The Myers Briggs Type Indicator is a psychological assessment tool used to compartmentalize the varieties of human personality into 16 different types. The test was developed by Katherine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers. Although neither woman was a psychologist, Katherine Briggs did work as a school teacher at a time when it was commonly believed that too much education was harmful to a woman’s reproductive health.
Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people.
– Carl Jung
The Myers Briggs test is based on the work of Swiss psychologist Carl Gustav Jung. It uses a four factor model system featuring 4 slots or ‘functions’ arranged in order of importance; the Dominant function, Auxiliary function, tertiary function and inferior function, respectively. The first slot indicates attitude preference: extroversion (E)/introversion (I). The second slot indicates how we take in and perceive information: intuitive (N)/sensing (S). The third slot indicates how we process and judge information: thinking (T)/feeling (F). The fourth slot indicates how we apply action: perceiving (P)/ judging (J).
There are 8 different cognitive functions forming 16 different personality combinations. How the function stacks work together differs depending on the cognitive theory used. The most common model assigns an alternating sequence of extroversion and introversion across the function stack where if the dominant and tertiary are extroverted, then the auxiliary and inferior functions will be introverted.
Cognitive theory dictates how the functions are paired and ordered in the stack. IxxP types for example, while being perceivers, have a judging trait (thinking or Feeling which sit in the 3rd slot) as their dominant function. The dominant function would be either introverted thinking or introverted feeling which means that this function serves as the primary and strongest developed cognitive characteristic of that personality type. In the case of a IxxJ type, then the dominant function will be formed by a perceiving trait (sensing or intuition).
The INFP male or female is a sensitive and creative introvert with an openness to possibilities and a yearning for romance. They are sincere and seek to be authentic in their self-expression. They have emotional depth but despite their strong feelings and values, INFPs tend to keep a lot of ...
The INTJ male or female is an introvert who is objectivistic, orderly but also imaginative and impressionistic. As an intuitive thinker, they like to explore ideas and theories but as a judging type, they often do so with an actionable purpose in mind. As with each MBTI type, the cognitive ...
The INFP personality is noted as an introvert who is receptive, sincere, imaginative and highly sensitive. These types are preoccupied with moral values, self identity, and personal fulfillment. They are also fond of romance and cherish the bonds they manage to form with people who understand and value them for ...
The shadow is a concept introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. The shadow represents the unconscious, repressed aspects of our psyche that are rejected by the conscious ego. For each MBTI type, the cognitive functions they consist of represent perspectives and preferences that are embraced by the conscious ego. These ...
As introverted idealists, the INFP and INFJ share many similarities. They are both introverted, abstract and imaginative. They also share a stronger regard for their humanity than for technical knowledge and cold logic. Because they are both INFX types, they appear very similar but in fact share none of the ...
Each of the 16 Myers Briggs personality types represent a package of cognitive functions that together form a portrait of a conscious ego identity. The functions that constitute our MBTI type encapsulate the conscious preferences and perspectives that help explain and inform our behavior and tendencies. There is also an ...
The INFJ and INTJ are similar with regard to their penchant for abstract thinking and exploring the deeper meaning and significance of what’s happening around and within themselves. They are forward thinking and tend to make carefully planned decisions with a future goal or purpose in mind. INFJ and INTJ ...
INTP vs. INFP Ti and Fi dom types like the INTP and INFP personality types are similar with regard to the personalized and independent way in which they think and make decisions. However, sometimes the lines distinguishing their “T” and “F” preferences can seem blurry. Despite what their type might ...
According to Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, The Shadow represents the unconscious part of our mind that is host to the repressed and largely negative aspects of our personality. The Shadow encompasses qualities and traits we try to alienate from our conscious ego and it can often become a blind spot ...
The shadow is a concept introduced by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. The shadow represents what Jung believed to be the unconscious and repressed aspects of our personality that operate beneath our conscious awareness. The shadow stands in contrast to the conscious ego represented by our Myers-Briggs personality type. Although the ...
Persuasive, energetic and enterprising, the ESTP is an extravert with a pioneering spirit. While ISTPs are apt to develop proficiency in their operation of tools and machines, ESTPs display skill in their operation of people. They are very transactional and adept in the art of negotiation. Dubbed as the “tactical ...
Reserved, audacious, tactile and tough-minded, the ISTP male or female is an introvert who is not afraid to get their hands dirty. They are emotionally restrained yet driven by their impulses. ISTPs communicate in concrete terms and can become very adept in their use of tools and techniques. Often quiet ...
Decisive, orderly and dependable, the ESTJ is a pragmatic extrovert with an interest in logistics and technical systems. They are type A personalities who believe in doing things by the book and toeing the line. They seek to be seen as respectable and tough but morally sound. Male ESTJs tend ...
The ESFP personality is described as the “tactical Performer” by MBTI analyst David Keirsey. Spontaneous, playful, enthusiastic and highly expressive, the ESFP male or female is an extrovert who is full of vitality and passion for life. They prize freedom and seek to live life according to their terms and ...
In the MBTI, there is no right or wrong pairing when it comes to matchmaking. However, it stands to reason that some types will get along more easily than others. Type differences can create certain challenges that may possibly be remedied or mitigated by fostering better understanding and awareness of ...
