The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is an introspective self-assessment that evaluates how we perceive the world and make decisions. It measures our preferences in 4 domains: mental energy sources, information processing, decision-making approaches, and structure needs, each with two opposing forces. But is it accurate? Try it and find out for yourself!
myers-briggs type indicator
The Myers–Briggs Type Indicator is a self-assessment of how we perceive the world and make decisions. The test measures our preferences in 4 domains: sources of mental energy, processing of information, approach to decision-making, and need for structure.
Each of the four categories has two sides: extroversion or introversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, and judging or perceiving. This then results in 16 possible personality types.
Discover your type
Before we begin the test, keep 3 things in mind:
- Human traits exist on a spectrum: you could fall in the center of two extremes and get different results when repeating the test later.
- The MBTI looks at preferences. So people who prefer extraversion over introversion may not be extraverts, they simply like that personality type better.
- Don’t take the results too seriously.
To determine your type, ask yourself these 4 questions.
Do you focus outwardly or inwardly?
Are you rather outgoing or private?
Do you speak impulsively or thoughtfully?
Do you get energized being around others or do you recharge alone?
Do you prefer extraversion or introversion??
How do you prefer to take in information?
Do you focus on how things are or imagine how things could be?
Do you pay attention to concrete details or do you see the big picture?
Do you prefer practical ideas or enjoy theories for their own sake?
Do you favor sensing or intuition?
How do you like to make decisions?
Do you rely on logic or personal values?
Do you prioritize fairness and justice or forgiveness and harmony?
Do you enjoy finding flaws in arguments or agreeing with others?
Do you like thinking or feeling?
How do you prefer to live your outer life?
Do you want matters settled or options open?
Do you think rules need to be respected or see them as suggestions?
Do you like detailed instructions or prefer improvisation?
Do you like judging or perceiving?
Now that you know who you are, you can take the letters representing extraversion, introversion, sensing, intuition, thinking, feeling, judging, and perceiving and form your type, say ESTJ. What that means, becomes clear when we look at the 16 personality types.
ESTP: Doer
ESTPs enjoy being around people and focus on the here and now. Their minds are quick, intelligent, and outspoken. Good at reading others, they can solve complex problems. Routines bore them, and they see rules as recommendations.They are often called doers.
ESTJ: Guardians
ESTJs prefer things settled and are not interested in abstract ideas. They value security and are also known as guardians. At work, they are capable of organizing, getting things done, and are loyal colleagues who don’t miss small important details. To keep things neat, they want everyone to follow the protocol.
ESFP: PERFORMER
ESFPs are friendly, social, and accepting. They love to have new experiences and meet new people. ESPFs enjoy seeing others happy and as a result, are often the center of attention. Disliking analysis, they have plenty of common sense. Instead of logic, they are driven by values and hence tend to agree with people they like. They are also called performers.
ESFJ: CAREGIVER
ESFJs arewarm-hearted and cooperative. They feel a strong sense of duty, value traditions, and are loyal friends. At work, they are detailed and tend to complete tasks accurately and on time. Their empathy allows them to see what others need, which makes them good leaders. ESFJs want to be appreciated for who they are and are known as caregivers.
ENFP: INSPIRER
ENFPs are known as enthusiastic idealists who see a life full of possibilities. Their minds are spontaneous, creative, and are able to do almost anything that interests them — although the affirmation of their peers greatly influences their behavior. At work, ENFPs are fast thinkers, and good at improvising. But they do get bored with details or things they don’t care about. Some call them inspirers.
ENFJ: GIVER
ENFJs are warm, responsive, and able to take responsibility. They show outstanding people skills and see plenty of potential in others. This makes them good managers and inspiring leaders. Since they are concerned about how others think and feel, they are also known as givers.
ENTP: VISIONARY
ENTPs areintellectually quick, creative, and good at a broad range of things. They get excited about new projects but are so bored by routines that they rarely do the same thing the same way. Their ability to read others, think strategically, and solve complex problems, makes them stimulating friends. Some call them visionaries.
ENTJ: EXECUTIVE
ENTJs tend to be confident, frank, and quick to make a decision. They value competence and have no patience for nonsense. At work, they are quick to spot poor organizational design and are able to create intelligent new solutions. They like to make long-term plans and then implement them no matter what. That’s one reason some call them executives.
And now those who prefer introverts.
ISTJ: INSPECTOR
ISTJs are calm, serious, and interested in peaceful living. Their judgment is thorough and realistic. They like to keep things organized, are hardworking, and are focused on achieving what they set out to. The fact that they are loyal, reliable, and detailed gave them the nickname inspectors.
ISTP: MECHANIC
ISTPs are reserved and relaxed until there is a problem. Then, they act quickly and usually find a good solution. Their curiosity about how things work makes them good analysts and great engineers. Their thinking is structured and logical, but not afraid to break the rules if they get in the way of them doing something extraordinary. They are known as the mechanics.
ISFJ: NURTURER
ISFJs are introverts that are conscientious and kind. They often have a high degree of empathy and remember specifics about their friends. At work, they are committed to meeting their obligations and like to see everyone happy. Interested in serving others, they are called nurturers.
ISFP: ARTIST
ISFPs are serious, sensitive, and good-hearted. They are very loyal friends and committed to their personal values. Conflicts stress them out, which is why they don’t like to lead or control others. Their sense of time and appreciation for beauty gave them the alias artists.
INFJ: DEFENDER
INFJs are sensitive, original, and the rarest of all types. Their strong intuition means that they trust their instincts above all else. They prefer neither leading nor following but doing what feels right. Their devotion to protecting what they value earned them the pseudonym defenders.
INFP: IDEALIST
INFPs are reflective, loyal, and often idealistic. Their primary goal is to find out their meaning in life — to make the world a better place. At work, they like to help and are quick to spot possibilities to make things better. Interested in serving humanity, they are also called idealists.
INTJ: SCIENTIST
INTJs have minds that are original, independent, and analytical. At work, they think long-term, are determined, and show a high standard of competence – for themselves and others. This makes them natural leaders. Their knowledge and cognitive ability gave them the alias scientists.
INTP: THINKER
INTPs arecreative and rational and get excited about theories and ideas. Their tendency to be quiet makes them hard to read. Although when they focus on problems they find interesting, they often reveal their true character. They have natural skepticism and logical explanations for almost everything. They are called thinkers.
THE ORIGINS OF MBTI
The building blocks of the original MBTI were laid by Katharine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers who based their work on Carl Jung’s `influential 1921 theory of psychological types’.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
What do you think? Can we divide individuals into 2, 4, 8 or 16 personality types and then infer who they are? Share your thoughts in the comments below. To do an MBTI test right now, look for the link in the description.
Sources
- Myers-Briggs type indicator – Wikipedia.org
- Carl Jung – Wikipedia.org
- 16 personalities test – 16personalities.com
Dig deeper!
- Do you own MBTI test here
- Watch our video lesson on extroverts, introverts and ambiverts.
- Read about Robert Hogan and his doubts about the MBTI test.
- Read about Carl Jung and his book Psychological Types.
- Read about two recent papers on how MBTI can predict medical specialization but not psychiatry specialization.
- Read about Katherine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers
Classroom activity
In the following activity students will learn about the MBTI personality test, its validity and possible applications.
- Ask the students the 4 following questions and tell them to mark down their answer with the corresponding letters:
- Are they more extroverted (E) or introverted (I)?
- Do they usually focus on practical information (S) or like to theorize about what could be (N)?
- To make decisions do they follow logical reasoning (T) or do they follow their feelings and personal values (F)?
- Are they more rigid and organized (J) or take life as it comes and prefer to improvise (P)?
- Once they have 4 letters written down, show the class Sprouts’ video on the MTBI personality test.
- Ask the students if they think that the letters they identify with the personality presented in the video according to the letters they wrote down during the first 4 questions.
- Ask the class how valid they think this test is.
A recent study found that children with ADHD had a tendency to be ISFJ. Ask the class if they think the MBTI test could be used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
Collaborators
- Script: Jonas Koblin
- Artist: Pascal Gaggelli
- Voice: Matt Abbott
- Coloring: Nalin
- Editing: Peera Lertsukittipongsa
- Production: Selina Bador
- Fact-checking: Ludovico Saint Amour Di Chanaz
- Sound Design: Miguel Ojeda
