MBTI: Unreliable but a Social Phenomenon
MBTI has been criticized as unreliable yet it has become a popular social tool. This article explores why MBTI is both controversial and widely used.
MBTI: Unreliable or a Social Calling Card?
In recent times, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test has once again gained popularity on the internet. The question 'Have you taken the MBTI test?' quickly sparks conversations. People identify themselves with phrases like 'I am an INTJ' or 'Are you an ESTP?', almost like a secret code.
MBTI is a self-reported assessment tool that categorizes test-takers into 16 personality types. However, while it is popular, it is also criticized as being unreliable, similar to 'reading personality from horoscopes'.
The MBTI test, developed by American writer Myers and her mother Briggs, is based on psychologist Carl Jung's psychological type theory. It examines individual behavioral differences from four dimensions: direction of mental energy, way of acquiring information, decision-making style, and attitude towards life. Each dimension has two directions, representing different preference tendencies, such as being emotional or thinking type. The combination of different preference tendencies in these four dimensions forms 16 personality types.
The job-hunting season has contributed to the popularity of MBTI to some extent. Additionally, the MBTI test is binary-choice, and the test-taker provides the information themselves, making it simple to operate, which is also considered a reason for its popularity. However, these are also the aspects that draw criticism.
Experts point out that MBTI has some undeniable drawbacks from a psychological perspective. The biggest one is its low test-retest reliability. Test-retest reliability refers to the consistency of results over multiple measurements within a period of time. If the results are consistent, it means high test-retest reliability, and the scale is considered more effective and useful. Conversely, low test-retest reliability may indicate that the scale results are less credible and practical.
The reason MBTI's test-retest reliability is often questioned is that it forcefully categorizes people. For example, it may forcefully divide people into extroverted or introverted, but human nature is complex. The same person may get different results when taking the MBTI personality assessment at different times and in different emotional states.
Another criticized aspect of MBTI is its scoring method, which is a forced-choice method. All tests use 'yes' or 'no' as evaluation indicators. This can lead to inaccurate categorization.
So, does MBTI have any reference value? It is not the gold standard. Usually, MBTI is used as an auxiliary tool in psychological counseling or career counseling. A comprehensive evaluation of the test-taker should be made by combining the counselor's interview with the test-taker and the overall content of the counseling with the score interpretation of MBTI.
Why has MBTI become a social calling card? The Barnum effect refers to people's tendency to easily believe in general positive descriptions of personality that may apply to everyone. Some people point out that the descriptions of MBTI types are ambiguous, and it is this vagueness and universality that make it seem applicable everywhere, similar to using horoscopes to describe personality.
In fact, many personality tests have become popular on social media. People are willing to take such tests to define themselves because it meets a cognitive closure need. When people don't know what suits them or what they want, they need an immediate answer to reduce anxiety, regardless of whether the answer is scientific or objective.
Today, the MBTI test has also developed a new function as a social calling card. People have an in-group preference and are attracted to those who belong to the same group. MBTI's division of people into 16 types is conducive to the establishment of this in-group preference.