Personality and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®

Personality and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®

AgendaAgenda

What is personality type?Theoretical backgroundDevelopment and framework of the

MBTI Interpretation of typeCommunication and decision-

making Ethics of typologyDetermining your MBTI type

What is personality type?Theoretical backgroundDevelopment and framework of the

MBTI Interpretation of typeCommunication and decision-

making Ethics of typologyDetermining your MBTI type

What is Personality Type?What is Personality Type?

Categorization of peopleDescriptive not prescriptiveGenerally stable over timeTool for understanding self and

others

Categorization of peopleDescriptive not prescriptiveGenerally stable over timeTool for understanding self and

others

Theoretical BackgroundTheoretical Background

Carl JungContemporary of Sigmund FreudBasic theory of personality type:

people are fundamentally different and yet fundamentally alike

An individual’s behavior reflects a pattern that indicates his or her preference for energy source, data collection, and decision making

Carl JungContemporary of Sigmund FreudBasic theory of personality type:

people are fundamentally different and yet fundamentally alike

An individual’s behavior reflects a pattern that indicates his or her preference for energy source, data collection, and decision making

Theoretical BackgroundTheoretical Background

Isabel Briggs Myers and Katherine BriggsExtension of Jungian theoryObservation and researchAdded a dimension regarding lifestyle

choicesDevelopment of an instrument

Isabel Briggs Myers and Katherine BriggsExtension of Jungian theoryObservation and researchAdded a dimension regarding lifestyle

choicesDevelopment of an instrument

Development of the MBTIDevelopment of the MBTI

Self-reported and nonjudgmental psychological instrument categorizing people

Based on mental “preferences” We develop strength, skills, and

abilities with one hand and underdevelop the other, but we still use both hands

We have dominant personality traits and auxiliary traits which surface under certain conditions

Normative data set

Self-reported and nonjudgmental psychological instrument categorizing people

Based on mental “preferences” We develop strength, skills, and

abilities with one hand and underdevelop the other, but we still use both hands

We have dominant personality traits and auxiliary traits which surface under certain conditions

Normative data set

Framework of the MBTIFramework of the MBTI

Mental processesPerceptionsJudgments

Mental orientationsEnergy orientationOuter world orientation

Mental processesPerceptionsJudgments

Mental orientationsEnergy orientationOuter world orientation

Mental ProcessesMental Processes

PerceptionsHow you perceive your surroundingsSensing (S)

Rely on actual dataGather information through the five sensesPay attention to details

Intuition (N)Rely on inspirationGather information through “sixth sense”Look at the big picture

PerceptionsHow you perceive your surroundingsSensing (S)

Rely on actual dataGather information through the five sensesPay attention to details

Intuition (N)Rely on inspirationGather information through “sixth sense”Look at the big picture

Mental ProcessesMental Processes

JudgmentsThe basis for decision makingThinking (T)

Base decisions on logic and principlesObjectivity

Feeling (F)Base decisions on human values and

harmonious relationshipsSubjectivity

JudgmentsThe basis for decision makingThinking (T)

Base decisions on logic and principlesObjectivity

Feeling (F)Base decisions on human values and

harmonious relationshipsSubjectivity

Mental OrientationsMental Orientations

Energy orientationWhere you get your energyIntroversion (I)

Energy directed inwardPrefer concepts and ideasThink before speaking

Extraversion (E)Energy directed outwardPrefer to interact with people and thingsSpeak before thinking

Energy orientationWhere you get your energyIntroversion (I)

Energy directed inwardPrefer concepts and ideasThink before speaking

Extraversion (E)Energy directed outwardPrefer to interact with people and thingsSpeak before thinking

Mental OrientationsMental Orientations

Outer world orientationThe lifestyle used to deal with your

environment, i.e., most often used mental preference

Judging (J)Decisiveness, closureValue task or project completion

Perceiving (P)Curiosity, flexibilityValue starting a task or project

Outer world orientationThe lifestyle used to deal with your

environment, i.e., most often used mental preference

Judging (J)Decisiveness, closureValue task or project completion

Perceiving (P)Curiosity, flexibilityValue starting a task or project

Interpretation of MBTIInterpretation of MBTI

I/E, S/N, T/F, J/P16 possible typesRelation to:

Cognitive ability or general intelligence

Other personality characteristicsCommunication style

I/E, S/N, T/F, J/P16 possible typesRelation to:

Cognitive ability or general intelligence

Other personality characteristicsCommunication style

Communication Using Type

Communication Using Type

Basic compatibilityFocus on style recognition and

understandingAppropriate response the keyAvoid stereotypesAppreciate the uniqueness of each

person

Basic compatibilityFocus on style recognition and

understandingAppropriate response the keyAvoid stereotypesAppreciate the uniqueness of each

person

Decision-Making Using Type

Decision-Making Using Type

Recognize how group members may complement or contrast each other

On the other hand, watch out for groupthink!

Focus on respectful debate and compromise

Appreciate the unique value of each person’s viewpoint and input

Recognize how group members may complement or contrast each other

On the other hand, watch out for groupthink!

Focus on respectful debate and compromise

Appreciate the unique value of each person’s viewpoint and input

Ethics of TypologyEthics of Typology

Should employers use it for…?SelectionTeam buildingConflict managementPerformance appraisalCareer path decisions

Should companies target personalities?

Using the MBTI® instrument

Should employers use it for…?SelectionTeam buildingConflict managementPerformance appraisalCareer path decisions

Should companies target personalities?

Using the MBTI® instrument

What’s Your Type?What’s Your Type?

Short, self-score version of the MBTI attached to your slides

Full version free for UTA students Complete the inventory onlineRegister for an interpretation sessionCounseling Services (817) 272-3671http://caacs.uta.edu/

DesktopDefault.aspx?PortalId=10&tabindex=11&tabid=103

Short, self-score version of the MBTI attached to your slides

Full version free for UTA students Complete the inventory onlineRegister for an interpretation sessionCounseling Services (817) 272-3671http://caacs.uta.edu/

DesktopDefault.aspx?PortalId=10&tabindex=11&tabid=103

What You Should KnowWhat You Should Know

Why do we measure personality type?

What does one’s MBTI type describe?

What are appropriate uses of personality type?

What are inappropriate uses?

Why do we measure personality type?

What does one’s MBTI type describe?

What are appropriate uses of personality type?

What are inappropriate uses?