Chapter 02 of 5
Myers-Briggs on Trial
Why the world's most famous personality test is weak science.
- Famous
Four letters
Millions of people have taken the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and know themselves by four letters, like INTJ or ESFP.
- The Creators
A mother and daughter
It was created by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers, starting in the 1940s.
- Background
No psychology training
Neither had formal training in psychology. They were inspired by the ideas of psychiatrist Carl Jung.
17 more cards in this chapter
Could you answer this?
What is one key scientific problem with the Myers-Briggs test?
🎭 What Makes You You?
- 01The Big FiveThe personality model psychologists actually rely on.
- 02Myers-Briggs on TrialWhy the world's most famous personality test is weak science.
- 03Nature and NurtureWhat twins reveal about where personality comes from.
- 04You Will ChangePersonality isn't set in stone — here's how it shifts through life.
- 05Why Horoscopes Feel TrueThe Barnum effect — and why vague descriptions feel personal.