Myers-Briggs Type indicator

MBTI psychological test-One of the most recommended and accepted personality test worldwide. MBTI stands for Myers-Briggs Type indicator. It is a type of psychological assessment that was designed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myer after studying the work of Carl Jung a renowned Psychologist and Psychiatrist. This Psychological test was developed during World War-II with a belief that personality assessment would help women-who in that time were entering the industrial workforce for the first time to identify the jobs that will be-most comfortable and effective for them.

This test generally comprises of a questionnaire that is designed to measure psychological preferences of a human i.e. how the person perceives the world and makes decisions.

When are these tests used?

These tests are very commonly used nowadays and are used in:-

  • Self-Understanding and Development
  • Career Development and Exploration
  • Organization Development
  • Team Building
  • Management and leadership training
  • Problem solving
  • Relationship counseling
  • Education and curriculum development
  • Academic counseling
  • Diversity and multicultural training

MBTI Instrument results identify valuable differences between normal, healthy people, differences that can be the source of much misunderstanding and miscommunication.

How does this test work?

Carl Jung’s Psychological Model describes and states that individuals are born with or develop certain ways of perceiving and deciding. The MBTI sorts these ways into four opposite pairs or dichotomies, with resulting 16 psychological types. These four pairs are:

  • ESTJ: extroversion (E), sensing (S), thinking (T), judgment (J)
  • INFP: introversion (I), intuition (N), feeling (F), perception (P)

Each of these terms has a special technical meaning in terms of psychology. But these terms do not define any individual they just depict that a man prefers a particular trait over others. For e.g. People who prefer judgment over perception are not necessarily more judgemental or less perceptive. Nor does the MBTI instrument measure aptitude it simply indicates for one preference over another. Forced Choice Means that the individual has to choose one out of the two options given. Choices are not literal opposites but chosen to reflect opposite preferences on the same dichotomy.

Using psychometric techniques, such as item response theory, the MBTI will then be scored and will attempt to identify the preference, and clarity of preference, in each dichotomy. The MBTI requires five points one way or another to indicate a clear preference.

Scoring

The test is scored by evaluating each answer in terms of what it reveals about taker. Each question is related to one of the following personality traits such as:

E/I

The first trait reflects what generically energizes a person. Extroverted types learn best by talking and interacting with others. By interacting with the physical world, extroverts can process and make sense of new information. Introverted types prefer quiet reflection and privacy. Information processing occurs for introverts as they explore ideas and concepts internally.

S/N

The second trait reflects what a person focuses their attention on. Sensing types enjoy a learning environment in which the material is presented in a detailed and sequential manner. Sensing types often attend to what is occurring in the present and can move to the abstract after they have established a concrete experience. Intuitive types prefer a learning atmosphere in which an emphasis is placed on meaning and associations. Insight is valued higher than careful observation, and pattern recognition occurs naturally for Intuitive types.

T/F

The third trait reflects the person’s decision preferences. Thinking types desire objective truth and logical principles and are natural at deductive reasoning. Feeling types place an emphasis on issues and causes that can be personalized while they consider other people’s motives.

J/P

The fourth trait reflects how the person regards complexity. Judging types will thrive when information is organized and structured, and they will be motivated to complete assignments to gain closure. Perceiving types will flourish in a flexible learning environment in which they are stimulated by new and exciting ideas.

These are the areas in which the personality of an individual is judged and according to his answers, a final score is presented. This test helps you to realize what areas are your strength and which areas are your weakness or in which area you need to work upon. This test also had its share of skepticism associated with it, still this test is the most widely accepted by industries and organizations for psychometric analysis while hiring their employees.

Guess what, you can take your free test here: www.zigsaw.in/MBTI

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