The four dichotomies (or continua) are: Extraversion…Introversion Sensing…iNtuition Thinking…Feeling Judging…Perceiving

Note that the terms used for each dichotomy have specific technical meanings relating to MBTI, which differ from their everyday usage. For example, people with a preference for Judging over Perceiving are not necessarily more ‘judgemental’, or less ‘perceptive’.

MBTI does not measure aptitude, either: it simply sorts for one preference over another. So someone reporting a high score for E over I on the MBTI cannot be correctly described as ‘more’ or ‘strongly’ Extraverted: they simply have a clear preference.

Functions (S-N and T-F)The Sensing-Intuition and Thinking-Feeling dichotomies are often referred to as the MBTI Functions. They relate to how we prefer to take in information (perceiving); and how we prefer to make decisions (judging). Individuals will tend to trust one preference over the other, although they may have some ability to do both. Indeed, the flexibility to sense check information and decisions using one’s less preferred preference can be of value in many situations, for example in groups that have preferences in common amongst a number of members (and therefore a potential blind spot i.e. a tendency to avoid the opposite and to go for groupthink).

Individuals with a preference for Sensing prefer to trust information that is in the present, tangible and concrete: information can be comprehended by the five senses. They may prefer to look for detail and facts. For them, the meaning is in the data. Those with a preference for Intuition will trust information that is more abstract or theoretical, that can be associated with other information (remembered or they may look for a wider context or pattern). They may be more interested in future possibilities. The meaning is in how

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality questionnaire designed to identify certain psychological differences according to the typological theories of Carl Gustav Jung as published in his 1921 book Psychological Types (English edition, 1923). The original developers of the indicator were Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers. They began developing the indicator during World War II.

Proponents of the test cite its reliable predictions of individual behaviour, the descriptions of each type going beyond simple traits to profile-like detail of likely interests and hobbies, as well as explaining behaviour the testee may not previously have even been aware of the reasons for.

TypeFundamental to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is the concept of Psychological Type.

In a similar way to left- or right-handedness, the principle is that individuals also find certain ways of thinking and acting easier than others. The MBTI endeavours to sort some of these psychological opposites into four opposite pairs, or dichotomies, with a resulting sixteen possible combinations. None of these combinations is ‘better’ or ‘worse’, however Briggs and Myers recognised that everyone has an overall combination which is most comfortable for them: in the same way as writing with the left hand is hard work for a right-hander, so people tend to find using their opposite psychological preference more difficult, even if they can become more proficient (and therefore behaviourally flexible) with practice and development.

The preferences are normally notated with the initial letters of each of their four preferences, for instance:

ISTJ - Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging ENFP - Extraverted, iNtuition, Feeling, Perceiving And so on for all sixteen possible combinations.

What is MBTI? The 4 Dichotomies

MBTI Factsheet

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Type Indicator sorts for an overall preference for one or the other of these.

People with a preference for Extroversion draw energy from action: they tend to act, then reflect, then act further. If they are inactive, their level of energy and motivation tends to decline. Conversely, those whose preference is Introversion become less energized as they act: they prefer to reflect, then act, then reflect again. People with Introversion preference need time out to reflect to rebuild energy.

The terms Extrovert and Introvert are used in a special sense when discussing Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Someone with a clear E preference is not necessarily a party animal or a show-off, any more than someone clearly preferring I is necessarily shy, retiring and unsociable. An INTP meeting another INTP is an excellent example of this; the conversation will frequently begin with a recognition of a shared interest, such as science fiction, and continue with a rapid exchange of data and theories incomprehensible to an outsider to the conversation, the two only breaking off when interrupted by a third party or thirst.

Lifestyle (J-P)In addition to the two Function pairs and Attitudes, Myers and Briggs identified that individuals had an overall preference to favour either their Judging function (T or F) or their Perceiving function (S or N), which is revealed in how they like to go about getting things done in the outside (extraverted) world.

People with a preference for Judging prefer matters to be decided; to start tasks in good time, well ahead of a deadline; to have clear plans that they prefer not to be distracted from; and they can sometimes seem inflexible in this regard. Those whose preference is Perceiving are happier to leave matters open, for further input; they may want to leave finishing a task until close to the deadline, and be energised by a late rush of information and ideas; and they are readier to change plans if new information comes along. They may sometimes seem too flexible for their Judging peers.

Behaviours of each dichotomyEach dichotomy has characteristic behavioural preferences and these are show in the table below.

the data relates to the pattern or theory.

Jung described Sensing and Intuition as irrational functions (as a technical term, not as a pejorative), as a person does not necessarily have control over receiving data, only how to process it once they have it. This is not to say that they ignore the opposite function, but a matter of what they prefer to concentrate on.

Thinking and Feeling are the decision making (judging) calculus functions. They both strive to make rational choices, based on the data received from their perceiving functions (S or N). As people use their preferred function more, they tend to be much more practiced and comfortable with its use. This can be compared to an athlete: a person cannot have an innate ability to play a particular sport. A person who enjoys that sport, and practices constantly to improve in that sport, will most likely become good at that sport. Similarly, a person who has a clear preference for thinking or feeling will tend to become better at that particular function, simply because they practice it more.

Those with a preference for Feeling will prefer to come to decisions by associating or empathising with the situation, looking at it ‘from the inside’ and weighing the situation up so to achieve, on balance, the greatest harmony, consensus and fit with their personal set of values. Those with a preference for Thinking will prefer to decide things from a more detached standpoint, measuring the decision by what is reasonable, logical, causal, consistent and matching a given set of rules. In coming to a decision, individuals will tend to come to their preferred function first and trust it better.

As noted already, people with a Thinking preference do not necessarily, in the everyday sense, ‘think better’ than their Feeling counterparts; the opposite preference is considered an equally rational way of coming to decisions and in any case the MBTI is a measure of preference, not ability. Similarly, those with a Feeling preference are not necessarily ‘more feeling’ or emotional than their Thinking peers.

Attitudes (E-I)The preferences for Introversion and Extroversion are sometimes referred to as attitudes. Briggs and Myers recognized that each of the functions can show in the external world of behaviour, action, people and things (extroverted attitude) or the internal world of ideas and reflection (introverted attitude). The Myers-Briggs

Characteristic behavioural preferences of each dichotomy

Extraverts IntrovertsPrefer being around people Are comfortable spending

time alone Are interested in many things

Are selective and like to focus on one or a few things

Have lots of friends and associates

Have a few very close friends

Jump into things pretty quickly

Think about things before they act

Are usually pretty talkative Are usually fairly reservedAre more public and easier to get to know

Are more private and harder to read

Are enthusiastic and outgoing

Appear calm and self-contained

Represent about 55% of the population

Represent about 45% of the population

Thinkers FeelersAre more logical and analytical

Are more sensitive and sympathetic

Believe it’s better to be truthful than tactful

Believe it’s better to be tactful than truthful

Are fair and consistent; apply one standard to all

Like harmony; look for extenuating circumstances

Are motivated by achievements

Are motivated by being appreciated

Like to compete and win Like to cooperate and create consensus

Easily see fl aws; can be critical and brusque

Like to please others; express appreciation easily

Are thick-skinned and not easily off ended

Get their feelings hurt more easily

Comprise about 65% males Comprise about 65% females

Thinkers FeelersLike to make decisions; decide quickly

Like to keep options open; may procrastinate

Prefer to make and keep plans

Prefer to be free to act spontaneously

Are usually well-organised Are often disorganisedLike to be in control Like to adapt to changing

situationsHave a strong work ethic: work, then play

Have a strong play ethic: play, then work

Are more formal and conventional

Are more casual and unconventional

Tend to see things as black or white

Tend to see things as shades of grey

Are often better at fi nishing projects

Are often better at starting projects

Sensors IntuitivesFocus on the facts and specifi cs

Focus on the possibilities

Are more concrete; like ideas to be practical

Are more abstract; like ideas and theories for their own sake

Trust their direct experience Trust their gut instinctsLike to operate in the here and now

Like to imagine and think about the future

Are realistic and practical Are innovative and imaginative

Like established ways of doing things

Like to create new ways of doing things

Think and talk in a step-by-step manner

Frequently jump around from topic to topic

Represent about 65% of the population

Represent about 35% of the population

Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): Key Characteristics

Whole TypeThe expression of MBTI type is more than the sum of the four individual preferences, because of the way in which the preferences interact through type dynamics and type development.

Some types are much rarer than others and the table below shows the proportion of each within the UK population.

38 Training Journal January 2005

P S Y C H O M E T R I C T E S T I N G

➜ The most startling difference isbetween the Thinking and Feelingdimension with about half thegeneral UK population reporting aFeeling preference but only 14 percent of the managerial populationreporting the same. So, where are allthe F managers? Might they allbecome Ts to cope with themanagement role? If we accept thatmany decisions in business andmanagement are based on logic andobjective reasoning, there could be adanger that personal values areoverridden by logical, decision-making bosses and organisations.Perhaps the lack of F in managementteams could mean that managersforget or fail to notice the effect oforganisational decisions on people.This could also come across asorganisations or managers appearing

not to care about the effect ofdecisions on their people. T managersmay not always communicate theirfeelings and ideas with others, notseeing them as important.

➜ In the general UK population thereare significantly more sensing typesthan intuitives, yet in managementthere is a much more balanced split at51:49 Sensing/Intuition. Might thishave some significance for thechallenges many managers face whendealing with change both from theirown perspective and in convincingothers of the necessity for change? So if we accept that Ns cope moreeffectively with ambiguity andchange and with so many Ss in bothmanagement and the general UKpopulation, the challenge foreveryone might be about speed andacceptance for change.

➜ The management population reportsan Extrovert/Introvert split of 63:37 –if a typical manager has to jugglemany tasks and people at the sametime this may mean that managerialroles are more suited to extroverts.

➜ On the Judging/Perceiving dimensionthe managerial population reports a65:35 split. A preference for judgingmeans that planning, structuring andseeing things through come fairlynaturally and are often skills requiredof managers.

So, what can we deduce from thisinformation? Perhaps that specific typesare attracted to managerial positions.Alternatively, when someone moves intoa managerial position that person mayhave to develop his or her less preferredpreference in order to cope with thedemands of the job. Either way there areimplications for both managerial and

organisationaldevelopment, especiallyif one ascribes to theview that organisationsare seeking moremanagers who take abalanced approach byconsidering the peopleand relationships in asmuch measure as therational business focus.It may be that this is oneof the reasons why therehas been a significantgrowth in the demandfor managementdevelopment in the areaof leadership andespecially with the focuson the softer side of leadership.

Table 1: MBTI dimensions

Source: adapted from An Introduction To Type (MBTI) by Isabel Briggs Myers and Sixteen Personality Types At Work In Organisations by Jenny Rogers.

E You gain your energy from the world of people, thingsExtroversion and activities; you prefer to deal with many things

rather than dealing with one thing at a time.

S You prefer to take in information gainedSensing through the five senses; you like the concrete and

practical and have preference for detail.

T You make decisions based on objectiveThinking reasoning and logic; you value reason, truth and

justice; you like to treat everyone fairly.

J You prefer to live in a planned and organisedJudging way; you like structure and closure; and feel fulfilled

by getting things done. You try to avoid last-minutepressure by planning.

I You gain your energy from the internal world of Introversion thoughts and ideas; you prefer to deal with a few

things in depth rather than many things at once.

N You prefer to take in information through a Intuition sixth sense, focusing on the future; you like the big

picture and can tolerate change and ambiguity.

F You make decisions based on personal valuesFeeling and by being able to identify with peoples’ needs;

you value empathy, compassion and harmony.

P You prefer to live in a flexible and spontaneousPerceiving way; you seek experience rather than controlling

events, preferring to keep your options open.

Table 2: UK population type table (n = 1,634)

Source: Data collected by the Office of National Statistics as part of a validation study commissioned by OPP Ltd

to validate the European English Edition of MBTI, 1996.

ISTJn = 22413.7%

ISFJn = 20812.7%

INFJn = 281.7%

INTJn = 231.4%

ISTPn = 1056.4%

ISFPn = 100

6.1%

INFPn = 523.2%

INTPn = 402.4%

ESTPn = 955.8%

ESFPn = 142

8.7%

ENFPn = 1036.3%

ENTPn = 452.8%

ESTJn = 17010.4%

ESFJn = 20612.6%

ENFJn = 452.8%

ENTJn = 482.9%

Table 3: Ashridge managerial type table (n = 8,039)

ISTJn = 1,149

14.3%

ISFJn = 1211.5%

INFJn = 750.9%

INTJn = 645

8.0%

ISTPn = 314

3.9%

ISFPn = 520.6%

INFPn = 120

1.5%

INTPn = 527

6.6%

ESTPn = 463

5.8%

ESFPn = 851.1%

ENFPn = 296

3.7%

ENTPn = 92911.6%

ESTJn = 1,675

20.8%

ESFJn = 1892.4%

ENFJn = 200

2.5%

ENTJn = 1,199

14.9%

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Ashridge Business School UK - http://www.ashridge.org.uk

Descriptions of each type are shown in the table at the end of the document.

How is MBTI is relevant to dating?The 4 dichotomies provide us with predictors of how people will behave in typical situations. When the parties to a couple behave in radically different ways from each other, it is safe to assume that this will cause, at the least, tension and, at worst, open conflict.

It’s therefore possible to assess the degree of potential conflict in a pairing of types. At extremes, a strong-preference ISFJ is going to find a lot of the behaviour of a strong-preference ENTP loud, insensitive, irrational and unpredictable. So, when matching, we would always aim to match similar types or those where there is not a strong preference.

The site www.humanmetrics.com offers a Jung Marriage Test where both parties can assess their potential compatibility objectively. This at least highlights areas of potential conflict, even if the parties decide they can adapt to those situations.

The site www.personalitypage.com/relationships.html offers a comprehensive guide to personality type in relationship settings, including details of how each type approaches relationships and which combinations are likely to work best.

How do I find out more?Again www.humanmetrics.com offers a much deeper version of the MBTI test than the type predictor we undertake during an RSVP interview. If you’re interested and have a few minutes to spare, please take the full test at http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm and email us your result, including the percentages for each dichotomy. We’ll then have a more accurate indicator of your type which we can use in matching.

Description of MBTI types