The Myers Briggs Type Indicator® instrument is a questionnaire based on the Myers Briggs model of personality. (We have our own free questionnaire at this website that helps you find your personality type, called the Mental Muscle Diagram Indicator).
The Myers Briggs model of personality has many applications, from team building to navigating midlife. It identifies your preferences, which are analogous to handedness. You have two hands. You use them both. But most people are either "right handed" or "left handed". That is, they have a natural inclination or preference for one hand.
The Myers Briggs model of personality is based on four preferences (E or I, S or N, T or F and J or P). You combine the preferences to give your Myers Briggs personality type. Eg: having preferences for E and S and T and J gives a personality type of ESTJ. There are sixteen Myers Briggs personality types (listed in the table, right of page).
You have a preference for one hand but use them both. Similarly, you have many facets to your Myers Briggs personality, prefer some but use all of them.
Myers Briggs Personality Type is based on 4 preferences.
Where, primarily, do you prefer to direct your energy?
If you prefer to direct your energy to deal with people, things, situations, or "the outer world", then your preference is for Extraversion. This is denoted by the letter "E".If you prefer to direct your energy to deal with ideas, information, explanations or beliefs, or "the inner world", then your preference is for Introversion. This is denoted by the letter "I".
How do you prefer to process information?
If you prefer to deal with facts, what you know, to have clarity, or to describe what you see, then your preference is for Sensing. This is denoted by the letter "S".If you prefer to deal with ideas, look into the unknown, to generate new possibilities or to anticipate what isn't obvious, then your preference is for Intuition. This is denoted by the letter "N" (the letter I has already been used for Introversion).
How do you prefer to make decisions?
If you prefer to decide on the basis of objective logic, using an analytic and detached approach, then your preference is for Thinking. This is denoted by the letter "T".If you prefer to decide using values and/or personal beliefs, on the basis of what you believe is important or what you or others care about, then your preference is for Feeling. This is denoted by the letter "F".
How do you prefer to organise your life?
If you prefer your life to be planned, stable and organised then your preference is for Judging (not to be confused with 'Judgemental', which is quite different). This is denoted by the letter "J".If you prefer to go with the flow, to maintain flexibility and respond to things as they arise, then your preference is for Perception. This is denoted by the letter "P".
16 Types
| When you put these four letters together, you get your personality type code, and there are sixteen combinations. For example, INTJ indicates that you prefer Introversion, iNtuition, Thinking and Judging (remember, this indicates preferences only - an INTJ also uses Extraversion, Sensing, Feeling and Perception). |
More Resources
- An in-depth description (6 text articles)
- A fun 'powerpoint' presentation (46 slides with text annotations)
- Compendium of other articles
- Complete our online The Mental Muscle Diagram Indicator