Mastering Workplace Relationships: Utilizing MBTI

What’s MBTI?

Based on the psychological theories of Carl Jung, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) was developed in the United States in 1962. It has since become mainstream through the '16Personalities' online assessment service and is now used in various contexts, including dating apps and business environments.

Different from MBTI? 'BIG5' and '16Personalities'

What comes to mind when you hear 'MBTI'? In fact, what is popularly referred to as MBTI in recent vocational and personality assessments is not exactly MBTI. To distinguish between the genuine MBTI and what is often labeled as MBTI, it is essential to understand how MBTI was developed and how it assesses personality.

MBTI stands for Myers, Briggs, Type, and Indicator. The first two are surnames, referring to Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs, who were influenced by psychologist Carl Jung and introduced MBTI in 1962.

The assessment method involves a questionnaire that asks whether one prefers Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I), Sensing (S) or Intuition (N), Thinking (T) or Feeling (F), and Judging (J) or Perceiving (P). Based on the responses, one of 16 personality types is assigned, such as 'ENTJ' for someone who is extroverted, intuitive, thinking, and judging.