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.

The MBTI provides information about people’s preferences on a set of four bi-polar scales. These are:

• Where do we focus our attention – outer world or inner world (Extroversion vs. Introversion )
• How do we take in information or find out about things (Sensing vs. Intuition )
• How do we prefer to make decisions (Thinking vs. Feeling)
• How are we oriented toward the outer world (Judging vs. Perceiving)

The type is defined by four letters, one each picked up from E/I, S/N, T/F and J/P. Over fifty years of longitudinal research suggests that less than 5% people have reported change in their type across their life spans. As we mature and grow we develop our comfort in our non-preferred areas.

The report can be generated broadly in two formats- Step-I and Step-II. While the Step-I stops at four bi-polar scales, Step-II drills down to five sub-scales (called facets) under each of the four scales. This starts explaining some of the dilemmas one may hold due to being out of preference on some facets, while broadly aligning with the overall scale preference.

MBTI ® is widely used for self awareness and development. It provides a strong basis for acknowledging and respecting differences.