualwaspublishedin1962.TheMBTIreceivedfurthersupportfrom
DonaldT.McKinnon,headoftheInstituteofPersonalityResearchattheUniversityofCaliforniaHarold
Grant,professoratMichiganStateandAuburnUniversitiesandMaryH.McCaulleyoftheUniversityof
Florida.ThepublicationoftheMBTIwastransferredtoConsultingPsychologistsPressin1975,andthe
CenterforApplicationsofPsychologicalType(CAPT)wasfoundedasaresearchlaboratory.[1]:xxiAfter
Myers'deathinMay1980,MaryMcCaulleyupdatedtheMBTIManual,andthesecondeditionwas
publishedin1985.[9]Thethirdeditionappearedin1998.
DifferencesfromJung
Judgingvs.perception
ThemostnotableadditionofMyersandBriggstoJung'soriginalthoughtistheirconceptthatagiventype's
fourthletter(JorP)indicatesaperson'spreferredextravertedfunction,whichisthedominantfunctionfor
extravertedtypesandtheauxiliaryfunctionfortheintrovertedtypes.[1]:2122
Orientationofthetertiaryfunction
Jungtheorizedthatthedominantfunctionactsaloneinitspreferredworld:exteriorfortheextraverts,and
interiorfortheintroverts.Theremainingthreefunctions,hesuggested,operatetogetherintheopposite
world.Ifthedominantcognitivefunctionisintroverted,theotherfunctionsareextraverted,andviceversa.
TheMBTIManualsummarizesreferencesinJung'sworktothebalanceinpsychologicaltypeasfollows:
ThereareseveralreferencesinJung'swritingtothethreeremainingfunctionshavingan
oppositeattitudinalcharacter.Forexample,inwritingaboutintrovertswiththinking
dominant...Jungcommentedthatthecounterbalancingfunctionshaveanextraverted
character.[9]:29
However,manyMBTIpractitionersholdthatthetertiaryfunctionisorientedinthesamedirectionsameas
thedominantfunction.[17]UsingtheINTPtypeasanexample,theorientationwouldbeasfollows:
Dominantintrovertedthinking
Auxiliaryextravertedintuition
Tertiaryintrovertedsensing
Inferiorextravertedfeeling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
7/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
Fromatheoreticalperspective,psychologistHansEysenckcalledtheMBTIamoderatelysuccessful
quantificationofJung'soriginalprinciplesasoutlinedinPsychologicalTypes.[18]
Eysenck,however,alsosaid:"This(theMBTI)creates16personalitytypeswhicharesaidtobesimilarto
Jung'stheoreticalconcepts.Ihavealwaysfounddifficultieswiththisidentification,whichomitsonehalfof
Jung'stheory(hehad32types,byassertingthatforeveryconsciouscombinationoftraitstherewasan
oppositeunconsciousone).Obviouslythelatterhalfofhistheorydoesnotadmitofquestionnaire
measurement,buttoleaveitoutandpretendthatthescalesmeasureJungianconceptsishardlyfairto
Jung."[19]
Bothmodelsremainhypotheses,withnocontrolledscientificstudiessupportingeitherJung'soriginal
conceptoftypeortheMyersBriggsvariation.[20]
Applications
Theindicatorisfrequentlyusedintheareasofpedagogy,careercounseling,teambuilding,group
dynamics,professionaldevelopment,marketing,familybusiness,leadershiptraining,executivecoaching,
lifecoaching,personaldevelopmentandmarriagecounseling.
Formatandadministration
ThecurrentNorthAmericanEnglishversionoftheMBTIStepIincludes93forcedchoicequestions(there
are88intheEuropeanEnglishversion).Forcedchoicemeansthattheindividualhastochooseonlyoneof
twopossibleanswerstoeachquestion.Thechoicesareamixtureofwordpairsandshortstatements.
Choicesarenotliteraloppositesbutchosentoreflectoppositepreferencesonthesamedichotomy.
Participantsmayskipquestionsiftheyfeeltheyareunabletochoose.
Usingpsychometrictechniques,suchasitemresponsetheory,theMBTIwillthenbescoredandwill
attempttoidentifythepreference,andclarityofpreference,ineachdichotomy.AftertakingtheMBTI,
participantsareusuallyaskedtocompleteaBestFitexercise(seebelow)andthengivenareadoutoftheir
ReportedType,whichwillusuallyincludeabargraphandnumbertoshowhowcleartheywereabouteach
preferencewhentheycompletedthequestionnaire.
DuringtheearlydevelopmentoftheMBTIthousandsofitemswereused.Mostwereeventuallydiscarded
becausetheydidnothavehighmidpointdiscrimination,meaningtheresultsofthatoneitemdidnot,on
average,moveanindividualscoreawayfromthemidpoint.Usingonlyitemswithhighmidpoint
discriminationallowstheMBTItohavefeweritemsonitbutstillprovideasmuchstatisticalinformationas
otherinstrumentswithmanymoreitemswithlowermidpointdiscrimination.TheMBTIrequiresfive
pointsonewayoranothertoindicateaclearpreference.
Additionalformats
IsabelMyershadnotedthatpeopleofanygiventypeshareddifferencesaswellassimilarities.Atthetime
ofherdeath,shewasdevelopingamoreindepthmethodofmeasuringhowpeopleexpressandexperience
theirindividualtypepattern.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
8/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
In1987,anadvancedscoringsystemwasdevelopedfortheMBTI.FromthiswasdevelopedtheType
DifferentiationIndicator(TDI)(Saunders,1989)whichisascoringsystemforthelongerMBTI,Form
J,[21]whichincludesthe290itemswrittenbyMyersthathadsurvivedherpreviousitemanalyses.Ityields
20subscales(fiveundereachofthefourdichotomouspreferencescales),plussevenadditionalsubscales
foranewComfortDiscomfortfactor(whichpurportedlycorrespondstothemissingfactorof
Neuroticism).
Thisfactor'sscalesindicateasenseofoverallcomfortandconfidenceversusdiscomfortandanxiety.They
alsoloadontooneofthefourtypedimensions:[22]guardedoptimistic(alsoT/F),defiantcompliant(also
T/F),carefreeworried(alsoT/F),decisiveambivalent(alsoJ/P),intrepidinhibited(AlsoE/I),leader
follower(AlsoE/I),andproactivedistractible(alsoJ/P)
Alsoincludedisacompositeofthesecalled"strain."Therearealsoscalesfortypescaleconsistencyand
comfortscaleconsistency.Reliabilityof23ofthe27TDIsubscalesisgreaterthan0.50,"anacceptable
resultgiventhebrevityofthesubscales"(Saunders,1989).
In1989,ascoringsystemwasdevelopedforonlythe20subscalesfortheoriginalfourdichotomies.This
wasinitiallyknownasFormK,ortheExpandedAnalysisReport(EAR).Thistoolisnowcalledthe
MBTIStepII.
FormJortheTDIincludedtheitems(derivedfromMyersandMcCaulleysearlierwork)necessaryto
scorewhatbecameknownasStepIII.[23](The1998MBTIManualreportedthatthetwoinstrumentswere
oneandthesame[24])Itwasdevelopedinajointprojectinvolvingthefollowingorganizations:CPP,the
publisherofthewholefamilyofMBTIworksCAPT(CenterforApplicationsofPsychologicalType),
whichholdsallofMyers'andMcCaulley'soriginalworkandtheMBTITrust,headedbyKatharineand
PeterMyers.StepIIIwasadvertisedasaddressingtypedevelopmentandtheuseofperceptionand
judgmentbyrespondents.[25]
Translationsintootherlanguages
TheMBTIhasbeensuccessfullytranslatedintoover20languages,[26]coveringmanycountriesacrossthe
world.However,itismoretruetosaythatthecreationofanewquestionnairelanguageisadaptation,[27]
whichincludestranslationtheotherstagesincludereviewsbysubjectmatterexpertsfluentinthenative
language,andstatisticalanalysistocheckthatthequestionsstillmeasurethesamepsychologicalconcepts
astheoriginalUSEnglishquestionnaire.[28]
Preceptsandethics
ThefollowingpreceptsaregenerallyusedintheethicaladministrationoftheMyersBriggsTypeIndicator:
Typenottrait
TheMBTIsortsfortypeitdoesnotindicatethestrengthofability.Thequestionnaireallowsthe
clarityofapreferencetobeascertained(Billclearlyprefersintroversion),butnotthestrengthof
preference(Janestronglyprefersextraversion)ordegreeofaptitude(Harryisgoodatthinking).In
thissense,itdiffersfromtraitbasedtoolssuchas16PF.Typepreferencesarepolaropposites:a
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
9/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
preceptofMBTIisthatpeoplefundamentallypreferonethingovertheother,notabitofboth.
Ownbestjudge
Individualsareconsideredthebestjudgeoftheirowntype.WhiletheMBTIquestionnaireprovidesa
ReportedType,thisisconsideredonlyanindicationoftheirprobableoverallType.ABestFit
Processisusuallyusedtoallowrespondentstodeveloptheirunderstandingofthefourdichotomies,
toformtheirownhypothesisastotheiroverallType,andtocomparethisagainsttheReportedType.
Inmorethan20%ofcases,thehypothesisandtheReportedTypedifferinoneormoredichotomies.
Usingtheclarityofeachpreference,anypotentialforbiasinthereport,andoften,acomparisonof
twoormorewholeTypesmaythenhelprespondentsdeterminetheirownBestFit.
Norightorwrong
Nopreferenceortotaltypeisconsideredbetterorworsethananother.TheyareallGiftsDiffering,as
emphasizedbythetitleofIsabelBriggsMyers'bookonthissubject.
Voluntary
ItisconsideredunethicaltocompelanyonetotaketheMyersBriggsTypeIndicator.Itshould
alwaysbetakenvoluntarily.[29]
Confidentiality
TheresultoftheMBTIReportedandBestFittypeareconfidentialbetweentheindividualand
administratorand,ethically,notfordisclosurewithoutpermission.
Notforselection
Theresultsoftheassessmentshouldnotbeusedto"label,evaluate,orlimittherespondentinany
way"(emphasisoriginal).[29]Sincealltypesarevaluable,andtheMBTImeasurespreferencesrather
thanaptitude,theMBTIisnotconsideredaproperinstrumentforpurposesofemploymentselection.
Manyprofessionscontainhighlycompetentindividualsofdifferenttypeswithcomplementary
preferences.
Importanceofproperfeedback
Individualsshouldalwaysbegivendetailedfeedbackfromatrainedadministratorandanopportunity
toundertakeaBestFitexercisetocheckagainsttheirReportedType.Thisfeedbackcanbegivenin
personor,wherethisisnotpractical,bytelephoneorelectronically.
Typedynamicsanddevelopment
Theinteractionoftwo,three,orfourpreferencesisknownastypedynamics.
Althoughtypedynamicshasreceivedlittleornoempiricalsupportto
substantiateitsviabilityasascientifictheory,[31]MyersandBriggsasserted
thatforeachofthe16fourpreferencetypes,onefunctionisthemostdominant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
TheSixteenTypes
USPopulation
Breakdown
10/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
andislikelytobeevidentearliestinlife.Asecondaryorauxiliaryfunction
typicallybecomesmoreevident(differentiated)duringteenageyearsand
providesbalancetothedominant.Innormaldevelopment,individualstendto
becomemorefluentwithathird,tertiaryfunctionduringmidlife,whilethe
fourth,inferiorfunctionremainsleastconsciouslydeveloped.Theinferior
functionisoftenconsideredtobemoreassociatedwiththeunconscious,being
mostevidentinsituationssuchashighstress(sometimesreferredtoasbeingin
thegripoftheinferiorfunction).
Howevertheuseoftypedynamicsisdisputed:intheconclusionofvarious
studiesonthesubjectoftypedynamics,JamesH.Reyniersewritesthat"Type
dynamicshaspersistentlogicalproblemsandisfundamentallybasedona
seriesofcategorymistakesitprovides,atbest,alimitedandincomplete
accountoftyperelatedphenomena"andthat"typedynamicsrelieson
anecdotalevidence,failsmostefficacytests,anddoesnotfittheempirical
facts".Hisstudiesgavetheclearresultthatthedescriptionsandworkingsof
typedynamicsdonotfittherealbehaviorofpeople.Hesuggestsgetting
completelyridoftypedynamics,becauseitdoesnothelpbuthinders
understandingofpersonality.Thepresumedorderoffunctions1to4didonly
occurinoneoutof540testresults.[32]
Thetableorganizingthe
sixteentypeswascreated
byIsabelMyers(anINFP
person).
ISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ
11
14%
14%
13%
24%
35%
25%
25%
25%
13%
Estimatedpercentagesofthe16
typesintheU.S.population.[30]
Thesequenceofdifferentiationofdominant,auxiliary,andtertiaryfunctionsthroughlifeistermedtype
development.Notethatthisisanidealizedsequencethatmaybedisruptedbymajorlifeevents.
Thedynamicsequenceoffunctionsandtheirattitudescanbedeterminedinthefollowingway:
Theoveralllifestylepreference(JP)determineswhetherthejudging(TF)orperceiving(SN)
preferenceismostevidentintheoutsideworldi.e.,whichfunctionhasanextravertedattitude
Theattitudepreference(EI)determineswhethertheextravertedfunctionisdominantorauxiliary
Forthosewithanoverallpreferenceforextraversion,thefunctionwiththeextravertedattitudewill
bethedominantfunction.Forexample,foranESTJtypethedominantfunctionisthejudging
function,thinking,andthisisexperiencedwithanextravertedattitude.Thisisnotatedasadominant
Te.ForanESTP,thedominantfunctionistheperceivingfunction,sensing,notatedasadominantSe.
TheAuxiliaryfunctionforextravertsisthesecondarypreferenceofthejudgingorperceiving
functions,anditisexperiencedwithanintrovertedattitude:forexample,theauxiliaryfunctionfor
ESTJisintrovertedsensing(Si)andtheauxiliaryforESTPisintrovertedthinking(Ti).
Forthosewithanoverallpreferenceforintroversion,thefunctionwiththeextravertedattitudeisthe
auxiliarythedominantistheotherfunctioninthemainfourletterpreference.Sothedominant
functionforISTJisintrovertedsensing(Si)withtheauxiliary(supporting)functionbeingextraverted
thinking(Te).
TheTertiaryfunctionistheoppositepreferencefromtheAuxiliary.Forexample,iftheAuxiliaryis
thinkingthentheTertiarywouldbefeeling.TheattitudeoftheTertiaryisthesubjectofsomedebate
andthereforeisnotnormallyindicatedi.e.iftheAuxiliarywasTethentheTertiarywouldbeF(not
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
11/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
FeorFi)
TheInferiorfunctionistheoppositepreferenceandattitudefromtheDominant,soforanESTJwith
dominantTetheInferiorwouldbeFi.
Notethatforextraverts,thedominantfunctionistheonemostevidentintheexternalworld.Forintroverts,
however,itistheauxiliaryfunctionthatismostevidentexternally,astheirdominantfunctionrelatestothe
interiorworld.
Someexamplesofwholetypesmayclarifythisfurther.TakingtheESTJexampleabove:
Extravertedfunctionisajudgingfunction(TF)becauseoftheoverallJpreference
ExtravertedfunctionisdominantbecauseofoverallEpreference
Dominantfunctionisthereforeextravertedthinking(Te)
Auxiliaryfunctionisthepreferredperceivingfunction:introvertedsensing(Si)
TertiaryfunctionistheoppositeoftheAuxiliary:intuition(N)
InferiorfunctionistheoppositeoftheDominant:introvertedfeeling(Fi)
ThedynamicsoftheESTJarefoundintheprimarycombinationofextravertedthinkingastheirdominant
functionandintrovertedsensingastheirauxiliaryfunction:thedominanttendencyofESTJstoordertheir
environment,tosetclearboundaries,toclarifyrolesandtimetables,andtodirecttheactivitiesaroundthem
issupportedbytheirfacilityforusingpastexperienceinanorderedandsystematicwaytohelporganize
themselvesandothers.Forinstance,ESTJsmayenjoyplanningtripsforgroupsofpeopletoachievesome
goalortoperformsomeculturallyupliftingfunction.Becauseoftheireaseindirectingothersandtheir
facilityinmanagingtheirowntime,theyengagealltheresourcesattheirdisposaltoachievetheirgoals.
However,underprolongedstressorsuddentrauma,ESTJsmayoverusetheirextravertedthinkingfunction
andfallintothegripoftheirinferiorfunction,introvertedfeeling.AlthoughtheESTJcanseeminsensitive
tothefeelingsofothersintheirnormalactivities,undertremendousstress,theycansuddenlyexpress
feelingsofbeingunappreciatedorwoundedbyinsensitivity.
Lookingatthediametricallyoppositefourlettertype,INFP:
Extravertedfunctionisaperceivingfunction(SN)becauseofthePpreference
IntrovertedfunctionisdominantbecauseoftheIpreference
Dominantfunctionisthereforeintrovertedfeeling(Fi)
Auxiliaryfunctionisextravertedintuition(Ne)
TertiaryfunctionistheoppositeoftheAuxiliary:sensing(S)
InferiorfunctionistheoppositeoftheDominant:extravertedthinking(Te)
ThedynamicsoftheINFPrestonthefundamentalcorrespondenceofintrovertedfeelingandextraverted
intuition.ThedominanttendencyoftheINFPistowardbuildingarichinternalframeworkofvaluesand
towardchampioninghumanrights.Theyoftendevotethemselvesbehindthescenestocausessuchascivil
rightsorsavingtheenvironment.Sincetheytendtoavoidthelimelight,postponedecisions,andmaintaina
reservedposture,theyarerarelyfoundinexecutivedirectortypepositionsoftheorganizationsthatserve
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
12/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
thosecauses.Normally,theINFPdislikesbeing"incharge"ofthings.Whennotunderstress,theINFP
radiatesapleasantandsympatheticdemeanorbutunderextremestress,theycansuddenlybecomerigid
anddirective,exertingtheirextravertedthinkingerratically.
Everytype,anditsopposite,istheexpressionoftheseinteractions,whichgiveeachtypeitsunique,
recognizablesignature.
Cognitivelearningstyles
Thetestisscoredbyevaluatingeachanswerintermsofwhatitrevealsaboutthetaker.Eachquestionis
relevanttooneofthefollowingcognitivelearningstyles.Eachisnotapolaropposite,butagradual
continuum.
Extraversion/Introversion
Thefirstcontinuumreflectswhatgenerallyenergizesaperson.Extravertedtypeslearnbestbytalkingand
interactingwithothers.Byinteractingwiththephysicalworld,extravertscanprocessandmakesenseof
newinformation.Introvertedtypespreferquietreflectionandprivacy.Informationprocessingoccursfor
introvertsastheyexploreideasandconceptsinternally.
Sensing/Intuition
Thesecondcontinuumreflectswhatapersonfocusestheirattentionson.Sensingtypesenjoyalearning
environmentinwhichthematerialispresentedinadetailedandsequentialmanner.Sensingtypesoften
attendtowhatisoccurringinthepresent,andcanmovetotheabstractaftertheyhaveestablisheda
concreteexperience.Intuitivetypespreferalearningatmosphereinwhichanemphasisisplacedon
meaningandassociations.Insightisvaluedhigherthancarefulobservation,andpatternrecognitionoccurs
naturallyforIntuitivetypes.
Thinking/Feeling
Thethirdcontinuumreflectsthepersonsdecisionpreferences.Thinkingtypesdesireobjectivetruthand
logicalprinciplesandarenaturalatdeductivereasoning.Feelingtypesplaceanemphasisonissuesand
causesthatcanbepersonalizedwhiletheyconsiderotherpeople'smotives.
Judging/Perceiving
Thefourthcontinuumreflectshowthepersonregardscomplexity.Judgingtypeswillthrivewhen
informationisorganizedandstructured,andtheywillbemotivatedtocompleteassignmentsinorderto
gainclosure.Perceivingtypeswillflourishinaflexiblelearningenvironmentinwhichtheyarestimulated
bynewandexcitingideas.Judgingtypesliketobeontime,whileperceivingtypesmaybelateand/or
procrastinate.
Correlationstootherinstruments
Keirseytemperaments
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
13/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
DavidW.Keirseymappedfour"temperaments"totheexistingMyersBriggssystemgroupings:SP,SJ,NF
andNTthisoftenresultsinconfusionofthetwotheories.However,theKeirseyTemperamentSorterisnot
directlyassociatedwiththeofficialMyersBriggsTypeIndicator.
ISITEJ
ISIFEJ
INIFEJ
INITEJ
Architect
ENETIP
Inventor
ENITEJ
Supervisor Provider
Teacher Fieldmarshal
BigFive
McCraeandCosta[33][34]presentcorrelationsbetweentheMBTIscalesandtheBigFivepersonality
construct,whichaimstoorganizethecompletesetofbasicpersonalitydomains.Thefivepersonality
characteristicsareextraversion,openness,agreeableness,conscientiousness,andemotionalstability(or
neuroticism).Thefollowingstudyisbasedontheresultsfrom267menfollowedaspartofalongitudinal
studyofaging.(Similarresultswereobtainedwith201women.)
Extraversion Openness Agreeableness Conscientiousness Neuroticism
EI
0.74
0.03
0.03
0.08
0.16
SN
0.10
0.72
0.04
0.15
0.06
TF
0.19
0.02
0.44
0.15
0.06
JP
0.15
0.30
0.06
0.49
0.11
Thecloserthenumberisto1.0or1.0,thehigherthedegreeofcorrelation.
ThesedatasuggestthatthefourMBTIscalesaresubsumedwithintheBigFivepersonalitytraits,butthat
theMBTIlacksameasureforemotionalstabilitydimensionoftheBigFive(thoughtheTDI,discussed
above,hasaddressedthatdimension).Emotionalstability(orneuroticism)isacoredomainpredictiveof
depressionandanxietydisorders.Thesecorrelationsrefertothesecondlettershown,i.e.thetableshows
thatIandPhavenegativecorrelationtoextraversionandconscientiousnessrespectively,whileFandN
havepositivecorrelationtoagreeablenessandopennessrespectively.
ThesefindingsledMcCraeandCosta,theformulatorsoftheFiveFactorModel(aBigFivetheory),[35]to
conclude,"correlationalanalysesshowedthatthefourMBTIindicesdidmeasureaspectsoffourofthefive
majordimensionsofnormalpersonality.Thefivefactormodelprovidesanalternativebasisforinterpreting
MBTIfindingswithinabroader,morecommonlysharedconceptualframework."However,"therewasno
supportfortheviewthattheMBTImeasurestrulydichotomouspreferencesorqualitativelydistincttypes,
instead,theinstrumentmeasuresfourrelativelyindependentdimensions."
Personalitydisorders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
14/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
OnestudyfoundpersonalitydisordersasdescribedbytheDSMoveralltocorrelatemodestlywithI,N,T,
andP,thoughtheassociationsvariedsignificantlybydisorder.Theonlytwodisorderswithsignificant
correlationsofallfourMBTIdimensionswereschizotypal(INTP)andobsessivecompulsivepersonality
disorder(ISTJ).[36]
Originsofthetheory
Jung'stheoryofpsychologicaltype,aspublishedinhis1921book,wasnottestedthroughcontrolled
scientificstudies.[20]Jung'smethodsprimarilyincludedclinicalobservation,introspectionandanecdote
methodsthatarelargelyregardedasinconclusivebythemodernfieldofpsychology.[20]
Jung'stypetheoryintroducedasequenceoffourcognitivefunctions(thinking,feeling,sensation,and
intuition),eachhavingoneoftwoorientations(extraversionorintroversion),foratotalofeightdominant
functions.TheMyersBriggstheoryisbasedontheseeightfunctions,althoughwithsomedifferencesin
expression(seeDifferencesfromJungabove).However,neithertheMyersBriggsnortheJungianmodels
offeranyscientific,experimentalprooftosupporttheexistence,thesequence,theorientation,orthe
manifestationofthesefunctions.[20]
Criticism
ThestatisticalvalidityoftheMBTIasapsychometricinstrumenthasbeenthesubjectofcriticism.Ithas
beenestimatedthatbetweenathirdandahalfofthepublishedmaterialontheMBTIhasbeenproducedfor
conferencesoftheCenterfortheApplicationofPsychologicalType(whichprovidestrainingintheMBTI)
oraspapersintheJournalofPsychologicalType(whichiseditedbyMyersBriggsadvocates).[37]Ithas
beenarguedthatthisreflectsalackofcriticalscrutiny.[37][38]ManyofthestudiesthatendorseMBTIare
methodologicallyweak.[38][39]A1996reviewbyGardnerandMartinkoconcluded:"Itisclearthatefforts
todetectsimplisticlinkagesbetweentypepreferencesandmanagerialeffectivenesshavebeen
disappointing.Indeed,giventhemixedqualityofresearchandtheinconsistentfindings,nodefinitive
conclusionregardingtheserelationshipscanbedrawn."[38][39]
Forexample,someresearchersexpectedthatscoreswouldshowabimodaldistributionwithpeaksnearthe
endsofthescales,butfoundthatscoresontheindividualsubscaleswereactuallydistributedinacentrally
peakedmannersimilartoanormaldistribution.Acutoffexistsatthecenterofthesubscalesuchthata
scoreononesideisclassifiedasonetype,andascoreontheothersideastheoppositetype.Thisfailsto
supporttheconceptoftype:thenormisforpeopletolienearthemiddleofthesubscale.[33][38][40][41][42]
"AlthoughwedonotconcludethattheabsenceofbimodalitynecessarilyprovesthattheMBTIdevelopers
theorybasedassumptionofcategoricaltypesofpersonalityisinvalid,theabsenceofempirical
bimodalityinIRTbasedMBTIscoresdoesindeedremoveapotentiallypowerfullineofevidencethatwas
previouslyavailabletotypeadvocatestociteindefenseoftheirposition."[42]
In1991,theNationalAcademyofSciencescommitteerevieweddatafromMBTIresearchstudiesand
concludedthatonlytheIEscalehashighcorrelationswithcomparablescalesofotherinstrumentsandlow
correlationswithinstrumentsdesignedtoassessdifferentconcepts,showingstrongvalidity.Incontrast,the
SNandTFscalesshowrelativelyweakvalidity.The1991reviewcommitteeconcludedatthetimethere
was"notsufficient,welldesignedresearchtojustifytheuseoftheMBTIincareercounseling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
15/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
programs".[43]Thisstudybaseditsmeasurementofvalidityon"criterionrelatedvalidity(i.e.,doesthe
MBTIpredictspecificoutcomesrelatedtointerpersonalrelationsorcareersuccess/jobperformance?)."[43]
Studieshavefoundthatthereisinsufficientevidencetomakeclaimsaboututility,particularlyofthefour
lettertypegivenafterthetest.[38]
TheaccuracyoftheMBTIdependsonhonestselfreportingbythepersontested.[8]:5253Unlikesome
personalitymeasures,suchastheMinnesotaMultiphasicPersonalityInventoryorthePersonality
AssessmentInventory,theMBTIdoesnotusevalidityscalestoassessexaggeratedorsociallydesirable
responses.[44]Asaresult,individualsmotivatedtodosocanfaketheirresponses,[45]andonestudyfound
thattheMBTIjudgment/perceptiondimensioncorrelatesweaklywiththeEysenckPersonality
Questionnaireliescale.[46]Ifrespondents"feartheyhavesomethingtolose,theymayanswerasthey
assumetheyshould."[8]:53However,theMBTIethicalguidelinesstate,"Itisunethicalandinmanycases
illegaltorequirejobapplicantstotaketheIndicatoriftheresultswillbeusedtoscreenoutapplicants."[29]
TheintentoftheMBTIistoprovide"aframeworkforunderstandingindividualdifferences,anda
dynamicmodelofindividualdevelopment".[47]
Terminology
TheterminologyoftheMBTIhasbeencriticizedasbeingvery"vagueandgeneral",[48]soastoallowany
kindofbehaviortofitanypersonalitytype,whichmayresultintheForereffect,whereindividualsgivea
highratingtoapositivedescriptionthatsupposedlyappliesspecificallytothem.[20][38]Othersarguethat
whiletheMBTItypedescriptionsarebrief,theyarealsodistinctiveandprecise.[49]:1415Sometheorists,
suchasDavidKeirsey,haveexpandedontheMBTIdescriptions,providingevengreaterdetail.For
instance,Keirsey'sdescriptionsofhisfourtemperaments,whichhecorrelatedwiththesixteenMBTI
personalitytypes,showhowthetemperamentsdifferintermsoflanguageuse,intellectualorientation,
educationalandvocationalinterests,socialorientation,selfimage,personalvalues,socialroles,and
characteristichandgestures.[49]:32207
Factoranalysis
Withregardtofactoranalysis,onestudyof1291collegeagedstudentsfoundsixdifferentfactorsinsteadof
thefourusedintheMBTI.[50]Inotherstudies,researchersfoundthattheJPandtheSNscalescorrelate
withoneanother.[33]
Correlates
AccordingtoHansEysenck:"ThemaindimensionintheMBTIiscalledEI,orextraversionintroversion
thisismostlyasociabilityscale,correlatingquitewellwiththeMMPIsocialintroversionscale(negatively)
andtheEysenckExtraversionscale(positively)(EysenckandEysenck,1985).Unfortunately,thescalealso
hasaloadingonneuroticism,whichcorrelateswiththeintrovertedend.Thusintroversioncorrelates
roughly(i.e.averagingvaluesformalesandfemales).44withdominance,.24withaggression,+.37with
abasement,+.46withcounsellingreadiness,.52withselfconfidence,.36withpersonaladjustment,and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
16/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
.45withempathy.ThefailureofthescaletodisentangleIntroversionandNeuroticism(infactthereisno
scaleforneuroticandotherpsychopathologicalattributesintheMBTI)isitsworstfeature,onlyequalledby
thefailuretousefactoranalysisinordertotestthearrangementofitemsinthescale."[18]
Reliability
Someresearchershaveinterpretedthereliabilityofthetestasbeinglow,particularlywithregardstothe
testretestreliabilityofthetest.Studieshavefoundthatbetween39%and76%ofthosetestedfallinto
differenttypesuponretestingsomeweeksoryearslater,[38][41]andlargenumbersofindividualshavefound
thattheygetdifferentclassificationswhenretakingthetestafterjustfiveweeks.Thereisalsostrong
evidencethatthedifferentscalesarecorrelated,andnotindependentasclaimed.[38]InFortuneMagazine
onMay15,2013,anarticleonthetest,entitled"HaveweallbeendupedbytheMyersBriggsTest",said
that:
"TheinterestingandsomewhatalarmingfactabouttheMBTIisthat,despiteits
popularity,ithasbeensubjecttosustainedcriticismbyprofessionalpsychologistsforover
threedecades.Oneproblemisthatitdisplayswhatstatisticianscalllow"testretest
reliability."Soifyouretakethetestafteronlyafiveweekgap,there'sarounda50%
chancethatyouwillfallintoadifferentpersonalitycategorycomparedtothefirsttime
youtookthetest."
Theconsequenceisthatthescoresoftwopeoplelabelled"introvert"and"extravert"maybealmostexactly
thesame,buttheycouldbeplacedintodifferentcategoriessincetheyfalloneithersideofanimaginary
dividingline.[51]
OnestudyreportsthattheMBTIdichotomiesexhibitgoodsplithalfreliabilityhowever,thedichotomy
scoresaredistributedinabellcurve,andtheoveralltypeallocationsarelessreliable.Also,testretest
reliabilityissensitivetothetimebetweentests.Withineachdichotomyscale,asmeasuredonFormG,
about83%ofcategorizationsremainthesamewhenindividualsareretestedwithinninemonths,and
around75%whenindividualsareretestedafterninemonths.About50%ofpeopletestedwithinnine
monthsremainthesameoveralltype,and36%remainthesametypeaftermorethanninemonths.[52]For
FormM(themostcurrentformoftheMBTIinstrument),theMBTIManualreportsthatthesescoresare
higher(p.163,Table8.6).
Inonestudy,whenpeoplewereaskedtocomparetheirpreferredtypetothatassignedbytheMBTI
assessment,onlyhalfofpeoplepickedthesameprofile.[53]CriticsalsoarguethattheMBTIlacks
falsifiability,whichcancauseconfirmationbiasintheinterpretationofresults.
AnumberofscholarsarguethatcriticismsregardingtheMBTImostlycomedowntoquestionsregarding
thevalidityofitsorigins,notquestionsregardingthevalidityoftheMBTI'susefulness.[54]Othersargue
thattheMBTIcanbeareliablemeasurementofpersonalityitjustsohappensthat"likeallmeasures,the
MBTIyieldsscoresthataredependentonsamplecharacteristicsandtestingconditions".[55]
Utility
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
17/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
Inherresearch,IsabelMyersfoundthattheproportionofdifferentpersonalitytypesvariedbychoiceof
careerorcourseofstudy.[1]:4051[9]However,someresearchersexaminingtheproportionsofeachtype
withinvaryingprofessionsreportthattheproportionofMBTItypeswithineachoccupationisclosetothat
withinarandomsampleofthepopulation.[38]Someresearchershaveexpressedreservationsaboutthe
relevanceoftypetojobsatisfaction,aswellasconcernsaboutthepotentialmisuseoftheinstrumentin
labelingindividuals.[38][56]
CPPbecametheexclusivepublisheroftheMyersBriggsinstrumentin1975.Theycallit"theworld'smost
widelyusedpersonalityassessment",withasmanyastwomillionassessmentsadministeredannually.[57]
CPPandotherproponentsstatethattheindicatormeetsorexceedsthereliabilityofotherpsychological
instrumentsandcitereportsofindividualbehavior.[58][59][60]
Somestudieshavefoundstrongsupportforconstructvalidity,internalconsistency,andtestretest
reliability,althoughvariationwasobserved.[61][62]However,someacademicpsychologistshavecriticized
theMBTIinstrument,claimingthatit"lacksconvincingvaliditydata",[33][40][41][63]whilesomestudies
haveshownthestatisticalvalidityandreliabilitytobelow.[38][41][64]
StudiessuggestthattheMBTIisnotausefulpredictorofjobperformance.[38][43][65]Asnotedaboveunder
Preceptsandethics,theMBTImeasurespreference,notability.TheuseoftheMBTIasapredictorofjob
successisexpresslydiscouragedintheManual.[8]:78However,theMBTIcontinuestobepopularbecause
manypeoplearequalifiedtoadministerit,itisnotdifficulttounderstand,andtherearemanysupporting
books,websitesandotherusefulsourceswhicharereadilyavailabletothegeneralpublic.[66]
Seealso
AdjectiveCheckList(ACL)
BirkmanMethod
CPI260
DISCassessment
EnneagramofPersonality
RisoHudsonEnneagramTypeIndicator
FIROB
Forereffect
FortProfile
HollandCodes
Humorism
InteractionStyles
Interpersonalcompatibility
Kingdomality
Listofpersonalitytests
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
18/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
MinnesotaMultiphasicPersonalityInventory(MMPI)
PearsonMarrArchetypeIndicator(PMAI)
PersonalityAssessmentSystem
Personalityclash
Personalitypsychology
RevisedNEOPersonalityInventory
Socionics
StrongInterestInventory
ThomasKilmannConflictModeInstrument
Notes
1. Myers,IsabelBriggswithPeterB.Myers(1995)[1980].GiftsDiffering:UnderstandingPersonalityType.
MountainView,CA:DaviesBlackPublishing.ISBN089106074X.
2. MBTIbasics(http://www.myersbriggs.org/mymbtipersonalitytype/mbtibasics/),TheMyersBriggs
Foundation,2014,Retrieved18June2014.
3. MyersBriggsTypeIndicator(MBTI)(https://www.cpp.com/products/mbti/index.aspx),CPP.com,MenloPark,
CA,2014,Retrieved18June2014.
4. Jung,CarlGustav(August1,1971)."PsychologicalTypes".CollectedWorksofC.G.Jung,Volume6.Princeton
UniversityPress.ISBN0691097704.
5. Kaplan,R.M.Saccuzzo,D.P.(2009).PsychologicalTesting:Principles,Applications,andIssues(7ed.).
Belmont,CA:Wadsworth.ISBN9780495506362.
6. CenterforApplicationsofPsychologicalType.(2012).ThestoryofIsabelBriggsMyers.Retrievedfrom
http://www.capt.org/mbtiassessment/isabelmyers.htm
7. Pearman,RogerR.SarahC.Albritton(1997).I'mNotCrazy,I'mJustNotYou(Firsted.).PaloAlto,
California:DaviesBlackPublishing.xiii.ISBN0891060960.
8. Myers,IsabelBriggsMaryH.McCaulley(1985).Manual:AGuidetotheDevelopmentandUseoftheMyers
BriggsTypeIndicator(2nded.).PaloAlto,CA:ConsultingPsychologistsPress.ISBN0891060278.
9. Myers,IsabelBriggsMcCaulleyMaryH.Quenk,NaomiL.Hammer,AllenL.(1998).MBTIManual(Aguide
tothedevelopmentanduseoftheMyersBriggstypeindicator).ConsultingPsychologistsPress3rdededition.
ISBN0891061304.
10. Zeisset,Carolyn(2006).TheArtofDialogue:ExploringPersonalityDifferencesforMoreEffective
Communication.Gainesville,FL:CenterforApplicationsofPsychologicalType,Inc.p.13.ISBN093565277
9.
11. nettle,Dr.Daniel."Personality:Auserguide"(http://www.open.edu/openlearn/body
mind/psychology/personalityuserguide).TheOpenUniversity.Retrieved20130417.
12. Tieger,PaulD.BarbaraBarronTieger(1999).TheArtofSpeedReadingPeople.NewYork,NY:Little,Brown
andCompany.p.66.ISBN9780316845182.
13. "CAPT:"TheStoryofIsabelBriggsMyers" "(http://www.capt.org/mbtiassessment/isabelmyers.htm).
Retrieved20090729.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
19/24
3/12/2015
Retrieved20090729.
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
20/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
21/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
53. Carskadon,TG&Cook,DD(1982)."ValidityofMBTIdescriptionsasperceivedbyrecipientsunfamiliarwith
type".ResearchinPsychologicalType5:8994.
54. Dawes,Robyn(2004)."TimeforacriticalempiricalinvestigationoftheMBTI:CaseandPhillipsonarerightto
highlighttheprescientificrootsoftheMBTI,buttheyfailtoseparatetheissueofthevalidityorusefulnessof
theMBTIfromtheissueofthevalidityofitsorigins.(MyersBriggsTypeIndicator)".EuropeanBusiness
Forum(18).
55. Capraro,RobertMargaretCapraro(2002)."MYERSBRIGGSTYPEINDICATORSCORERELIABILITY
ACROSSSTUDIES:AMETAANALYTICRELIABILITYGENERALIZATIONSTUDY".Educationaland
PsychologicalMeasurement(62):590602.
56. Druckman,D.andR.A.Bjork,Eds.(1992).IntheMindsEye:EnhancingHumanPerformance.Washington,
DC:NationalAcademyPress.ISBN0309047471.
57. "CPPProducts"(https://www.cpp.com/products/index.aspx).Retrieved20090620.
58. Schaubhut,NancyA.NicoleA.HerkandRichardC.Thompson(2009)."MBTIFormMManualSupplement"
(https://www.cpp.com/pdfs/MBTI_FormM_Supp.pdf).CPP.p.17.Retrieved20100508.
59. Clack,GillianJudyAllen."ResponsetoPaulMatthews'criticism"(http://www.bmj.com/rapid
response/2011/10/30/mbtiflawedmeasurepersonality).Retrieved20080514.
60. BarronTieger,BarbaraTieger,PaulD.(1995).Dowhatyouare:discovertheperfectcareerforyouthrough
thesecretsofpersonalitytype.Boston:Little,Brown.ISBN0316845221.
61. Thompson,BruceGloriaM.Borrello(Autumn1986)."ConstructValidityoftheMyersBriggsTypeIndicator".
EducationalandPsychologicalMeasurement(SAGEPublications)46(3):745752.
doi:10.1177/0013164486463032(https://dx.doi.org/10.1177%2F0013164486463032).
62. Capraro,RobertM.MaryMargaretCapraro(August2002)."MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorScoreReliability
Across:StudiesaMetaAnalyticReliabilityGeneralizationStudy".EducationalandPsychologicalMeasurement
(SAGEPublications)62(4):590602.doi:10.1177/0013164402062004004
(https://dx.doi.org/10.1177%2F0013164402062004004).
63. HunsleyJ,LeeCM,WoodJM(2004)."Controversialandquestionableassessmenttechniques".Scienceand
PseudoscienceinClinicalPsychology,LilienfeldSO,LohrJM,LynnSJ(eds.).Guilford.ISBN1593850700.,
p.65
64. Kline,Paul,Thehandbookofpsychologicaltesting,PsychologyPress,2000,ISBN0415211581,ISBN9780
415211581
65. LetterstotheEditor:It'sNotYou,It'sYourPersonality."(1992,February3).WallStreetJournal(Eastern
Edition),p.PAGEA13.RetrievedNovember8,2008,fromWallStreetJournaldatabase.(DocumentID:
27836749).
66. CorieLok(2012)."Careerdevelopment:What'syourtype?"
(http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/articles/10.1038/nj7412545a).Nature488,545547.
Referencesandfurtherreading
Hunsley,J.Lee,C.M.andWood,J.M.(2004).Controversialandquestionableassessmenttechniques.Science
andPseudoscienceinClinicalPsychology,LilienfeldSO,LohrJM,LynnSJ(eds.).Guilford,ISBN159385
0700
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
22/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
Bess,T.L.andHarvey,R.J.(2001,April).BimodalscoredistributionsandtheMBTI:Factorartifact?
(http://harvey.psyc.vt.edu/Documents/SIOPhandoutBessHarveyMBTI2001.pdf)PaperpresentedattheAnnual
ConferenceoftheSocietyforIndustrialandOrganizationalPsychology,SanDiego.
Bess,T.L.Harvey,R.J.andSwartz,D.(2003).HierarchicalConfirmatoryFactorAnalysisoftheMyers
BriggsTypeIndicator(http://harvey.psyc.vt.edu/Documents/BessHarveySwartzSIOP2003.pdf)Paperpresentedat
theAnnualConferenceoftheSocietyforIndustrialandOrganizationalPsychology,Orlando.
Bourne,Dana(2005).PersonalityTypesandtheTransgenderCommunity(http://www.webdotgal.com/html/m
b.html).RetrievedNovember14,2005
Falt,Jack.BibliographyofMBTI/TemperamentBooksbyAuthor(http://www.trytel.com/~jfalt/topics.html).
RetrievedDecember20,2004
GeorgiaStateUniversity.GSUMasterTeacherProgram:OnLearningStyles
(http://www2.gsu.edu/~dschjb/wwwmbti.html).RetrievedDecember20,2004.
Jung,CarlGustav(1965).Memories,Dreams,Reflections.VintageBooks:NewYork,1965.p.207
Jung,C.G.(1971).Psychologicaltypes(CollectedworksofC.G.Jung,volume6).(3rded.).Princeton,NJ:
PrincetonUniversityPress.FirstappearedinGermanin1921.ISBN0691097704
Krauskopf,CharlesJ.andSaunders,DavidR.(1994)PersonalityandAbility:ThePersonalityAssessment
System.Maryland:UniversityPressofAmerica.ISBN0819192821
Matthews,Paul(2004).TheMBTIisaflawedmeasureofpersonality'.'(http://www.bmj.com/rapid
response/2011/10/30/mbtiflawedmeasurepersonality).bmj.comRapidResponses.RetrievedFebruary9,2005
Myers,IsabelBriggs(1980).GiftsDiffering:UnderstandingPersonalityType.DaviesBlackPublishingReprint
edition(May1,1995).ISBN089106074X
Myers,IsabelBriggs,MaryH.McCaulley,NaomiQuenk,andAllanHammer.(1998)MBTIHandbook:AGuide
tothedevelopmentanduseoftheMyersBriggsTypeIndicatorConsultingPsychologistsPress,3rdedition.
ISBN0891061304
Pearman,R.Lombardo,M.andEichinger,R.(2005).YOU:BeingMoreEffectiveInYourMBTIType.
Minn.:LomingerInternational,Inc.
Pearman,R.andAlbritton,S.(1996).I'mNotCrazy,I'mJustNotYou:TheRealMeaningoftheSixteen
PersonalityTypes.MountainView,Ca:DaviesBlackPublishing.
PersonalityPlus.Employerslovepersonalitytests.Butwhatdotheyreallyreveal?
(http://www.gladwell.com/pdf/personality.pdf)
Saunders,D.(1989).TypeDifferentiationIndicatorManual:AscoringsystemforFormJoftheMyersBriggs
TypeIndicator.PaloAlto,CA:ConsultingPsychologistsPress,Inc.
SkepticsDictionary."MyersBriggsTypeIndicator"[2](http://skepdic.com/myersb.html)
VirginiaTech.TheRelationshipBetweenPsychologicalTypeandProfessionalOrientationAmongTechnology
EducationTeachers(http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/jtev7n1/wicklein.jtev7n1.html).RetrievedDecember
20,2004
ThomasG.Long(October1992)."MyersBriggsandotherModernAstrologies".TheologyToday49(3):291
95.doi:10.1177/004057369204900301(https://dx.doi.org/10.1177%2F004057369204900301).
Externallinks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
23/24
3/12/2015
MyersBriggsTypeIndicatorWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
Myers&BriggsFoundation(http://www.myersbriggs.org/)
CPP,Inc.(https://www.cpp.com/)
AssociationforPsychologicalTypeInternational
(http://www.aptinternational.org/)
CenterforApplicationsofPsychologicalType(CAPT)
WikimediaCommonshas
mediarelatedtoMyers
BriggsTypeIndicator.
Wikiquotehasquotations
relatedto:Psychological
Type
(http://www.capt.org/)
Retrievedfrom"http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Myers
Briggs_Type_Indicator&oldid=648383442"
Categories: Jungiantradition Personalitytypologies MBTItypes Personalitytests
Thispagewaslastmodifiedon22February2015,at22:01.
TextisavailableundertheCreativeCommonsAttributionShareAlikeLicenseadditionaltermsmay
apply.Byusingthissite,youagreetotheTermsofUseandPrivacyPolicy.Wikipediaisa
registeredtrademarkoftheWikimediaFoundation,Inc.,anonprofitorganization.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
24/24