Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Assessment

There are various methods through which psychological preferences of people are judged. Today, it is important to know about one's behavioral pattern, thought process and decision making process. That's exactly where assessment techniques like Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) come into play. If you have heard about personality tests, the MBTI term should not be new to you. The MBTI assessment is based on the Carl Jung's concept of psychological types. It is used to identify what personality type a specific individual is.

 

Today, knowing one's personality type has become more important than ever. If you know about your personality traits well, you will be able to make well informed decisions, both in your professional and personal lives. The MBTI was developed by Katherine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myer, after whom the personality type indicator is named.

 

Jung's Psychological Model
According to Carl Jung's psychological classification, personalities can be categorized into 16 different types. Each personality type is represented by a combination of four letters, which are actually abbreviated forms of different traits. Have a look at what the different letters represent.

 

Dichotomies

 

E - Extroversion
S - Sensing
T - Thinking
J - Judgment
I - Introversion
N - Intuition
F - Feeling
P - Perception

 

A Myers-Briggs Type Indicator includes 16 four letter combination which include ENFJ, ISTP, ENTJ, INTP, ISTJ, ENFP, ESFP, ISFJ, INTJ, ENTP, ISFP, ESFJ, INFJ, ESTP, INFP and ESTJ. For example, an ESTJ personality type will indicate: E - Extraversion, S - Sensing, T - Thinking and J - Judgment. Each of these personality types is associated with specific personality traits, behavioral attributes and thought process.

 

Extroversion vs. Introversion
According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment, attitude of an individual can either be extroversion or introversion. That means, an individual can either be an introvert or an extrovert as far as ‘attitudes' are concerned. If you happen to be an extrovert, it means you have an outward turning while an introvert has an inward turning. Broadly speaking, an extrovert person will be more oriented towards action while an introvert person will be thought-oriented.

 

Sensing vs. Intuition & Thinking vs. Feeling
Carl Jung categorized psychological functions inside an individual into two pairs - sensing/ intuition (perceiving functions) and sensing/ feeling (judging functions). The Myers-Briggs Typology type states that one of these four psychological functions is predominant in a person. Depending on the personality type, some people use the sensing function for accumulating information. There are other people who use intuition for gathering data. Likewise, when it comes to making decisions, people will use functions like thinking or feeling.

 

Judgment vs. Perception
There's yet another dimension introduced by the Carl Jung's typological model. It states that different people use either judgment or perception while responding to the outside world. According to Myers-Briggs, People with TJ personality types are supposed to be logical while FJ types tend to be empathetic. If a person has been identified with ENTJ type (extroverts), J (judging) represents the predominant function while people with INTJ (Introverts) will have J (judging) as an auxiliary function in their personality.

 

Benefits of Using an MBTI Assessment
Personality tests play a vital role in planning one's career. After you know your personality type, traits and attributes, you can look for careers where you would best fit in. Though the MBTI does not actually measure an individual's capability, it does make you well informed of your personality preferences. Depending on the result of the personality test, you can search for careers where you have the maximum chances to excel. A personality assessment test enables candidates make a well informed decision while selecting a career path.

 

All Personality Types are Equal
You should be advised that the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator model is aimed at understanding and appreciating personality trait differences among people. The MBTI typology model is the best in terms of identifying personal preferences, as it has been tested for more than forty years. No single personality type from the 16 types can be termed as the best, as all of them are equal. Compared to other psychological instruments, the MBTI happens to be the most reliable.