MBTI test and other classification can appear confusing at first, but provide a helpful shorthand for psychological exploration.
As for many things in psychology, the birth of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) came from simple real life. Katharine Cook Briggs was an American writer from Michigan, who in the course of her fiction writing, started her interest in major personality types for character development.
Influenced by Jung and his notion of archetypes and innate differences between individuals, she researched existing literature but remained unsatisfied by the existing classifications. Katharine’s interest was so piqued that she started studying different personality types, reviewing existing research and in time conducting her own.
Her interest in child rearing and child development was another spur that guided her towards the study of different personality types. Her meeting the future husband of her daughter also further drove her interest, as she noticed he had profound differences from her in terms of cognition, social choices and emotional states.
She and her daughter co-founded this new, simplified way to sketch individual psychology in broad strokes. As for many psychotherapeutic tools, sometimes the power of a tool resides in how easy it is to learn, and in its ease of use. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator allows for the high-level classification of individual psychologies, along 4 key axes:
- Extroversion Vs. Introversion
- Sensing Vs. Intuition
- Thinking Vs. Feeling
- Judging Vs. Perceiving
Along these four spectra, these four axes, anyone’s profile can be plotted. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is not a precise tool for depth psychology, it is a useful shorthand, breaking down the entire population in 16 possible categories.
Knowing more about an individual’s psychological profile, even in broad strokes, can be helpful for growth, awareness and truer mutual understanding.
The four different dimensions of the MBTI test and classification
Introversion (I) vs. Extroversion (E)
Introversion: Introverts tend to focus on internal thoughts, feelings, and moods rather than seeking external stimulation. Introverts often feel energised emotionally by spending time alone or in quiet, contemplative environments.
MBTI test show that socially, introverts favour less friendships of higher intensity. When they meet friends they are more likely to enjoy one on one meeting allowing for profound conversation, than meeting friends in a group.
Extroversion: Extroverts are energised by interaction with others and the external world. They are often more outwardly expressive and engaged with their surroundings, and they tend to thrive on social interaction.
Socially extroverts tend to have more friendships, often of lesser intensity. Extroverts can do “idle chat” easily and without effort, and tend to favour meeting friends in a group.
Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)
Sensing: Sensing individuals prefer information that is real and tangible, what they can perceive using their five senses. They tend to focus on details, facts, and practical matters, and they value practical applications of information.
Sensing individuals enjoy factual reliability, scientific and engineering, and may struggle with ambiguity. MBTI test can be useful in this way, to bring awareness around a certain challenge and how to accommodate it better in every day life.
Intuition: Those who lean towards intuition pay more attention to patterns, abstract theories, and possibilities. They think more about the future than the present and enjoy imagining potential outcomes and exploring ideas.
They tend to be more empathic and their intuition allows them to operate in many strategic or creative trades, from business consulting, to design to art.
Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)
Thinking: Thinkers base their decisions on logic and objective analysis. They prioritise elements such as concrete facts and arguable truth over personal considerations, often being more detached when making decisions.
Feeling: Feeling individuals make decisions based on their values and consideration of others. MBTI test type classification can be really helpful here also, particularly in relational terms such as in couple therapy.
Understanding that your partner will truly consider the human impact of decisions and are generally more empathetic and compassionate in their approach can go a long way to build understanding and growth.
Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)
Judging: People with a Judging preference struggle with ambiguity and risk, and like structure and firm decisions. They feel more comfortable when things are settled and enjoy being organised and prepared. They tend to be planners and like to have things decided in advance, or at least with a process to decide agreed.
Perceiving: Those who prefer Perceiving are more open to new information and experiences. They tend to be flexible, adaptable, and comfortable with spontaneity. Perceivers often prefer keeping their options open and are more casual about commitments and deadlines.
Full list of Myers-Briggs personality types and indicators (MBTI)
The 16 different possible types/combinations, along the MBTI test:
ISTJ – The Inspector
ISTJ are reliable, pragmatic and show integrity. They value order, rigour and tradition. They are trustworthy, focus on the practical and the detail. Their rigour can also lead to occasional obstination, and a ISTJ individuals will particularly struggle when confronted to an unorthodox situation.
ISTJ often excel as accountants, police or lawyers. Warren Buffett is a famous example of ISTJ.
ISFJ – The Protector
ISFJ are well-meaning, dedicated and warm. They care deeply about others and pay attention to detail. Supportive, observant and trustworthy they can be sensitive and struggle with change. ISFJ are often found in medical and healthcare, education and childcare, social work. Mother Teresa was ISFJ.
INFJ – The Crusader / Advocate
INFJ are insightful, empathic and propelled by a strong sense of altruism and personal integrity. They understand people and situations intuitively and aspire at helping others. However their occasional insularity and grandiose expectations can challenge their emotional stability and life decisions.
They are often writers, advisors, academics. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela were famous INFJ.
MBTI: INTJ “The architect”
INTJ – The Architect
INTJ are strategically minded, analytical and innovative, always following a plan. They are creative, strategic thinkers, but can be critical and removed emotionally. They are commonly engineers, scientists or legal professionals. Elon Musk is INTJ.
ISTP – The Virtuoso
ISTP are masters of all sorts of trades and tools, are curious and practical. They are gifted at problem solving and logical thought, but can be adventurous and somewhat distant. They are often mechanics, engineers or forensic scientists. Clint Eastwood is ISTP.
ISFP – The Explorer
ISFP are adventurous, calm, artistic and relaxed, always open to new ways or ideas. Creative, observant and loyal, they can be unpredictable and fiercely attached to their independence. They are often found in the worlds of art, design, or high-end chefs. Michael Jackson was ISFP.
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: INFP “Peacekeeper”
INFP – The Peacekeeper
INFP are creative, idealistic and empathic, feeling a deep connection with humanity. INFP can think creatively, feel empathy and connect easily with others at a profound level. They can also be overly idealistic, and avoid conflict. INFP are often writers, artists or musicians.
William Shakespeare and J.R.R. Tolkien were both INFP.
INTP – The Thinker
INTP are innovative and analytical, curious, and seeking to understand the world in their own way. Highly gifted for problem solving and logical analysis they can also be detached emotionally and easily critical.
They are often found in fields such as software engineering, physics and research, philosophy. Albert Einstein was INTP.
ESTP – The Closer
ESTP are energetic, ambitious, intelligent and very perceptive. They enjoy action and launching into adventures. They are gifted at convincing others and navigate complex environments but they can be impulsive and competitive.
They tend to be found in sales, marketing or sports. Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson and Donald Trump are all ESTP.
ESFP – The Performer
Myer Briggs type indicators dont come often as spectacularly as for the ESFP. ESFP are spontaneous, high-energy entertainers who love living in the moment. They are charismatic, enthusiastic, social and practical, but can be sensitive and do not plan much.
They are often in entertainment, hospitality or public relations. Elvis Presley was ESFP.
ENFP – The Champ
ENFP are imaginative, open of mind and to experience, with a large array of interests, knowledge and skill. Creative, energetic and perceptive, they can occasionally err on the side of overoptimism and frequently struggle to focus on a specific task.
They are often found in the fields of arts, consulting and advisory, sciences. Robin Williams was an ENFP.
ENTP – The debater
ENTP are innovative, frank and cultured, thriving on new ideas and debate. Excellent at reading others and thinking strategically, they can be argumentative, and challenging (of norms, forms, people, etc.)
They are often found in law, entrepreneurship and consulting trades. Richard Feynman was ENTP.
Conclusion: MBTI test, classification are high-level hints only
Myer-Briggs type indicator (as it is often spelt) and related personality types are a useful high-level tool in modern psychology, mostly for their simplicity and popularity. MBTI test and other self-profiling have advanced enormously the general awareness around psychological profiles in society.
MBTI can be useful in early therapy, to quickly frame key actors in a client’s life and generally accelerate the “discovery” period. Myers Briggs personality type indicator can be useful also in couple and marriage counselling.
Since every MBTI personality type is a set of relative strengths and weaknesses, clients in marriage counselling generally do not mind somehow identifying with one or other other.
This kind of non-threatening clarification of psychological profiles, and long terms trend is extremely valuable to try and carve out better, more conscious ways to interact in a couple.
Better coping skills, higher personal awareness almost automatically ensue, even though some remaining detailed arguing obviously will go on, but MBTI can be very helpful particularly in couple therapy.
MBTI personality types however do not represent any kind of “depth therapy” or “talk therapy” and in therapeutic terms, hold very little direct value.
Also, MBTI test classifying the entire human population in only one of a possible 16 groups, is obviously extremely simplistic. There are huge differences to be found inside the same type.
Bruce Willis and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson probably share a lot but their lives vary in many primary ways, obey different triggers, gathered different trauma and face different challenges.
They are a helpful psychological shorthand, that can support individual or couple therapy, as well as similar “simple by design” psychotherapeutic approaches, such as CBT or Transactional Analysis. MBTI test and type indicators can help refining parent / child dynamics for example.
However they would be of no interest in Gestalt therapy for example, where the client is expected to focus in the present, their tone, their posture, their coping mechanisms, all sorts of interests that are possible across any personality type.
By themselves Myer Briggs Type Indicator carry little direct therapeutic value, or for long term profound change, but can clarify and accelerate certain steps, as well as democratise psychological profiles.
