Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
A personality assessment categorizing individuals into 16 types based on four dichotomies: Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, and Judging/Perceiving.
Also known as: MBTI, Myers-Briggs, 16 Personalities, Briggs Myers
Category: Frameworks
Tags: personality, assessments, self-discovery, psychology, teams, communication, careers, jung
Explanation
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the world's most widely used personality assessments, developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers based on Carl Jung's theory of psychological types.
The framework categorizes personalities along four dichotomies:
**1. Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I)**
Where you direct and receive energy. Extraverts gain energy from external interaction; introverts from internal reflection.
**2. Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)**
How you take in information. Sensors focus on concrete facts and present realities; intuitives on patterns, possibilities, and future implications.
**3. Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)**
How you make decisions. Thinkers prioritize logic and objective analysis; feelers consider values and impact on people.
**4. Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)**
How you approach the external world. Judgers prefer structure, planning, and closure; perceivers prefer flexibility, spontaneity, and keeping options open.
These combinations yield 16 personality types (e.g., INTJ, ENFP, ISTP). Each type has characteristic strengths, blind spots, communication styles, and work preferences.
**Practical applications:**
- Self-awareness and personal development
- Team building and understanding colleagues
- Career guidance and job fit
- Improving communication across different types
- Leadership development
**Important caveats:**
While extremely popular in business and personal development, MBTI faces scientific criticism for low test-retest reliability (people often get different results on retakes) and lack of predictive validity compared to the Big Five model. It's best used as a conversation starter for self-reflection rather than a definitive classification. Types are preferences, not boxes—everyone uses all eight functions to varying degrees.
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