The Myers Briggs Type Indicator®[1]
(MBTI®)
History and Origin:
The Myers Briggs Type Indicator is a self-report questionnaire based on the psychological theories of Carl Gustav Jung, one of the founders of modern psychoanalytic theory. When his book Psychological Types was published in English in the 1930s, it fired Isabel Briggs Myers (1897-1980) and her mother, Katherine Cook Briggs (1875-1968), both avid and disciplined observers of human behaviour, to use it as the foundation for developing a personality inventory. They both believed that if people could understand each other, that would be the first most important step toward peace, both interpersonal and international. The loss of human life in World War II had profoundly influenced them.
While the women used Jung’s work, in developing the MBTI they took his theories further by giving them greater accuracy and making them accessible to people.
Over the decades, the MBTI has continued to be developed, and the statistical and practical rigour with which Briggs Myers and Myers invested their work has continued.
Today there are two main versions of the MBTI. The original, now called MBTI Mark I and a new version which enlarges the first called the Expanded Interpretive Report® or MBTI Mark II®.
The MBTI is an INDICATOR?
First of all, the MBTI, as it’s name suggests is an Indicator. It points to a person’s preferences over four sets of mental processes. While, for the sake of analysis, we tend to talk in the codes of those preferences, they are not closed boxes – they describe a person’s preferred ways of functioning in the world. By doing this, it also indicates our less preferred ways of functioning and so helps a person to integrate her or his personality.
It is important to remember that the MBTI is not a “test” or examination. So there are no right or wrong answers. No one fails.
What does the MBTI measure?
The MBTI measures four dimensions of personality and indicates which of those dimensions are our preferred ways of operating. Each dimension describes two opposite preferences. No one is able to do both aspects of a dimension equally well. It is rather like writing – each of us has a preferred hand, right handed or left handed. We write best with our preferred hand but can still write with the other, but not as well.
The four dimensions are:
Extraversion-Introversion (E-I) describes where a person prefers to focus their attention – on the outer world of people and things (Extraversion) or the inner world of ideas (Introversion)
Sensing-Intuition (S-N) describes different ways a person perceives and takes in information. A person with the Sensing preference takes in information through their five senses and is usually very accurate with sensory detail, whereas the Intuitive preference takes in information through the “sixth sense”, intuition. This person looks for meanings, relationships and possibilities beyond the presenting detail.
Thinking-Feeling (T-F) dimension indicates how a person prefers to make decisions. The person who prefers Thinking decides using logic and detached analysis whereas, the person with the Feeling preference makes decisions through empathy and by considering what is important for people.
Judging-Perceiving (J-P) describes how a person organises and orientates themselves to their outer world. The Judging preference indicates a person who prefers predictability and to be well organised, while the Perceiving preferred person prefers spontaneity and has a different style of organisation.
These four dimensions are combined to give a four-letter preference for each person e.g. ESFP, INTJ, ENFP. Together they form the sixteen personality types of the MBTI.
What the MBTI Doesn’t Do:
It does not tell you everything there is to know about yourself, nor will it tell you what personality types you will get along with, like, work well with or marry. It should not be used to “second guess” what typology other people are.
It does not, in any way, diminish the uniqueness of a person. In fact, within each of the types there is a range of expression of that particular set of preferences.
MBTI Mark I:
This is the original MBTI with which most people are familiar. It measures the four dimensions of personality as described above. It is administered either through a self-scoring questionnaire or is scored by the facilitator.
The advantages of this version are:
It is quick to process
Has good statistical accuracy
Quick for people to grasp the essentials of their preferences
Relatively inexpensive
The disadvantage of this version is that it does not make explicit the nuances of personality within the dimensions that is possible in MBTI Mark II.
The Expanded Report or MBTI Mark II:
This is a more recent development of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. It measures the four dimensions as with Mark I, but each dimension has five subscales in the order of their importance to that dimension.
The advantages of this version are:
More accurate in terms of a person’s preferences
Greater nuances when looking at how people interact
More practical applications
Good statistical accuracy
Each person receives a comprehensive and personal profile report unique to them.
The disadvantages are:
Takes longer to process as the questionnaire must be sent away for computer scoring.
More costly.
Some Applications of the MBTI:
The MBTI is primarily about human giftedness. (Isabel Briggs Myers called her last book, Gifts Differing.) It is about identifying, affirming and using your strengths and gifts and potential areas for growth. It also helps you gain a better understanding and appreciation of people who are different from you. It certainly helps understand both yourself and others without resorting to blame or prejudiced judgments.
The following are among the many applications of the MBTI as a tool for personal and professional growth. By using the MBTI well and ethically, organisations and individuals have a consistent base for personal development, effective interpersonal skills and workplace skills development.
Organisational:
Management styles
Leadership styles and skills
Personal:
While the MBTI measures gifts and strengths, it also indicates areas for growth in our personalities, particularly when we look at the Fourth Function, that is the aspects that are not our preferences. This aspect of the MBTI may be particularly helpful during times of life transitions.
Doing the MBTI:
Because both versions of the MBTI are self report, it is important for the accuracy of the instrument that you answer the questions as you would as your most relaxed, “shoes-off” self not as you may have learned to be to adapt to work or social roles.
For Individual Consultation:
Once you have decided that the MBTI will be helpful for you, I will give you the questionnaire which you complete and return to me. We then meet either face to face or conference call and discuss your preferences. I also give you ample handouts to support our conversations.
If you have used the Expanded Interpretive Report you will also have a personal profile based on your scores.
I am available for continued clarification, questions etc. as it is important you have someone to answer questions that may arise after learning about the MBTI.
For Groups:
The length of the programme depends on time your organisation has available and number of people in the group. However, to get the best out of the MBTI, give sufficient time for participants to gain a workable and thorough understanding of the Instrument.
I will consult with the group to develop a programme that responds to your needs, as the MBTI has many applications. However, the programme will begin with a basic understanding of the four dimensions.
My style of facilitation is interactive, so we will use processes to understand the theory and ideas and I encourage people to find their own applications. It is also important that the questions participants have are addressed, as these will make the theory alive and applicable.
Once the programme is over, I am available for on-going consultation and follow-up.
The amount of lead-up time and actual programme time will depend on the version of the MBTI you have chosen.
Accredited Professional:
I am accredited to administer both versions of the MBTI. As an accredited professional I will maintain your confidentiality, give you a comprehensive debriefing of your typology and maintain high ethical standards.
And Finally:
I believe you will gain enormous benefit from the MBTI as it is a gentle, non-judgmental tool to help you understand yourself and others. It affirms human gifts, and so builds up self-esteem. It also helps us respectfully come to terms with those darker, less manageable aspects of our personality that may cause us, and others, difficulty.
The MBTI is extensively used by both individuals and organisations internationally to help people live and work effectively.
So, through this Instrument, many people have benefited greatly from a better understanding of their own and other people’s personality type. It has helped people in choice of career; how they respond in work and social situations; what makes them comfortable or uncomfortable with other people; how to avoid and manage stress; what truly enthuses them and gives them meaning and finally, how to journey through the processes of life to maturity.
[1] The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) are registered trademarks of Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc., the publisher of the MBTI instrument. Reynolds-Hutchinson and Associates is not a licensee of and is not affiliated to Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc.
