An Introduction to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

In these 4 articles we will be highlighting the differences between the four dichotomies or preferences of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, in order for you to discover your MBTI personality type. The dichotomies are Introversion or Extroversion, Sensing or Intuition, Thinking or Feeling, and Perceiving or Judging. Your preferences for these four dichotomies make up your unique personality type: e.g. ISTJ.

This simple four letter code can lead to significant and deep understanding about how you see the world, process information, make decisions, deal with conflict, communicate, and manage change. Also, knowing your personality type can help to enhance your natural skills and abilities, guide and inform career paths and choices, learn to manage stress, and develop more effective communication skills.

Understanding Preferences

An exercise that you can do to get a feel and understanding of the idea of preferences, is to sign your name first with your dominant hand and then with your non-dominant hand, describing how each experience felt. Give it a try now.

Signing with the dominant hand is often described as feeling natural, is easy, requires little effort, comfortable. Non-dominant hand signing is described as awkward, requires conscious effort, and feels unnatural. It is this more natural, easy, and comfortable sensation that we are looking for when determining your preferences for the MBTI preferences.

Are You an Introvert or Extrovert?

This week we are looking at the Introvert / Extrovert preference. To understand this preference from a MBTI® point of view, it is all about how you recharge and direct your energy. Keep in mind that there are no wrong or right preferences.

Introverts:

Focus their energy and attention internally.

Recharge their energy predominantly from low stimulating environments.

Prefer to be alone or with one or two close friends.

Recharge by processing their ideas, thoughts, and observations on their own.

Assert themselves only on selective issues that are important to them.

Look deeply into selective topics.

Extroverts:

Focus their energy and attention to the outer world.

Recharge their energy predominantly from high stimulating environments.

Prefer to be in environments where there is a lot of activity and people.

Engage easily and naturally in social and relational activities.

Recharge by interacting with other people and being active.

Have a broad range of interests.

A Closer Look at these Preferences

Some of you may be thinking that you can do both depending on the situation and circumstances. Truth is we all have both of these preferences in us to some extent; however the MBTI® is interested in which one comes more naturally to you overall. In other words which one do you prefer, even if it is only slight? These questions may help to fine tune your preference:

When people ask you to go out, do you naturally want to go out or stay home?

Do you prefer interacting in a group setting or one-on-one?

When it comes to the weekend, do you try and find opportunities to be social and active, or do you try to find quiet environments?

When the phone rings are you energised and interested in who it is and answer it without question, or does it feel more like an intrusion and you find yourself questioning whether you should answer it or not?

A Step Closer to Discovering Your MBTI Type

Hopefully you have come to a decision as to whether you have a preference for introversion or extroversion. If you have, then you are a step closer to discovering your MBTI personality type. If you are still having trouble determining your preference, try observing your internal processes and behaviour over the next week using the above questions as a guide. Keep in mind that we are only interested in which preference you are leaning towards, even if it is only slight.

Click here to look at the Sensing and Intuition preference. Subscribe below to be notified of all future postings. Share this post with your friends and colleagues.

For an outline of the benefits of knowing your Myers-Briggs personality type, click here for more information. We are available for face-to-face and Skype consultations. If you would like to make a booking enquiry you can email us here.

Scott Morgan is a professional Counsellor and a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator practitioner.