MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR MBTI

CARL G. JUNG ( ) “What appears to be random behavior is actually the result of differences in the way people prefer to use their mental capacities.” Two primary mental functions: Taking in information, which he called perceiving. Organizing information and coming to conclusions, which he called judging. Jung observed, “Each person seems to be energized more by either the external world. or the internal world.”

MYERS BRIGGS In 1921, Jung published Psychological Types, introducing the idea that each person has a psychological type. During World War II, two American women, Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother Katharine Cook Briggs, set out to find an easier way for people to use Jung’s ideas in everyday life. They wanted people to be able to identify their psychological types without having to sift through Jung’s academic theory.

EXTRAVERSION (E) I am seen as “outgoing” or as a “people person.” I feel comfortable in groups and like working in them. I have a wide range of friends and know lots of people. I sometimes jump too quickly into an activity and don’t allow enough time to think it over. Before I start a project, I sometimes forget to stop and get clear on what I want to do and why.

INTROVERSION (I) I am seen as “reflective” or “reserved.” I feel comfortable being alone and like things I can do on my own. I prefer to know just a few people well. I sometimes spend too much time reflecting and don’t move into action quickly enough. I sometimes forget to check with the outside world to see if my ideas really fit the experience.

SENSING (S) I remember events as snapshots of what actually happened. I solve problems by working through facts until I understand the problem. I am pragmatic and look to the “bottom line.” I start with facts and then form a big picture. I trust experience first and trust words and symbols less. Sometimes I pay so much attention to facts, either present or past, that I miss new possibilities.

INTUITION (N) I remember events by what I read “between the lines” about their meaning. I solve problems by leaping between different ideas and possibilities. I am interested in doing things that are new and different. I like to see the big picture, then to find out the facts. I trust impressions, symbols, and metaphors more than what I actually experienced Sometimes I think so much about new possibilities that I never look at how to make them a reality.

THINKING (T) I enjoy technical and scientific fields where logic is important. I notice inconsistencies. I look for logical explanations or solutions to most everything. I make decisions with my head and want to be fair. I believe telling the truth is more important than being tactful. Sometimes I miss or don’t value the “people” part of a situation. I can be seen as too task-oriented, uncaring, or indifferent.

FEELING (F) I have a people or communications orientation. I am concerned with harmony and nervous when it is missing. I look for what is important to others and express concern for others. I make decisions with my heart and want to be compassionate. I believe being tactful is more important than telling the “cold” truth. Sometimes I miss seeing or communicating the “hard truth” of situations. I am sometimes experienced by others as too idealistic, mushy, or indirect.

JUDGING (J) I like to have things decided. I appear to be task oriented. I like to make lists of things to do. I like to get my work done before playing. I plan work to avoid rushing just before a deadline. Sometimes I focus so much on the goal that I miss new information.

PERCEIVING (P) I like to stay open to respond to whatever happens. I appear to be loose and casual. I like to keep plans to a minimum. I like to approach work as play or mix work and play. I work in bursts of energy. I am stimulated by an approaching deadline. Sometimes I stay open to new information so long I miss making decisions when they are needed.

TYPE DYNAMICS Type is more than just the sum of the four preferences. The four-letter MBTI type formula is a shorthand way of telling you about the interaction of your four mental functions and which ones you prefer to use first. This is called type dynamics, and it is an important part of understanding your MBTI results.

DOMINANT FUNCTION Functions develop by being used consciously and purposefully for things that matter. As the dominant is used, it becomes strengthened and differentiated from the other functions. We tend to have the most skills and conscious use of this function, and we tend to trust it the most. Extraverts use their dominant function in the outer world because, by definition, they prefer to live in the outer world. They put their best foot forward. Introverts use their dominant function in their inner worlds. Their development of the dominant function is less visible.

AUXILIARY FUNCTION The auxiliary can be thought of as the first mate on the ship where the captain is the dominant function. It is critical to understand that the basis for good type development is a well-developed auxiliary function that can support the dominant function.

FUNCTION PAIR The auxiliary function provides needed Introversion for Extraverts, and needed Extraversion for Introverts. The dominant and auxiliary are the two middle letters of your four-letter type. They are sometimes called your function pair.

TERTIARY FUNCTION The third-preferred, or tertiary, function tends to be less interesting to individuals, and they tend to have fewer skills associated with it. The letter of this function does not appear in your type. It is the opposite function from the auxiliary function. If, for example, your auxiliary function is Thinking, then your tertiary will be Feeling.

FOURTH (INFERIOR) FUNCTION Opposite your dominant function. For example, if Thinking were your dominant function, Feeling would be your least-preferred function. You would probably have significantly less interest in and fewer skills with the Feeling function (e.g., attending to harmony in relationships, giving weight to the personal aspects of decision making).

SENSING PLUS THINKING (ST) STs tend to approach life and work in an objective and analytical manner, and like to focus on realities and practical applications in their work. They are often found in careers that require a technical approach to things, ideas, or people, and tend to be less interested in careers that require nurturing of others or attending to their growth and development. STs are often found in business, management, banking, applied sciences, construction, production, police, and the military.

SENSING PLUS FEELING (SF) SFs tend to approach life and work in a warm people-oriented manner, liking to focus on realities and hands-on careers. They are often found in human services and in careers that require a sympathetic approach to people. They tend to be less interested in careers that require an analytical and impersonal approach to information and ideas. SFs are often found in the clergy, teaching, health care, child care, sales and office work, and personal services.

INTUITION PLUS FEELING (NF) NFs tend to approach life and work in a warm and enthusiastic manner, and like to focus on ideas and possibilities, particularly “possibilities for people.” They are often found in careers that require communication skills, a focus on the abstract, and an understanding of others. They tend to be less interested in careers that require an impersonal or technical approach to things and factual data. NFs are often found in the arts, the clergy, counseling and psychology, writing, education, research, and health care.

INTUITION PLUS THINKING (NT) NTs tend to approach life and work in a logical and objective manner, and like to make use of their ingenuity to focus on possibilities, particularly possibilities that have a technical application. They are often found in careers that require an impersonal and analytical approach to ideas, information and people, and they tend to be less interested in careers that require a warm, sympathetic, and hands-on approach to helping people. NTs are often found in the sciences, law, computers, the arts, engineering, management, and technical work.

PREFERENCE TO THE WORLD The last letter of your type “points to” the function you use with the outside world—either your perception function (S or N) or your judgment function (T or F). If you are an ENTJ, for example, your type ends in J, so you use your judgment function, which is Thinking, in the outside world. If you are an ISFP, then you use your perception function which is Sensing, in the outside world.

FUNCTION ATTITUDES Extraverted Sensing: Acts on concrete data from here and now. Trusts the present, then lets it go. Introverted Sensing: Compares present facts and experiences to past experience. Trusts the past. Stores sensory data for future use. Extraverted Intuition: Sees possibilities in the external world. Trusts flashes from the unconscious, which can then be shared with others. Introverted Intuition: Looks at consistency of ideas and thoughts with an internal framework. Trusts flashes from the unconscious, which may be hard for others to understand.

FUNCTION ATTITUDES Extraverted Thinking: Seeks logic and consistency in the outside world. Concern for external laws and rules. Introverted Thinking: Seeks internal consistency and logic of ideas. Trusts his or her internal framework, which may be difficult to explain to others. Extraverted Feeling: Seeks harmony with and between people in the outside world. Interpersonal and cultural values are important. Introverted Feeling: Seeks harmony of action and thoughts with personal values. May not always articulate those values.