The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: Overview, Refresher, and Update Sponsored by the Santa Clara County Psychological Association Bobbi Emel, MFT Presented by (Bobbi’s type)
The Myers-Briggs TypeIndicator: Overview, Refresher,and
UpdateSponsored by the Santa Clara County
PsychologicalAssociationBobbi Emel, MFTPresented by
(Bobbistype)
The MBTIInstrument2was developed byKatharine C. Briggsand her
daughterIsabel Briggs Myersbased on the work of Swiss
psychologistC. G. Jung, who presented his psychologicaltype theory
in his book Psychological Types(published 1921, translated into
English 1923).
Jungs Theory3Jung believed that preferences are innateinborn
predispositions.He also recognized that our innate
preferencesinteract with and are shaped by environmentalinfluences:
Family Country Education and many others
About the MBTIInstrument4 An indicatornot a test Looks only at
normal behavior Forced-choice questions Takes about 2040 minutes to
complete No right or wrong answersanswer asyou see fit Your results
are confidential
About the MBTIInstrument (cont.)5 There are no good or bad
typesall typeshave some natural strengths and somepossible pitfalls
or blind spots. The instrument gives practical results you canuse:
In teamwork In communication In decision making
Jungs Theory6 We will look at four pairs of oppositeslikeour
right and left hands. We all use bothsides of each pair, but one is
our naturalpreference. Jung believed that our preferences do
notchangethey stay the same over ourlifetime. What changes is how
we use ourpreferences and often the accuracy withwhich we can
measure the preferences. The confounding variableenvironment!
Jungian Theory7
Extraversion or Introversion8The direction in whichwe focus our
attentionand energySource: I. B. Myers, Introduction to Type, 6th
ed. (Mountain View, CA: CPP, 1998), p. 9.
EI9People who prefer Extraversion: Focus their energy and
attention outward Are interested in the world of people and things
Draw energy from being around peoplePeople who prefer Introversion:
Focus their energy and attention inward Are interested in the inner
world of thoughts and reflections Draw energy from being aloneWe
all use both preferences, but usuallynot with equal comfort.
People Who PreferExtraversion10 Are attracted to the outer
world of people andevents Are aware of who and what is around them
Enjoy meeting and talking with new people Are friendly, often
verbally skilled, and easy toknow Tend to speak out easily and
often at meetings May not be as aware of what is going on
insidethemselves
People Who Prefer Introversion11 Are attracted to the inner
world of thoughts,feelings, and reflections Are usually very aware
of their inner reactions Prefer to interact with people they know
Are often quiet in meetings and seemuninvolved Are often reserved
and harder to get to know May not be as aware of the outer world
aroundthem
People Who PreferExtraversion12 Do their thinking as they speak
May act and/or speak first, then (possibly) think Tell you about
themselves, speaking rapidly Give breadth to life Can get bored and
restless if theyre alone toolong Can seem shallow and intruding to
Introverts Need Introversion for balance
People Who Prefer Introversion13 Need time to gather their
thoughts beforespeaking Reflect and think before (possibly) acting
Want to know you before self-disclosing Become drained and tired
interacting withpeople (particularly strangers) Give depth to life
Can seem withdrawn and secretive to Extraverts Need Extraversion
for balance
Extraversion or Introversion14Source: N. J. Barger & L. K.
Kirby, Introduction to Type and Change (Mountain View, CA: CPP,
2004), p. 4.
Some Key Words
Associatedwith15ExtraversionActionOutwardPeopleInteractionManyExpressiveDo-Think-DoIntroversionReflectionInwardPrivacyConcentrationFewQuietThink-Do-Think
Sensing or Intuition16The way we take ininformation and the
kind ofinformation we like and trustSource: I. B. Myers,
Introduction to Type, 6th ed. (Mountain View, CA: CPP, 1998), p.
9.
SN17People who prefer Sensing: Prefer to take in information
using their five sensessight, sound, smell, touch, and tastePeople
who prefer Intuition: Go beyond what is real or concrete and focus
on meaning,associations, and relationshipsWe all use both ways of
perceiving, but wetypically prefer and trust one more.
People Who Prefer Sensing18 See and collect facts and details
Are practical and realistic Start at the beginning and take one
step at atime Are specific and literal when speaking, writing,and
listening Live in the present, dealing with the here andnow Prefer
reality to fantasy
People Who Prefer Intuition19 See patterns, possibilities,
connections, andmeanings in information Are conceptual and abstract
Start anywhere and may leap over basic steps Speak and write in
general, metaphorical terms Live in the futurethe possibilities
Prefer imagination and ingenuity to reality
People Who Prefer Sensing20 Like to work with the parts to see
the overalldesign Like set procedures, established routines Prefer
practical, concrete problems and disliketheoretical or abstract
problems Can seem materialistic and too literal to Intuitivetypes
Need Intuition for balance
People Who Prefer Intuition21 Study the overall design to see
how the parts fit Thrive on change, new ideas, and variety Prefer
imaginative new solutions to problemsand become impatient with
details Can seem impractical dreamers to Sensingtypes Need Sensing
for balance
Sensing or Intuition22Source: N. J. Barger & L. K. Kirby,
Introduction to Type and Change (Mountain View, CA: CPP, 2004), p.
4.
Some Key Words
Associatedwith23SensingFactsRealisticSpecificPresentKeepPracticalWhat
isIntuitionIdeasImaginativeGeneralFutureChangeTheoreticalWhat could
be
Thinking or Feeling24The way we make decisionsSource: I. B.
Myers, Introduction to Type, 6th ed. (Mountain View, CA: CPP,
1998), p. 10.
TF25People who prefer Thinking: Make their decisions based on
impersonal, objective logicPeople who prefer Feeling: Make their
decisions with a person-centered, values-basedprocessBoth processes
are rational and we use bothoften, but usually not equally
easily.
People Who Prefer Thinking26 Use logic to analyze the problem,
assess prosand cons Focus on the facts and the principles Are good
at analyzing a situation Focus on problems and tasksnot
relationships May not include the impacts on people orpeoples
emotions in their decision making
People Who Prefer Feeling27 Use their personal values to
understand thesituation Focus on the values of the group or
organization Are good at understanding people and theirviewpoints
Concentrate on relationships and harmony May overlook logical
consequences of individualdecisions
People Who Prefer Thinking28 Take a long-term view, seeing
things as anonlooker Are good at spotting flaws and
inconsistenciesand stating them clearly When required, can
reprimand or fire people Believe fairness, justice, and
equitability arevery important May seem cold and detached to
Feeling types Need Feeling for balance
People Who Prefer Feeling29 Take an immediate and personal view
ofsituations Like to show appreciation and caring for others Have
difficulty telling people unpleasant things Believe fairness means
treating each individualas a whole person May seem overly emotional
and irrational toThinking types Need Thinking for balance
Thinking or Feeling30Source: N. J. Barger & L. K. Kirby,
Introduction to Type and Change (Mountain View, CA: CPP, 2004), p.
4.
Some Key Words
Associatedwith31ThinkingHeadDistantThingsObjectiveCritiqueAnalyzeFirm
but
fairFeelingHeartPersonalPeopleSubjectivePraiseUnderstandMerciful
Judging or Perceiving32Our attitude toward theexternal world
and how weorient ourselves to itSource: I. B. Myers, Introduction
to Type, 6th ed. (Mountain View, CA: CPP, 1998), p. 10.
JP33People who prefer Judging: Want the external world to be
organized and orderly Look at the world and see decisions that need
to be madePeople who prefer Perceiving: Seek to experience the
world, not organize it Look at the world and see options that need
to be exploredWe all use both attitudes, but usuallynot with equal
comfort.
People Who Prefer Judging34 Like to make plans and follow them
Like to get things settled and finished Like environments with
structure and clear limits Enjoy being decisive and organizing
others Handle deadlines and time limits comfortably Plan ahead to
avoid last-minute rushes
People Who Prefer Perceiving35 Like to respond resourcefully to
changingsituations Like to leave things open, gather more
information Like environments that are flexible; dislike rulesand
limits May not like making decisions, even when pressed Tend to
think there is plenty of time to do things Often have to rush to
complete things at the lastminute
People Who Prefer Judging36 Like rapidly getting to the bottom
line anddeciding Dislike being interrupted on a project, even for
amore urgent one May make decisions too quickly, or cling to aplan
May not notice new things that need to be done May seem rigid,
demanding and inflexible toPerceiving types Need Perceiving for
balance
People Who Prefer Perceiving37 Want to explore all the options
before deciding May start too many projects and have
difficultyfinishing them May have trouble making decisions, or have
noplan May spontaneously change plans May seem disorganized and
irresponsible toJudging types Need Judging for balance
Judging or Perceiving38Source: N. J. Barger & L. K. Kirby,
Introduction to Type and Change (Mountain View, CA: CPP, 2004), p.
4.
Some Key Words
Associatedwith39JudgingOrganizedDecisionControlNowClosureDeliberatePlanPerceivingFlexibleInformationExperienceLaterOptionsSpontaneousWait
The Type TableISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJISTP ISFP INFP INTPESTP ESFP
ENFP ENTPESTJ ESFJ ENFJ
ENTJISTJ11.6%ISFJ13.8%INFJ1.5%INTJ2.1%ISTP5.4%ISFP8.8%INFP4.4%INTP3.3%ESTP4.3%ESFP8.5%ENFP8.1%ENTP3.2%ESTJ8.7%ESFJ12.3%ENFJ2.5%ENTJ1.8%
The Type Table
Understanding the 16 TypesNot necessarily E + S + F + P =
TypeISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJISTP ISFP INFP INTPESTP ESFP ENFP ENTPESTJ
ESFJ ENFJ ENTJSTs: The bottom-linepeople.Who, what, where,
when,why, just tell me what Ineed to know.SFs: Thecustomerservice
peopleWho, what,when, where,why, how can Ihelp
everyone?NFs:Possibilities forpeopleI see interestingpotential
forpeoplesdevelopment andgrowth.NTs: Possibilities forsystemsI can
develop strategiesfor making the systemwork better.
Understanding the 16 TypesISTJ ISFJISTP ISFPISs:
ThoughtfulrealistsCareful, dependable,preserve what is rightand
what is working.ESTP ESFPESTJ ESFJESs:
Action-orientedrealistsReadily take action tomake things happen in
thehere and nowINFJ INTJINFP INTPINs: Thoughtful innovatorsThink
through the big picture,develop complexunderstandings.ENFP ENTPENFJ
ENTJENs: Action-orientedinnovatorsBrainstorm ideas,
makeconnections, see new ways.
Type DynamicsValue added:Dynamics . . .1. Identifies and
describes the dominantfunction the core of the personality2.
Clarifies what we extravert how others seeus, our communication
style3. Makes clear that every type has a part thatis introverted
not seen
Type DynamicsDominant our favorite, most usedfunctionAuxiliary
our second favorite functionTertiary - not in our typeInferior -
not in our type, the function we are leastcomfortable using
Type DynamicsDominantAuxiliaryTertiaryInferiorE N F PE
IJEII
Type DynamicsEssential things to know:Extraverts extravert
their dominant function and introverttheir auxiliary
functionIntroverts introvert their dominant function andextravert
their auxiliary functionWhat this means:With extraverts what you
see is what you get!With introverts what you see is not their most
preferredfunction.
Type DynamicsGeneral = DominantfunctionAide =
AuxiliaryfunctionExtraverts: General is out front, Aide
ishelpingIntroverts: General is in the tent, Aide is outfront
Type DynamicsBeing In the GripModerate stress: Tendency
toexaggerate the dominant functionExtreme stress: May cause an
eruptionof the inferior function
Development of type dynamicsthrough the lifespanThe focus of
the first half of life is on directing energyinto the dominant and
auxiliary functions, developingself-knowledge and competent ways to
be in the worldand in relationships.Midlife brings confusions and
opportunities. The wayone has always been becomes less satisfying
andidentity itself is questioned.Finally comes increased access to
previouslyunacknowledged parts of the self, associated with
thetertiary and inferior functions the possibility ofintegration,
wholeness, individuation.Briggs Myers, I. (1985). Introduction to
Type,p. 35
MBTI FormsForm M Self-Scorable
MBTI FormsForm M - Profile 2 pages- Reported type- Clarity of
reported preferences- Type descriptionForm M - Complete 5 pages-
Profile information- More extensive type description:
descriptors,characteristics of type, type with others, type atwork,
potential blind spots for type
MBTI FormsForm M Interpretive Report 5 pages-Similar to the
Form M Complete, except hasmore detail about type description-
Information about type dynamics
MBTI FormsForm Q Step IIExplores 20 facets 5 for each
preference that gives more informationabout type. May answer
questions like, Why am I an introvert if I enjoy talkingso
much?
Applications in clinical practiceIncrease clinicians
informationregarding: Behavior in the therapeutic setting Which
preferences may be underdeveloped Client behaviors when In the Grip
How to help clients become morecomfortable with their preferences
Your own preferences and how they informyour therapeutic style
Other applicationsRelationships Understand and respect
differences Recognize differing styles of focus of attention,where
energy is drawn, how information is takenin, how decisions are
made, and relationships tothe outside worldParenting Become more
aware of childs own emergingpreferences Recognize that parents type
may be different thanchilds and guards against assumption that
whatworks for the parent will work for the child
Other applicationsLearning styles May help clients understand
how they besttake in information in a number of differentsettings:
work, school, interests.Problem-solving Help clients learn which
function they tend touse in problem-solving. May encourage growthof
other, less-used functions.
Other applicationsCareers May help clients narrow fields of
interest tothemBusiness/teamwork Handling:- Conflict- Change-
Communication difficulties Increase teamwork
Accessing the MBTI forms andreportsCPP, Inc. Formerly
Consulting Psychologists Press Sole publisher of the MBTIAccessing
Materials www.cpp.com www.capt.org