7 Reasons to Not Use the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, categorizes individuals into one of 16 personality types based on four dichotomies: Extraversion vs. Introversion, Sensing vs. Intuition, Thinking vs. Feeling, and Judging vs. Perceiving. While it promotes self-awareness and enhances communication, its scientific validity is questioned due to inconsistent results, oversimplification of personality, and limitations in predicting behavior. Alternatives like the Big Five Personality Model and MMPI offer more reliable insights into personality traits. Click here to learn about the confusion between ADHD and ASD.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Are you curious about what makes you, well, you? The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) alleges that it can shed some light on your unique personality. Developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers in the mid-20th century, this widely popular personality assessment tool is designed to help explore and understand preferences. We are going to get into what the MBTI is and what the actual evidence-based alternatives are that may be more helpful.

The MBTI categorizes people into one of 16 distinct personality types, each represented by a four-letter code. These codes are derived from four fundamental dichotomies, and by identifying where you lean on each one, you can supposedly determine your unique personality type.

1. Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I)

• This dichotomy focuses on how you recharge your energy. Extraverts thrive in social settings, drawing energy from interactions with others, while introverts find their energy through introspection and solitude.

2. Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)

• How do you gather information? Sensors rely on hard data and facts, while intuitive is all about patterns, possibilities, and abstract concepts.

3. Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)

• When it comes to decision-making, thinkers prioritize logic and analysis, while feelers lean toward decisions that align with their values and emotions.

4. Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)

• How do you approach the world? Judgers prefer structure, organization, and decisiveness, while perceivers are more open-ended, flexible, and adaptable.
• Combining your preferences from each of these dichotomies, you arrive at your four-letter personality type, such as "INTJ" or "ESFP."

A Double-Edged Sword

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a popular tool for understanding personality, but like any tool, it comes with both advantages and disadvantages.

The Alleged Pros of Utilizing the MBTI:

• Self-Reflection and Self-Awareness: The MBTI serves as a mirror for self-reflection and self-awareness. It offers insights into your preferences, strengths, and areas for personal growth.
• Improved Communication: Understanding your personality type, as well as the types of those around you, can enhance communication and collaboration in both personal and professional relationships. It encourages an appreciation for diverse communication styles and perspectives.
• Effective Team Building: The MBTI is often employed for team building in corporate and educational settings. It can help teams harness the power of diversity, resulting in better problem-solving and teamwork.
• Guidance for Career Development: Some individuals find the MBTI helpful in career exploration and development. It can provide valuable guidance for identifying career paths that align with one's personality and strengths.
• Nonjudgmental Framework: The MBTI is typically presented in a nonjudgmental way, emphasizing that all personality types have unique strengths and weaknesses. This approach promotes a positive and accepting attitude toward diversity.

The Concrete Cons of Using the MBTI:

• Scientific Validity Concerns: The MBTI lacks solid scientific validity and reliability and does not consistently produce consistent results.
• Oversimplification of Personality: The MBTI classifies individuals into 16 personality types, potentially oversimplifying the complexity of human personality. People are multifaceted and diverse, and these categories may not fully capture the intricacies of an individual.
• Forced-Choice Format: The forced-choice format of the MBTI can be limiting. People may not neatly fit into a single category, and their preferences may vary over time and across different situations.
• Stigmatization and Labeling: There's a risk that individuals may be stigmatized or pigeonholed based on their MBTI type. This can lead to stereotypes and bias, particularly in professional settings.
• Commercialization and Misuse: The MBTI has been commercialized and, in some cases, used inappropriately for hiring and personnel decisions, contrary to the warnings of its creators.
• Inflexibility: The MBTI is a static assessment that doesn't account for personal growth and development. It assumes that individuals remain the same personality type throughout their lives.

The Scientific Skepticism

The MBTI has captivated the public's imagination for decades, offering insights into our personalities. However, it has garnered its fair share of scientific skepticism.

1. Lack of Empirical Support: The Achilles Heel of the MBTI

• The cornerstone of scientific validity is empirical support. In other words, a reliable psychological tool should consistently measure what it claims to measure. The MBTI falls short in this regard. Studies have shown that individuals may receive different personality type results upon retesting, undermining the test's consistency and reliability.

2. Reliability Woes: A Dearth of Consistency

• One of the key measures of a psychological assessment tool's quality is test-retest reliability. If you take the test twice, the results should align reasonably closely. However, the MBTI's test-retest reliability has been found to be less robust than expected, indicating that people may receive different personality type outcomes when taking the test again.

3. A Theoretical Disconnect: Straying from Modern Psychology

• While loosely rooted in Carl Jung's theory of psychological types, the MBTI does not sync with contemporary psychological theory. Jung's theories have since evolved, making the MBTI seem somewhat outdated within the realm of modern psychology.

4. The Limitations of a Forced-Choice Format

• The MBTI employs a forced-choice format where people must choose between two options for each item. This format's rigidity does not allow for the nuance of individual personalities. Many individuals find it challenging to pigeonhole their preferences into the rigid categories offered by the MBTI.

5. Failure to Predict Behavior: A Critical Shortcoming

• Although the MBTI was originally designed for self-awareness, it has, at times, been wrongly used in contexts such as hiring decisions, where predictive validity is vital. Research has shown that MBTI results do not consistently correlate with job performance or success, which undermines its appropriateness for such applications.

6. Commercial Interests: The Influence of Profit

• The MBTI has been criticized for its commercialization, where significant profits are generated from its use in corporate and educational settings. The concern here is that this commercialization may have played a role in its widespread adoption, even when scientific support is lacking.

7. The Oversimplification Trap

• One of the most significant critiques of the MBTI is its tendency to oversimplify the intricacies of human personality. By sorting individuals into one of 16 personality types, it may not fully capture the richness of individual personalities, which are inherently diverse and multifaceted.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is indeed intriguing and can serve as a valuable starting point for self-awareness and improving communication. However, it is essential to be aware of its scientific limitations and approach it with a discerning eye. While the MBTI has its merits, people seeking a deeper understanding of personality traits may want to explore more validated and reliable assessments offered by contemporary psychology.

Evidence-Based Alternatives

If you are seeking a more evidence-based approach to assessing personality, hopefully you are if you are here, there are several alternatives rooted in established psychological theories that will better suit your needs.

1. The Big Five Personality Model: A Cornerstone of Personality Assessment

• The Big Five Personality Model, also known as the Five-Factor Model, is widely regarded as a gold standard in personality assessment. It measures personality across five dimensions: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (Emotional Stability). With a wealth of empirical support, the Big Five offers a solid foundation for understanding personality traits.

2. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI): Uncovering Personality and Psychopathology

• In clinical and mental health settings, the MMPI takes the lead. This comprehensive assessment tool not only explores personality traits but also delves into psychopathology, making it a vital instrument for psychological evaluation.

3. 16PF Questionnaire: A Deeper Dive into Personality

• Based on Raymond Cattell's work, the 16PF questionnaire delves into 16 primary personality factors, providing a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of an individual's personality compared to the MBTI.

4. NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI): A Comprehensive Big Five Assessment

• The NEO-PI aligns with the Big Five model but offers a more detailed assessment. It breaks down the major personality traits into facets, providing a deeper understanding of an individual's personality.

5. Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ): A Classic Approach

• Hans Eysenck's work led to the development of the EPQ, which assesses personality along three dimensions: Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism, offering a unique perspective on personality.

6. California Psychological Inventory (CPI): A Comprehensive View of Personality

• The CCPI provides a well-rounded assessment of an individual's personality traits, social responsibility, and adjustment in both individual and social contexts.

 
These alternatives, rooted in established psychological theories, have been extensively researched and have consistently demonstrated their validity and reliability. When selecting a personality assessment tool, consider your specific goals and objectives, as different assessments may be better suited for various purposes, such as career development, clinical evaluation, or research. Choosing the right tool can provide a more evidence-based and comprehensive understanding of personality traits.

More Resources

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Personality: What Makes You the Way You Are

About the Author

Jessica Taylor is a licensed therapist and board certified coach who contributes to the promotion of mental health and addiction awareness by providing educational resources and information.