Evaluating the validity of Myers‐Briggs Type Indicator theory: A teaching tool and window into intuitive psychology

2019/01/25 by Randy Stein, Alexander B. Swan · 1 voice · 3 citations
Decision Sciences · Psychology · #Behavioral Health and Interventions #Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics #Mental Health Research Topics

paper · doi:10.1111/spc3.12434

openalex publication_date 2019/01/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25

Abstract

Abstract Despite its immense popularity and impressive longevity, the Myers‐Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) has existed in a parallel universe to social and personality psychology. Here, we seek to increase academic awareness of this incredibly popular idea and provide a novel teaching reference for its conceptual flaws. We focus on examining the validity of the Jungian‐based theory behind MBTI that specifies that people have a “true type” delineated across four dichotomies. We find that the MBTI theory falters on rigorous theoretical criteria in that it lacks agreement with known facts and data, lacks testability, and possesses internal contradictions. We further discuss what MBTI's continued popularity says about how the general public might evaluate scientific theories.

Citations

• The Guru Effect
• Cybernetic Big Five Theory
• The emotional dog and its rational tail: A social intuitionist approach to moral judgment.
• Individual differences in reasoning: Implications for the rationality debate?
• The principle of charity
• Beyond misinformation: Understanding and coping with the “post-truth” era.
• The Logic of Scientific Discovery

Cited by

• "Pragmatic Tools or Empowering Friends?" Discovering and Co-Designing Personality-Aligned AI Writing Companions
• Psychologically Enhanced AI Agents
• Personality psychology [wikipedia]

Discussions

• Luckily it is relatively likely to change if you retake. doi.org/10.1111/spc3.... I like the 'if it's got a word, it must be important' approach of the early personality tests personality-project.org [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]

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