More on Type

I'm a nerd and love all things knowledge, so when I had the opportunity to become certified in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) several years ago I jumped at the chance.  Since then I've been on a fascinating journey of understanding myself and others, which, let's be real, has always been the more difficult of the two for me.  Type has given me a key to unlock some of the mysteries!

If you're not very familiar with type, here's what you should know:

The MBTI is based on C. G. Jung's theory that we are all born with innate preferences that direct how we see the world and how we operate in it.  Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers futher developed Jungs theories, defining sixteen different types, and created the indicator to make the information more accessable and useful to people.

There are eight preferences, paired into four dichotomes, which gives sixteen four-letter types.  The dichotomes include:

  • Where do you get your energy? An INTOVERT (I) prefers to focus on the inner world.  An EXTRAVERT (E) prefers to focus on the outer world.
  • How do you receive information? Someone who prefers SENSING (S) focuses on information that can be taken in by the five senses, prefering concrete and present realities.  Someone with a preference for INTUITION (N) focuses on larger meaning, prefering the abstract and future possibilities.
  • How do you process the information? Those who prefer THINKING (T) prefer to make decisions based on objective logic.  People who prefer FEELING (F) make decisions based their personal values and the values of others.
  • How do you order your world? A preference for JUDGING (J) favors a structured approach, and decisions with closure.  A PERCIEVING (P) preference likes to stay open to new information and options, taking a less structured approach.
When you decide which four preferences you MOST identify with you have your four letter type:

ISTJ         ISFJ         INFJ         INTJ

ISTP        ISFP         INFP        INTP

ESTP       ESFP       ENFP       ENTP

ESTJ        ESFJ        ENFJ        ENTJ

To discover more information about type check out...