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"The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® is to make the
theory of psychological types described by C. G. Jung (1921/1971) understandable and useful in people's lives. The essence of the theory is that much seemingly random variation in behavior is actually quite orderly and consistent, being due to basic differences in the way individuals prefer to use their perception and judgment."

Isabel Briggs Myers

If people differ systematically in what they perceive and in how they reach conclusions, then it is only reasonable for them to differ correspondingly in their interests, reactions, values, motivations, and skills.


Perception involves all the ways of becoming aware of things, people, happenings, or ideas. Judgment involves all the ways of coming to conclusions about what has been perceived.


The MBTI® instrument contains four separate indices. Each index reflects one of four basic preferences which direct the use of perception and judgment. The preferences affect not only what people attend to in any given situation, but also how they draw conclusions about what they perceive.


Extraversion–Introversion (E–I)
The E–I index is designed to reflect whether a person is an Extravert or an Introvert. Extraverts are oriented primarily toward the outer world; thus they tend to focus their perception and judgment on people and objects. Introverts are oriented primarily toward the inner world; thus they tend to focus their perception and judgment upon concepts and ideas.


Sensing–Intuition (S–N)
The S–N index is designed to reflect a person's preference between two opposite ways of perceiving; one may rely primarily upon the process of Sensing (S), which reports observable facts or happenings through one or more of the five senses; or one may rely upon the less obvious process of Intuition (N), which reports meanings, relationships and/or possibilities that have been worked out beyond the reach of the conscious mind.


Thinking–Feeling (T–F)
The T–F index is designed to reflect a person's preference between two contrasting ways of judgment (making decisions). A person may rely primarily through Thinking (T) to decide impersonally on the basis of logical consequences, or a person may rely primarily on Feeling (F) to decide primarily on the basis of personal or social values.


Judging–Perceiving (J–P)
The J–P index is designed to describe the process a person uses primarily in dealing with the outer world, that is, with the extraverted part of life. A person who prefers Judging (J) has reported a preference for showing others their judging function (either Thinking or Feeling). A person who prefers Perceiving (P) has reported a preference for showing others their perceiving function (either Sensing or Intuition).


Those with a preference for Judging like to organize their lives and tend to make lists of things to be accomplished. They like to plan ahead and stay with the plan.


Those with a preference for Perceiving tend to take things as they come and have a flexible approach with both tasks and people. If they make a list they do not always refer to it because they prefer to adapt to the situation of the moment.


You can learn more about the MBTI assessment at the Myers & Briggs Foundation website.

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