Understanding Your Myers-Briggs® Results
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® assessment is designed to measure your personality preferences and classify you as one of sixteen distinct personality types. The MBTI® instrument is based on four preference scales that are considered fundamental to the personality. Each preference is a dichotomy, or choice between two distinct ways of being. Your preferences on each scale are combined to determine your four-letter personality type.
The MBTI® asssessment is designed to be administered and interpreted by a person trained in the use of the instrument. While this document will help you to understand your Myers-Briggs results, it is important that you also review them with a type professional.
This portion of the Myers-Briggs report displays your score on each of the preference dichotomies. In this sample report, the participant has scored as an ENFP. This section also provides some basic information on each of the preferences.
The Extraversion/Introversion preference refers to where you get your energy.
- Extroverts are energized by the external world: other people, external systems, and stimulation in the environment.
- Introverts are energized by their internal world: their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas; and by solitary activities.
The Sensing/Intuition preference refers to how you take in information.
- Sensors take in information in a concrete way and focus on the present moment. They tend to be detail-oriented and realistic, and focus on action.
- Intuitives take in information in an abstract, big-picture way and focus on meaning and possibilities. They tend to be forward-thinking and innovative, and focus on ideas.
The Thinking/Feeling preference refers to how you make decisions.
- Thinkers make decisions primarily based on logic and reason. They prefer decisions that make logical sense and can be supported by data.
- Feelers make decisions primarily based on values, emotions, and relationships. They prefer decisions that build consensus and harmony.
The Judging/Perceiving preference refers to how you organize your life.
- Judgers tend to like structure, organization, and schedules. They prefer to know what’s expected of themselves and others, and like to have clear plans.
- Perceivers prefer spontaneity, flexibility, and openness. They prefer unstructured environments where they are free to do things as inspiration strikes.
After reading about the dichotomies, you may feel you’re a little bit of everything. You’re not alone! The preferences are sometimes referred to as functions: i.e. the Feeling function, the Judging function. This terminology highlights the fact that we all use each of the eight functions at one time or another. For example, it is common to use the Thinking function at work, when making logical business decisions, and then transition to more of a Feeling perspective at home, where it is natural to focus more on relationships and family values. Not only is it normal to find some of yourself on both sides of a dichotomy, it is often preferable. When we are skilled at using all of the functions, we are able to adapt easily to various situations. We can be organized and scheduled when working for a demanding boss (a Judging function) but spontaneous when on vacation (a Perceiving function). Often people achieve more balance in their type preferences as they become older. As we gain life and work experience, we become better at approaching a variety of challenges.
So, if we all use every function, how to determine your type? Your personality type is based on how you prefer to think and approach the world, and what is easiest and most comfortable for you. So, if you are able to make a decision based on how it will affect your relationships and whether it is consistent with your values (a Feeling function), but you really find it easier to make decisions when you can just add up the numbers and see a logical conclusion (a Thinking function) then your preference is for Thinking.
The certainty of your preference for each dichotomy is reflected in your Clarity of Reported Preferences graph, as shown below.
This scale shows how clear your preference is based on your assessment responses. It indicates how certain you are about each preference, rather than how strong or weak the preference is. For example, a long bar under Extraversion, as seen above, does not necessarily mean that the test taker is extremely Extraverted. What it does indicate is that she is quite certain that her preference is for Extraversion.
If you see scores in the slight to moderate range on this portion of your results, this indicates that your preference is less certain. Occassionally, the same person will test as a different type depending on their mood, surroundings, or stage in life. This is more likely to occur if your preferences are not clear. If you have scores in the slight to moderate range, it is imperative that you review these with a type expert to verify your type. It is possible that the type reported in your results is not your best-fit type. A type professional can assist you in finding the type that describes you best.
Your report may also include career information, work style information, or your scores on 20 preference subscales (as in the MBTI® Step II assessment). Check back soon for information on these specialized report sections.
The images in this document were excerpted from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® Profile Report, published by CPP, Inc. View the full report.
Security and Privacy