Definition/Introduction
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), developed by Isabel Myers during World War II, assesses personality types based on the theories of psychologist Carl Jung. The MTBI was designed to facilitate and improve working relationships among healthcare professionals, particularly nurses.[1] Myers designed this questionnaire based on Jung's theory of "individual preference," which posits that the seemingly random variations in human behavior stem from fundamental differences in mental and emotional functioning.[2] Myers described these variations as different ways individuals prefer to engage their minds.
The MBTI operationalizes these preferences through questions that assess an individual's tendency toward one end of a spectrum in the following 4 categories:
Energy
Perceiving
Judging
Orientation
Energy
Energy refers to the spectrum of extraversion to introversion. Individuals leaning toward extraversion focus their attention on external experiences and actions, drawing energy from their interactions with others. In contrast, those leaning toward introversion concentrate on their inner thoughts and ideas, gaining energy from solitude.
Perceiving
Perceiving describes how individuals prefer to take in information, ranging from sensing scales to intuitive types. Sensing types prefer gathering information through their 5 senses and collecting facts before understanding general ideas and patterns. In contrast, intuitive types rely on their instincts and approach problems from a "big picture" perspective, recognizing general patterns before identifying constituent facts.
Judging
Judging categorizes how individuals prefer to make decisions, ranging from thinking to feeling. Thinkers base their decisions on logic and facts, while feelers prioritize harmony in resolving issues.
Orientation
Orientation refers to an individual's preferred lifestyle on the spectrum between judging and perceiving. Those who lean toward judgment tend to favor an orderly, decisive, and structured lifestyle, while those who prefer a more flexible and unpredictable existence align with the perceiving type.[1]
A total of 16 personality types can be formed by combining 2 poles across 4 different categories. Each type is represented by a 4-letter code that indicates the individual's propensity in each category. For example, an individual who leans toward extraversion in energy, intuition in perceiving, thinking in judging, and perceiving in orientation would be classified as an ENTP.
The goal of the Myers-Briggs typology is to enhance self-awareness and understanding of others, facilitating the process of Jung's "individuation." This process involves integrating, differentiating, and developing one's traits and skills.[2] By understanding individual preferences, one can begin analyzing and applying them in both work and personal endeavors.
Issues of Concern
Myers initially designed the MBTI for team building in healthcare settings. Differences in problem-solving approaches and communication styles can create barriers to effective teamwork. Understanding these diverse thinking and perceiving preferences through MBTI typology can help guide strategic changes in workflow and evaluation techniques.[3]
Clinical Significance
Although the MBTI was not originally designed for clinical use, it has been applied to certain patient populations. In psychology and psychiatry, the MBTI may provide insights into specific groups, such as those experiencing suicidality and unipolar depression. Research has shown that these populations tend to exhibit greater tendencies toward introversion in energy and perceiving in orientation than the general population. Researchers suggest that, with further confirmatory studies, these correlations could help identify vulnerability in patients with affective disorders.[4][5]
The MBTI may be beneficial for improving communication between healthcare professionals and patients. Notably, considering possible communication differences between the provider and the patient is important. For example, research suggests that doctors are significantly more likely to be introverts, intuitive perceivers, thinking deciders, and judging-oriented individuals compared to the general adult population, which tends to include more extroverts, sensing perceivers, feeling deciders, and perceiving-oriented individuals.[6] These potential differences can influence how patients interpret their interactions with providers. For instance, a doctor with a preference for intuitive perception and thinking judgment may approach communication with the following attitudes that differ from those of their patients:
Respect my intelligence and desire to understand
Demonstrate your competence
Answer my questions honestly
Provide options so I can identify a pattern
[6]
A patient who leans toward sensing, perceiving, and feeling in decision-making may approach communication with the following attitudes:
Notably, it is suggested that MBTI typology be incorporated into communication skills training for healthcare professionals to address these communication differences.[6][7] Research has shown that formal, structured approaches to teaching professionalism and communication are more effective than passive observational learning. This is important, as improved patient-physician communication is associated with better health outcomes and may reduce the risk of legal action.[8][9][10]
Nursing, Allied Health, and Interprofessional Team Interventions
All members of an interprofessional healthcare team would benefit from a basic understanding of the MBTI grading system. The MTBI system can facilitate patient interactions, foster empathy for how patients perceive their lives and experiences, and improve communication and collaboration within the team. Ultimately, this understanding can lead to better communication with patients and improved patient outcomes.
