How to Interpret Myers-Briggs

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of a number of techniques for categorizing a person's personality. It was developed by Isabel Myers-Briggs in 1942, and it was influenced by her mother's work in four personality types and Karl Jung's 1921 work "Psychological Types." Through a series of yes-no questions, an interpreter scores where you fall on four polar scales. MBTI is currently published by CPP, Inc.

Things You'll Need

• Internet connection
• Questionnaire

Show More

Instructions

Figuring Out Your Type

• 1

  Take an inventory. The costs may range from around $60 to $150 to get the MBTI interpreted by a professional therapist. Similar typing services may be available for free online. The inventory will ask you dozens of questions that have two answers--for example, you might be asked to agree or disagree with: "In a group, I am more likely to listen to others than to lead the discussion," or "I am more likely to try something new than do it as others have."

• 2

  Determine your type made up of four letters. You will fall more toward one pole or the other in each category. Extroversion (E) or Introversion (I) suggests whether you tend to be more outgoing or solitary, respectively. Sensing (S) and Intuition (N) measures respectively whether you are more likely to gather information by analyzing the reports from your five senses or to develop a belief or plan based on a "feeling," perhaps a consensus of associated memories of varying strengths of applicability. Thinking (T) or Feeling (F) deals more with how you make decisions, whether it is more objective or empathetic, respectively. Judging (J) or Perceiving (P) measures how you present yourself to the world, and the former are more likely to prefer decisions to be final, while the latter prefer a more flexible approach of revising their decisions.

• 3

  Find your archetype. Jung determined four archetypes that people fell into by personality. They are sometimes divided into Idealist (ENFJ, ENFP, INFJ and INFP), Rationalist (ENTJ, ENTP, INTJ and INTP), Guardian (ISTJ, ISFJ, ESTJ and ESFJ) and Artisan (ESTP, ESFP, ISTP and ISFP).

• 4

  Find your role. Among Idealists, there are Sages, Visionaries, Mystics and Dreamers. Among Rationalists, there are Leaders, Innovators, Free-Thinkers and Wizards. Among Guardians, there are Enforcers, Helpers, Promise-Keepers and Nurturers. And among Artisans are Adventurers, Jokers, Realists and Aesthetes.

• 5

  Check your percentages associated with each of the four letters. For example, you might be 56 percent E, 50 percent N, 51 percent F, and 67 percent J, which would suggest that your preferences for S vs. I and T vs. F might not be very strong. The closer you are to 50 percent, the more variable you may be in that category. The further beyond 50 percent you are, the more stable you are in that category. When you work with a therapist to receive your MBTI type, the interpreter will ask follow-up questions to more firmly determine your preference, if you initially test too close to 50 percent.