The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI ) A tool for self-reflection

Kalamazoo College Center for Career and Professional Development

What is the MBTI?

Tool for self-reflection What is important to you? Strengths and weaknesses Preferred work tasks and environment

What is personality type?

Carl Jungs personality type theory:
Some behaviors arent just random, theyre innate Our type preferences come naturally Preferences make us feel energetic/competent

MBTI makes theory relevant to peoples lives Established in 1962under constant revision

Your House

Your House

ISTJ ISTP

ISFJ ISFP

INFJ INFP

INTJ INTP

ESTP
ESTJ

ESFP
ESFJ

ENFP
ENFJ

ENTP
ENTJ

What can the MBTI do?

Reflect on important aspects of career Strengths and weaknesses Preferred work tasks/environment Develop strategy and action steps

Misconceptions of the MBTI

MBTI is not a personality test. Your type is not an excuse for poor behavior Your future spouse need not share your letters Not guaranteed to report best fit career. MBTI cannot put you in a box. Your verified type does not change over time. Example: Write your name

The Four Dichotomies

E-I
Where you focus your attention

S-N

They way you take in information

T-F J-P

The way you make decisions How you deal with the outer world

Extraversion Introversion
(E)s get energy from the environmentthe outer world of people and things. Are attuned to external environments

Extraversion Introversion
(I)s: Get energy from withinthe inner world of thoughts and reflections.
Are attuned to inner world

The E-I Dichotomy

The E-I Dichotomy

Sensing Intuition
(S)s: absorb information directly

Like to learn facts

Emphasize the pragmatic

Are oriented to present realities

Value realism

Trust experience

Observe and remember specifics through 5 senses

Sensing Intuition
(N)s: use less direct perceptions
Value imagination Are oriented to future possibilities Trust inspiration

Emphasize the theoretical

Like to imagine possibilities

See trends and patterns in specific data

What is this a picture of?

The S-N Dichotomy

General responses for (S)s:
Blue background Girl has wings Girl with red hair Climbing a ladder A yellow star

The S-N Dichotomy

General responses for (N)s:
It is night time Hopes/dreams Reaching for the stars Goals Putting herself out there

Thinking Feeling
How do you make decisions?

Thinking (T)s: Make decisions using logic

Thinking Feeling
How do you make decisions?

Feeling (F)s:

Little League Coach

You have a little league team of 13 kids Saturdays tournament organizer says you can only bring 11 kids. How will you decide who gets to go?

The T-F Dichotomy

General responses for (T)s:
What is the logical choice? Look at the stats, who is performing the best? Lets see who hasnt missed practice Decision is made quickly if facts and logic are present.

The T-F Dichotomy

General responses for (F)s:
Will anyone be hurt? Who hasnt gotten to play lately? Who had to sit out last week? Cant we just bring another car? Even if only 11 play, everyone should get to be there.

Judging Perceiving
How do you deal with the outer world?

Judging (J)s:

Like to organize their schedules

Like to have things decided See routines as effective Goal oriented Work comes before play

Judging Perceiving
How do you deal with the outer world?

Perceiving (P)s:

Spur of the moment

See routines as limiting

Energized by lastminute pressures

See Like to routines be as limiting

Take in as much information as possible

Curious

Flexible

Closing
We all operate somewhere in between the pair of letters on each dichotomy. We have a preference for each, called type. What do you think your type might be? Why? How might your type influence the roles you play in different situations?

Taking the MBTI

First year students For instructions, email Rachel Wood at Rachel.wood@kzoo.edu Please make an appointment