MBTI: Beyond the Label

An exploration of MBTI's popularity and limitations. Is it a social code or a stereotype?

MBTI: 'Social Code' or Stereotype?

In recent years, a personality test called MBTI has gained tremendous popularity and become a new 'social code' among young people. The MBTI, or Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, is a theoretical model of personality types. It defines a person's personality through four dimensions: energy source, cognitive style, decision-making style, and lifestyle, resulting in sixteen specific personality types that help individuals understand themselves better.

Compared to horoscopes, MBTI requires answering nearly a hundred test questions, making it seem more professional and scientific. As a result, its popularity has surpassed that of horoscopes and become a hot topic among Generation Z. In social situations, asking about someone's MBTI type can break the ice and provide initial understanding.

On social media, many bloggers have capitalized on this trend, creating content related to MBTI and gaining a large following. For example, on Weibo, there are entertainment bloggers dedicated to MBTI topics with a significant number of followers.

Even in advertising, MBTI has made its appearance. In July this year, an advertisement by Ele.me and Lelecha combined MBTI elements, generating a lot of discussion.

So, why has MBTI become so popular? Firstly, it meets people's need for self-exploration, especially for Generation Z who are in a stage of seeking self-understanding. Secondly, people use MBTI to distinguish between 'us' and 'them' and find resonance within similar groups.

However, as the discussion continues, MBTI has also become a form of stereotype. Some people simply categorize everyone into sixteen personality types, flattening and simplifying complex personalities. For instance, on platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin, there are posts and videos that misinterpret different personality traits.

According to the 'Personality Psychology' published by People's Medical Publishing House, MBTI has high face validity but is prone to falsification, and the cross-cultural validity of the Chinese version has not been verified. Additionally, personal性格 can change over time due to social environment.

MBTI has its role in social communication, but we should not let it become the only label that restricts unique individuals. After all, everyone is unique.

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