The MBTI, by way
of personality tests, categorizes individuals into sixteen different archetypes,
based on Carl Jung’s idea of cognitive functions. The personality test measures
the extent of the test-taker’s adherence to the following characteristics:
Introvert (I) or Extrovert (E); Sensor (S) or Intuitive (I); Feeler (F) or
Thinker (T); and Judger (J) or Perceiver (P.) Each of these sixteen archetypes
is assigned a four letter label, and personality traits are ascribed to each
such archetype.
But the MBTI is
much more than a description of different personality archetypes. Its examination
of cognitive functions—Sensing, Intuition, Feeling and Thinking; allows for
deeper exploration and “fleshing Out” of characters, especially when combined
with “external” characteristics such as Introvert, Extrovert, Judger or
Perceiver.
Sometimes, authors
run into the problem of multiple characters who, despite outward appearance, all
think and act the same way. The MBTI is useful because it allows writers to go
beyond characters with whom they are familiar, based on personal experience. By
using the MBTI, writers can create primary or secondary characters who would be
true to their “character,” in terms of how they think and act. Genuinely diverse
characters are important in creating believable tension, an important function
in novel-writing.
As one may expect,
the MBTI has shown usefulness in many areas, especially in Human Resource
departments in the corporate world.
There are critics
of the MBTI. Specifically, some find the number of categories to be limited,
and perhaps, not fully useful in describing the enormous number of
personalities that exist in real life. Of course, pigeon-holing a character
into one archetype or another can be misleading. But, since MBTI is one of the
earliest personality type indexes, a lot of literature and studies exist
regarding the various personality types. This rich repository of information,
if well-understood, can help authors create characters who, while showing
distinct personalities, are believable and consistent in their words and deeds.
