What is the Myers-Briggs Personality Test based on?

The Myers-Briggs Personality Test has been used for more than 60 years to produce a personality profile for individuals. It is a theory of personality type. It is based on constructs first described by Carl Jung, and uses the idea that four main personality styles determine how we perceive the world and react to it. The test results have been used to explain success or difficulties at school, in work, in relationships.

The Myers-Brigg has therefore been used widely in management training and for business psychology; if employers can gain a snapshot of employees or candidates in this way, it is very helpful for planning training or deciding upon deployment or composition of working groups within the company.

The Myers-Briggs Personality Test is based on Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types. The Briggs’ used the theory to construct the MBTI test.

According to Carl Jung’s theory, humans can be classified on the basis of three things:

• Whether they are extroverts(outgoing and friendly) or introverts

• How they perceive things(through sensing or intuition)

• How they judge people or actions(through thought or emotions)

Isabel Briggs Myers suggested on adding the fourth category to the MBTI test (Judging and Perceiving)

The first category concentrates on how people express themselves. Extroverts are outgoing, friendly whereas introverts tend to avoid social interactions and prefer their own company.

The second category(sensing and intuition) tends to study perception. Sensing signifies a person who tends to be realistic and take their inspirations from the physical world. Intuition signifies people who are imaginative and base their perceptions on their imaginations.

The third category(thought or emotions) explores what they value more. The thoughts of others or the emotions of others.

The fourth category reflects how they implement processed information. Judging signifies people who stick to plans while Perceiving are those who are flexible with their plans.