Flaws in MBTI

**Nordenstorm** · 02-12-2009, 01:29 PM

What flaws do you think there is in MBTI?

It feels as though something is missing, but I haven't bin able to put my finger on what's wrong.

**Sean O** · 02-12-2009, 01:52 PM

I think people forget that the MBTI isn't supposed to override individuality. All it does is explain specific trends in how people think/behave - not who they are as an entire person.

Another thing is that people seem to think of the MBTI classifications as black-and-white, rather than a continuum of shades of grey, so to speak.

**Doppelbock** · 02-12-2009, 01:52 PM

There have been many criticisms made of MBTI, q.v. wikipedia's entry for example. Most of the criticisms have to do with MBTI lacking a scientific basis and being subject to the Forer effect (the first I partially agree with, the latter I do not).

**Frag** · 02-12-2009, 03:32 PM

	Originally Posted by Doppelbock To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	and being subject to the Forer effect (the first I partially agree with, the latter I do not).

How so? Even if you answer the questions honestly, you're still supposed to go read and pick whatever fits you best... thats gonna be highly subject to Forer effect.

**Sheepdog** · 02-12-2009, 08:47 PM

One of the biggest flaws in MBTI typing is the self examination itself. A user can answer with pre-conceived notions of how they would like to perceive him/herself instead of what they actually are. Sometimes a person can test as a certain type while not actually displaying the characteristics of that type.

I find the that best way to type someone is to study the traits of each type and then compare them to a person through observation over time.

**demaugustus** · 02-14-2009, 07:48 PM

First I thought I was ISTP because I was very into athletics, but my knowledge of the subject was very minute at the time. Then I became familiar with I vs E, S vs N, F vs T, and P vs J and thought I was INTJ, along with knowing the general definitions of them. Then I learned the basic underlying functions, such as Ni Te Fi Se etc... and studied my own ontology to find I was actually ENTJ; some functions were more developed than others, but I was inherently ENTJ. I had to ignore the personality profile descriptions to a certain degree and not hold them as absolute truth.

demvesalius added to this post, 6 minutes and 36 seconds later...

What's that one quote in "Pirates of the Caribbean"?

I think it goes: "We don't have rules on how to be Pirates, they're more like guidelines."

...Something like that.

02-12-2009, 01:29 PM	#1
Nordenstorm Member [02%] MBTI: iNtj Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 105	What flaws do you think there is in MBTI? It feels as though something is missing, but I haven't bin able to put my finger on what's wrong.
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02-12-2009, 01:52 PM	#2
Sean O Member [20%] MBTI: ENFJ Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 830	I think people forget that the MBTI isn't supposed to override individuality. All it does is explain specific trends in how people think/behave - not who they are as an entire person. Another thing is that people seem to think of the MBTI classifications as black-and-white, rather than a continuum of shades of grey, so to speak.
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02-12-2009, 01:52 PM	#3
Doppelbock Member [30%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,213	There have been many criticisms made of MBTI, q.v. wikipedia's entry for example. Most of the criticisms have to do with MBTI lacking a scientific basis and being subject to the Forer effect (the first I partially agree with, the latter I do not).
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02-12-2009, 08:47 PM	#5
Sheepdog New Member [01%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 13	One of the biggest flaws in MBTI typing is the self examination itself. A user can answer with pre-conceived notions of how they would like to perceive him/herself instead of what they actually are. Sometimes a person can test as a certain type while not actually displaying the characteristics of that type. I find the that best way to type someone is to study the traits of each type and then compare them to a person through observation over time.
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02-14-2009, 07:48 PM	#6
demaugustus Member [31%] MBTI: ENTJ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,264	First I thought I was ISTP because I was very into athletics, but my knowledge of the subject was very minute at the time. Then I became familiar with I vs E, S vs N, F vs T, and P vs J and thought I was INTJ, along with knowing the general definitions of them. Then I learned the basic underlying functions, such as Ni Te Fi Se etc... and studied my own ontology to find I was actually ENTJ; some functions were more developed than others, but I was inherently ENTJ. I had to ignore the personality profile descriptions to a certain degree and not hold them as absolute truth. demvesalius added to this post, 6 minutes and 36 seconds later... What's that one quote in "Pirates of the Caribbean"? I think it goes: "We don't have rules on how to be Pirates, they're more like guidelines." ...Something like that.
demaugustus is offline post a comment