Misconceptions of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a personality test known to many people. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a misconception means an idea that is wrong because it is based on a failure to understand a situation.

Articles criticizing the assessment claim that the test is unreliable and not based on neuroscience or psychology. In truth, Carl Jung’s book, Psychological Types, is the foundation of the test. It explains Jung’s theory of the cognitive functions. He proposes that the brain takes in information (perceiving) and then acts on it (judging). With two ways of perceiving and two ways of judging, they make a function stack, each type having different functions.

He claims that there are four ways of perceiving: Introverted Sensing (using personal experience), Extroverted Sensing (enjoying the here and now), Introverted Intuition (unexpected patterns and insights), and Extroverted Intuition (possibilities and brainstorming). Jung also claims that there are four ways of judging: Introverted Feeling (moral values and beliefs), Extroverted Feeling (well-being of others), Introverted Thinking (consistency and logic in their internal framework), and Extroverted Thinking (objective data).

Other online articles claim that the questionnaire is inaccurate. The main issue would typically be the responses from the individual taking the test. The indicator is a self-assessment, meaning if the results are imprecise, the individual may have not answered honestly. According to dreamtalent.id, test takers may be dishonest for many reasons, such as being socially accepted, creating a positive image of themselves, and seeing themselves as better than they are.

The famous website 16personalities.com perceives thinkers as entirely logical and dislikes being emotional, which is proven by what they claim about INTJs: Architects (INTJs) can get impatient with anyone who seems to value feelings more than facts. This is not true, as thinkers have emotions, but prefer to use logic rather than emotions.

According to slayerment.com, sensors are less intelligent than intuitives. As per the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, intelligence means the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. As specified by The MBTI Manual 1985, “It is important not to conclude that S types are less intelligent than N types. Scholastic aptitude tests measure the N aspects of intelligence particularly valued in academic work; they are not designed to measure the practical and applied intelligence of S”.

Stereotypes often get in the way of forming meaningful connections with other MBTI types. As said by Carl Jung, “There is no such thing as a pure extrovert or a pure introvert”. The results are their preferences in general. For example, not all ENTJs are bossy, commanding, perfectionist stereotypes.

The website vox.com claims that psychologists do not use the MBTI assessment. Although this may be true, the questionnaire wasn't created to treat mental illnesses or diagnose patients. The assessment was created by Isabel Myers and Katherine Briggs to describe a person’s personality and how they perceive the world, which they based on their cognitive functions.

Ultimately, the MBTI assessment has many misconceptions, whether it was from a person saying it first or an assumption people make. It has helped many people learn more about themselves, yet some still misunderstand. With more people aware of the truth about the misconceptions stated in this article, those who know of the test will also have fewer misconceptions.