The Case Against The Use of MBTI (and Why I Think It’s Messed Up)
Googling Myers-Briggs would bring up an interesting site as the top search result. 16personalities.com, claims to be able to show what your personality type simply by taking a free test. These tests includes simple questions like “How often do you make new friends”, “You are more inclined to follow your head than your heart” and so on. Mundane questions, which when answered will be able to categorize you into 1 of 16 personality types.
Back in 2016, these tests were all the rage on social media, garnering well over 50 million users. I am also part of the 50 million that have taken the test, of course out of genuine curiosity. I discovered I was an INTJ-A and was pretty proud of that fact for whatever reason. Looking back, I’ve discovered a different perspective that I’d like to share with you today.
What is MBTI?
The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI for short) is none other than a tool to help people understand their styles of communication and interaction. MBTI is based on the work of psychoanalyst, Carl Jung. Which previously, means it’s mostly understood by the most avid of scholars in Jungian psychology. Today, the MBTI tool has made it accessible for everyone to assess their personality types for good use.
Common uses of MBTI are for improving the interpersonal interactions amongst people. Some companies use it as a means of team building and ensuring employee best fit to achieve the targeted goals. For others, it can be for self development — learning about the inner self, or for resolving conflicts between personality types. The use cases are endless and I highly recommend everyone reading to look up on the history behind it.
Despite all that however, I still have some beef with the growing use of MBTI amongst the general populace. This is no means a way to disprove the veracity of the work of hundreds of scientists across multiple decades. I wouldn’t know much about it anyways as I am no psychologist. But I still believe that there are some points worth discussing regarding the use of it.
So What’s so Bad About MBTI?
Inherently, nothing really. Like any tool, it’s only as good as the user make it. Sites like 16personalities packages MBTI in a neat and interactive interface that it almost makes us forget that we don’t have the slightest clue on how it actually works. I believe that the root of the problem comes directly from our failure to understand the following statement.
MBTI talks about an individuals preference not their capability. This is an important distinction. Everyone has the capability to use all styles, however they will have a preferred style which they will use most of the time.
From the Imperial College London power point presentation on MBTI
1. It boxes people in
A simple fact of life is that people enjoy categorizing and labelling things into nicely, defined segments. While MBTI is not meant to be labelers, it’s certainly devolved into that over the years. Similar to how people become fixated over astrology and horsocopes, MBTI is quickly becoming part of the same entourage.
This tool should only be used as the benchmark for people to gauge others’ likelihood of following certain traits. More common than not, it seems to be used as a way for judging people from a false certainty. The same way it’s ridiculous to say that those who have Libra and Virgo signs are definitely incompatible, it’s also not right to assume that all Analysts types are cold and calculative.
2. It’s a means to assume behavior
Similar to how others would assume that introverts are the quite, smart bunch or how extroverts are the loudest and most annoying. It goes against the MBTI’s use case of self development if left unchecked. If you are labeled as Analysts, you might take it upon yourself to be the rational type, someone that has their superior intelligence to go off of. If you are a Sentinel, does it mean you will be the one that people go to for order and structure? How sure can we be to simplify an individual down to general labels?
Humans are complex creatures. Those who are most rational can be the most passionate about the work they put in. Those who are flexible can be strict when time calls for it. In other words, we can’t assume that everyone in their different personality types will behave as accordingly to what their MBTI says. With change in circumstances, it’s important that we pay more attention to the human aspect rather than the MBTI labelling one is put on.
3. It’s a growth-hindering mindset to have
I’ve mentioned previously that back when I took the test in 2016, I was an Analyst type — makes sense as school is pretty much my life and I needed to focus purely on studies. In 2020, I took the same test again and became a Sentinel, a Logistician, to be more accurate. What’s changed is not the MBTI, but myself, as I go through different phases of my life. I would not be surprised if I take the test again, I might end up with something different again.
Say that I stuck with being a hardcore Analyst till 2020 or even till now, what would my life would be like as compared to embracing changes as part of my growth. “An Analyst wouldn’t dare to be open or explore their riskier passions” or “A Sentinel could never be as adventurous as Explorers can be”. These are limiting beliefs that hinders people from getting out of their comfort zones — all in the name of keeping to their MBTI identity.
How Can We Use This Tool Properly?
Certainly for recreational purposes like Zodiac signs. However, that would not be giving much credit towards the research that’s been done on MBTI. It’s not woo-woo magical thinking, it’s certainly real science, so we should use it as such — carefully and with proper understanding. All use cases of MBTI are possible but only to be taken with a grain of salt. They are, after all, simply indicators of individuals’ preferences, not capabilities.
People will change and be as unpredictable as they can be, so I would say that it’s be a complete waste of time to remain fixated on labels. Do know your personality type by all means, just don’t let it define who you are as a growing person. In fact, I think I’ll take one right now!
