Myers Briggs test

[messengerhot]

Has anyone tried the Myers-Briggs test? Is it accurate? Can you give examples please. Thanks!

[catherine]

Yes, I've done the Myers-Briggs. I feel it is quite accurate, and I think it's a pretty well-accepted measurement among psychologists, HR people, clergy, and just for general interest.

Here's an old thread from this forum on the topic:

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?806-What-s-your-Myers-Briggs-type&highlight=myers+briggs

I've done it a few times over the decades and I always come up INFP.

[Gardenarian]

I just did it again and it came up the same - INFJ. Mine is always the same too, from different tests and different years.

The traits that show up on the test match the traits needed in a librarian (my career) so I think it would be helpful in deciding what sort of work to do.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I took a slightly different test and came up ISFP, but it wasn't actually a Meyers Briggs test (it has a score what your range is between two traits 1-5, rather than a binary choice like True Meyers Briggs tests tend to use.). The ISFP jobs it listed were highly appealing even though that was the only test I ever got that on.

I got INTJ this time on the linked test:

•You have strong preference of Introversion over Extraversion (78%)
•You have strong preference of Intuition over Sensing (88%)
•You have slight preference of Thinking over Feeling (12%)
•You have marginal or no preference of Judging over Perceiving (1%)

[catherine]

I took a slightly different test and came up ISFP, but it wasn't actually a Meyers Briggs test (it has a score what your range is between two traits 1-5, rather than a binary choice like True Meyers Briggs tests tend to use.). The ISFP jobs it listed were highly appealing even though that was the only test I ever got that on (it was like, well I don't know about the description of me, but those jobs sound good ...).

I got INTJ this time on the linked test:

•You have strong preference of Introversion over Extraversion (78%)
•You have strong preference of Intuition over Sensing (88%)
•You have slight preference of Thinking over Feeling (12%)
•You have marginal or no preference of Judging over Perceiving (1%)

I just took it again, and actually came out INFJ this time--but, like you, ANM, with no real difference in the P vs J:

You have moderate preference of Introversion over Extraversion (44%)
You have slight preference of Intuition over Sensing (12%)
You have distinct preference of Feeling over Thinking (62%)
You have marginal or no preference of Judging over Perceiving (1%)

I'm actually a little surprised at the results…

[lessisbest]

I'm an ESTJ (responsible, dependable, and represent about 13% of the population) and I've used the Myers Briggs test for placement of museum volunteers since 1991 and have taught several classes on the subject. It's somewhat unusual for a woman to have this combination of character and temperament types, but that's just how it works out sometimes..... Hubby is an ISTJ. For both hubby and me the test was spot-on.

[cdttmm]

it's a pretty well-accepted measurement among psychologists

Actually, no, it's not. Psychologists prefer the scientifically validated Big Five personality traits model. MBTI has benefited from a great marketing and PR machine over the years; the test wasn't even created by psychologists, just two people who read a lot of the work done by Carl Jung.

Now, I'm not saying taking the MBTI isn't a fun and sometimes enlightening exercise, I'm just saying it lacks science to support it.

Here's a great article by one of my favorite psychologists, Adam Grant, about the problems with the MBTI:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-grant/goodbye-to-mbti-the-fad-t_b_3947014.html

[RCWRTR]

In my practice as a Ph.D. clinical psychologist, in my former life, I utilized MBTI. In fact, I served as List Admin for a time for an MBTI-based email list and wrote content for its website. I found MBTI, when used in conjunction with the Kersey Temperament Sorter, to be helpful as a too for self-reflection and for understanding one's behavior and the behavior of others in relationships of various types. Having said that, my favorite psychological testing instrument is definitely the MMPI, or Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Yea I think it's debated by psychologists how legitimate it is. But it is fun to take. Really who wants to talk about the big 5 as a conversation starter, do you just go around talking about how neurotic you are or something? That sounds like great party talk .... I mean yes I'm imagining Woody Allen at a party but ...

And all psychological testing should be completely illegal in employment screening for jobs period (as opposed to career counseling to individual customers where it might be of some use). There shouldn't even be a question of what test to use in hiring screening: they should be banned. Workers and job seekers need basic protections.

[iris lilies]

What's the difference between Intuition vs Sensing?

I just took the test and am INTJ. I am always IN_ _ and am probably always am INTJ, if only I could remember past results. Is one of these supposed to reflect "being organized" and a love of organization? Is that "judging?" If so, that would be completely consistent regardless of my age or place in life, I am off the charts about organization (without being OCD.)

At the moment I'm in a typical introvert phase, but even back a few years ago when DH and I were partying a LOT, I still came out "I" rather than "E" because it was a "LOT" of partying as a relative term, relative to us two "I"s.

[iris lilies]

Actually, no, it's not. Psychologists prefer the scientifically validated Big Five personality traits model. MBTI has benefited from a great marketing and PR machine over the years; the test wasn't even created by psychologists, just two people who read a lot of the work done by Carl Jung.

Now, I'm not saying taking the MBTI isn't a fun and sometimes enlightening exercise, I'm just saying it lacks science to support it.

Here's a great article by one of my favorite psychologists, Adam Grant, about the problems with the MBTI:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-grant/goodbye-to-mbti-the-fad-t_b_3947014.html

Our TV discussion group just used that 5 point personality idea in analyzing Rust Chole and Marty Hart in True Detective. Our discussion leader is a psychology professor at a local university.

[Simplemind]

I am usually an INTJ but have taken it an also come out as INFJ.

[RCWRTR]

I consistently test INFJ, which I believe to be quite accurate.

[Tussiemussies]

I took the test a long time ago and my results were INFP. This is me to a "T". It would be interesting to take it again and see what the results would be now. I think on the old boards many people were INFP.

[Gregg]

INTP here. I've never come up as anything else so, at least within the parameters of the test, its consistent.

[Alan]

INTP here.
Me too. I think we're fairly rare in society, although represent a much higher percentage of forum members. I wonder what that says about us?

[iris lilies]

Here's the population breakdown. If this is a contest (isn't everything!!!? ) then I as an INTJ am more rare than you INTP's. So there.

But I still want to know: What is "Judging" vs "Perceiving?"

Personality Type Frequency
(From highest to lowest, gathered from results of 22,000 questionnaires)
ISFJ (11.9%)
INFP (11.4%)
ENFP (11.3%)
ISTJ (8.8%)
ESFJ (8.6%)
ESTJ (7.1%)
ISFP (5.9%)
INFJ (5.9%)
ESFP (5.4%)
ENFJ (4.3%)
INTP (4.0%)
ENTP (3.6%)
ISTP (3.1%)
INTJ (2.9%)
ESTP (2.8%)
ENTJ (2.2%)

Source of this population chart is here:
http://www.personalitypage.com/demographics.html

[Alan]

But I still want to know: What is "Judging" vs "Perceiving?"

Well it just so happens that the Myers & Briggs Foundation can explain it to us: http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/judging-or-perceiving.htm

The difference is pretty well summed up in the first paragraph.

"This fourth preference pair describes how you like to live your outer life--what are the behaviors others tend to see? Do you prefer a more structured and decided lifestyle (Judging) or a more flexible and adaptable lifestyle (Perceiving)? This preference may also be thought of as your orientation to the outer world."

[ApatheticNoMore]

The P, J thing is complex (I can't say I understand it fully but I can't say I'm trying that hard, MB not being life and death to me) as it's supposed to interact with the other letters, in determining which letters, by which I mean which of the traits they represent, you show to the world more.

However the simple answer: is Ps prefer things more open-ended, perhaps a bit of a preference for the puzzle over the solution. Ps would hate deadlines for instance (I can meet deadlines but I hate em), deadlines are so closed.

I can't say I like that description in the paragraph quoted as lifestyle is such a loaded term, since MB isn't really about "lifestyle" at all, but approaches to the world.

[messengerhot]

Thanks you all. We are having a discussion about it in my online class. I've found more people than not dislike this test. I'm going to have to check out that huffingtonpost.com link. I found CPP (https://www.cpp.com/products/mbti/index.aspx)that provides the test and detailed explanations though it costs. Do any of you know any websites that you can take the test on?

[kib]

Thanks you all. We are having a discussion about it in my online class. I've found more people than not dislike this test. I'm going to have to check out that huffingtonpost.com link. I found CPP (https://www.cpp.com/products/mbti/index.aspx)that provides the test and detailed explanations though it costs. Do any of you know any websites that you can take the test on?

I'm another INTJ. Curious, have people in your online class been trying out MB, and if so, is there this much prevalence of INTJ there? It's interesting that less than 3% of the general population tests INTJ but it comes up a lot here, if I remember the old post.

[kib]

I can't say I like that description in the paragraph quoted as lifestyle is such a loaded term, since MB isn't really about "lifestyle" at all, but approaches to the world. Yes, and the very words "judging" and "perceiving" have a lot of mainstream associations that aren't helpful either, judging being a negative way of limiting the mind, perceiving being a positive way of opening it up, neither one seeming very related to the concepts they're representing in MB.

[ToomuchStuff]

Now I get APN's comment. I didn't know anything about this test; hadn't ever heard of it.
So do you skip questions that are a yes no answer, or worded differently then you would respond to? For example question 2. Do you like to be engaged in an active fast paced job? Active yes, fast paced, no.
3. You enjoy having a wide circle of aquaintances? No, I benefit from having a wide circle of them. It can be both handy and a hinderence.

[kib]

TMS, yes. And being told to just mark what you would "usually" answer isn't very helpful either. It seems to me that if a professional wants to help and understand you, they'd need to sit with you and ask the questions and let you answer in a free form format, not as if you were on trial with a shady prosecutor grilling you to force a pigeonholed response. That might be marginally useful for research purposes, but it does nothing for the patient to have someone smugly "understand" them without hearing a word they're saying.

[Blackdog Lin]

ISTJ here. Don't know what it means beyond that I'm a serious introvert, which I knew anyway. I deal with it.

[Teacher Terry]

I used it a lot as one tool combined with others when I was a career counselor. Most people felt that is was spot on. It also links to jobs that different personality types prefer & no one test/inventory does it all.