What is the Myer Briggs Test?

MBTI is a popular personality assessment tool that identifies four fundamental ways people perceive and make decisions. The MBTI initially categorizes individuals as one of sixteen personality types, with each type being led by one of four preferences represented by an acronym. These preferences are introversion, extroversion, sensing and intuition. Each class has a dominant function, differentiating it from the other types.

1. What Is the Myers-Briggs Test Used For?

MBTI was developed in the 1960s to identify the primary psychological differences between people. The theory has been used with mixed success in sales, marketing, personnel selection and counseling but has become chiefly famous in self-development literature. An aspect of these differences is how people react to others, considering how well someone works with others and as an individual. The different types also have different dispositions and worldviews on world events, social issues, moral behavior, and political beliefs.

The Myers Briggs testing is a process in which a person’s psychological preferences are measured and studied. The test was developed by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers in the 1940s, with the type indicator gradually becoming more popular after the 1960s. During World War II, Isabel worked for an organization that sorted female employees based on their skills for different military service positions. This led to her interest in personality types and her mother’s interest in personality type theory and the “word penetrating soul.” Katharine and Isabel developed a personality assessment test based on Carl Jung’s theory of psychological type. Jung is considered one of the founders of modern psychology, with his work being highly influential in the development of psychotherapy.

2. The Assessment Process

A series of questions on the test determines a person’s preferences for four psychological functions: extroversion, sensing, thinking, and introversion. To begin the test, the subject is asked to select two letters representing how they feel about various topics, such as social gatherings and alone time. Following that, they are asked to answer questions about their preferences for specific items, and the test administrator explains their choices.

3. The Four Functions

The MBTI identifies four psychological functions:

• Extroversion

A preference for the extroverted feeling and thinking functions over the introverted feeling function characterizes extroversion. Extroverts are outgoing and social people who seek constant companionship. They have strong attention spans and are comfortable conversing. When inspired by ideas or desires, extroverts can also take physical action.

• Introversion

Introversion means that a person prefers to use their introverted feeling function while not using any other process. Introverts prefer close relationships with few distractions. They are quiet individuals who enjoy reflection, inward communication, and solitude.

• Sensing

Those who are Sensing focus primarily on the present moment and have a tendency to be practical and realistic. They prefer to focus on facts, evidence, structure and current concerns. Those who prefer Sensing are often realistic and practical, with an eye for detail. They are less reliant on their feelings, instead using what they see as concrete evidence to decide how they feel about things.

• Thinking

People who prefer Thinking to go by logic and reason to reach conclusions about situations. They rely heavily on logical and factual information before making decisions, seeking out complex data to understand the world around them. They may be more idealistic in their decision-making, examining situations from a broader perspective than reality. They also appear to process information in a logical order.

4. Measuring the Myers-Briggs Tests

While the MBTI assessment is designed for self-exploration, people can also submit their results to a professional who can interpret them and advise them on improving themselves. The test is most accurate when administered by an expert with adequate training and experience.

A trained and experienced practitioner will be able to interpret test results accurately. There is a range of tools available online that are used to provide advice on your personality type. Various sites and magazines offer advice and interpretations of the classes, some more accurate than others. It is known that the Briggs Type Indicator is as precise as other personality tests, such as the Big Five personality test and that it is reliable for gathering information about overall personality type.

5. Interpreting Your Results

This results can be interpreted positively and negatively depending on their use. The results come in a certain percentage based on the four functions of your personality. Positive results can help guide someone to pursue careers that match their strengths. If you are extroverted, you will likely enjoy jobs or professions requiring working closely with others and many tasks simultaneously. On the other hand, if you enjoy working alone and functioning independently, it may not be a good fit for you in many careers or jobs.

MBTI helps determine your personality type and how you operate. This is accomplished by categorizing you according to your preferences for four psychological functions: extroversion, sensing, thinking, and introversion. While the test cannot replace other tools for self-improvement, it can provide valuable insight into how people function and apply those functions in their daily lives.