Is the MBTI test just a trend or a real science?

Dfferent types of MBTI personalities

Defining MBTI

The Myers-Briggs Test Indicator is a personality assessment test which is used extensively in several fields from business to psychology. This test classifies an individual into one of 16 distinct and accurate personality types in four areas which are as follows:

• the source of attention (introvert or extrovert)

• how one takes information (sense vs intuition)

• how they make decisions (thinking vs feelings)

• the approach towards the world (judging vs perceiving)

The main objective of the MBTI is to allow users to explore and understand their personality, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, compatibility with other personalities, and career preferences. According to a study, over two million people take the MBTI test annually, showcasing its popularity worldwide with every age group. However, MBTI’s popularity doesn’t indicate its validity and accuracy. It is not a tool designed to identify abnormality or dysfunctionality. The test simply seeks to help one learn about themselves.

“In schools or workplaces, MBTI can enhance team dynamics by fostering mutual understanding, communication, and appreciation for diverse perspectives. When used thoughtfully, MBTI can improve relationships and teamwork by helping people understand each other’s preferences and communication styles. However, if taken too literally, it can also cause misunderstandings, like assuming someone can’t handle stress because of their type. MBTI should be used as a conversation starter, not a box that confines people. At best, it encourages empathy, better communication, and a stronger appreciation for the unique strengths everyone brings to the table.”Bobby ThakurPsychologist & Founder Counsel India

The history of MBTI

MBTI was created during World War II when two American women Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers drew inspiration from renowned psychoanalyst Carl G Jung’s s 1921 book Psychological Types. According to Jung, people experience the world using four major psychological factors — feeling, thinking, sensation and intuition — with one of them being the dominating factor in every individual. When Briggs read the English translation, she saw similarities between their ideas. However, Jung’s ideas were far more developed. Isabel’s future husband, Clarence Myers, became one of the inspirations for Briggs to embark on the project to study personality theory as she was intrigued by his way of looking at the world.

Neither Briggs nor Myers had any formal education in psychology, they were self-taught. To be an expert in their field, Myers took up an apprenticeship with Edward N. Hay, a head of personnel officer in a Philadelphia bank. From there, she learnt scoring, validation and statistical methods. World War II also had a huge influence on Briggs-Myers’ project. Myers believed if there is an understanding among people, there would be less conflict. She was determined to make psychological help accessible to people which led to the creation of type indicator. The first MBTI instrument and questionnaire was published in 1962 and it assigned binary value to the four categories — introvert/extrovert, sensation/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving. One letter from each category was taken to produce 16 personality types such as ENFJ, INFJ, ESTJ, etc. Over the years, the Myers-Briggs Company has been publishing and updating the MBTI instrument and has been training practitioners since 1989. The tool has become immensely popular and its objective has resonated with people — understanding one’s personality to help change oneself and the world for the better.

The scientific challenges

No matter how popular MBTI is, it has faced immense criticism and challenging questions from the scientific community. One of the major criticisms of MBTI has always been the lack of evidence to support its reliability. MBTI has an easy-to-understand questionnaire, but critics believe that the result oversimplifies human personalities into certain rigid categories, when in reality, people exhibit a spectrum of skills and traits that cannot fit into the given 16 MBTI types. According to studies, the results of MBTI tests are not always consistent. For example, if you get ‘ISFJ’ one year then your test result might be ‘ESFJ’ the next year. This inconsistency is often questioned by the critics and the scientific community.

“Rigidly categorising others based on their MBTI personality type is very misleading and counterproductive. When people put in very specific pigeon-holes, it leads to more stigma or stereotyping. One example of this is throwing around an ‘Introvert’ label. People might label someone as shy or attach antisocial connotations to someone who, at that moment, might be outgoing in some specific situations. Such assumptions are barriers to relationships and collaborations, as biases are cultivated based on perceived personality traits instead of actual behaviour. Sticking too much to any one of the assigned personality types can prove discouraging to someone who is developing additional skills. It can eventually lead to inhibition of growth against transformation and thus prevent them from having flexibility with new challenges or opportunities.”Dr Arvind OttaSenior Psychologist & Mental Health Activist

The mass appeal

Despite all the scientific criticisms, MBTI continues to thrive across the world as many people find it immensely useful to understand themselves. The less scientific language, the labels and the career advice it provides often get to the users who are not concerned with psychological and scientific reasoning. With the rise of social media, MBTI has been fuelled and websites like 16personalities.com have made it easier for people to take the test and get an in-depth result of their personality. People of all ages enjoy discussing their personality types with others and it creates a sense of community which credits to the popularity of MBTI. Ultimately, MBTI is just a tool for personal exploration rather than a scientific model. It is a fun and interesting test to know about yourself but it should not be the sole reason for one’s identity.

“MBTI oversimplifies human personality by reducing it to binary categories and does not provide a full understanding of its complexity. However, MBTI remains one of the favourite tools in personal development and work settings. Whether it’s a trend or science, the relevance of MBTI lies in how it is applied. It can be inspiring to use it as a flexible framework rather than a definitive measure. The point is to recognise its limitations while appreciating its role as a bridge to deeper conversations about personality.”Dr Rahul ChandhokSr. Consultant & Head Psychiatry, Artemis Lite NFC, New Delhi