The Accuracy and Usefulness of MBTI Personality Test
An exploration of the MBTI personality test: Is it accurate? Is it useful? And what are the implications of relying on it?
In recent years, the MBTI personality test has become extremely popular. But is it accurate? Is it useful? Let's explore this topic.
The MBTI personality test, which originated in the 1940s, has taken the internet era by storm. From being used as character tags on social media to becoming a powerful analysis tool in dating shows and a required course in workplace training, MBTI seems to have permeated every aspect of our lives.
'Are you an introvert (i) or an extrovert (e)?' This question has almost become as common as 'Have you eaten?' in conversations among young people. By uttering these four letters, one can seemingly instantly close the gap with others, find like-minded individuals, and even use it as a universal excuse to explain all behaviors.
However, behind this craze, there are also voices of doubt and reflection. When we enthusiastically label ourselves with four letters and seek a sense of identity and belonging, are we unknowingly falling into a new kind of 'stereotype'? When MBTI evolves from a tool for self-exploration into a social currency and is even endowed with a certain 'mystical' color, should we pause and seriously consider: Can these four letters really define the real 'me'?
The sharing of five 'introverted' authors on a minority platform can perhaps provide us with some new perspectives. Their attitudes towards MBTI are not blindly affirmative or negative but full of dialectical thinking.
Kostya believes that MBTI can be a starting point for self-exploration rather than an end. He emphasizes that MBTI is just a tool to help us understand our personality preferences, not a cage to confine us. As he said, 'In the process of life, you may find that you are more proficient in using a certain characteristic, but in fact, you may often have to use another characteristic to cope with external pressure.'
Irisleilei is more straightforward in pointing out that MBTI cannot define the real you and me. Taking herself as an example, in the eyes of her friends, she is a typical 'extroverted personality', but in fact, she is an 'introvert' who enjoys being alone and prefers to draw energy from her inner world. This precisely shows that the results of MBTI and an individual's performance in real life are not entirely consistent.
In fact, according to the 'White Paper on the Status Quo of Chinese Workplace Personalities' released in May 2023, nearly 60% of workplace people said that their MBTI results are different from their actual personalities. This also confirms from the side that simply defining a person with MBTI is obviously not accurate enough.
How should we view the popularity of MBTI? Perhaps we can regard it as a mirror, one that reflects the inner anxiety and desire for connection of contemporary people. In a fast-paced and high-pressure social environment, people are eager to find a simple and understandable way to understand themselves and others. And MBTI just meets this need. It provides a seemingly scientific and professional classification method, allowing people to quickly label themselves and find a sense of belonging.
But we must also be vigilant against the negative impacts brought about by this 'labeling'. When we overly rely on MBTI to define ourselves and others, we may overlook the uniqueness and complexity of each individual. Just as Kostya worries, he hopes that MBTI is a tool for people to start exploring themselves, rather than using it to feel inferior, show off, attack, hate, create opposition, or simply look for the so-called 'like-minded group'.
In conclusion, MBTI is just a tool, a key. It can help us open the door to understanding the inner worlds of ourselves and others. But whether we can truly step through this door ultimately requires us to feel with our hearts and explore with actions. Are you willing to be defined by MBTI, or are you willing to tear off the label and live a true self?