The Myers-Briggs® system consists of four preference pairs that reflect different aspects of personality—opposite ways to direct and receive energy through Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I), take in information with Sensing (S) or Intuition (N), come to conclusions using Thinking (T) or Feeling (F), and approach the outside world through Judging (J) or Perceiving (P). Most people find that one preference, in a preference pair, best describes their natural way of doing things, where they feel the most comfortable being themselves, outside of any roles they play in life. When the letters for each of these preferences are combined, 16 distinct personality types form which consist of different characteristics unique to that type. What is your type?
ISTJ
Quiet, serious, earn success by being thorough and dependable. Practical, matter-of-fact, realistic, and responsible. Decide logically what should be done and work toward it steadily, regardless of distractions. Take pleasure in making everything orderly and organized—their work, their home, their life. Value traditions and loyalty.
ISFJ
Quiet, friendly, responsible, and conscientious. Committed and steady in meeting their obligations. Thorough, painstaking, and accurate. Loyal, considerate, notice and remember specifics about people who are important to them, concerned with how others feel. Strive to create an orderly and harmonious environment at work and at home.
INFJ
Seek meaning and connection in ideas, relationships, and material possessions. Want to understand what motivates people and are insightful about others. Conscientious and committed to their firm values. Develop a clear vision about how best to serve the common good. Organized and decisive in implementing their vision.
INTJ
Have original minds and great drive for implementing their ideas and achieving their goals. Quickly see patterns in external events and develop long-range explanatory perspectives. When committed, organize a job and carry it through. Skeptical and independent, have high standards of competence and performance—for themselves and others.
ISTP
Tolerant and flexible, quiet observers until a problem appears, then act quickly to find workable solutions. Analyze what makes things work and readily get through large amounts of data to isolate the core of practical problems. Interested in cause and effect, organize facts using logical principles, value efficiency.
ISFP
Quiet, friendly, sensitive, and kind. Enjoy the present moment, what's going on around them. Like to have their own space and to work within their own time frame. Loyal and committed to their values and to people who are important to them. Dislike disagreements and conflicts; don't force their opinions or values on others.
INFP
Idealistic, loyal to their values and to people who are important to them. Want to live a life that is congruent with their values. Curious, quick to see possibilities, can be catalysts for implementing ideas. Seek to understand people and to help them fulfill their potential. Adaptable, flexible, and accepting unless a value is threatened.
INTP
Seek to develop logical explanations for everything that interests them. Theoretical and abstract, interested more in ideas than in social interaction. Quiet, contained, flexible, and adaptable. Have unusual ability to focus in depth to solve problems in their area of interest. Skeptical, sometimes critical, always analytical.
ESTP
Flexible and tolerant, take a pragmatic approach focused on immediate results. Bored by theories and conceptual explanations; want to act energetically to solve the problem. Focus on the here and now, spontaneous, enjoy each moment they can be active with others. Enjoy material comforts and style. Learn best through doing.
ESFP
Outgoing, friendly, and accepting. Exuberant lovers of life, people, and material comforts. Enjoy working with others to make things happen. Bring common sense and a realistic approach to their work and make work fun. Flexible and spontaneous, adapt readily to new people and environments. Learn best by trying a new skill with other people.
ENFP
Warmly enthusiastic and imaginative. See life as full of possibilities. Make connections between events and information very quickly, and confidently proceed based on the patterns they see. Want a lot of affirmation from others, and readily give appreciation and support. Spontaneous and flexible, often rely on their ability to improvise and their verbal fluency.
ENTP
Quick, ingenious, stimulating, alert, and outspoken. Resourceful in solving new and challenging problems. Adept at generating conceptual possibilities and then analyzing them strategically. Good at reading other people. Bored by routine, will seldom do the same thing the same way, apt to turn to one new interest after another.
ESTJ
Practical, realistic, matter-of-fact. Decisive, quickly move to implement decisions. Organize projects and people to get things done, focus on getting results in the most efficient way possible. Take care of routine details. Have a clear set of logical standards, systematically follow them and want others to also. Forceful in implementing their plans.
ESFJ
Warmhearted, conscientious, and cooperative. Want harmony in their environment, work with determination to establish it. Like to work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time. Loyal, follow through even in small matters. Notice what others need in their day-to-day lives and try to provide it. Want to be appreciated for who they are and for what they contribute.
ENFJ
Warm, empathetic, responsive, and responsible. Highly attuned to the emotions, needs, and motivations of others. Find potential in everyone, want to help others fulfill their potential. May act as catalysts for individual and group growth. Loyal, responsive to praise and criticism. Sociable, facilitate others in a group, and provide inspiring leadership.
ENTJ
Frank, decisive, assume leadership readily. Quickly see illogical and inefficient procedures and policies, develop and implement comprehensive systems to solve organizational problems. Enjoy long-term planning and goal setting. Usually well informed, well read, enjoy expanding their knowledge and passing it on to others. Forceful in presenting their ideas.
Content excerpted from Introduction to Myers-Briggs® Type by Isabel Briggs Myers, published by The Myers-Briggs Company. Used with permission.
I am an enthusiast with a deep understanding of personality psychology and the Myers-Briggs® Type Indicator (MBTI). My knowledge extends to the foundation and principles of the MBTI, its conceptual framework, and the intricacies of each personality type. I've studied the system's origins, including the work of Isabel Briggs Myers, and I'm well-versed in the practical applications and critiques of the MBTI.
The Myers-Briggs® system, as outlined in the provided article, comprises four preference pairs that capture various dimensions of personality:
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Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I):
- Extraversion individuals are outgoing, sociable, and energized by external stimuli.
- Introversion individuals are reserved, reflective, and gain energy from internal thoughts.
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Sensing (S) or Intuition (N):
- Sensing individuals focus on concrete details, relying on practical and realistic information.
- Intuition individuals are more abstract, imaginative, and focus on possibilities and potential.
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Thinking (T) or Feeling (F):
- Thinking individuals make decisions based on logic and objective analysis.
- Feeling individuals make decisions based on personal values, considering the impact on people.
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Judging (J) or Perceiving (P):
- Judging individuals prefer order, structure, and planned approaches.
- Perceiving individuals are adaptable, spontaneous, and flexible, preferring to go with the flow.
When combined, these preference pairs create 16 distinct personality types, each with its own unique characteristics. Here's a brief overview of a few of these types:
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ISTJ (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging): Quiet, serious, practical, and value traditions and loyalty.
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ISFJ (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging): Quiet, friendly, responsible, and committed to creating an orderly environment.
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INFJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging): Seek meaning and connection, committed to firm values, and organized in implementing their vision.
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INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging): Original minds, driven to implement ideas, and skeptical with high standards of competence.
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ISTP (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving): Tolerant, flexible, and analytical problem solvers with an interest in cause and effect.
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ISFP (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving): Quiet, friendly, sensitive, and committed to values, avoiding conflicts.
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INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving): Idealistic, curious, adaptable, and seek to understand and help others.
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INTP (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving): Theoretical, analytical, and focused problem solvers with a skeptical and critical approach.
These are just a few examples, and each personality type has its own strengths, preferences, and potential areas for growth. The MBTI serves as a valuable tool for self-awareness, understanding others, and fostering effective communication and collaboration in various settings.
