Breaking Down the MBTI Personality Test and Why It’s Useful
Ah, one of my favourite topics to yap about...
For those who know me in real life, MBTI personality types are one of my favourite conversation topics. I love trying to guess my friends’ MBTI types. It’s fascinating to learn more about the way that people think, behave, and feel.
But before we get into the “why”, it’s helpful to know what the different personality functions are (adapted from 16Personalities and CrystalKnows).
What is the MBTI, anyway?
It’s a self-report questionnaire that assesses your levels of each personality function. There are four dimensions of personality functions:
Extroversion (E) and Introversion (I)
Extroverts gain energy when they are around others and are very lively. They process information by thinking out loud and form their thoughts as they talk. They need external stimulation and will seek out social activities, go to events with people, and try new things.
Introverts gain energy when they spend time alone or in smaller groups. They prefer to think before they speak and express themselves in writing. They are more sensitive to external stimulation and can be overwhelmed if there is too much stimulation (e.g. flashing lights, crowds, loud noises).
Observant (S) and Intuitive (N)
Observers focus on the “here and now”. They pay more attention to things that are observable, what is currently happening, or what has happened. They are practical and more concerned with facts instead of ideas.
Intuitives love to use their imagination and explore new ideas. They pay attention to hidden meanings and possibilities.
Thinking (T) and Feeling (F)
Thinkers follow their heads - they value objectivity and prioritize facts when making decisions. They tend to communicate directly and avoid being too emotional.
Feelers follow their hearts - they try to be sensitive to other people’s feelings when making decisions. They value social harmony and enjoy being open about emotions.
Judging (J) and Perceiving (P)
Judgers love order and structure. To stay organized, they love to use tools like lists and schedules. They try to plan ahead whenever possible and value timeliness. They like to complete projects one step at a time.
Perceivers love flexibility and spontaneity. They’re good at improvising and going with the flow of a situation. They don’t like being limited by pre-existing rules.
These personality functions can be combined to form 16 different personality types. Each personality type consists of four letters (the function you score higher on for each dimension).
What’s my personality type, you ask?
In the past, my results alternated between INFJ and ISFJ (I loved doing the MBTI once every few months). I’ve been told by others that I act like an INFJ. I did the test again this year, and my result was ENFJ. Although I’ve started feeling energized around people and like processing my thoughts out loud, I still need my alone time! A girl needs alone time for reflection and recharging her social batteries, you know. Honestly, I think I have an equal amount of introverted and extroverted tendencies.
TL;DR: I’m fine with being labelled an INFJ or ENFJ.
Why it’s a great tool for understanding yourself:
Personally, I think the MBTI is a great tool when you’re trying to learn more about yourself. It can give you insight on things like:
The way you process information and communicate with others
For example, knowing your friends’ MBTI types can help you figure out how to communicate with them. If you’re speaking with introverted friends, you can give them time to figure out how to word their thoughts. If you’re speaking with extroverted friends, you can listen to them patiently as they talk and figure out their thought processes.
Where you draw your energy from (internally or externally)
Introverts recharge by spending time alone while extroverts recharge by spending time around others. This has helped me figure out how much time I should spend with friends and how much alone time I need. Although I enjoy my social gatherings, I try to space them out evenly so that I have some alone time before the next gathering!
Factors you focus on when making decisions
The MBTI can help you understand how your decision-making compares to others. You might be able to notice patterns in your decision-making - do you tend to prioritize facts or preserving social harmony? For example, thinkers can quickly make objective analyses while feelers can make decisions that satisfy people’s needs.
Your strengths and weaknesses
Your primary functions indicate your areas of strength. For example, INFJ’s are skilled at maintaining social harmony within a group and helping others whenever needed. However, these strengths can also be weaknesses if they’re excessively used. Going back to the INFJ example - INFJ’s care about other people’s needs, but may neglect their own needs in the process.
The types of careers you’d thrive in
For example, INFJ’s thrive in careers where they can help others, be sensitive to others’ feelings, and express their creativity. I knew that I wouldn’t thrive in careers that would require lots of analytical thinking, dealing with data, and thick skin.
Limitations and things to consider about the test:
The MBTI follows a categorical model, and many people won’t fit perfectly into one category. Although the MBTI assesses your score for each function, it categorizes you according to the function you score higher on.
Another thing to consider is that we all have varying levels of each function! For example, if you’re a thinker, that doesn’t mean that you never consider people’s feelings when making decisions. It only means that you prioritize facts! Some situations will call for objective decisions, while other situations will require you to consider the well-being of others.
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Although the MBTI has its limitations, it’s a good starting point if you want to figure out your personality and how it influences every part of your life!
Leave a comment below with your MBTI type, and subscribe for more posts like this!