You've probably seen the four-letter codes floating around LinkedIn bios or dating profiles. Maybe you’re an INFJ—the "Advocate"—or an ESTP "Entrepreneur." People treat these like secular horoscopes. They’re obsessed. But there is a massive gap between the fun, viral "16 personalities" memes and the actual psychological history of the 16 Myers Briggs personality types.
Honestly, the way most people use the MBTI today is kind of a mess.
The Mother-Daughter Project That Changed Everything
Most people assume a team of white-coated scientists in a lab invented the test. Not even close. It started in the early 20th century with Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers. Neither was a trained psychologist. Katharine was a home-schooling mother with a sharp obsession with human temperament; she started by "type-watching" her future son-in-law, Clarence Myers, because she couldn't understand why he was so different from her family.
When Carl Jung published Psychological Types in 1921, Katharine realized he had basically mapped out what she was already seeing. She and Isabel spent decades refining these ideas, especially during World War II. They wanted to help women entering the industrial workforce find "comfortable" and effective roles based on their natural preferences.
It wasn't about "putting people in boxes." It was about finding where people fit in a world that felt like it was falling apart.
Understanding the 16 Myers Briggs Personality Types
The system isn't a measurement of how smart or "good" you are. It’s a map of preferences. Think of it like being right-handed or left-handed. You can use your non-dominant hand, but it feels clunky and takes way more energy.
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The 16 types are built from four pairs of opposites, often called "dichotomies."
- Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I): Where do you get your energy?
- Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N): How do you take in information? Sensors look at concrete facts; Intuitives look at patterns and "vibe."
- Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F): How do you make decisions? Logic vs. Values.
- Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P): How do you organize your life? Planners vs. Improvisers.
The "Rarest" Type Myth
You’ve likely heard that INFJ is the rarest type. For years, that was the gold standard of MBTI trivia. But "rarity" changes depending on who you’re asking and when the data was collected. Some 2024-2025 sampling suggests ENTJ or ENFJ might actually be less common in certain populations.
The truth? None of the types are truly "better" or "smarter" than the others. An ISTJ "Logistician" is the backbone of an accounting firm because they crave order, while an ENFP "Campaigner" would probably lose their mind in that same cubicle within a week.
The Problem With Science
If you talk to an academic psychologist, they might roll their eyes. Critics like Adam Grant have pointed out that the MBTI lacks "test-retest reliability." This basically means you could take the test today as an INTP, get a bad night's sleep, take it again in a month, and result as an INTJ.
The Big Five model is the darling of the scientific world because it measures things on a spectrum. The 16 Myers Briggs personality types use binaries—you’re either an "E" or an "I." But most people are actually in the middle. We're "ambiverts." The test forces you to pick a side, which is why your results might feel "off" on a Tuesday but perfect on a Friday.
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Why 80% of Fortune 500 Companies Still Use It
Despite the scientific side-eye, companies like Deloitte and various government agencies still pour money into MBTI coaching. Why? Because it’s a shorthand for communication.
Imagine a workplace conflict.
A "Thinking" manager tells a "Feeling" employee their report was "logical but lacked impact." The manager thinks they’re being helpful. The employee thinks they’re being mean.
When a team learns about the 16 Myers Briggs personality types, they realize it’s not a personality clash—it’s a translation error. The manager realizes they need to lead with appreciation; the employee realizes the manager isn't attacking them, they're just prioritizing data.
Beyond the Four Letters: Cognitive Functions
If you want to sound like a real expert, stop looking at the letters and start looking at the functions. This is the "under the hood" stuff. Every type has a "stack" of four functions.
- Dominant: Your autopilot.
- Auxiliary: Your co-pilot.
- Tertiary: Your "relief" function (sometimes messy).
- Inferior: Your biggest weakness/stress response.
For example, an ESTJ and an ISTJ look similar—they’re both "Sentinels." But the ESTJ leads with Extraverted Thinking (Te), making them a natural "Supervisor" who wants to organize the world out there. The ISTJ leads with Introverted Sensing (Si), making them an "Inspector" who wants to maintain the internal world of facts and tradition.
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Practical Ways to Use Your Type Right Now
Don't use your type as an excuse. "I'm a Perceiving type, so I can't be on time" is a cop-out. Instead, use it as a growth tool.
If you're a "Sensor" (S), practice looking at the big picture. If you're an "Intuitive" (N), try to notice the actual, physical details around you instead of just the "meaning" behind them.
Next Steps for You:
- Audit your career: Look at your "Dominant" function. If you’re an INFP (leading with Introverted Feeling) but your job requires you to make cold, calculated "Thinking" decisions all day, you’re going to burn out.
- Validate your results: Don't just take one free online quiz. Read the descriptions of the types next to yours. If you're an ENFJ, read the ESFJ and INFJ descriptions. Which one makes you feel slightly "exposed" or called out? That’s usually the right one.
- Check the "Shadow": Research what your type looks like under stress (The Grip). If an INTJ suddenly starts overindulging in food or sensory thrills, they’re likely "in the grip" of their inferior Extraverted Sensing.
The goal isn't to be a perfect 4-letter code. It's to understand why you do what you do—and how to get along with the people who do the exact opposite.
Actionable Takeaway
To get the most out of the 16 Myers Briggs personality types, stop focusing on the "labels" and start focusing on communication styles. The next time you're frustrated with a coworker, ask yourself: Are they being difficult, or do they just process information (Sensing vs. Intuition) differently than I do? This shift in perspective is the true power of the MBTI.