Summary of Myers-Briggs
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a psychological instrument that can offer a greater understanding of yourself and others around you. Your responses to a series of questions are compiled and classified into one of eight personality traits. This personality indicator is used widely in business, government and education because of its psychological implications.
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Facts
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The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a personality inventory based on Carl Jung's theory of psychological types. It was developed during World War II by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers. In 1942, the Briggs-Myers Type Indicator and handbook were developed. The name was trademarked as Myers-Briggs Type Indicator in 1956, according to New World Encyclopedia.
Personality Types
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There are four preferences in the MBTI--Extroversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling and Judging/Perceiving--and a total of 16 types, or possible combinations. Facilitators are required to follow the ethical code of "best-fit types," meaning that the person taking the test is always the best judge of her preferences, according to New World Encyclopedia. Extrovert/Introvert preferences are attitudes, Sensing/Intuition are perceiving functions, Thinking/Feeling are judging functions, and Judging/Perceiving scores reveal specific attitudes of the functions.
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History
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Personality type theory was examined as early as Hippocrates in the fifth century B.C. when he defined the four humors theory to describe temperaments, states the Reachout Trust website. According to New World Encyclopedia, Carl Jung first spoke about typology while at the Munich Psychological Congress in 1913. In 1917, Katharine Briggs began her personality research and developed four types: Social, Thoughtful, Executive and Spontaneous. Her daughter, Isabel, later joined the research and progressively took over the research entirely, states New World.
Applications
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The MBTI is commonly used in pedagogy, group dynamics, career exploration, employee training, leadership training, marriage counseling and personal development. Businesses often use the MBTI to determine suitability of current and prospective employees. Corporate coaching uses MBTI while working with individuals in corporations to improve business performance. MBTI is also a useful instrument in mediating conflicts and irreconcilable differences.
Considerations
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By understanding various personality types, we are able to appreciate each other more and relate to one another harmoniously. However, neither Briggs nor Myers were trained in psychology, according to Personality Pathways. Also, MBTI is largely unmonitored after a facilitator agrees to the ethical code, states New World. There are various assessments that appear to be similar to MBTI, but these do not include one-on-one verification of the results with a qualified facilitator, which is important in determining types.
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