The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the most widely-used personality assessments in the world, with millions of people taking the test each year. The MBTI was developed by Katherine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Myers, who were inspired by the theories of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung.
Briggs and Myers began their work on the MBTI in the 1920s, after Katherine Briggs became interested in Jung's theories of personality types. Briggs was fascinated by the idea that individuals have inherent preferences for how they perceive and interact with the world, and believed that this knowledge could be used to help people better understand themselves and others.
Together, Briggs and Myers developed a series of questions and scales to measure an individual's preferences across four key dichotomies: extraversion vs. introversion, sensing vs. intuition, thinking vs. feeling, and judging vs. perceiving. They believed that these preferences formed the basis for an individual's unique personality type, which could be used to help people understand their strengths, weaknesses, and potential career paths.
Over the years, the MBTI has undergone several revisions and updates, as researchers have continued to refine the assessment and its underlying theories. Today, the MBTI is widely used in fields ranging from career counseling and personal development to education and team building.
Despite its widespread popularity, however, the MBTI has also faced criticism and controversy over the years. Some researchers have questioned the scientific validity of the test, arguing that its underlying theories lack empirical support. Others have pointed out that the MBTI may oversimplify complex personality traits, and that individuals may not neatly fit into one of the 16 personality types identified by the assessment.
Despite these criticisms, the MBTI remains a valuable tool for many individuals and organizations. By helping people better understand their personality preferences and how they interact with the world, the MBTI can provide valuable insights into career choices, relationships, and personal growth.