The MBTI Personality Test - A Unique Perspective

[Miles 2,512]

Humans love categories.  It is in our nature to sort and organize literally anything we can into groups or categories.  Sometimes, if not usually, this is to our advantage.  But other times, against logic, we attempt to do this with things that are nearly, if not totally impossible to categorize [simply].  

But I'm here to fight a battle of the underdog.  I want to explain why it is more of a hindrance to abide by the line of thinking that some things can't be categorized, than it is to just go with the flow of our own nature.

Specifically in this case, the subject is the Myers Jungs Personality Test, often also called the MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator [test]).  

So first of all, some of you may be wondering, who am I to be qualified to give my stance on this test?  And quite honestly, I don't have much credentials.  I'm a computer science major.  But... I have taken introductory college courses in psychology, sociology, and philosophy.  So bear in mind that I'm not claiming to be someone I'm not.  I'm honestly just writing this post because of my great interest in the subject.

Know that I am not afraid of proving myself wrong.  I love to argue against my argument, and then respond again with my stance.  But there is a reason for that, of course.  You'll understand why as you read on.

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The two known sides of the battle:

1. The MBTI test is utilized by a great amount of companies, and even government agencies, in order to place people in positions that are more closely matched to their personality.

2. Psychologists and the like who do not have their hands in the cash gained from using the test... Are primarily naysayers of the test's quality and accuracy at large.

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Here's my stance...

The problem with the test isn't the test itself.  The problem is the way people take the test, how they view the results, and how they think of themselves using the results.

"Every individual is an exception to the rule" - Carl Jung, creator of the original idea that went into the later creation of the test by Myers.

The test does not define you.  In fact, all of the 16 possible results use what is called the "Forer Effect," which refers to the tendency of people to rate sets of statements as highly accurate for them personally even though the statements could apply to many people.

However, this is where I get to sing the anthem of the underdog.

If you know that there are 7 billion people in the world, each with their own individual personality, you might think it to be impossible to categorize personalities.  But might I remind you of a old phrase, "birds of a feather flock together."  Humans - people - sure we all have our own personalities, but we also have a plethora of traits, patterns of behavior, and tendencies that are similar to each other.

There are less patterns of behavior than people in the world.  

Let me just give this comparison of lenses: "This only" vs. "More often than not."

If you view the MBTI with the "this only" lens, then the test is horribly invalid.  But if you view the test with the "more often than not" lens, the test starts to make sense.

Each of the 16 types and their descriptions do not place absolute boundaries.  They merely describe things (traits, patterns of behavior, tendencies) that people statistically have at a higher percent within the given type.

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Enough beating around the bush.  I know what you want to hear.  

I believe the MBTI test has a certain usefulness.  But I do not believe the results alone are nearly enough for companies and agencies to place people in different positions in a job, etc.

After all, the results of the test only explain 4 things, of which you might not always respond to situations in the way that your type typically would.

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So in what way is the test useful?  I think it is useful as a sort of starting point for adults to begin to learn more about themselves.  It's more than mere entertainment, because you can use your results to keep furthering your personality in anyway you like.  

YOU define yourself.

So if you can be open-minded about the results of the test, you might find some traits in the description that you agree with, and some that you don't.  

With your result, and its description, ask yourself "Is this who I want to be?"

If you don't like something in your description, then start working consciously to prove part of your result wrong.  If you do like something in it, then embrace it and keep strengthening that part of your personality.

There are no limits to what you can make of your personality.

Overall, I believe the ultimate benefit of the MBTI is that it can help all of us become more conscientious and aware of ourselves, who we are, the decisions we make, and who we want to be.

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If you are interested and haven't already taken the test, try it out.  Just remember, your results aren't placing boundaries, but rather are placing pathways for you to keep molding your personality so you can be who you want to be.

Links:

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp

http://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

Both are free tests, and each has a different way for you to answer.

~ Miles, INFJ

[-Octavia- 1,176]

Hm. I agree with the sentiment but disagree with the examples. You overlooked perhaps one of the most crucial test errors: dichotomy. It is not an entirely invalid measure of one's type, but such tests as the ones linked will only lead to such results. If you aren't this letter, you're this letter. Hence the vague descriptions that lead to the Barnum effect (or Forer, as you call it. They are the same, at any rate). No, a far better measure would be a questionnaire or evaluation that rates your cognitive functions. These are the true traits working behind the scenes of MBTI, and each of us have four primary functions in random order. I, for instance, the ISTP, have Ti (introverted thinking) as my dominant function, Se (extraverted sensing) as my auxiliary, Ni (introverted intuition) as a tertiary, and Fe (extraverted feeling) as my inferior (and let me tell you, inferior Fe is a pain in the ass).

 

Using cognitive functions, one can get a far better sense of how one processes and interacts with the world. Rather than looking at four letters and saying I'm introverted, sensing, thinking, and perceiving, I can see where my best traits and flaws lie by the order of my functions. I absorb information best by physically interacting and commanding my environment (Se, my primary perceiving function), and process that information internally, comparing that information to a framework and seeing where it logically lies within a system (Ti).

 

Now take a type that shares sensing and thinking in terms of the letter dichotomy. ISTJ. Compared to my Ti/Se/Ni/Fe, their function stack is Si/Te/Fi/Ne. Though we are both thinkers, my Ti processes things internally, where a system/framework must have a logical progression, and as such will constantly correct any inconsistencies it comes across. It is goal-oriented. Te (extraverted thinking) on the other hand focuses on and uses external evidence to establish some obvious proof. And it does so quite efficiently. It is object-oriented. And though we are both sensors, my Se is concerned with the concrete in the world. Not just what I can experience with my 5 senses, either, but observable trends/fashions/styles. Their Si, on the other hand, is focused on the internal: pain, hunger, numbness, what have you. Whatever the internal system is feeling. But also just as Se can follow the patterns in the world, Si is associated with remembering and preserving a past/established way of doing things.

 

Just a few, not-particularly-in-depth examples, but it goes to show that the letter dichotomy of E v I, S v N, T v F, J v P isn't definitive. An ISTP and an ISTJ, though off by only a letter, are going to function/interact very differently in the world on average. Best to go further and measure your type by cognitive function rather than a few letters. It'll be the most accurate method in the end.

 

But I appreciate the time you have put into your post, and your interest in the subject. Thank you for sharing. Also, I happen to know a few INFJs. You usually make for wonderful company.

 

Octavia, ISTP

Edited December 23, 2015 by Octavia MeIody

[Jokuc 8,174]

There's actually a thread about this here as well where you can see which the most common ones on the forums are

 

I never really get a certain answer when I do these kind of tests, I always get either INFP or INFJ but neither of those fit in with what my opinions and thoughts are, especially when I read the descriptions about them, many of the things said about them are the opposite or what I am.

 

I think I need a better test haha

 

I haven't taken the test in like a year though so I'll do it again later I suppose