What is the Myers-Briggs personality type indicator? Part one

A personality test is a type of questionnaire that is designed to reveal certain aspects regarding your personality. This means it can reveal how you behave, how you tend to think about things and other aspects regarding your “psychological makeup” 

Now, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is an example of a   personality test. It is designed to assist a person in identifying some significant personal preferences. 

Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs-Myers developed the Indicator during World War II, and its criteria are influenced by psychologist Carl Jung's theory of Psychological Types. (A very Fascinating theory, but something for another day) 

The Indicator is frequently used in the areas of pedagogy, group dynamics, employee training, leadership training, marriage counselling, and personal development.

The indicator differs from standardized tests and others measuring traits, such as intelligence or, instead classifying people have preferred types.

Traits are durable characteristics of a person, such as intelligent, independent or patience.  

Types are collections of traits that are said to occur together in some individuals. For example, we might define the macho type as a person who tries to be tough, independent, courageous, or whatever the person perceives as masculine behaviour.

According to Myers-Briggs Theory, while types and traits are both inborn, traits can be improved akin to skills, whereas types, if supported by a healthy environment, naturally differentiate over time

The types the MBTI measures are known as dichotomies,. The first type (or dichotomies) is either extraversion or introversion, the second type is either sensing  or intuition. Thinking or feeling is the third type, and   judging or perceiving is the last type.  

The test is composed of closed questions. This means there are only two options, and your answers will indicate what your preference is in each of the four types.

Mathematically speaking, this means that you can be one of sixteen different personality types. 

Each of these sixteen types is referred to by a four-letter abbreviation, such as ESTJ or INFP, indicating your  preference in each dichotomy (“polar opposites”).

For example, I prefer Extroversion over Introversion, Intuition over Sensing, Thinking over Feeling and Judgement over Perceiving. That is why I am known as an ENTJ.

I hope that you as the reader now have a better understanding regarding the Myers-Briggs personality test.

Keep on reading to find out more about each different dichotomy!

Sincerely 

Personality Girl 

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