The
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality test much like
Bolton's test in that the person being assessed is asked several
hypothetical questions about how they would respond in various
situations. I think the MBTI is more in depth in that there are a
total of sixteen personality types assessing attitude, perception,
judging and personality. Bolton's test only provides four personality
types based on assertiveness and responsiveness. The test is
available through several websites, guidance counselors and other
trained assessors. It is free to take online and in schools.
A
much longer multiple choice test is used to assess the personality
and define the trait for that character. Attitude is labeled as
either extroverted (E) or introverted (I). Perception is labeled as
either sensing (S) or intuition (N). Judging is labeled as either
thinking (T) or feeling (F). Personality is labeled as judging (J) or
perceiving (P). One trait from each classification is determined from
the test and the four letters make up one of the sixteen personality
types.
I
took the test and was classified as an ENTP. Extroverted attitude,
intuitive perception, thinking judge, and a perceiving personality. I
read about the personality type and it was a much better description
of myself than Bolton's test. With Bolton's test, I feel excluded
from the other traits that I bear at certain times. I was labeled an
amiable based on the test and although I do have amiable traits, I
have traits from the other classifications as well. My personality
can change to suit the environment that I am in. The MTBI gives me a
better understanding of who I am and how I may expect myself to
behave in different scenarios. I may go through all four types of
Bolton's personalities in one day but at the end of the day, I am an
ENTP.
Briggs Myers, I. (1980, 1995) Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type
Jung, C. G. (1971). Psychological types (Collected works of C. G. Jung, volume 6, Chapter X)
