ABSTRACT The Myers-Bnggs Type Indicator (MBTI, Myers & McCauUey,
1985) was evaluated from the perspectives of Jung's theory of psychological
types and the five-factor model of personahty as measured by self-reports and
peer ratings on the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI, Costa & McCrae,
1985b) Data were provided by 267 men and 201 women ages 19 to 93 Con-
sistent with earlier research and evaluations, there was no support for the view
that the MBTI measures truly dichotomous preferences or qualitatively distmct
types, instead, the instrument meastires four relatively independent dimensions
The interpretation of the Judging-Pferceivmg index was also called into ques-
tion The data suggest that Jung's theory is either incorrect or madequately op-
erationalized by the MBTI and cannot provide a sound basis for interpreting it
However, correlational analyses showed that the four MBTI indices did measure
aspects of four of the five major dimensions of normal personality The five-
factor model provides an alternative basis for interpreting MBTI findings within
a broader, more commonly shared conceptual framework
...
The results of the present study provide the basis for a very mixed eval-
uation—-or a radical reinterpretation—of the MBTI Consistent with
much previous research (especially Stncker & Ross, 1964a), the study
found no support for the typological theory the instrument is intended to
embody There was no evidence that preferences formed true dichoto-
mies, the 16 types did not appear to be qualitatively distinct, because
analyses of then-joint effects on personality dimensions showed that only
1 of 55 interactions was significant, and only m women, and, contrary to
hypothesis, the theoretically dominant function was no more clearly pre-
ferred than the auxiliary The Jungian prediction that opposing functions
should be developed in later life was not confirmed using the MBTI The
correlates of individual scales were consistent with their item content,
but would probably not have been predicted from Jungian theory Froni
the perspective of construct validation, the MBTI appears to have very
senous problems Weighing the evidence to date, the MBTI does not
seem to be a promising instrument for measunng Jung's types, those
who embrace Jung's theory should probably avoid the MBTI
Conversely, those who have found the MBTI to be a useful instrument
for assessing and descnbing individual differences should senously con-
sider abandoning Jungian theory and some of the associated language
Yet how can the MBTI be interpreted or employed without reference to
Jung's psychological types'? One alternative is to adopt the perspective
of the five-factor model of personality Each of the four indices showed
impressive evidence of convergence with one of the five major dime
sions of normal personality, whether assessed through self-reports
peer ratings It is these convergences that probably account for the man
meaningful associations between MBTI scales and extemal cntena suc
as occupational preferences, creativity, and educational performance
...
Most conspicuous is the lack of a Neuroticism factor in the
MBTI Its absence is understandable on two counts first, because emo-
tional instability versus adjustment did not enter into Jung's definitions
of the types, and second, because the authors of the test were apparently
philosophically committed to a position which saw each type as equally
valuable and positive (Myers with Myers, 1980)—a view that is difficult
to hold with regard to Neuroticism ' Although it makes interpretation of
results palatable to most respondents, this approach also omits informa-
tion that may be cmcial to employers, co-workers, counselors, and the
individuals themselves For many, if not most, applications, some mea-
sure of Neuroticism would be useful
Further, the MBTI does not give comprehensive information on the
four domains it does sample The TF scale, for example, encompasses
the tough- versus tender-minded aspect of Agreeableness, but has no di-
rect measures of interpersonal aspects such as trust, altmism, and co-
operativeness All four indices give only a broad, global picture, without
any distinctions of traits within each domain Other personality mea-
sures give more detail For example, the NEO-PI provides information
on SIX specific facets of Extraversion—Warmth, Greganousness, Asser-
tiveness, Activity, Excitement Seefang, and Positive Emotions This is
especially important for understanding individuals who score in the av-
erage range on overall extraversion
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