In the wake of the second World War, the U.S was concerned with food shortages and getting drafted to fight. Amid unrest, American author Isabel Myers crafted the world’s most popular personality test with her mother, a schoolteacher. Her motivation? The country needed a “people sorting instrument” that connected the right people to the right jobs. In fact, the U.S. government wanted to connect spies to missions suited to their personalities, and Isabel’s boss had connections to the people in charge.
Using the ideologies of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, Isabel created a personality test. A test that would aid the generations to come in workplace environments and higher education. Before I go on any more about this iconic feat, let’s take a pause.
What is the Myers Briggs?
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality test based on the belief that everyone fits into one of the sixteen personality types based on how they perceive the world and make decisions. I know, it sounds cultish. But whereas zodiac signs are based merely on birth charts and the Enneagram which just exposes personality weaknesses, the MBTI is so much more.
Jung’s theory of psychological types was based on the existence of psychological functions that fall into four dimensions. Extraversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving. With one dominant function to lead the way, what follows is a four-letter personality indicator that attests to Jung’s theory.
For example, as an ENFP myself, this would denote a preference for Extraversion, Intuition, Feeling, and Perceiving. Let’s talk more about what these words mean.
Extraversion vs. Introversion
No, extroverts and introverts are not categorized as loud people who are the life of the party and anti-social people who are shy. Extraversion vs. Introversion merely points to where we as humans, get our energy from. Extraverts get energy through socializing and spending time with others. Introverts get energy from alone time and tending to their internal world.
Remember, being an extravert doesn’t mean you’re “on” all the time just like being an introvert doesn’t mean you don’t know how to hold a conversation. This is a sliding scale that gives insight to the source of our energy.
Sensing vs. Intuition
This one’s a little more difficult to understand but put simply, sensing vs. intuition is two ways people process information. Those with a sensing preference pay attention to the here and now. In other words, “the “raw data” that they can see, hear and touch.” “They create meaning out of concrete information and rely heavily on past experiences to guide their future behavior. People with this preference are practical and active.”
Those with an intuition preference “pay attention to their intuition, instinct, and ability to draw meaning from seemingly disconnected facts.” They may be particularly good at reading between the lines, focusing on the future, and enjoying abstract theoretical conversation.
Interesting stuff, huh?
Feeling vs. Thinking
This one’s easy. Think about the decisions you make. Now ask yourself, do I tend to make decisions based on my feelings or logic? While we may at times use both logic and feelings, we tend to lean towards one more than the other.
If you said feelings, then you’re an “F”. If you said logic, then you’re a “T”. Simple as pie.
So the next time your “T” friend can’t seem to empathize with the fact that you broke up with your situationship for the 5th time and instead offers blunt and logical advice, don’t write her off. She’s just helping in the way she genuinely believes to be best.
Judging vs. Perceiving
The last letter in our lineup, judging vs. perceiving could point to how we structure our time. Those with the “judging” preference, approach life in a structured, organized way characterized by to-do lists and goals. “They prefer knowing what they are getting into and feel frustrated in situations of ambiguity and change. People with this preference gain a sense of control by taking charge of their environment,” according to an article by Truity.
On the other hand, “perceiving” types approach life with spontaneity, remain open with their choices, and find structure limiting. Characterized as relaxed and adaptable, they “gain a sense of control by making choices only when they are necessary. They view deadlines as elastic, and often put off decision-making until the last possible moment so they can spend as much time as possible exploring new options.”
So What?
As all the i’s have been dotted and the t’s have been crossed, we now arrive at one essential inquiry. How does the Myers-Briggs test apply to my life?
While the MBTI test has been used in many ways, the number one way I can attest to its relevance is in my relationships. You see, teenage me was always plagued by two existential thoughts. Who I was and the constant war in my head between what I wanted to do and what I knew was right. Mix these two thoughts and it made a recipe for one very confused adolescent. Not only did I feel out of place and constantly misunderstood by my peers, but I couldn’t quite understand how others couldn’t see the world the way I did. *cough cough* Did I mention I’m an ENFP?
After taking the MBTI and delving deeper into understanding myself and others, I felt like I had a cheat guide to insight into human beings. It has aided me in so many more ways than one to understand myself, accept myself, and accept others for their unique way of perceiving the world. So whether you want to use MBTI to enrich your relationships with yourself or others, don’t knock it until you try it.
1. MBTI is Based on Human Behavior
The MBTI is not an end-all-be-all personality test. In fact, no test should be. In fact fact, the MBTI markets itself as an “indicator,” not a test. This means its design gives a relative idea of a person, not putting them in a box. When we begin to see the test as an indicator of behavior, we can see others from a different perspective. “Instead of labeling a person and putting value judgments on his or her behavior, you can learn to see it as behavior reflecting personality type, not something designed to offend you,” an article Myers & Briggs Foundations said.
For example, the first letter of the MBTI, extraversion vs. introversion gives us insight into how a person gets their energy. Not understanding this difference could lead to misunderstandings. Take me for example. To connect with other classmates, adolescent Monique would fire questions to potential friends, in hopes that I could learn more about them and they could feel cared for. After all, everyone likes talking about themselves right?
Yet to an introvert, having a stranger meddle in their personal life and have constant questions shot at them could be a nightmare. And so, when met with unenthusiastic responses and uncomfortable glances, adolescent Monique felt utterly offended. Couldn’t this person see how much I cared for them? Why weren’t they putting equal effort into getting to know me and engaging in this heart-to-heart during history class? In the end, I realized that people are not mean, we just have different energy levels and ways of making friends.
Behavior vs. Personality Makes All the Difference
“I can think of someone I know who has a preference for Extraversion. She shared with me how her partner just doesn’t communicate like she would like him to. She believes her partner has a preference for Introversion. And so what my friend needed to understand was that when she was ready to talk, her partner wasn’t ready yet. It doesn’t mean he wasn’t interested. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t care,” an article by mbtiOnline said.
Thus, by noting that the MBTI is an indicator of behavior rather than the person as a whole, we can learn to adapt and embrace different types of communication. In the end, it won’t go “Oh, she’s so two-faced she must be a Gemini.” It’s “Oh, she’s an introvert. She’s not stuck up, she’s just drained from this very social gathering at the moment. All she needs is some hot tea and time alone by the fireplace to recharge.” Result!
2. It Helps Us Embrace Our Differences
What may have been the cheesy mantra we were taught in elementary school, the MBTI test thrives off this idea. In this big world, it’s pretty obvious that everyone is different. But rather than form disagreements over these differences, the MBTI gives us a toolkit where we can appreciate said differences. “By developing a clearer sense of self-awareness and awareness of others, you’re able to better frame decisions, reduce miscommunication, and understand personal needs more effectively,” The Myers Briggs Company said.
Regarding romantic relationships, when Intuitives and Sensors paired with their own types, there was over a 70% satisfaction rate in their relationships. This could be due to having a partner who sees the world similarly to you. Yet, pairing with the same type doesn’t always guarantee smooth communication and satisfaction. Where “J” types enjoy structure and planning, this trait paired with another “J” type might result in ruffled feathers when both types insist on their own plans and schedules.
What This Looks Like in Real Life
Here’s another example: a perceiving type and a judgment type get married.
The “P” goes with the flow, providing new and adventurous date ideas for the two. On the other hand, the “J” schedules reservations for the dates while keeping track of due dates of bills. Win-Win.
Yet at home, it’s a different story. While the “J” enjoys an organized and neat living space, the “P”’s lack of organization and habit of losing things may drive the “J” crazy.
The bottom line: we’re all different. Being aware of it makes all the difference, allowing us to adapt, communicate, foresee, and approach each other with understanding.
There are, however, ideal pairings for each of the 16 types that you can look up online. Proceed with caution, but it doesn’t hurt to know in case you run into your soulmate at Trader Joe’s or the movies.
“When couples make an effort to understand and appreciate their differences, they can turn what might be a problem or source of conflict into an asset for their partnership. A personality test simply can’t predict whether your relationship will succeed,” an article by Truity said.
3. It Leads to Self Acceptance
The key to any successful relationship starts with you. Whether that’s learning who you are, what you like and don’t like, self-love, or healing from trauma, we can’t properly love another unless we’ve worked on ourselves. The great thing about MBTI, is that it helps us understand ourselves a little better. For example, since I know I have a natural tendency to forget deadlines, I make sure to plan ahead. I’m not only hyper-aware about deadlines but to-do- lists are my best friend.
And when I do miss or forget a deadline, I don’t beat myself up over it. Sure, I may not be as skilled in organization and hitting deadlines like a nail on the head, but I’m also great at coming up with ideas, new possibilities, and working with others. Instead of focusing on my weaknesses, the MBTI test allows me to celebrate my strengths while staying aware of my blind spots.
Personal answers collected on Quora about its significance:
In Marriage…
One Quora user shared, “I first encountered MBTI during marriage counseling when my husband and I were in our early 40’s…Our counselor did the MBTI on both my husband and me and shared his findings with us both. Suddenly, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.I saw that we had an opposites attract relationship and began to appreciate areas we shared such as intuition and creative thought and areas where we differed a lot, too. He was a thinker and I was a feeler. Both of us were perceivers which led to a great deal of spontaneity in our relationship…I think the MBTI was most useful in helping me learn tolerance and develop understanding of people with other types of personalities.”
In Friendship…
Another user shared, “It has helped me create realistic expectations of my friends. I will never expect my ISFJ friend to be spontaneous and colorful as my ENFP. I will never expect ENFP to be as reliable and grounded as ISFJ. I can accept an ESTP who seems to be consumed with all the wrong things, and ESFJ who’s always thinking of others. I just know what to expect and what not. With this knowledge my view on friendships can be healthier. Yet, it doesn’t absolve interpersonal issues. We are still humans.”
In Family…
A user shared how it helped with her familial relationships. “It’s helped me SO much, and two examples immediately come to mind: my mom. She is an ESTJ, and we’ve always clashed on almost everything for as long as I can remember. I’ve had to work to let go a lot of bitterness towards her, and honestly learning about personality psychology saved our relationship from being really toxic. Just understanding that we are hardwired SO differently as people helps me more graciously maneuver around her desperate need for rules, traditions, schedules, and structure.”
One Daughter & Her Mother
Let’s face it. The MBTI has had its fair share of critics and scientific rebuttals. Regardless, there’s no denying that there is some value in the test. After all, global organizations like 88 of the 100 Fortune 100 companies as well as “government agencies, universities and colleges, small businesses, NGOs, independent consultants, and companies” like the U.S Air Force all use the test. Whether helping predict what employees would be more adept in leadership roles or playing to employee strengths, the MBTI has stood the test of time.
During her first 20 years of research, Isabel Myers found some groundbreaking findings. “Some of the early research by Myers and her colleagues noted that law students were more than three times (3x) more likely to be Thinking (T) types than Feeling (F) types; police officers were nearly four times (4x) more likely to be Sensing (S) types than iNtuitive (N) types; school administrators were more than six times (6x) more likely to be Judging (J) types than Perceiving (P) types…” according to an article by Psychology Today.
When Isabel and her mother first presented their creation to the academic community, it was initially rejected. After all, the findings came from two women without academic degrees. Despite this, “she had been mentored by Edward N. Hay in test construction, scoring, validation, and statistics. She went on to conduct research at the University of Pennsylvania, Cal Tech, and other institutions to refine the Indicator.”
Yes, there are critics. But behind this heavily researched and almost too accurate test, lies a mother and a daughter who put lots of work behind this psychological venture.
It’s Worth a Try!
So whether you’re a Campaigner, Protagonist, Adventurer, Debator, Entertainer, know that the Myers Briggs Typer Indicator can be used to enrich your life and relationships. For better and hopefully not for worse, the next time you find yourself misunderstood, looking for a compatible partner, or in the midst of conflict, give the MBTI a try.
Curious about which of the 16 types you might be? Take the test now!
