Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Karen CopelandPSY 631

Francis Marion University

MBTI Creation

Based on Carl Jung’s Theory of Personality Types

Focus ofEnergy

Taking inInformation

DecisionMaking

Approach to Life

Extroversion Introversion Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition Judging Perceiving

E - IS - N

T - F J - P

16 Composite Types

ISTJResponsible

ISFJLoyal

INFJContemplative

INTJIndependent

ISTPPragmatic

ISFPArtistic

INFPIdealistic

INTPConceptual

ESTPSpontaneous

ESFPGenerous

ENFPOptimistic

ENTPInventive

ESTJHard Charging

ESFJHarmonizing

ENFJPersuasive

ENTJCommanding

Focus of Energy

Extroversion• Energized by other people

• Acts then maybe reflects

• Expresses emotions

• Needs relationships

Introversion• Energized by inner resources

• Reflects, then maybe acts

• Bottles up emotions

• Needs privacy

Taking in Information

Sensing• Looks at specific parts & pieces

• Lives in the present

• Prefers handling practical matters

• Likes set procedures & established routines

iNtuition• Looks at patterns &

relationships

• Lives toward the future

• Prefers imagining possibilities

• Likes change & variety

Decision Making

Thinking• Decides with the head

• Goes by logic

• Spontaneously finds flaws

• Good at analyzing plans

Feeling• Decides with the heart

• Goes by personal convictions

• Spontaneously appreciates

• Good at understanding people

Approach to Life

Judging• Prefers an organized lifestyle

• Uses definite order & structure

• Likes to have life under control

• Enjoys being decisive

Perceiving• Prefers a flexible lifestyle

• Likes going with the flow

• Prefers to use experience as it happens

• Enjoys being curious & discovering surprises

MBTI Reliability

• On retest, people come out with three to four type preferences the same 75% to 90% of the time.

• If a person changes type on retest, it is usually in a dichotomy where the preference clarity was low.

• The T-F pair tends to have the lowest reliability of the four scales.

MBTI Validity

• Many studies over the years have proven the validity of the MBTI instrument in three categories:

• (1) the validity of the four separate preference scales

• (2) the validity of the four preference pairs as dichotomies

• (3) the validity of whole types or particular combinations of preferences