The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
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INTRODUCTION The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) personality inventory is to make the theory of psychological types described by C. G. Jung understandable and useful in people’s lives. The essence of the theory is that much seemingly random variation in the behavior is actually quite orderly and consistent, being due to basic differences in the ways individuals prefer to use their perception and judgment. All types are equal: The goal of knowing about personality type is to understand and appreciate differences between people. As all types are equal, there is no best type. The MBTI instrument sorts for preferences and does not measure trait, ability, or character. The MBTI tool is different from many other psychological instruments and also different from other personality tests. The indicator is frequently used in the areas of pedagogy, career counseling, team building, group dynamics, professional development, marketing, family business, leadership training, executive coaching, life coaching, personal development, marriage counseling, and workers' compensation claims. There are 4 Dichotomies that the MBTI encompasses: 1) or I Introversion E Extraversion 2) or N Intuition S Sensing 3) or F Feeling T Thinking 4) or P Perception J Judgment Note that the terms used for each dichotomy have specific technical meanings relating to the MBTI which differ from their everyday usage. For example, people who prefer judgment over perception are not necessarily more judgmental or less perceptive. Nor does the MBTI instrument measure aptitude; it simply indicates for one preference over another. Someone reporting a high score for extraversion over introversion cannot be correctly described as more extraverted: they simply have a clear preference. Point scores on each of the dichotomies can vary considerably from person to person, even among those with the same type. However, Isabel Myers considered the direction of the preference (for example, E vs. I) to be more important than the degree of the preference (for example, very clear vs. slight). The expression of a person's psychological type is more than the sum of the four individual preferences. The preferences interact through type dynamics and type development.
Some general guidelines to the MBTI Inventory: 1) Type not trait: The MBTI sorts for type; it does not indicate the strength of ability. 2) Own best judge: Individuals are considered the best judge of their own type. 3) No right or wrong: No preference or total type is considered "better" or "worse" than another. 4) Voluntary: It is considered unethical to compel anyone to take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. It should always be taken voluntarily. 5) Confidentiality: The result of the MBTI Reported and Best Fit type are confidential between the individual and administrator and, ethically, not for disclosure without permission. 6) Not for selection: The results of the assessment should not be used to "label, evaluate, or limit the respondent in any way". 7) Importance of proper feedback: Individuals should always be given detailed feedback from a trained administrator and an opportunity to undertake a Best Fit exercise to check against their Reported Type.
Sources: 1) Wikipedia: MBTI Entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator) 2) Introduction to Type by Isabel Briggs Myers published by CPP. Inc. 3) Please Understand Me by Keirsey and Bates
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The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) QUESTIONS 1) At a party do you: (a) interact with many, including strangers (b) interact with a few, known to you
19) In judging are you more likely to be: (a) impersonal (b) sentimental
2) Are you more: (a) realistic (b) philosophically inclined
20) Do you usually: (a) settle things (b) keep options open
3) Are you more intrigued by: (a) facts (b) similes
21) Are you usually rather: (a) quick to agree to a time (b) reluctant to agree to a time
4) Are you usually more: (a) fair minded (b) kind hearted
22) In phoning do you: (a) just start talking (b) rehearse what you'll say
5) Do you tend to be more: (a) dispassionate (b) sympathetic
23) Facts: (a) speak for themselves (b) usually require interpretation
6) Do you prefer to work: (a) to deadlines (b) just "whenever"
24) Do you prefer to work with: (a) practical information (b) abstract ideas
7) Do you tend to choose: (a) rather carefully (b) somewhat impulsively
25) Are you inclined to be more: (a) cool headed (b) warm hearted
8) At parties do you: (a) stay late, with increasing energy (b) leave early, with decreased energy
26) Would you rather be: (a) more just than merciful (b) more merciful than just
9) Are you a more: (a) sensible person (b) reflective person
27) Are you more comfortable: (a) setting a schedule (b) putting things off
10) Are you more drawn to: (a) hard data (b) abstruse ideas
28) Are you more comfortable with: (a) written agreements (b) handshake agreements
11) Is it more natural for you to be: (a) fair to others (b) nice to others
29) In company do you: (a) start conversations (b) wait to be approached
12) In first approaching others are you more: (a) impersonal and detached (b) personal and engaging
30) Traditional common sense is: (a) usually trustworthy (b) often misleading
13) Are you usually more: (a) punctual (b) leisurely
31) Children often do not: (a) make themselves useful enough (b) daydream enough
14) Does it bother you more having things: (a) incomplete (b) completed
32) Are you usually more: (a) tough minded (b) tender hearted
15) In your social groups do you: (a) keep abreast of others' happenings (b) get behind on the news
33) Are you more: (a) firm than gentle (b) gentle than firm
16) Are you usually more interested in: (a) specifics (b) concepts
34) Are you more prone to keep things: (a) well organized (b) open-ended
17) Do you prefer writers who: (a) say what they mean (b) use lots of analogies
35) Do you put more value on the: (a) definite (b) variable
18) Are you more naturally: (a) impartial (b) compassionate
36) Does new interaction with others: (a) stimulate and energize you (b) tax your reserves
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The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) QUESTIONS 37) Are you more frequently: (a) a practical sort of person (b) an abstract sort of person
55) Is it preferable mostly to: (a) make sure things are arranged (b) just let things happen
38) Which are you drawn to: (a) accurate perception (b) concept formation
56) Is it your way more to: (a) get things settled (b) put off settlement
39) Which is more satisfying: (a) to discuss an issue thoroughly (b) to arrive at agreement on an issue
57) When the phone rings do you: (a) hasten to get to it first (b) hope someone else will answer
40) Which rules you more: (a) your head (b) your heart
58) Do you prize more in yourself a: (a) good sense of reality (b) good imagination
41) Are you more comfortable with work: (a) contracted (b) done on a casual basis
59) Are you more drawn to: (a) fundamentals (b) overtones
42) Do you prefer things to be: (a) neat and orderly (b) optional
60) In judging are you usually more: (a) neutral (b) charitable
43) Do you prefer: (a) many friends with brief contact (b) a few friends with longer contact
61) Do you consider yourself more: (a) clear headed (b) good willed
44) Are you more drawn to: (a) substantial information (b) credible assumptions
62) Are you more prone to: (a) schedule events (b) take things as they come
45) Are you more interested in: (a) production (b) research
63) Are you the person that is more: (a) routinized (b) whimsical
46) Are you more comfortable when you are: (a) objective (b) personal
64) Are you more inclined to be: (a) easy to approach (b) somewhat reserved
47) Do you value in yourself more that you are: (a) unwavering (b) devoted
65) Do you have more fun with: (a) hands-on experience (b) blue-sky fantasy
48) Are you more comfortable with: (a) final statements (b) tentative statements
66) In writings do you prefer: (a) the more literal (b) the more figurative
49) Are you more comfortable: (a) after a decision (b) before a decision
67) Are you usually more: (a) unbiased (b) compassionate
50) Do you: (a) speak easily and at length with strangers (b) find little to say to strangers
68) Are you typically more: (a) just than lenient (b) lenient than just
51) Are you usually more interested in the: (a) particular instance (b) general case
69) Is it more like you to: (a) make snap judgments (b) delay making judgments
52) Do you feel: (a) more practical than ingenious (b) more ingenious than practical
70) Do you tend to be more: (a) deliberate than spontaneous (b) spontaneous than deliberate
53) Are you typically more a person of: (a) clear reason (b) strong feeeling 54) Are you inclined more to be: (a) fair-minded (b) sympathetic
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The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) ANSWER SHEET
Steps to determine your MBTI Typology: 1) Transfer your answers from the test sheet to the answer sheet below. (put 'X' in the 'a' or 'b' box for each number) 2) Add the number of times 'X' occurs in each column and enter the total in the box directly below the associated column. 3) All totals with the same letters should be added together to form the new letter total. (ex: S1+S2 = S) 4) Circle the highest value for each pair of letters. (ex: E or I, S or N, T or F, J or P) 5) The resulting 4 letters represent your MBTI Typology.
E1 I1 a
S1 N1
b
a
S2 N2
b
a
T1 F1
b
a
T2 F2
b
a
J1 P1
b
a
J2 P2
b
a
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
3
4
3
S1 N1
4
S2 N2
5
6
5
T1 F1
T2 F2
S1 N1 +S2 +N2 1
2
E
3
I
7
8
7
J1 P1
5
N
J1 P1 +J2 +P2 6
T
8
J2 P2
T1 F1 +T2 +F2 4
S
6
b
F
7
8
J
P
Your Type:
This gives 16 possible Typologies (see the TYPES page for more information):
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ESTJ
ESTP
ENTJ
ENTP
ESFJ
ESFP
ENFJ
ENFP
ISTJ
ISTP
INTJ
INTP
ISFJ
ISFP
INFJ
INFP
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The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
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TYPE DESCRIPTIONS The 16 Types (Excerpted from Introduction to Type® by Isabel Briggs Myers published by CPP. Inc.): E N T J
Frank, decisive, assume leadership readily. Quickly see illogical and inefficient procedures and policies, develop and implement comprehensive systems to solve organizational problems. Enjoy long-term planning and goal setting. Usually well informed, well read, enjoy expanding their knowledge and passing it on to others. Forceful in presenting their ideas.
E N T P
Quick, ingenious, stimulating, alert, and outspoken. Resourceful in solving new and challenging problems. Adept at generating conceptual possibilities and then analyzing them strategically. Good at reading other people. Bored by routine, will seldom do the same thing the same way, apt to turn to one new interest after another.
E N F J
Warm, empathetic, responsive, and responsible. Highly attuned to the emotions, needs, and motivations of others. Find potential in everyone, want to help others fulfill their potential. May act as catalysts for individual and group growth. Loyal, responsive to praise and criticism. Sociable, facilitate others in a group, and provide inspiring leadership.
E N F P
Warmly enthusiastic and imaginative. See life as full of possibilities. Make connections between events and information very quickly, and confidently proceed based on the patterns they see. Want a lot of affirmation from others, and readily give appreciation and support. Spontaneous and flexible, often rely on their ability to improvise and their verbal fluency.
E S T J
Practical, realistic, matter-of-fact. Decisive, quickly move to implement decisions. Organize projects and people to get things done, focus on getting results in the most efficient way possible. Take care of routine details. Have a clear set of logical standards, systematically follow them and want others to also. Forceful in implementing their plans.
E S T P
Flexible and tolerant, they take a pragmatic approach focused on immediate results. Theories and conceptual explanations bore them – they want to act energetically to solve the problem. Focus on the here-and-now, spontaneous, enjoy each moment that they can be active with others. Enjoy material comforts and style. Learn best through doing.
E S F J
Warmhearted, conscientious, and cooperative. Want harmony in their environment, work with determination to establish it. Like to work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time. Loyal, follow through even in small matters. Notice what others need in their day-by-day lives and try to provide it. Want to be appreciated for who they are and for what they contribute.
E S F P
Outgoing, friendly, and accepting. Exuberant lovers of life, people, and material comforts. Enjoy working with others to make things happen. Bring common sense and a realistic approach to their work, and make work fun. Flexible and spontaneous, adapt readily to new people and environments. Learn best by trying a new skill with other people.
I N T J
Have original minds and great drive for implementing their ideas and achieving their goals. Quickly see patterns in external events and develop long-range explanatory perspectives. When committed, organize a job and carry it through. Skeptical and independent, have high standards of competence and performance – for themselves and others.
I N T P
Seek to develop logical explanations for everything that interests them. Theoretical and abstract, interested more in ideas than in social interaction. Quiet, contained, flexible, and adaptable. Have unusual ability to focus in depth to solve problems in their area of interest. Skeptical, sometimes critical, always analytical.
I N F J
Seek meaning and connection in ideas, relationships, and material possessions. Want to understand what motivates people and are insightful about others. Conscientious and committed to their firm values. Develop a clear vision about how best to serve the common good. Organized and decisive in implementing their vision.
I N F P
Idealistic, loyal to their values and to people who are important to them. Want an external life that is congruent with their values. Curious, quick to see possibilities, can be catalysts for implementing ideas. Seek to understand people and to help them fulfill their potential. Adaptable, flexible, and accepting unless a value is threatened.
I S T J
Quiet, serious, earn success by thoroughness and dependability. Practical, matter-of-fact, realistic, and responsible. Decide logically what should be done and work toward it steadily, regardless of distractions. Take pleasure in making everything orderly and organized – their work, their home, their life. Value traditions and loyalty.
I S T P
Tolerant and flexible, quiet observers until a problem appears, then act quickly to find workable solutions. Analyze what makes things work and readily get through large amounts of data to isolate the core of practical problems. Interested in cause and effect, organize facts using logical principles, value efficiency.
I S F J
Quiet, friendly, responsible, and conscientious. Committed and steady in meeting their obligations. Thorough, painstaking, and accurate. Loyal, considerate, notice and remember specifics about people who are important to them, concerned with how others feel. Strive to create an orderly and harmonious environment at work and at home.
I S F P
Quiet, friendly, sensitive, and kind. Enjoy the present moment, what’s going on around them. Like to have their own space and to work within their own time frame. Loyal and committed to their values and to people who are important to them. Dislike disagreements and conflicts, do not force their opinions or values on others.
NOTE: Be sure to do more research on your specific type (e.g. - "Google it!") as there are volumes of information that I could not work into this document.
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