The Myers-Briggs assessment test (also known as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or MBTI) is a psychometric questionnaire designed to define personality types and measure psychological preferences in people and has been in use and validated over decades. The test was developed by Isabel Briggs Myers working with her mother Katharine Briggs during the Second World War as a mechanism to help place women in appropriate employment at a time when many men were fighting abroad. The test developed Carl Jung's theories into a usable methodology and system for understanding and assessing personality.
The MBTI® model and test instrument was developed by Katharine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers in 1942 after their studies particularly of Carl Jung, whose basic concepts relating to this aspect of personality and behaviour are described above.
According to the Myers Briggs Foundation more than two million people are assessed using the MBTI personal inventory instrument globally every year. It is a standard test to find out the personality of a person.
Purpose of Myers-Briggs
The Myers Briggs Type Indicator model is a method for understanding personality and preferred modes of behaving. It is not a measurement of intelligence, competence, emotional state, mental stability or maturity, and must be used with great care in assessing aptitude for jobs or careers: people can do most jobs in a variety of ways, and the MBTI gives little or no indication of commitment, determination, passion, experience or ambition. This it needs to be combined well with the interest and aptitude testing before an opinion is given about the possible career choices.
Used extensively in career counselling for children and adults, it is a very useful test. This test is a part of tests undertaken by high school children to help them choose their careers. Career counsellor helps in interpreting the test results. Ideally these tests should be taken by all high school children.
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