MBTI – A Beginner’s Guide to Personality Types (pt. 1)

In this series, we will unlock the secrets of your personality with MBTI, more than by taking at test, it’s a roadmap to your true potential.

If you are here, you have likely asked yourself one of life’s big questions: Who am I?  You may want to “find who you truly are” or at least understand yourself better. But also, have you ever struggled to relate to certain people whose choices, behaviours, or reactions feel completely foreign to you? 

Perhaps you admire those who confidently speak their minds without fearing the consequences, while you bend like a pretzel, treading carefully to avoid conflict? Or maybe you’ve found yourself immersed in a deep, abstract discussion, only to realize you’re boring the person you are talking to, who much prefers tangible topics, criticizing you for being “too philosophical”?

This is where MBTI comes in. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the world’s most popular personality frameworks, helping millions understand themselves better, improve relationships, and make more fulfilling life choices.

Back in 2014, in the beginning of my self-discovery journey, is when I first encountered MBTI. A licensed psychologist introduced me to it as an insightful and nuanced tool for understanding both myself and others. Needless to say, it changed my life, and over the years, I’ve returned to it time and time again, uncovering new layers of this fascinating framework like an onion.

*** But here’s the catch: most people rush to find their type by taking online tests, only to end up mistyped and missing the real depth (and even purpose) of MBTI. The best way to determine your true type isn’t through a quick quiz, it’s by understanding the framework itself. That’s why I’ve created this beginner-friendly series. To give you a solid foundation with a step by step understanding of its intricate layers, and help you avoid common mistakes. ***

In this series of articles, I will hold your hand as you will embark on a fascinating and insightful self-discovery journey. This first article is an introduction to the MBTI framework. We will explore what MBTI is, how it was created, and have a basic but clear understanding of how it works. We will also touch on why some people dismiss it, and clarify some common misconceptions about MBTI. 

Think of it like a Sherlock Holmes mystery, you can’t jump to conclusions without gathering all the clues. Understanding MBTI is about piecing together the puzzle of who you are (or rather, how you operate), testing different possibilities, and seeing what truly fits. Let’s begin our quest by establishing a solid understanding of this amazing framework!

What Is MBTI and Where Does It Come From?

The roots of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) trace back to the work of renowned psychiatrist Carl Jung. In 1921, Switzerland, he published Psychological Types, a groundbreaking book in which he introduced his theory of personality, built upon years of research and clinical observation.

According to Jung, we all use 4 functions to process the world:

• Sensing - to recognize that something exists;

• Thinking - to uncover its meaning;

• Feeling - to appreciate its value;

• Intuition - to perceive where it comes from and where it’s going.

He also defines 2 fundamental attitudes based on where we direct our energy:

• Introversion - inward-focused;

• Extraversion - outward-focused.

These 4 functions and 2 attitudes formed the basis of three axis:

• Extraversion vs. Introversion;

• Sensing vs. Intuition;

• Thinking vs Feeling.

Meanwhile, across the pond in Washington in 1897, Katherine Cook Briggs, after the birth of her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers, began documenting in a journal Isabel’s development in meticulous detail. Her observations led her to write and publish parenting articles aimed at helping other mothers understand their children’s development.

In 1923, everything changed when Katherine discovered Jung’s work. His theory transformed her understanding of personality, and she became deeply immersed in studying it. She even reached out to Jung directly, who shared additional notes on his work and researches with her. From that point on, her research was built upon his theories.

Two decades later, in 1943, Isabel Briggs Myers, now a 46 years old woman, noticed how many people felt trapped in jobs that did not align with their natural strengths. She believed society would function better if people were in roles suited to their skills and talents. She also found herself reflecting on the state of the world. Amidst the chaos of WW2, she wondered, “What if people truly understood one another instead of destroying each other?”.

Those reflections sparked a lifelong pursuit. Over the next two decades, Isabel dedicated herself to research, analysis, and case studies involving thousands of individuals. She even collaborated with schools to refine her findings.

Finally, in 1962, the MBTI framework was born—built upon Jung’s theories, Katherine’s early research, and Isabel’s decades of data collection. At this stage, a fourth dichotomy was added to Jung’s original three: Perceiving vs. Judging.

How MBTI Works?

An Overview of the 4 Dichotomies

To understand how MBTI works, let's revisit its four key dichotomies, the foundational axes that shape personality types:

• Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I) : indicates where you direct your energy;

• Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N) : indicates how you gather information;

• Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F) : indicates how you make decisions;

• Perceiving (P) vs. Judging (J) : indicates how you manage your environment.

Each of these preferences is represented by a letter (typically the first or second of the corresponding word). When you take a typical MBTI assessment, your responses reveal which side of each dichotomy you naturally lean toward, resulting in a four-letter personality type.

This framework defines 16 personality types, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg. What most tests fails to measure, is the deep inner mechanisms called cognitive functions, of which there are 8. We will explore them in a later article in this series. Understanding your cognitive (or psychological) processes is an invaluable tool.

MBTI - A Nuanced And Complex System

MBTI is not meant to put you in a box. It is an intricate system, carefully designed to reveal the complex ways personality traits interact. Please don’t create personal rules before understanding how this system truly works. Many people dismiss MBTI as “too black and white” simply because they haven’t yet explored its deeper layers.

Think of it like a mechanical clock, each piece is placed with purpose, interacting with others in a precise way. MBTI works similarly: the deeper you go, the more you’ll understand how everything fits together. That’s why I’ve broken this into a series of articles, so we can explore each layer in detail, taking one step at the time.

Common Misconceptions About MBTI

Can my MBTI type change over time?

No. While behaviours may shift due to life experiences, and you may evolve with personal development, your cognitive wiring remains consistent. MBTI is often misunderstood as rigid, but in reality, it accounts for personal development within a fixed cognitive function framework.

For example, someone might say, “I used to be extraverted, but now I’m more introverted,” or “I was highly sentimental, but I’ve learned to be more pragmatic.” These shifts are often about behavioural adaptation, not a change in core cognitive preferences. MBTI follows a developmental path (similar to a hero’s journey) where each type matures in a unique way.

Additionally, many people confuse introversion with shyness or extraversion with sociability. Both introverts and extraverts can be shy or confident, outgoing or reserved. It’s not solely about how social you are, but rather where your energy comes from… more on that in the next article of the series!

Can you be two MBTI types at once?

No. Each MBTI type follows a distinct cognitive function pattern, making hybrid types impossible. If you feel torn between two types, it’s likely due to misconceptions or behaviour-based descriptions found in mainstream sources, such as the 16 Personalities test. These often focus on external behaviours rather than internal cognitive processes.

Sometimes, people mistake learned behaviours for personality traits. If you’ve developed certain skills or habits over time, especially those encouraged by upbringing or society, you may feel like they are “second nature.” But MBTI seeks to uncover your true nature, the innate way your mind processes the world.

Can I find my true MBTI type with an online test?

Not reliably. Most free tests, including the popular 16 Personalities quiz, are surface-level and behaviour-based, often leading to mistypes. Even the official MBTI assessment (which is paid) may not provide accurate results if you answer based on who you think you are, rather than your true cognitive tendencies.

Along the way, I personally doubted the original type I settled on, leading to a mistype for years due to misleading descriptions, before realizing I had it right the first time. Even when I retook tests, they reflected my confusion. True self-discovery comes from understanding the MBTI framework, testing hypotheses in real life, and recognizing patterns in your thinking and decision-making from a place of total honesty, no matter how uncomfortable.

Online tests can offer clues, but many factors can distort results: bias, self-perception blind spots, wishful thinking, external influences, mental health states, and more. The best way to find your type is through deep exploration, not just a quick quiz. Although, tests are good complementary tools that may fall quite close to the truth if you answer to them in complete honesty, accounting for your life overall, not just your current season of life.

Addressing MBTI objections

When researching MBTI, you’ll find that some people consider it a revolutionary tool for self-discovery, while others dismiss it as pseudoscience. Let’s examine some of the most common objections, address them, and leave you to decide whether MBTI is a valuable framework or a mere scam.

Objection 1: “Each person is unique. You can’t categorize 8 billion humans into just 16 types.”

While every individual is unique, patterns exist in human cognition and behaviour. Just as people can be categorized by traits like introversion vs. extraversion or different learning styles, MBTI identifies recurring cognitive processing patterns.

Think about it: you can have two extroverts in a room who share key similarities while still being distinct individuals. MBTI doesn’t put people in boxes, it simply provides a framework to understand natural tendencies, making sense of why some people thrive in structured environments while others prefer spontaneity, why some process emotions deeply while others rely on logic first, etc.

Objection 2: “MBTI is like a horoscope.”

Some critics argue that MBTI relies on the Barnum Effect, a psychological phenomenon where people accept vague, general statements as highly personal (as seen in horoscopes). However, MBTI is fundamentally different.

Try this: Read the description of your MBTI type on a reputable website, then read the description of a completely different type, perhaps even your opposite. Do you genuinely relate to both equally? It’s highly unlikely. MBTI descriptions are specific, detailing not just strengths but also weaknesses, cognitive tendencies, and natural inclinations.

Horoscopes offer broad, flattering statements that could apply to anyone, whereas MBTI outlines distinct cognitive function patterns that explain how and why people think, process information, and make decisions differently.

Objection 3: “The two women behind MBTI weren’t psychology graduates.”

True, Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers weren’t formally trained psychologists. But does a lack of a psychology degree automatically mean incompetence? Katharine dedicated over 20 years to researching personality types, based on the serious work of the reputable psychiatrist Carl Jung. And Isabel continued refining it for decades before developing the MBTI model, collaborating with universities and psychologists to improve and validate the system.

Many self-taught individuals have revolutionized their fields: Benjamin Franklin (inventions), Henry Ford (Ford Motors), Lionel Logue (the speech therapist who helped King George VI of England overcome his stammer), and were all autodidacts. Expertise is built through rigorous study, research, and application, not necessarily through formal education alone. Plus, many licensed psychologists use this system today and can attest to its seriousness in substance and accuracy in practice. 

What Are The Benefits of MBTI and How You Can Leverage It?

MBTI is much more than just a personality assessment, it’s a framework for self-discovery, growth, and improved relationships. By understanding how you recharge your energy, gather information, make decisions, and manage your environment, you gain powerful insights into your natural tendencies and cognitive processes.

1. Improved Relationships and Communication

One of the most practical applications of MBTI is in relationships, whether personal or professional. When you understand how different types process information, make decisions, and express themselves, you gain patience, empathy, and adaptability in your interactions.

For example, if you’re naturally direct and logical, you may assume others appreciate blunt honesty, when in reality, some types need a more emotionally supportive approach. By recognizing the differences and similarities between you and other personalities, you can avoid misunderstandings, resolve conflicts more effectively, and build stronger connections.

2. Career Alignment

Your personality type influences how you work, what motivates you, and what environments you thrive in. By understanding your MBTI type, you can choose a career path that aligns with your strengths, leading to greater job satisfaction and a more fulfilling sense of success.

Additionally, MBTI can guide you in:

• Choosing the right work environment (structured vs. flexible, independent vs. team-oriented);

• Understanding team dynamics and how to collaborate effectively;

• Recognizing potential burnout triggers before they become overwhelming.

3. Increased Self-Awareness

One of the biggest advantages of MBTI is the self-awareness it provides. When you understand your cognitive processes, you begin to recognize the patterns that shape your life. Instead of feeling stuck in cycles of frustration, you gain the clarity to break destructive habits and reinforce positive ones.

MBTI helps you pinpoint your natural strengths, the areas where you shine effortlessly. Recognizing them allows you to lean into your natural gifts while also becoming aware of your blind spots. By understanding your weaknesses, you can proactively develop skills in areas that don’t come as naturally to you. For example, a highly creative but disorganized type can work on implementing structure, while a highly emotional type can focus on developing detachment.

4. A Personalized Roadmap for Growth

Beyond just understanding where you are now, MBTI provides a clear path for personal development. Each type has a natural path of psychological growth, showing you the key areas to develop. By diving into cognitive functions, you discover how to grow into your highest potential, and become a more well-rounded person.

MBTI isn’t about limiting yourself to a “box”, it’s about understanding your natural tendencies so you can expand beyond them. The real power of this tool lies in using it as a personalized growth framework, helping you navigate life with greater self-awareness, confidence, and purpose.

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Now that you understand MBTI’s foundations and common misconceptions, it’s time for the most exciting part: discovering your own type! In the next article of this series, I will guide you through a step-by-step self-assessment using the four key personality dichotomies. Let’s begin uncovering your unique type!

With infinite love and gratitude,

-Anne 🧚‍♀️

*** Are you excited to find your type without relying solely on a test?

What were you the most surprised to learn about MBTI?  ***