The Myers-Briggs Typology System
Home Up Site Map Products & Services My Contact Info. About Russell Personal Training Resources & Articles Right Livelihood Perfect Partnering Self-Discovery Self-Healing

 

Main Index of Topics (click on one to go to that section)

What is the Myers-Briggs System?

What is MY Myers-Briggs Type? - Learn this second

What are MY Preferred Cognitive Processes? - Learn this third (more advanced)

Then go to:

Descriptions of the 16 Myers-Briggs Types

How Can The Myers-Briggs System Help Me?

Myers-Briggs Types in Relationships

Relationship Compatibility Between The Types

Career Satisfaction For Each Type

 

Index of Myers-Briggs Types (click on a type)

ISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ
ISTP ISFP INFP INTP
ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP
ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ

 

What is the Myers-Briggs System?  [back to the top]

 

The Myers-Briggs system is a personality system developed by a mother and daughter team, Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers, to help us better understand our innate personality differences.  It is an adaptation of the psychological typology of the famous Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung.  Everyone is one and only one of the 16 different Myers-Briggs personality types in this system.  That is because it is based on brain functioning.  Although I wholeheartedly agree that we DO grow and change over time (and Myers-Briggs theory supports this too), our fundamental Myers-Briggs type does NOT change.  There are no "better than" or "worse than" types.  Each type has natural strengths and weaknesses.

 

There are three terms that you will need to become familiar with in this system if you want to understand it better.  They are:  (1) Preference, (2) Type, and (3) Temperament.  The system is based on the idea that people are born with preferences.  The word preference simply refers to the ways in which we naturally "prefer" to do certain things.

 

PREFERENCES

 

Myers-Briggs lists four pairs of opposite preferences.  For example, extraversion and introversion are opposite preferences.  Within each pair, we favor one side over the other, and we tend to use that one most of the time because it comes more easily to us.  The 4 pairs of opposite preferences are:

 

(1)  Extraverting (E) versus Introverting (I)

        Where we prefer to focus our attention and what energizes us

(2)  Sensing (S) versus iNtuiting (N)

        How we prefer to take in information

(3)  Thinking (T) versus Feeling (F)

        How we evaluate information and make decisions

(4)  Judging (J) versus Perceiving (P)

        What lifestyle we prefer

 

Click on List of Keywords for Each Preference if you want to understand what each of these preferences means.

 

TYPE

 

Within each pair of opposite preferences a person leans toward one or the other, as already mentioned.  Taking one preference from each pair will form a 4 letter code that represents a person's Myers-Briggs type.  I am an INFJ in the Myers-Briggs system because I have a preference for Introverting (I), iNtuiting (N), Feeling (F) and Judging (J).  Notice that the capitalized word in each pair is the letter used in the code.  E or I is always the first letter in the code, S or N is always the second, T or F is always the third, and J or P is always the fourth.  All together there are 16 different types.  In this system the combination of individual preferences is greater that the sum of its parts.  The preferences interact in different ways and in varying degrees to make each person unique.

 

 

What is MY Myers-Briggs Type?  [back to the top]

 

There are many different instruments for assessing human personality nowadays but the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the most widely used psychological instrument in the world.  If you haven't already done so, I strongly urge you to determine your Myers-Briggs Temperament before determining your Myers-Briggs type because knowing your temperament will help you to verify and understand your Myers-Briggs Type better.

 

As well as my own Myers-Briggs Type Test, the following Myers-Briggs Preference Questionnaire was created by Jonathan Niednagel (website:  http://www.braintypes.com/) and appeared in the May, 1998 edition of Tennis magazine.  It may further assist you in determining your type if you are not already clear.

 

THE MYERS-BRIGGS PREFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE

 

Directions:  This 20 question questionnaire is designed to help you see who you really are.  Keep in mind that self-evaluating questionnaires cannot be considered foolproof.  Even when test-takers answer as honestly as possible, there are numerous reasons why they often score contrary to their true type.

 

Taking this questionnaire is only one step in the process to determine your true Myers-Briggs type.  Consider your questionnaire results with objectivity and caution.  After taking the Myers-Briggs Preference Questionnaire look at Table 1 and Table 2 below to help you further determine your actual type.  Then read descriptions of the different temperaments and types you think you might be.

 

In the following questions you must make one of two choices: a or b.  Set aside some time for yourself without interruptions.  Perhaps, in some cases, you will feel like choosing both a and b.  Even if you agree with both answers, check the one with which you agree more.

 

To yield an accurate description of yourself, it is imperative that you answer the questionnaire honestly.  Answer as you really are, not as the person you would like to be.

 

As much as possible, try to make choices outside the context of your job.  In other words, questionnaire results can be altered if you interpret too many questions with your job in mind.  The fact that we have certain job responsibilities and strong interests should not be used to cloud the results.  Therefore, try to think of situations in which you are more free to be yourself.

 

There are no right or wrong answers.  Just be honest with yourself as you read and make choices. 

For each of the following 20 groupings of phrases and word pairs, choose the letter (a. or b.) that you think most accurately describes you.  Record your answers on the score sheet directly below question 20 (notice that the questions on the score sheet run horizontally along the row before going down).  Print out the score sheet by selecting it with your mouse and then choosing the "Selection" radio button in the print range to print; or simply copy it onto a piece of paper.  See my example score sheet if you have questions.

1.    a. expend energy, enjoy groups

       b. conserve energy, enjoy one-on-one

 

2.    a. interpret matters literally, rely on common sense

       b. look for meaning and possibilities, rely on foresight

 

3.    a. logical, thinking, questioning

       b. empathetic, feeling, accommodating

 

4.    a. organized, orderly

       b. flexible, adaptable

 

5.    a. more outgoing, think out loud

    b. more reserved, think to yourself

   

6.    a. practical, realistic, experiential

       b. imaginative, innovative, theoretical

   

7.    a. candid, straight forward, frank

       b. tactful, kind, encouraging

 

8.    a. plan, schedule

       b. unplanned, spontaneous

 

9.    a. seek many tasks, public activities, interaction with others

       b. seek more private, solitary activities with quiet to concentrate

 

10.   a. standard, usual, conventional

        b. different, novel, unique

 

11.    a. firm, tend to criticize, hold the line

         b. gentle, tend to appreciate, conciliate

 

12.    a. regulated, structured

         b. easygoing, “live” and “let live”

 

13.    a. external, communicative, express yourself

         b. internal, reticent, keep to yourself

 

14.    a. consider immediate issues, focus on the here-and-now

         b. look to the future, global perspective, “big picture”

 

15.    a. tough-minded, just

         b. tender-hearted, merciful

 

16.    a. preparation, plan ahead

         b. go with the flow, adapt as you go

 

17.    a. active, initiate

         b. reflective, deliberate

 

18.    a. facts, things, seeing “what is”

         b. ideas, dreams, seeing “what could be,” philosophical

 

19.    a. matter of fact, issue-oriented, principled

         b. sensitive, people-oriented, compassionate

 

20.    a. control, govern

         b. latitude, freedom

 

Myers-Briggs Preference Questionnaire Score Sheet

  a. b.   a. b.   a. b.   a. b.
1.     2.     3.     4.    
5.     6.     7.     8.    
9.     10.     11.     12.    
13.     14.     15.     16.    
17.     18.     19.     20.    
Total     Total     Total     Total    
E I S N T F J P

 

 

Example Myers-Briggs Preference Questionnaire Score Sheet

  a. b.   a. b.   a. b.   a. b.
1. x   2.   x 3. x   4. x  
5. x   6. x   7. x   8.   x
9. x   10.   x 11. x   12. x  
13. x   14. x   15.   x 16. x  
17.   x 18.   x 19. x   20. x  
Total 4 1 Total 2 3 Total 4 1 Total 4 1
E I S N T F J P

 

This person scored as an ENTJ.  Now he/she could look at the following two tables, read an ENTJ description and determine his/her temperament to further confirm or negate his/her type.  If you score closely between two preferences, consider reading other type descriptions also.  In the example above, this person should consider reading a description of ESTJ also since he/she scored so closely between S and N.  Since an ENTJ is of the Knowledge Seeker (NT) Temperament and an ESTJ is of the Duty Seeker (SJ) Temperament, reading each of these temperament descriptions should make it clear whether he/she is an ENTJ or ESTJ.

 

Table 1 - List of Keywords for Each Preference (compare words in 1st column to words in 2nd column)

Extraverts (E)

 

outgoing, gregarious, expansive

many social relationships

expressive, congenial

public

mixer, mingler at parties

when studying, finds a place near other people

lonely if alone often

easily begins new relationships

discusses everything with everyone

loves to be in midst of things

works ideas out with others' input

talks

enjoys being the center of attention

the outer world

objective

reality = immediate environment

easy to read

seek interaction

enjoy groups

act or speak first, then think

expend energy

focus outwardly

talkative

like variety and action

think out loud

enjoy discussing

Introverts (I)

 

reserved, attention on rich inner life

a few deep, personal relationships

reflective, quiet observer

private

one-on-one conversations

when studying, finds a place where others won't intrude

savors and seeks time alone

gets to know people more slowly

shares personal life with intimates

loves to close his/her office door

works ideas out internally

listens

resists being the center of attention

the world of ideas

subjective

reality = ideas and understanding

more difficult to read

like to be alone

enjoy one-on-one

think first, then speak or act

conserve energy

focus inwardly

quiet

like to focus on one thing at a time

think to themselves

enjoy reflecting

Sensors (S)

 

energy focused on what is

actuality, reality

focus on the present

realistic, straightforward and practical

pay attention to specifics

facts, examples, evidence

literal

detailed information

likes new ideas with practical applications

interacts with events when they happen

seeks enjoyment

down-to-earth

very aware of all sorts of sense impressions

pleasure lovers, consumers

often contented

imitative

seeks to possess

dislikes sacrificing present pleasure for future goals

turns living in the present into an art

strong appreciation of comfort, luxury, beauty, pleasure

refines existing skills

are pragmatic

trust their past experience

tend to want things as they are

Intuitives (N)

 

energy focused on what could be

possibility, potential

focus on the future

conceptual, imaginative and inspired

focus on the big picture

insights, ideas, inferences, hunches

figurative

analogies, metaphors, abstract information

a love for new ideas

anticipation of future events

seeks inspiration

in the clouds

especially aware of sense impressions that relate to ideas

inventors, initiators

often restless

original

seeks future expansion

will sacrifice present pleasure to bring in new possibilities

turns building for the future into an art

strong appreciation of initiative, entrepreneurship

learns new skills

are speculative

trust their imagination and hunches

tend to want to try something new

Thinkers (T)

 

objective, convinced by logic

analytical

logical, cool

dissect

clarify

compare, emphasize

explaining

divide

explore

laws, rules, policy

impersonal

thoughtful

truthful

brief and businesslike

achievement

cultivate

contrast, separate

are firm-minded

analyze the problem

are direct

value competence

decide with their head

value justice

can be seen as insensitive

are good at critiquing

usually don't take things personally

Feelers (F)

 

subjective, convinced by values

caring, compassionate, tender

passionate, warm

care

forgive

appreciate

understanding

include

caress

extenuating circumstances

personal

sentimental

tactful

friendly, has difficulty remaining businesslike

appreciation

cherish, adore, nourish, sympathize

include, relate

are gentle-hearted

sympathize with your problem

are tactful

value relationships

decide with their heart

value harmony, mercy

can be seen as overemotional

are good at appreciating

usually take things personally

Judgers (J)

 

comfortable after decisions made

sets fixed goals and concentrate on achieving them

decided, ordered, seek closure

enjoys having projects framed by definite deadlines

work now, enjoy if there is time

planned

structured

loves to reach completion, finish projects

goal-oriented, wants to get the job done

prefers knowing what they're getting into ahead of time

steady, sustained effort

decisive

protect themselves from unplanned experiences

exacting

make the right decisions, do the right thing

as students, carry out an orderly, systematic study plan

sometimes accused of being too rigid

should be, must be, definitely, absolutely

definite, clear-cut, final

Perceivers (P)

 

comfortable leaving options open

goals are more open-ended, subject to change

flexible, curious, seek openness

feels that deadlines should be adjustable

enjoy now, work later

spontaneous

vague, indeterminate, amorphous, easy going

loves to begin new projects

process-oriented, how will the task be accomplished?

very adaptable to changing situations

on-and-off effort

puts off decisions

depend on their ability to handle unplanned experiences

tolerant

have as many experiences as possible, miss nothing

as students, may put off studying until the last minute

sometimes accused of being too indecisive

could be, might be, perhaps, maybe

tentative, experimental, exploratory, provisional

 

 

Table 2 - Further Descriptions of the Type Preferences

The Way You Get Energized

 

 

Extraverting vs. Introverting

Extraverted Types (E)

 

- The after thinkers. Cannot understand life until they have lived it.

 

- Attitude relaxed and confident. They expect the waters to prove shallow, and plunge readily into new and untried experiences.

 

- Minds outwardly directed, interest and attention following objective happenings, primarily those of the immediate environment. Their real world therefore is the outer world of people and things.

 

 

- The civilizing genius, the people of action and practical achievement, who go from doing to considering back to doing.

 

- Conduct in essential matters is always governed by objective conditions.

 

- Spend themselves lavishly upon external claims and conditions which to them constitute life.

 

 

- Understandable and accessible, often sociable, more at home in the world of people and things than in the world of ideas.

 

- Expansive and less impassioned, they unload their emotions as they go along.

 

- Typical weakness lies in a tendency toward intellectual superficiality, very conspicuous in extreme types.

 

- Health and wholesomeness depend upon a reasonable development of balancing introversion.

 

Examples

Sigmund Freud

Charles Darwin

Theodore Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Introverted Types (I)

 

- The fore thinkers. Cannot live life until they understand it.

 

- Attitude reserved and questioning. They expect the waters to prove deep, and pause to take soundings in the new and untried.

 

- Minds inwardly directed, frequently unaware of the objective environment, interest and attention being engrossed by inner events. Their real world therefore is the inner world of ideas and understanding.

 

- The cultural genius, the people of ideas and abstract invention, who go from considering to doing and back to considering.

 

- Conduct in essential matters is always governed by subjective values.

 

- Defend themselves as far as possible against external claims and conditions in favor of the inner life.

 

- Subtle and impenetrable, often taciturn and shy, more at home in the world of ideas than in the world of people and things.

 

- Intense and passionate, they bottle up their emotions and guard them as high explosives.

 

- Typical weakness lies in a tendency toward impracticality, very conspicuous in extreme types.

 

 

- Health and wholesomeness depend upon a reasonable development of balancing extraversion.

 

Examples

Carl Jung

Albert Einstein

Abraham Lincoln

Jimmy Carter

The Way You Gather and Access Information 

 

Sensing vs. Intuiting

Sensing Types (S)

 

- Face life observantly, craving enjoyment.

 

- Admit to consciousness every sense impression and are intensely aware of the external environment; they are observant at the expense of imagination.

 

- Are by nature pleasure lovers and consumers, loving life as it is and having a great capacity for enjoyment; they are in general contented.

 

 

- Desiring chiefly to possess and enjoy, and being very observant, they are imitative, wanting to have what other people have and to do what other people do, and are very dependent upon their physical surroundings.

 

- Dislike intensely any and every occupation that requires the suppression of sensing, and are most reluctant to sacrifice present enjoyment to future gain or good.

 

- Prefer the art of living in the present to the satisfactions of enterprise and achievement.

 

 

- Contribute to the public welfare by their support of every form of enjoyment and recreation, and every variety of comfort, luxury, and beauty.

 

 

- Are always in danger of being frivolous, unless balance is attained through development of a judging process.

Intuitive Types (N)

 

- Face life expectantly, craving inspiration.

 

- Admit fully to consciousness only the sense impressions related to the current inspiration; they are imaginative at the expense of observation.

 

 

- Are by nature initiators, inventors, and promoters; having no taste for life as it is, and small capacity for living as it is, and small capacity for living in and enjoying the present, they are generally restless.

 

- Desiring chiefly opportunities and possibilities, and being very imaginative, they are inventive and original, quite indifferent to what other people have and do, and are very independent of their physical surroundings.

 

- Dislike intensely any and every occupation that necessitates sustained concentration on sensing, and are willing to sacrifice the present to a large extent since they neither live in it nor particularly enjoy it.

 

- Prefer the joy of enterprise and achievement and pay little or no attention to the art of living in the present.

 

- Contribute to the public welfare by their inventiveness, initiative, enterprise, and powers of inspired leadership in every direction of human interest.

 

- Are always in danger of being fickle, changeable, and lacking in persistence, unless balance is attained through development of a judging process.

The Way You Evaluate and Make Decisions

 

Thinking vs. Feeling

Thinking Types (T)

 

- Value logic above sentiment.

 

- Are usually impersonal, being interested in things more than in human relationships.

 

- If forced to choose between truthfulness and tactfulness, will usually be truthful.

 

- Are stronger in executive ability than in the social arts.

 

- Are likely to question the conclusions of other people on principle -- believing them probably wrong.

 

- Naturally brief and businesslike, they often seem to lack friendliness and sociability without knowing or intending it.

 

- Are usually able to organize facts and ideas into a logical sequence that states the subject, makes the necessary points, comes to a conclusion, and stops there without repetition.

 

 

- Suppress, undervalue, and ignore feeling that is incompatible with the thinking judgments.

 

- Contribute to the welfare of society by the intellectual criticism of its habits, customs, and beliefs, by the exposure of wrongs, solution of problems, and the support of science and research for the enlargement of human knowl­edge and understanding.

 

- Are found more often among men than women and when married to a feeling type, naturally become guardian of the spouse's neglected and unreliable thinking.

Feeling Types (F)

 

- Value sentiment above logic.

 

- Are usually personal, being interested in people more than in things.

 

- If forced to choose between tactfulness and truthfulness, will usually be tactful.

 

- Are stronger in the social arts than in executive ability.

 

- Are likely to agree with those around them, thinking as other people think, believing them probably right.

 

- Naturally friendly, whether sociable or not, they find it difficult to be brief and businesslike.

 

 

- Usually find it hard to know where to start a statement or in what order to present what they have to say. May therefore ramble and repeat themselves, with more detail than a thinker wants or thinks necessary.

 

- Suppress, undervalue, and ignore thinking that is offensive to the feeling judgments.

 

- Contribute to the welfare of society by their loyal support of good works and those movements, generally regarded as good by the community, which they feel correctly about and so can serve effectively.

 

 

- Are found more often among women than men and, when married to a thinking type, frequently become guardian of the spouse's neglected and harassed feelings.

The Way You Orient Your Lifestyle

 

Judging vs. Perceiving

Judging Types (J)

 

- Are more decisive than curious.

 

- Live according to plans, standards, and customs not easily or lightly set aside, to which the situation of the moment must, if possible, be made to conform.

 

- Make a very definite choice among life's possibilities, but may not appreciate or utilize unplanned, unexpected, and incidental happenings.

 

- Being rational, they depend on reasoned judgments, their own or borrowed from someone else, to protect them from unnecessary undesirable experiences.

 

- Like to have matters settled and decided as promptly as possible, so that they will know what is going to happen and can plan for it and be prepared for it.

 

- Think or feel that they know what other people ought to do about almost everything, and are not averse to telling them.

 

- Take real pleasure in getting something finished, out of the way, and off their minds.

 

- Are inclined to regard the perceptive types as aimless drifters.

 

- Aim to be right.

 

- Are self-regimented, purposeful, and exacting.

Perceiving Types (P)

 

- Are more curious than decisive.

 

- Live according to the situation of the moment and adjust themselves easily to the accidental and the unexpected.

 

 

- Are frequently masterful in their handling of the unplanned, unexpected, and incidental, but may not make an effective choice among life's possibilities.

 

- Being empirical, they depend on their readiness for anything and everything to bring them a constant flow of new experience -- much more than they can digest or use.

 

- Like to keep decisions open as long as possible before doing anything irrevocable, because they don't know nearly enough about it yet.

 

 

- Know what other people are doing, and are interested to see how it comes out.

 

 

- Take great pleasure in starting something new, until the newness wears off.

 

- Are inclined to regard the judging types as only half alive.

 

- Aim to miss nothing.

 

- Are flexible, adaptable, and tolerant.

 

 

What are MY Preferred Cognitive Processes?  [back to the top]

 

Brief Descriptions of the 8 Cognitive Processes

 

Name of Cognitive Process

The 4 Information Gathering Processes

Descriptions of the innate gifts of each process

Myers-Briggs Types with this process dominant

extraverted Sensing (Se)

Experiencing and noticing the physical world using the five senses

- Experiencing

- Doing

- Observing and Responding

- Adapting and Varying