There are a few widely used ways of interpreting the results: Jung-like methods, Keirsey-like methods, and popular psychology methods.

Table of contents

1 Dimensions 2 Popular psychology method 2.1 Common descriptions 3 Keirsey-Style Interpretation 3.2 Descriptions 3.3 Types 3.4 Temperaments 4 Skeptical views of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator 4.5 Unscientific 4.6 A Temptation to Pigeonhole 5 External links

Dimensions

The test asks subjects a number of questions about themselves. Based on the replies, four binary decisions are made about each subject:

• Introversion vs. Extroversion (I vs. E)
• Sensing vs. Intuition (S vs. N)
• Thinking vs. Feeling (T vs. F)
• Judging vs. Perceiving (J vs. P)

Popular psychology interpretations usually oversimplify the MBTI's results to make them easier to use and understand. This creates problems because people and personalities aren't simple at all. It can easily lead to interpersonal problems when one person assumes they can read someone else's mind or figure out what a person likes by using the MBTI.

Common descriptions

• Introverted means you are shy and like to keep to yourself. Extroverted means you are outgoing and like to talk a lot.
• Sensing means you are down-to-earth and practical. Intuitive means you are dreamy and smart.
• Thinking means you are smart, unemotional, and willing to be cruel. Feeling means you are stupid, emotional, and nice to people.
• Judging means you are always on time, uptight, and like things a certain way. Perceiving means that you are a procrastinator who likes to relax and take life as it comes.

Descriptions

In Myers-Briggs' system, each of these dichotomies has specific, non-normative meanings. Quite often any particular person can act in any way, but prefers particular ways.

• Introverts are rested and energized by solitude, and very effective in solitary pursuits. An introvert (I) is a person who prefers to process thoughts internally. Introverts tend to think before they speak. The word is also used informally to refer to somebody who prefers solitary activities to social ones, which is more of a behavioural than cognitive definition. Introverts tend to be seen as quiet and reserved, which is often confused with a lack of confidence by louder, more extroverted people. They often perform well in analytical roles that require intelligence or logic, but place less emphasis on social interactions and "people skills". Introverts are usually a minority in the general population, and they can often be sidelined by culture and society which in many cases favours the more common extroverted style of behaviour.
• Extroverts appear outgoing and are energized by people, and are very effective in pursuits that involve people. Extroverts tend to be sensation-seeking, spontaneous and gregarious. They enjoy crowds, noise and stimulation. Extroverts also tend to have more sexual partners in the course of their life than introverts, though this isn't to say that all extroverts are promiscuous.
• "Sensors" want, trust and remember facts, and usually describe themselves as "practical." For a Sensor, intuition is untrustworthy, and might seem like mental static. Sensation, as a perceiving mode of consciousness, focuses on heightening reality. Guardians share the combination SJ, while Artisans share the combination SP.
• "Intuitives" prefer metaphor, analogy and logic, and tend to reason from first principles and hunches. Sensors pride themselves on living in the real world. Intuitives pride themselves on seeing possibilities. This can cause conflict. Intuition, as a perceiving mode of consciousness, filters experience through the unconscious mind. Intuition focuses on possibilities rather than realities. Idealists share the combination NF, while Rationals share the combination NT.
• "Thinkers" use impersonal means of reasoning: logic, and verifiable experience.
• "Feelers" prefer personal reasoning: value judgements and emotions. Thinkers often find Feelers muddle-headed. Feelers often find Thinkers cold and inhuman.
• "Judgers" prefer to come to decisions, and move on. They can feel betrayed if a decision is "reopened." They are prone to hastiness, but get things done.
• "Perceivers" prefer to leave their options open to perceive new possibilities and processes as long as possible. They tend to mourn opportunities lost to premature decisions. They are prone to analysis paralysis, but rarely make permanent mistakes.

ISTJ - 11.6%	ISFJ - 13.8%	INFJ - 1.5%	INTJ - 2.1%	IJ - 29.0%
ISTP - 5.4%	ISFP - 8.8%	INFP - 4.4%	Talk:INTP - 3.3%	IP - 21.9%
ESTP - 4.3%	ESFP - 8.5%	ENFP - 8.1%	ENTP - 3.2%	EP - 24.1%
ESTJ - 8.7%	ESFJ - 12.3%	ENFJ - 2.4%	ENTJ - 1.8%	EJ - 25.2%
ST - 30.0%	SF - 43.4%	NF - 16.4%	NT - 10.4%	Totals
Source: http://www.trytel.com/~jfalt/Tables/stats.html

Temperaments

These are clustered into four temperaments: SJ, SP, NT, and NF.

• "SJ"s are traditional, practical people that keep the home fires burning and businesses working. They're always aware of who owns what, and which social positions are held by whom. Their quest is to run everything, because they know best how to use it. Think of George H. W. Bush, Uncle Owen from Star Wars.
• "SP"s are adventurous, fun-loving, observant, physically skillful, impatient, easily bored and good with tools and art. They read minds, by observing people. They can briefly emulate the other types. Everything is negotiable, and they dare to live in the real world. All the time. Think of Han Solo from Star Wars.
• "NF"s understand people, literally from the inside out. They're always aware of people's feelings. They can be warm, sympathetic friends, but find offense in the smallest careless remark. They tend to be very skillful negotiators. Their quest is to be all that they could be. Think of Dante, Lao Zi.
• "NT"s are analytical, impersonal, intellectual, rather unworldly, tend to be absent-minded, and forget appointments. They continually try to acquire new skills, and pride themselves on their skills, efficiency and logic. They think the real world is a mutable network of logical possibilities, moved by skills. An example would be Albert Einstein.

There are significant differences by sex, especially on the T vs. F distribution.

Proponents of the system claim that almost all arguments between people tend to be manifestations of a type conflict (e.g. P vs J, T vs F, E vs I, S vs N). The P-J conflict is said to be the clearest - one person gets mad when the rules are broken and the other gets mad when rules are made. The T-F conflict is also said to be clear, as the basis of most husband/wife jokes.

Skeptical views of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Unscientific

Skeptics, including many psychologists, argue that MBTI has not been validated by double-blind tests (In which participants accept reports written for other participants, and are asked whether or not the report suits them) and thus does not qualify as a scientific assessment. Some even demonstrate that profiles can apparently seem to fit any person by confirmation bias, ambiguity of basic terms and the Byzantine complexity that allows any kind of behavior to fit any personality type. See [1] for an extensive skeptical treatment of the subject.

A Temptation to Pigeonhole

Another argument says that, while the MBTI is useful in self-understanding, it is commonly used to pigeonhole people or for self-pigeonholing. Supporting arguments include :

• It emphasizes each person being one specific type rather than each person using a certain type of thinking most of the time.
• Real people do not fit easily into one of sixteen types because they use different styles of thinking at different times. This is why there have been questions about answering the indicator (like "do I answer the indicator according to how I act at work or at home"). This is also why some people have trouble finding a type that really "fits" them.
• Predicting how a person will react based on a personality test that only measures their predominant style of thinking is foolish. Excusing your own bad or inefficient behavior based on such a test is also foolish.