Reviewing MBTI Research: Is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Scientific?

I explore MBTI research and challenge the idea that is an unscientific model.

-Studies-
Capraro, R. M., & Capraro, M. M. (2002). Myers-briggs type indicator score reliability across: Studies a meta-analytic reliability generalization study. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 62(4), 590-602.

Randall, K., Isaacson, M., & Ciro, C. (2017). Validity and reliability of the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity, 10(1), 1-27.

Tzeng, O. C., Outcalt, D., Boyer, S. L., Ware, R., & Landis, D. (1984). Item validity of the Myers-Briggs type indicator. Journal of Personality Assessment, 48(3), 255-256.

Thompson, B., & Borrello, G. M. (1986). Second-order factor structure of the MBTI: A construct validity assessment. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 18(4), 148-153.

Thompson, B., & Borrello, G. M. (1986). Construct validity of the Myers-Briggs type indicator. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 46(3), 745-752.

McCrae, R. R., & Costa Jr, P. T. (1989). Reinterpreting the Myers‐Briggs type indicator from the perspective of the five‐factor model of personality. Journal of personality, 57(1), 17-40.

The gear I use for recording (Affiliate Links)

[yellow_jacket]

I think before anyone goes to anything mbti they need to look at this video. Ive seen so much people trashing on the test without looking into it, and also not understanding what the test is evaluating in the first place

[intjmoses]

Great job. I am a big fan. The assessment can be improved and the theory will be develop. One fear I have is that we are focused too much on the assessment and not on the test taker. Putting Reliability and Validity to the side, I have seen how personality tests are impacted by Si, maturity, and unresolved issues. We can't fix that and we need that test administrator. My second fear is that overall some professionals with certain preferences with never understand MBTI concepts. People project their inferior, even educated people.

[Jakemkee]

Excellent video Chris this is your best yet. Super 😎 cool!

[TheNutCollector]

I'm taking psychology of personality rn. My Jungian type indicator is pretty accurate. It's hard for me to believe that what I am experiencing is the Barnum effect.

[Rawwcj]

7:27 My critique is this: If they are measuring preferences and not cognitive functions, then why should anyone reference their MBTI type when taking about what cognitive functions they may be using. For example, agreeable woman takes the MBTI three times and each time gets the result INFJ. The MBTI has nailed her preferences, however, agreeable woman clearly psychologically leads with introverted feeling (introverted judgment w/ emotional axiom), relates to intuition because it is her auxiliary Ne and maybe has some development around Te and so she is akin to aligning internal emotional axiom to external objective protocol. Point being, the MBTI was accurate in what it was measuring but completely inaccurate in applicability.

[dougcane]

Who funded those studies? Have you stated the possible conflicts of interest?

[Elodie_N_INTJ_Analyzes]

As you said in previous videos, knowing our type is the first step. Here it's surely similar, do the MBTI, is just the first step.
An objective view from a professional or someone who know deeply the cognitives functions and more (as LiJo or you) is still the best, more efficient and accurate I think. To analyse deeply every details/aspect of the entire behavior (conscious and especially the unconscious behavior), choices, tastes etc... especially if the person is not very introspective.

I confirm it's important to have an objective analyse, and not only subjective. This is one of the reasons why I misstyped myself last year.
I remain convinced that if everyone knew a little the MBTI, of just if everyone accept and understand we are all different, the world would be different.

[jimmys]

Have you read reckful's post? I'd love to hear your thoughts on that post

[paradoxicalpoet]

Has there been any neurological/ brain studies on MBTI? To me the best proof you can get for any psychological based thing is by crossing psychology with neuroscience when possible. For example the brains of people with Autism are shown by brain scans, and the brains of the recently deceased, to have physical differences between them and neurotypical brains. Although differences between the types in MBTI or related systems, would very likely be much much smaller and harder to find, any real proof of the system should lay in neuroscience. Beyond that they're just educated guesses. From my understanding for the most part Neuroscience is what separates the boys from the men, so to say.

Also as a quick bit of constructive criticism, though I'm sure you're painfully aware of this, you are also biased. That said I still think MBTI is fun and I like the system, but I do take it with a grain of salt, because the 0.7 correlation isn't good enough for me, and many tests show a lower correlation. I'm not saying that it's incorrect, I'm just saying I'm not convinced. Also I personally find that in my life CPT is more accurate. Not that personal experience is any proof. Anyway, I did enjoy this video, it was very interesting, good work.

[shindig]

I don't know much about the assessment, but doesn't it rely on self-reporting?

[drwizarrd]

Is it scientifically accurate to conclude that the Human race is distinctly categorized into only 16 baseline non pathological variations of personality? As of 2022, Yes.

Do these archetypes apply to all individuals? No, there are always exceptions in biological science as it evolves over time.

Do these archetypes develop as a result of nature, nurture or both? Inconclusive.

Are the free version MBTI tests accurate and reliable at assessing consumers into one of these types? No

Are the paid version MBTI tests accurate and reliable at assessing consumers into one of these types? Yes

Are the paid version MBTI tests accurate and reliable at estimating consumers effectiveness and compatibility with certain careers, positions or relationships? Inconclusive.

Do individuals with the same personality type all have the same personality and exhibit the same traits? No, that's ridiculous. The simulation AI is not that lazy.

Are there memes and do they slap? Yes, yes they do.