The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a widely used personality assessment tool designed to help individuals understand their own preferences and tendencies in how they perceive the world and make decisions. Developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers based on the theories of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, the MBTI is founded on the idea that there are innate differences in the way people approach life and interact with others.
At its core, the MBTI assesses personality across four dichotomies, each representing a fundamental aspect of human behavior:
Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I): This dimension reflects whether individuals tend to focus their energy outwardly, engaging with the external world and seeking stimulation (Extraversion), or inwardly, directing their energy towards inner thoughts, reflections, and ideas (Introversion).
Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N): This dimension pertains to how individuals gather information. Sensing types tend to rely on concrete, factual data acquired through their senses, while Intuitive types are more inclined to interpret and add meaning to information, focusing on patterns, possibilities, and potential future outcomes.
Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F): This dimension concerns the process of decision-making. Thinking types prioritize objective logic and reason, seeking consistency and truth, while Feeling types prioritize subjective values and personal considerations, focusing on empathy, harmony, and the impact of decisions on people.
Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P): This dimension reflects an individual's orientation towards the external world and their approach to structure and organization. Judging types prefer a planned, orderly approach, seeking closure and making decisions decisively, whereas Perceiving types prefer a flexible, spontaneous approach, staying open to new information and adapting to changing circumstances.