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Carl Jung (1875 –1961)
Carl Gustav Jung is the founder of analytical, or depth
psychology, the science of mapping out the inner workings of
the psyche or soul. As a result of his work, Jung developed
the idea of Psychological Types
He studied two basic kinds of "functions" which humans used
in their lives: how we take in information and how we make
decisions. Within these two categories, there were two
opposite ways of functioning. Information can be perceived
via 1) our senses, or 2) our intuition. While decisions can be
made based on 1) our thinking, or 2) our feelings
Figure 1 shows the breakdown on
Jung’s Personality Types. It is around these
personality types that Katherine Cook Briggs
and Isabel Briggs Myers developed their
model and the MBTI.
Figure 1. (www.friesian.com/types.htm)
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Katharine Cook Briggs (1875-1968)
“At first, Katharine Cook Briggs's began to comb data from her
own extensive studies of contemporary children's educational
and social developmental theories. Then, she developed a testing
method to help determine the best vocation for a child, what she
saw as a key to their future happiness and well being”
(www.becomewhoyouare.net/MBTI-history-and-tributes-newest-ver.html).
Katherine Cook Briggs was indeed “a life-long student of human
behavior and growth” (http://www.mbtitoday.org/minihistory.html). After
reading Psychological Types, The Psychology of Individuation by
Carl G. Jung, she decided that Jung’s work and his ideas could
possibly benefit many persons in achieving their life goals.
Thus she began her research into personality in 1917, eventually
developing a four-type framework: Social, Thoughtful, Executive
and Spontaneous.
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Isabel Briggs Myers (1897-1980)
With a bachelor’s degree in political science and no academic
affiliation nor a psychology background, Isabel Briggs Myers took
over her mother, Katharine Cook Briggs’, research during the 1940’s.
Both Cook-Briggs and Briggs-Myers had a keen interest in human
behavior, as well as in the work of Jung. As a result they wanted to
put the Theory of Personality Types to practical use. This would
eventually result in the MBTI.
Myers developed a pen and paper test based on Cook-Briggs’ fourtype framework along with Jung’s personality types. In 1942, the
Briggs-Myers Type Indicator was created, and the Brigg-Myers Type
Indicator Handbook was published soon afterwards. In 1956, the
name of the instrument was change to the Myers-Brigg Type
Indicator.
Myers and Briggs added a fourth dimension to Jung’s scheme
focusing on how people deal with the outer world, the judgementperception dichotomy.
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The characteristics of Form M:
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Geared towards individuals 14 and older.
It takes 15-25 minutes to administer.
Group or individual administration.
There are 93 force-choice items (2 available
choices).
Participants may skip items if they cannot
choose.
Both computer based and hand scored versions
are available.
Cost is approximately $150.00
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The MBTI-Form M has four dichotomous scales:
 Extraversion-Introversion (EI)
 Sensation-Intuition (SN)
 Thinking-Feeling (TF)
 Judgment-Perception (JP)
Figure 2 further explains these dichotomies.
Figure 2. (Neukrug & Fawcett, 2006, p. 177)
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Thus there are 16 personality types, each one represents one of the
various combinations of the four dichotomous scales. For example: INTJ
(Introversion, Intuition with Thinking and Judging)
Figure 3 below, gives an illustration of the 16 possible personality types
assessed through the MBTI.
Figure 3. (www.psychometric-success.com/images/PC0201.g)
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The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator determines what is a
person’s personality type based on the four dichotomies
previously mentioned.
MBTI- Form M was designed “the identification of basic
preference, one each of the four dichotomies specified or
implicit to Jung’s theory”. As well as “the identification and
description of the 16 personality types that result in
interactions among the preferences”. (Briggs et al, 1943-1998, p.2)
According to the CPP, the MBTI “helps you improve work
and personal relationships, increase productivity, and
identify leadership and interpersonal communication
preferences for your clients.”
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The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is used:
 As a career counselling tool
 To promote team building
 To better group dynamics
 As a part of leadership training
 As a part of life coaching
 As a part of marriage counselling
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HAND SCORED
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The 93 items are scored using a one point scale.
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Each response is counted as one point.
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The number of points are summed for each scale
(Summative Scoring).
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Midpoint is defined by the number of items.
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The scoring is presented as a preference clarity index
from 0-30 for each dichotomy (mbtithoughts.wordpress.com).
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COMPUTER SCORED
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Item Response Theory (IRT) scoring method used.
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Midpoint is defined by the slope and intercept of the Item
Characteristic Curve.
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IRT model takes into account the client’s pattern for
answering.
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“Items that do the best job of discriminating between
opposite preferences at the midpoint of the scale- are
assigned higher weights”.
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Individual’s preference on a scale is the pole of the
dichotomy with the most points.
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After doing the assessment and
scoring, the client’s personality type
is determined. There are sixteen
types, each represented by a four
letter acronym. The following slide
shows a representation of these
types and the qualities they
exemplify.
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Figure 4. (brainoids.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/mbti.jpg)
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Norm Group
A representative national sample of
U.S. adults over age 18 was used for
the item analyses and item
weighting (N = 3,009)
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RELIABILITY
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After 4-weeks, an average of about 65% of participants
had the same four preferences (test-retest reliability).
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Reliabilities (when scores are treated as continuous
scores, as in most other psychological instruments) are
as good or better than other personality instruments
(www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/reliability-and-validity.asp).
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“When a person changes type on retest, it is usually on
one of the dichotomous pairs, and in a dichotomy where
the preference clarity was low”
(www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/reliability-and-validity.asp).
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VALIDITY
Research Studies have proven the validity in
three main categories:
The validity of the four separate preference
scales.
 The validity of the four preference pairs as
dichotomies.
 The validity of whole types or particular
combinations of preferences.
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For individuals with disabilities the test
administrator should explain the purpose of the
test in terms that can be understood by the
client.
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Each client should be given the test in their
native language (30 options)
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No modifications or changes can be made to
the assessment without the permission of the
publisher.
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Making modifications prematurely can result in
skewed test results.
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Some of the cautions of use include:
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Remembering the instrument does not measure
competencies—it identifies preferences
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The preferences identified by the MBTI are not
personality traits, but represent a typology in which
individuals with opposite preference are qualitatively
different;
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The interaction among these preferences are critical to
understand the instrument (i.e. the whole is greater than
the sum of its parts) (p.4).
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Mastrangelo states, the MBTI is not designed to
measure personality traits and therefore should not be
used as a personnel screening device (p. 7).
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Stephanie OLSON, Plaintiff
v.
Michael J. ASTRUE, Commissioner of Social Security, Defendant
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Stephanie had been denied Social Security Income as well as
Disability Benefits three times.
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However psychological evaluations yielded that Stephanie
“appeared to be functioning at a low average intellectual
functioning”.
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Numerous assessments were done, including the MBTI. The
collaborative report of all the assessment was used in the
case.
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As a result of testing as well as other evidence Stephanie was
granted a reversal of the decision of denial and awarded both
these benefits.
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Gigi TRUMPS, Appellant
v.
Jo Anne B. BARNHART, Commissioner of Social Security, Appellee
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Gigi received childhood Disability Insurance benefits due to her
severe anxiety due to a haemangioma on her tongue, however
upon applying as an adult was denied.
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She filed suit, appealed the initial decision and then applied for a
review after loosing her appeal.
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The court sided against Gigi initially stating that the
psychiatrists’ evidence was based on subjective answers.
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However due to the use of a multitude of tests including the MBTI
her diagnosis was determined valid.
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It was concluded that there was significant evidence to support
Gigi’s disability and she was awarded her benefits.
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1)
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2)
Where the test can be found
www.myersbriggs.org
See the handout provided
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Adapted from Building People, Building Programs (chapter 7) by Gordon Lawrence and Charles Martin
(CAPT 2001) Retrieved on March 29, 2010, from http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personalitytype/mbti-basics/reliability-and-validity.asp
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Adventure Associates (2009). MBTI: Myers Briggs Type Indicator History. Retrieved on March
14, 2010, from http://www.adventureassoc.com/workshop/myer-briggs/mbti-history.html
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Briggs, K. C., Briggs, M. I., McCaulley, M. H., Quenk, N. L. & Hammer A. L. (1943-1998). Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator Form M. In Mental Measurement Yearbook. Retrieved on January 26, 2010, from
http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/sp2.3/ovidweb.cgi?&S=ABNIFPENKODD
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Hardley, C. (2005 Apr). Alphabet Soup: A Cautionary Note About Using Myers Briggs. Retrieved on
March 14, 2010, from http://www.ere.net/2005/04/21/alphabet-soup-a-cautionary-note-about-usingmyers-briggs/
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Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (2006-2009). In Ovidio Limited. Retrieved on March 13, 2010, from
http://myersbriggstypeindicator.edu/
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Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (March 2010). In Wikipedia. Retrieved on March 14, 2010, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator
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Neukrug, E. S. & Fawcett, R. C. (2006). Essentials of Testing and Assessment. Belmont, CA: The
Thomas Corporation
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Olson v. Astrue, Slip Copy, 2009 WL 2365511 (N.D.Ill.) (2009) Retrieved on March 23, 2010 From
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Reynolds-Hutchinson and Associates (2010). The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Retrieved on March 14,
2010, from http://www.rhassociates.comau/mbti.htm
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Trumps v. Barnhart, Not Reported in F.Supp.2d, 2007WL 4696842 (W.D.La.) Retrieved on March 23,
2010 from http://campus.westlaw.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu
http://campus.westlaw.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu
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