Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Abstract

The Myers-Brigs Type Indicator® (MBTI) is an instrument designed to map psychological personality types, in order to understand group dynamics and better manage e.g. project groups. This article will outline and describe the 16 different MBTI® personality types indicated by a four-letter abbreviation representing the preference of the person within each of the four dichotomies; introversion (I)/extraversion (E), sensing (S)/intuition (N), thinking (T)/feeling (F), and judging (J)/perceiving (P).

The theory (Jung, 1921) behind the MBTI® will only be briefly discussed, since focus will be on the application and limitations of the instrument (suggestions for relevant literature on these aspects would be much appreciated, if possible). The MBTI® is widely used personal and professional insights to the individual, in education, coaching, therapy etc. Many companies use personality type tests when hiring new employees to increase the chances of good group dynamics with the existing team of employees. The MBTI® is as widely disputed as it is popular. According to the Myers-Briggs Foundation the MBTI® is both valid and reliable, however various critics claim the exact opposite. Ethical guidelines are provided by the Myers-Briggs Foundation to ensure an ethical use of the MBTI® and avoid abuse, including "using type to assess people's abilities and using type to pressure people toward certain behaviours" (http://www.myersbriggs.org). This article will also look into the ethical perspectives when outlining the applications of the MBTI®.

Introduction

Understanding human behaviour is key to understanding group dynamics and is therefore vital in projects and the management of these. The Myers-Brigs Type Indicator® (MBTI) is an instrument designed to map psychological personality types. The MBTI® is a questionnaire that indicates a person’s preferences within four dichotomies, i.e. opposite preferences on a continuous scale, in how people perceive the world and make decisions. There are two pairs of psychological functions. The irrational information gathering or perceiving; sensing/intuition, and the rational decision-making or judging; thinking/feeling. The two pairs and the perceiving/judging functions make up three of the four dichotomies. The forth is the attitude towards the surrounding world; extraversion or introversion. MBTI® describes 16 different personality types according to two outcomes in each of the four dichotomies; introversion (I)/extraversion (E), sensing (S)/intuition (N), thinking (T)/feeling (F), and judging (J)/perceiving (P). A given personality type is indicated by a four-letter abbreviation representing the preference of the person within each pair, e.g. ENTJ, INFP etc.

Big idea

Every type will have a dominant psychological function, an auxiliary function supporting and balancing the dominant, a tertiary, and lastly a forth inferior function which the surrounding world hardly ever sees. The inferior function usually only comes to show if/when the person is under pressure in a highly stressed situation. The dominant function is indicated by the preferred lifestyle structure, judging (J) or perceiving (P). For extraverts, the dominant function is the preferred judging or perceiving function. For an ESTJ type, the J determines that the dominant function will be extraverted thinking (Te), for an ESTP type it will be extraverted sensing (Se)). The auxiliary function is the other psychological function. The attitude of the auxiliary function is opposite of the dominant function, so for an ESTJ type, the axillary function will be introverted sensing (Se), for an ESTP type it will be introverted thinking (Ti)). For introverts, the preferred judging or perceiving function indicates the auxiliary function. As for extraverts, the attitude of the auxiliary function is opposite, i.e. extraverted. For an ISTJ type, the dominant function is introverted sensing (Si) and the auxiliary function is extraverted thinking (Te). The dominant and auxiliary functions are called the function pair.

Bibliography

The Myers-Briggs Foundation, 2016, http://www.myersbriggs.org

The official website of the MBTI® instrument. The history of the development of the theory behind the MBTI. What the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® instrument is and what it measures. Information on the sixteen types, the eight preferences and other tools for a basic understanding of personality type. Guidance for the appropriate and ethical use of the instrument and what is expected from certified administrators.