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 Rationals
INTP – Architect
INTJ – Mastermind
ENTP – Inventor
ENTJ – Visionary
The Diplomats
INFP – Poet
INFJ – Counselor
ENFP – Campaigner
ENFJ – Captain
The Guardians
ISTJ – Pragmatist
ISFJ – Defender
ESTJ – Director
ESFJ – Caregiver
The Artisans
ISTP – Craftsman
ISFP – Artist
ESTP – Pioneer
ESFP – Performer
Myers-Briggs related posts:
Regardless what Myers Briggs type you are, you have your good qualities and your bad. There are no saints among you (although ENFJ might beg to differ). Here is a look at what is likely to make you a “bad” person based on your MBTI personality type ...
Oh, how happy life would be if we could take home every dog in the world. Sadly, such a noble goal is not humanly possible, so we must be careful when picking our fuzzy best friend and companion. While some people report feeling an instant click with the right dog, some ...
When it comes to criminal masterminds, one might think of the suave gentleman thief or the cold-blooded killer. But what about the quiet bookkeeper who seems benign but is actually cooking the books? Or the talkative con artist who can manipulate anyone with a few choice words? The 16 personalities ...
Here is a an account of what the worst enemy for each Myers Briggs type probably looks like. INFJ The arch nemesis of the INFJ is the toxic family member, friend or loved one who has a foothold on INFJ’s heart and knows how to manipulate them well. INFJs may ...
Myers Briggs personality types are not a direct reflection of intelligence, but it just so happens that some types statistically perform better than others on standardized intelligence tests (cough INTP). Even though people of any type can be really smart, there may be certain types of intelligence that each MBTI ...
Here is a look at the way in which each Myers Briggs personality is likely to protect and defend their loved ones. INFJ INFJ tries to take an impartial and middle ground stance that is not blatantly biased, but will likely downplay when their loved ones are at fault. Although ...
At their best and psychologically healthiest, the INTP person is a principled, polite and easy-to-get-along-with individual. Their inferior Fe may only manifest as social awkwardness and shyness that obscures their sensitive, loving nature which can be childlike in it’s purity. Unfortunately, INTPs also have a darker side that can apparently ...
Villainy has many faces and forms. Some are maniacal like the Joker or calculating like Lex Luthor. Here is the type of diabolical super villain each Myers Briggs type is likely to be. INFJ The INFJ villain is the tragic character who, due to an extremely unfortunate and traumatic set ...
Here is a take on how each MBTI is as a senior citizen. INFJ INFJ is the senior with too many pets including a squirrel abandoned by it’s mother, a cockatoo and multiple cats and dogs. INFJs are considered to be old souls and so in their later years, they ...
INTPs have emotions like everyone else, but managing them effectively can be challenging to them. They tend to bury and ignore negative emotion because they scarcely understand what they are feeling and have almost no comfortable way of expressing it. When INTPs become angry, it is likely due to an ...
Just like with relationship compatibility, when it comes to MBTI friendships, some types may naturally get along better than others. But what type of friend are they? Here is a look at the kind of friend you are based on Myers-Briggs type. INFP INFP can be very bashful and so ...
Here is a look at what likely makes each MBTI type appealing in other people’s eyes. INFJ INFJs have a calm yet distinctive presence which people may find fascinating. Their elegant and modest demeanor is punctuated with an air of mystery and people may be interested in experiencing what’s underneath ...
There are many styles of leadership and some are better suited than others for certain situations. Here is a look at the way in which each MBTI personality is likely to lead. INFJ - “Lead With Passion” As a leader, INFJ can extravert themselves convincingly well to reach people and ...
Perfectionism is a meticulous and consuming desire for precision and completeness. What actually constitutes perfection is subjective and determined by whatever standard or metric of one’s choosing. How perfectionism manifests in each MBTI type likely differs and may be stronger in some types than others. Here is a look at ...
In the Myers-Briggs, extraverted feeling is a cognitive function described as having a focus on harmony, communication and connection with other people. Only 8 of the 16 MBTI types have Fe in their main 4-function stack. The others have it as a shadow function. Here is a look at how ...
