Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI Test)

Written by Hallie Levine
Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on March 20, 2025
10 min read

Ever wondered why someone describes themselves as an INTP or as an ENFJ? Chances are they’ve just taken a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test. This test, also called the MBTI, was developed during World War II to categorize a person’s personality type. You take a formal questionnaire, which then lumps you into one of 16 personality groups. 

While it can be fun and may reveal some things about yourself that you didn’t realize, experts warn that you should take your result with a grain of salt. "It’s a lot of fun, and it can help you figure out some of your personality traits," explained Rehan Aziz, MD, a psychiatrist at Hackensack Meridian Health in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. "But most of us don’t fall neatly into bucket categories. There are so many different factors that come into play to shape how someone is." 

The MBTI was developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers during World War II. It’s based on the research of psychiatrist Carl Jung. He had a theory of "individual preference." He believed that people feel emotions differently from one another because of basic differences in how they function mentally and emotionally. Briggs and Myers thought that people could use his ideas to help them recognize their own personalities. They spent two decades researching it, and the first MBTI instrument was published in 1962. 

While it was designed for health care workers and to help doctors communicate with patients, it’s now used by career and development coaches, educators, and some workplaces and universities. It’s not intended to be used as a tool to hire someone. Instead, the goal is to help figure out an employee’s best team, role, or function.

Is the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator backed by science?

The Myers-Brigg Type Indicator test is still sometimes used by corporations and universities. But it’s not widely used – or accepted – by psychologists. "It’s a commercial product that wasn’t developed by trained psychologists," said Randy Stein, PhD, an associate professor of marketing in the College of Business Administration at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. He published a paper in 2019 in the journal Social and Personality Psychology Compass that concluded the MBTI doesn’t have scientific evidence to back it up. "It appears to be a scientific personality test, and it has a manual that’s written in the style of an academic paper, and they cite a lot of statistics," he explained. "But there’s no such thing as customer service science. They’re a profit-driven company."

The biggest issue, he noted, is that they try to fit people into specific buckets. "Most people are in the middle, and don’t fit into one category or another," Stein explains. "It’s fun to take, and it might give you some useful insights about yourself. But you shouldn’t take the results that seriously."

The MBTI categorizes people into four preference pairs based on four distinct traits. It stresses that there are no right or wrong preferences. Still, the theory is that if you know your preference pair, it will help you make the right choices in both your professional and personal life. Here’s a closer look at each one.

Introversion vs. extroversion (I vs. E)

This category indicates where you focus your attention. Extroverts are energized when they interact with others. They take action quickly, sometimes before they have time to think it through. Introverts, on the other hand, gain energy when they spend time alone in self-contemplation. They like to think things through before they act on them. These traits can affect:

  • How you recharge
  • Your approach to meeting people
  • What sort of work environment you like
  • When you start on a task
  • Your interests and hobbies

Intuition vs. sensing (N vs. S)

This measures how you take in information. People who are sensing tend to prefer to gather concrete information. They pay attention to detail and often rely on their five senses. But people who are intuitive tend to look more at the big picture. They often rely on hunches, or listen to their gut. These preferences can affect:

  • How you see things
  • Your learning approach
  • The information you need to make a purchase
  • Your response to change

Thinking vs. feeling (T vs. F)

This preference pair focuses on how you make decisions. Thinkers are more likely to use logic and data. They have a critical eye and often come across as tough-minded. They like to consider the pros and cons of each and every situation. Feelers, on the other hand, rely on how they feel. They tend to be more empathetic and take other people’s thoughts into account. They often make decisions based on their personal and social values. This pairing affects:

  • How you make decisions
  • How you help others, including how you provide feedback
  • How you deal with different viewpoints

Judging vs. perceiving (J vs. P)

The final preference pair provides insight as to how you deal with the world. Those who judge like structure and organization. They like to make plans, and stick to them. They thrive on schedules, organization, and structure, and they try to avoid last-minute changes. People who are perceivers are more flexible. They like to keep their options open, and they tend to go with the flow. They often do their best work at the last minute. These preferences affect:

  • How you approach complicated tasks
  • How you handle deadlines
  • How you plan events
  • Your attitude toward work and play

The next part of the MBTI is to combine the different personalities above into 16 personality types. These bunches of letters may look like alphabet soup, but they're actually four-letter codes for your individual personality. 

INTJ

These folks are original thinkers. They are motivated to put ideas into play and to achieve their goals. They are quick to see patterns and to understand them. One of their biggest strengths is their ability to always see projects through. They are also very independent and apply a healthy dose of skepticism to any situation they find themselves in. INTJ-ers often do well in scientific or technical fields like engineering, computing, and law.

INFJ

This personality type is compassionate and idealistic. While they often make decisions in private, their focus is on a shared vision. They want to understand what motivates other people. Once they come up with their vision, they are very decisive about putting it in motion. They thrive in careers like teaching, social work, and the arts.

ISFJ

These folks are patient. They rely on common sense and experience to help others. They are very responsible and loyal, and they like to help others. They can sometimes err on the side of too much caution. They thrive in jobs such as health care, secretarial roles, and social work. ISFJs thrive in orderly, harmonious environments, both at work and at home. 

ISTJ

If you are an ISTJ personality type, you are quiet and reliable, and are successful because you’re dependable and pay careful attention to detail. ISTJ-ers decide what to do and work steadily toward that goal despite distractions. They thrive when all aspects of their life – both work and home – are orderly and organized. But they can become overly set in their ways. Good career options include law enforcement and accounting.

INTP

This group is logical and analytical, but also innovative. They tend to be detached, which actually often allows them to come up with new ways to attack complex problems. INTP-ers are very good at focusing in depth, when it’s a topic that interests them. But since they’re more interested in ideas than social interaction, it can be hard for them to work in teams. They do best in technical and scientific fields where they can often work alone. Good career choices include architecture, research, and social science.

INFP

INFP-ers are idealistic. They are loyal to their values and to those close to them. They strive to live their life in line with what they believe in. They also tend to be flexible and even spontaneous. But while they are curious and quick to see possibilities in others, they also sometimes struggle to speak up. Since they’re often creative, they flourish in artistic fields like writing and visual arts.

ISFP

These folks are sensitive, attentive, quiet, and kind. They take joy in the present. They like to have their own space and do things on their own time. They are loyal to their values and to the people who are close to them. They don’t like conflict and won’t force their beliefs on others. But since they’re often not assertive, they can have trouble making decisions. They thrive best in workplace environments that are supportive, not cutthroat or competitive.

ISTP

If you are an ISTP personality type, you’re calm, quiet, and tolerant, but also very productive. When there's a problem, you work quickly to find a solution. That calmness helps during a crisis, too. But while ISTP-ers are able to work quickly and decisively in the moment, sometimes it’s harder for them to see the big picture. You’re best off at a job that’s hands-on where you can work alone, like surgery, agriculture, or engineering.

ENTP

People with this personality type are alert and outspoken. They’re always up to the challenge of solving complicated problems. They tend to get bored with routine. While all of these are great qualities, sometimes they can backfire: ENTP-ers sometimes get an idea in their head that they want to take on which just isn’t likely to work. They need a career that is fast and high-energy, like business, finance, or engineering.

ENFP

This personality type has a lot of imagination and enthusiasm. They have a lot of energy and move quickly from project to project. They work well with others and are eager to provide positive feedback and support. They are also very good at improvising. ENFP-ers do very well in careers that promote teamwork. Possibilities include coaching, teaching, and religious callings.

ESFP

People who have the ESFP personality type are very outgoing and social. They love life and being around people. They work very well with others. They also know how to balance common sense with having fun. The downside is they can sometimes struggle with deadlines, as they get easily distracted. They do well at jobs where they can extend care to others, like health care and teaching.

ESTP

ESTP-ers have a lot of energy and enthusiasm. But they are also pragmatic. They bring a lot of common sense to any project they work on. They also live in the moment and want to enjoy as much time as they can with other people. While they are great in the here and now, they can lose steam when it comes to long-term focus. They make great marketers and may do well in careers in protective services, agriculture, or manufacturing.

ENTJ

This type is practical and decisive. They see the big picture, and they want to get to their goals as efficiently as possible. They are good at getting things done. They are also good leaders. The downside to their take-charge personality is that they may overlook the needs of workers around them. People who have the ENTJ personality type often end up in positions of leadership. 

ENFJ

These folks are natural, inspirational leaders. They are warm and empathic. They are highly responsive to other people’s needs. They are nurturing and find potential in everyone around them. They also respond well to praise and criticism. But because they are such people persons, they often don’t do well with conflict. They thrive in collaborative environments. Careers in counseling, teaching, or religion are good choices.

ESFJ

They are very social, but also conscientious. They crave harmony and work hard to get it. They like to work with others and are very loyal. They are attuned to others’ needs and wants and try to provide them. They also crave appreciation and positive feedback. They do best in fields that promote collaboration. Good choices include child care, nursing, and teaching.

ESTJ

ESTJ-ers are driven and organized. They want to get things done as efficiently as possible. When they are faced with a tough project or decision, they use logic and attention to detail. This can also become an issue, though. They can be so focused on their goal that they don’t take into account the wishes and needs of others. They do well in fields with clear roles and responsibilities, like law enforcement.

You can take the MBTI test online here. The $60 cost includes the test and an interpretation of your results. You can also take it with an MBTI-certified practitioner. You can find one in your area here. If your school or organization offers it, you can take it through them, too. 

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a test you can take online to figure out your personality type. You answer a bunch of questions, and then you’ve given one of 16 types. It’s a lot of fun, and you may gain new insights about yourself, but it’s not backed up by scientific research.

What are the 4 main MBTI types?

There are four main MBTI types:

  • Introversion vs. extroversion (I vs. E), which reflects how you recharge and feel energized
  • Intuition vs. sensing (N vs. S), how you take in information
  • Thinking vs. feeling (T vs. F), the way you come to conclusions
  • Judging vs. perceiving (J vs. P), or your approach to the outside world

Is the 16 personalities test accurate?

The 16 personalities test is an offshoot of the MBTI test. There’s no research to suggest it’s scientifically accurate, Aziz says. 

What are the 3 rarest MBTI types?

There isn’t great data to know for sure the three rarest MBTI types. But a 2018 survey from the Myers-Briggs company found that among people who knew their personality type, ISFP was the rarest (1.8%), followed by ESTP (2.2%), and then ISTP (2.3%).