What is the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator?

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a test in the form of a questionnaire created to sort a personality into the 16 different types. The test originated from an early theory by Carl Jung. His theory divided the human personality into four psychological functions: sensation, intuition, feeling, and thinking. Jung's theory stated that one of these four psychological function was dominant in an individual most of the time. This theory was later molded into the MBTI by Katherine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabelle Briggs Meyers. Reading Jung's book, Psychological Types, Briggs expanded on her own theories of personality. Later, the research would be taken over by Meyers causing the birth of this personality test.

How does the MBTI work?

The questionnaire analyzes four aspects of the human personality: how we interact with our surroundings, how and where our mental energy is directed, how we make decisions and deal with our emotions, and how we approach work and planning. Each aspect is divided into two letters. As there are four categories and two possibilities for each, there are sixteen total personality types (2x2x2x2 = 16). Each of the two possibilities are signified by a letter:

What do these letters mean?

Each personality type, or unique letter combination has a nickname and its own personality traits. However, these personalities can be divided into four groups:

Analysts:

Diplomats:

Sentinels:

Explorers:

What can you do?

Curious about your personality type? Take the test here and compare your results with mine!