Myers-Briggs personality types explained: What does it say about you?

If I had a penny for every time I have taken a personality test – the Myers-Briggs to be specific – I would really wealthy. Well, maybe not really wealthy, but I’d be richer by $6.

What is the meaning of the four letters in a personality type?

The Myers-Briggs test can be quite confusing at first since it involves letters, and each letter is a code for a preference in your style of thinking or behaving. This test was first developed during World War II by Isabel Myers. According to the National Library of Medicine:

She modeled this questionnaire on Jung's theory of "individual preference," which suggests that seemingly random variation in human behavior is actually attributable to fundamental individual differences in mental and emotional functioning.

Apparently, random behaviour is not so random. As said earlier, each letter corresponds to a code, so we are going to break down what each letter means, to make your – and my – life easier. This way you will know what ENTP or IFJP or any other combination mean.

There are 8 letters in total that are grouped into 4 categories or codes that make up the 16 personality types.

I/E: Introversion or Extroversion

How a person handles their energy is shown by their Introversion/Extraversion dimension.

Introverts – recharge by a small group or alone time.

Extroverts – thrive in large groups and in active surroundings.

S/N: Sensing or intuition

This dimension explains how a person interprets data.

Sensors - seeing, feeling, and hearing are crucial for sensors, so it is safe to say that this group of people are quite ‘hands-on’ and practical.

Intuitives – the gut feeling over thinking.

T/F: Thinking or Feeling

The Thinking/Feeling outlines how individuals make decisions.

Thinkers – no listening to the heart, it is the brain who is fully in charge of this one.

Feelers – heart over brain person that is truly empathetic.

J/P: Judging or Perceiving

The Judging/Perceiving dimension represents people's attitudes toward structure in their lives.

Judgers – orderly planning people that are not fazed by the idea of spontaneity.

Perceivers – you appreciate spontaneity, in fact, you live in it and like to keep things open.

How to know which 4 letter combination are you? Well, simply take the test!

Sources used:

- National Library of Medicine: 'Myers Brigg'

- Truity: 'The TypeFinder personality test'

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