Have you ever wondered why your spouse, coworkers, or kids seem to think so differently from you? You might not understand why they make the choices they do or why they put so much stock in things that don't seem important to you. You can figure out the answers to all of these questions. The key is in the Myers-Briggs theory of personality types.
A psychologist named Katharine Briggs had many of the same questions as you do in the 1960s. She didn't understand why some of her family members thought so logically and in a straight line, while she was more likely to think about values and feelings when thinking about a problem. She looked into this question and others while doing research with her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers. They found that there are four main parts to a person's personality. We can all be put into one of two groups:
- Sensing/intuition-
- Extroverted/Introverted: Do you get your energy from being with people or from being alone?
Do you see what is real or what could happen?
- Judging/Perceiving: Do you like to make choices or keep your options open?
- Thinking/Feeling: Do you make decisions with your head or with your heart?
When our scores on each scale are added together, we get a four-letter type, like ENTP or ISFJ. There are sixteen types in all, encompassing all possible combinations.
With so many options, it's easy to see how easy it would be to misunderstand the people around us. If we marry, have kids, or work with someone who is very different from us, it can be hard to figure out how they think. To figure out the mystery and understand the people around us, you must first figure out yourself.
How do you think you measure up on the above scales? It can be hard to decide, but the people who came up with this theory also made a test that is backed by science and can tell you where you stand. This test is called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and it is the best and most accurate way to find out what type you are. Recently, it has become available online, making it easy for anyone who wants to find out more about themselves to do so. The official Myers-Briggs Type Indicator can be used to make a range of reports, from simple to in-depth, that you can use to learn more about your own Type.
Once you know your Type, you can start to think about how other people might be different. If you are an extrovert, you might be surprised when other people want to leave a party or stop talking before you do. It doesn't mean that they're not friendly or having fun; introverts just need time alone to recharge. As another example, if you're a Thinker, you might not trust people who seem to make decisions based on their "gut" or feelings instead of logic. But if you turn this around, you'll see that someone who is a Feeling type may see your choices as cold and uncaring. There is no right or wrong; everyone has their own tastes.
The world is full of different kinds of people, which is a good thing. We need people who like to be around other people and people who are happy to spend most of their time alone. We need people who can see the big picture and also take care of all the little things. We need both people who make plans and people who go with their gut. When making decisions, we need both someone to remind us of the logic of the situation and someone to help us do a "gut check." Learning more about personality types can help you appreciate all the variation you'll see around you. Most importantly, it will teach you how to use your differences to help everyone.
