The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test for gauging personality type has been around since the 1940s. It laid the foundations of the psychometric testing methods used today in hiring, marriage counseling and personal development.


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The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test for gauging personality type has been around since the 1940s. It laid the foundations of the psychometric testing methods used today in hiring, marriage counseling and personal development.

The test’s origins are interesting. One Christmas vacation, Isabel Briggs brought home a boyfriend, Clarence Myers. Isabel's parents liked the young man, but her mother Katherine remarked that he seemed different to their family.

The test’s origins are interesting. One Christmas vacation, Isabel Briggs brought home a boyfriend, Clarence Myers. Isabel's parents liked the young man, but her mother Katherine remarked that he seemed different to their family. 


Katherine became interested in the idea of categorizing people according to personality type. By reading autobiographies, she developed a basic typology of “meditative types,” “spontaneous types,” “executive types” and “sociable types.”

Katherine became interested in the idea of categorizing people according to personality type. By reading autobiographies, she developed a basic typology of “meditative types,” “spontaneous types,” “executive types” and “sociable types.”


Carl Jung's book Personality Types became the theoretical foundation for the Briggs family’s work, continued by Isabel (who after marrying became Isabel Briggs Myers).&nbsp;

Carl Jung's book Personality Types became the theoretical foundation for the Briggs family’s work, continued by Isabel (who after marrying became Isabel Briggs Myers).  


Isabel never studied academic psychology, but a local banker taught her about statistics and personnel tests. She created the initial Type Indicator – now known as the MBTI - in 1944. She persuaded schools in Pennsylvania to get the test taken by thousands of students, and also by medical and nursing students.

Isabel never studied academic psychology, but a local banker taught her about statistics and personnel tests. She created the initial Type Indicator – now known as the MBTI - in 1944. She persuaded schools in Pennsylvania to get the test taken by thousand

A private educational testing firm heard about the Indicator and published it in 1957, but it only went into wide public use in the 1970s.

A private educational testing firm heard about the Indicator and published it in 1957, but it only went into wide public use in the 1970s.


Isabel Briggs Myers’ book Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type (1980) is a great overview of the Briggs Myers system. A key point is that recognition and development of your type may be more important to success in life than IQ.

Isabel Briggs Myers’ book Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type (1980) is a great overview of the Briggs Myers system. A key point is that recognition and development of your type may be more important to success in life than IQ.


Isabel Briggs Myers saw personality type as being as innate as left- or right-handedness. Just as a leftie is asking for stress and misery if they pretend to be right-handed, going with your strengths massively increases the chances of fulfillment, happiness and productivity.

Isabel Briggs Myers saw personality type as being as innate as left- or right-handedness. Just as a leftie is asking for stress and misery if they pretend to be right-handed, going with your strengths massively increases the chances of fulfillment, happin

When you do the actual Briggs Myers test (consisting of yes or no questions) your personality preferences will be expressed in a four-letter code, for example 'ISTJ' or 'ESFP'.

When you do the actual Briggs Myers test (consisting of yes or no questions) your personality preferences will be expressed in a four-letter code, for example 'ISTJ' or 'ESFP'.


Below is a summary of some of the different ways of perceiving, judging, thinking, and feeling according to Briggs Myers typology.

Below is a summary of some of the different ways of perceiving, judging, thinking, and feeling according to Briggs Myers typology.


 How it began, what it is

In Psychological Types, Carl Jung argued there were two ways that people saw the world.

In Psychological Types, Carl Jung argued there were two ways that people saw the world.


Some could appreciate reality only through their five senses (sensing types). Others waited for internal confirmation of what was true or real, relying on their unconscious minds (intuitive types).

Some could appreciate reality only through their five senses (sensing types). Others waited for internal confirmation of what was true or real, relying on their unconscious minds (intuitive types).


People who use the sensing mode are engrossed in what is around them, look only for facts, and find it less interesting to deal with ideas or abstractions. Intuitive people like to dwell in the unseen world of ideas and possibilities, distrustful of physical reality.

People who use the sensing mode are engrossed in what is around them, look only for facts, and find it less interesting to deal with ideas or abstractions. Intuitive people like to dwell in the unseen world of ideas and possibilities, distrustful of physi

In the Briggs Myers system, whether sensing or intuiting, whatever mode a person enjoys using and trusts most, they will tend to use from an early age and refine over a lifetime.

In the Briggs Myers system, whether sensing or intuiting, whatever mode a person enjoys using and trusts most, they will tend to use from an early age and refine over a lifetime.


People also choose between two ways of coming to conclusions, or judgments: by thinking, using an impersonal process of logic. And by feeling, that is, deciding what something means to you.

People also choose between two ways of coming to conclusions, or judgments: by thinking, using an impersonal process of logic. And by feeling, that is, deciding what something means to you.


Thinkers may see the feelers as being irrational and subjective. The feelers will wonder how the thinkers can be objective about the things that matter to them. They seem a bit cold and impersonal, and appear to plod along through life minus great moments of inspiration.

Thinkers may see the feelers as being irrational and subjective. The feelers will wonder how the thinkers can be objective about the things that matter to them. They seem a bit cold and impersonal, and appear to plod along through life minus great moments

Thinkers think that feeling types talk too much. When they speak with someone, they want information. Therefore if a feeling type wants anything from a thinker, she should try to remember to be concise when conversing with them.

Thinkers think that feeling types talk too much. When they speak with someone, they want information. Therefore if a feeling type wants anything from a thinker, she should try to remember to be concise when conversing with them.


A child who prefers the feeling mode will tend to become good at interpersonal relations. A child who prefers the thinking mode will become good at collating, using and organizing facts and ideas.

A child who prefers the feeling mode will tend to become good at interpersonal relations. A child who prefers the thinking mode will become good at collating, using and organizing facts and ideas.


The fact that people don’t get along all the time suggests they don't understand or value the ways another person sees the world.

The fact that people don’t get along all the time suggests they don't understand or value the ways another person sees the world.


Each type fails to appreciate that the dominant process of another person works, and works well. Trying to tell that person their perceptions or judgment is wrong is like telling grass that it shouldn’t be green.

Each type fails to appreciate that the dominant process of another person works, and works well. Trying to tell that person their perceptions or judgment is wrong is like telling grass that it shouldn’t be green.


 What makes people tick?

A preference for extroversion (seeing life in terms of the external world) or introversion (greater interest in the inner world of ideas) is independent of your preferences for sensing, thinking, intuition or feeling.

A preference for extroversion (seeing life in terms of the external world) or introversion (greater interest in the inner world of ideas) is independent of your preferences for sensing, thinking, intuition or feeling.


The first letter of the four letter Briggs Myers code, “E”, or “I”, will indicate your extroversion or introversion preference.

The first letter of the four letter Briggs Myers code, “E”, or “I”, will indicate your extroversion or introversion preference.


Then, the MBTI test leads you to four basic preferences which produce certain values, needs, habits and traits: ST – Sensing plus Thinking, SF – Sensing plus Feeling, NF – Intuition plus Feeling, and NT – Intuition plus Thinking.

Then, the MBTI test leads you to four basic preferences which produce certain values, needs, habits and traits: ST – Sensing plus Thinking, SF – Sensing plus Feeling, NF – Intuition plus Feeling, and NT – Intuition plus Thinking.


ST people like to proceed only upon the basis of facts that their senses can verify. Practical-minded, they often like to work in fields that require impersonal analysis such as surgery, law, accounting and working with machinery.

ST people like to proceed only upon the basis of facts that their senses can verify. Practical-minded, they often like to work in fields that require impersonal analysis such as surgery, law, accounting and working with machinery.



SF people also rely on their senses, but their conclusions will be based on how they feel about these facts rather than cold analysis. These “people people” will be found where personal warmth is valued, such as nursing, teaching, social work, and sales.

SF people also rely on their senses, but their conclusions will be based on how they feel about these facts rather than cold analysis. These “people people” will be found where personal warmth is valued, such as nursing, teaching, social work, and sales.


NF people also tend to be warm and friendly, but are more interested in how things might change or future possibilities. Their gift for communication combined with their need to improve often leads them to higher level teaching, preaching, advertising, counseling, writing, and research.

NF people also tend to be warm and friendly, but are more interested in how things might change or future possibilities. Their gift for communication combined with their need to improve often leads them to higher level teaching, preaching, advertising, co

NT people are also focused on possibilities, but draw on their powers of rational analysis to achieve outcomes. They are likely to be found in professions that require ingenious solving of problems, particularly of a technical nature, such as science, computing, mathematics or finance.

NT people are also focused on possibilities, but draw on their powers of rational analysis to achieve outcomes. They are likely to be found in professions that require ingenious solving of problems, particularly of a technical nature, such as science, com

The final part of the Briggs Myers typology indicates the divide between people whose “dominant process” is perceiving (P) or judging (J).

The final part of the Briggs Myers typology indicates the divide between people whose “dominant process” is perceiving (P) or judging (J).


People whose dominant process is perceiving desire to understand things and people better. People whose dominant process is judgment desire to come to a conclusion – not in an authoritarian sense, but in terms of being discriminating about their decisions and actions.

People whose dominant process is perceiving desire to understand things and people better. People whose dominant process is judgment desire to come to a conclusion – not in an authoritarian sense, but in terms of being discriminating about their decisions

With all the Briggs Myers personality types, it’s worth remembering never to focus on the people involved, but to attack the problem. Being aware of each type’s contributions means less conflict, less chance of loss of face, and a greater chance of a solution emerging.

With all the Briggs Myers personality types, it’s worth remembering never to focus on the people involved, but to attack the problem. Being aware of each type’s contributions means less conflict, less chance of loss of face, and a greater chance of a solu

The basic Briggs Myers typology

Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type

Myers-Briggs Personalities

What's the story behind Myers Briggs personality typing, and how does it work?

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