MBTI

Generalities about MBTI

The origin of MBTI goes back to 1943 with the work of July Myers based on a typology written by Carl Jung in 1921.

Jung observed that people’s mind have four basic psychological functions:

• Two irrational functions of Perceiving (P) to collect information in two different ways with Sensation (S) or with Intuition (I).
• Two rational functions of Judgment (J) to deal with the information and reach conclusions through Thinking (T) of Feeling (F).

Two other functions come additionally: one of Extroversion and another one of Introversion (I). These two explain how people find their energy: extroverts find it with the external environment, through activities and experiences, and introverts get it through thinking, ideas, souvenirs and emotions.

The MBTI indicator is composed of four letters. The combinations of the four letters help identify 16 different types of preferences.

• Energy orientation: E (extraversion) or I (introversion)
• Gathering of information: S (sensing) or N (intuition)
• Mode of decision: T (thinking) or F (feeling)
• Type of action: J (judgment) or P (perception)

A MBTI test is typically composed of 84 forced-choice items. But there are various ways or tests to measure the MBTI indicator, in paper-pencil (more rarely so, though,) or on the Internet. For instance, the Keirsey test measures the MBTI indicator and has just 70 items. When one buys the Keirsey book, he can take it and score it on paper for free. The Myers Briggs Company (previously called CPP) based in Mountain View, CA, owns the rights on the MBTI.

The MBTI test is translated in many languages and widely sold in all countries. The Myers Briggs Company claims 4 million tests are taken each year, half of which are taken in USA. The way it quickly spread in US administration and business schools in the 1980th very much helped for its popularity.

The training to MBTI generally takes one week. The training is essentially built for coaches, consultants or HR experts.

MBTI exists in different versions, the last one: MBTI II enables to have refined measurements of the dimensions. MBTI also exists in different forms for free on the web. One better-known sub-version of the MBTI is the Keirsey temperament sorter. Some people will say they have taken the MBTI but in fact they have taken one of these other versions.

Comparison with GRI's Factor-Based Approach

Quality of measurement

MBTI cannot evidence work-relatedness and compliance with EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) regulations.

Among the four primary MBTI dimensions, the introversion/extraversion dimension is the most commonly measured among personality tests and is easier to compare with GRI's Factor 2. However, we can observe people who are measured Low 2 with GRI but are MBTI extroverts, and vice versa: some people are measured high 2 with GRI and are MBTI introverts. The content of GRI Factor 2 and I/E type of Jung - as what can be read from Jung descriptions or MBTI books - is close.

One explanation for this difference can be the imprecision of MBTI measurements. On the other hand, the question is not so much, not to be or be introvert or extrovert, but what do we more precisely mean by introversion and extraversion in terms of observable behaviors, and how often and how intense we are in these behavior repertoires. Everybody can be qualified as an extrovert or introvert to some extent. But how much will each of us qualify as introverts or extroverts in such a situation? To this question, the behavior-factor-based approach provides an answer, but MBTI doesn’t.