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Abstract
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI; Myers & McCaulley, 1985) was evaluated from
the perspectives of Jung's theory of psychological types and the five-factor model
of personality as measured by self-reports and peer ratings on the NEO Personality
Inventory (NEO-PI; Costa & McCrae, 1985b). Data were provided by 267 men and 201 women
ages 19 to 93. Consistent with earlier research and evaluations, there was no support
for the view that the MBTI measures truly dichotomous preferences or qualitatively
distinct types; instead, the instrument measures four relatively independent dimensions.
The interpretation of the Judging-Perceiving index was also called into question.
The data suggest that Jung's theory is either incorrect or inadequately operationalized
by the MBTI and cannot provide a sound basis for interpreting it. However, correlational
analyses showed that the four MBTI indices did measure aspects of four of the five
major dimensions of normal personality. The five-factor model provides an alternative
basis for interpreting MBTI findings within a broader, more commonly shared conceptual
framework.