Personality Assessment, Essay Example

There is a realm of personality assessment tools that are likely to help individuals in broadening their self-perception and self-awareness. Each of them targets a specific subdivision or aspect of the human psychology, character, mechanisms that govern his or her behavior etc. Thus, personality assessment may usually require the application of several tools to produce a comprehensive idea of one’s true nature and its revelation in actions, career, and life in general. However, there are some over-grasping, complex personality assessment tools that enable an individual to receive a large amount of information about his or her self, to make career choices, to make thoughtful decisions on education and self-improvement, as well as to give advice on problem-solving and improvement for others. It is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) based on the typology of character worked out by Carl Jung (BSM Consulting, 2010).

The present personality assessment tool is based on the typology study of Carl Jung stating that all actions the human beings conduct, and the way they perceive information, are based on the interrelation of six main criteria: extraversion versus introversion, sensing versus intuition, and thinking versus feeling. The additional two criteria, judging versus perceiving, were added as a result of joint work of Katherine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers (BSM Consulting, 2010). The philosophy underlying the discussed assessment process is that each criterion is realized to a certain extent in each personality’s perception and decisions, and the one prevailing is the dominant function, with others performing the auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior role. As a result of this gradation, 16 personality types are formulated, which represent the standardization metrics of the test (Jung Typology Test, 2010). They are as follows:

• Extraversion Sensing (types ESFP, ESTP)
• Introversion Sensing (types ISTJ, ISFJ)
• Extraversion Intuition (types ENFP, ENTP)
• Introversion Intuition (types INFJ, INTJ)
• Extraversion Thinking (types ESTJ, ENTJ)
• Introversion Thinking (types ISTP, INTP)
• Extraversion Feeling (types ESFJ, ENFJ)
• Introversion Feeling (types INFP, ISFP) (BSM Consulting, 2010)

The scales of the present test are bipolar, as in the juxtaposition of extraversion and introversion: the 100% extraversion at one extreme and 100% introversion at the other one, There is a set of quantitative results for each criterion received as a result of taking the test, and they are likely to provide the information that will help an individual assess his/her flow of energy, lifestyle preferences, mode of perception and decision-making. As Casement (2001) notes, the MBTI shows how a perceiving type orientates in life in a different way as compared to the judging type, and how much of both qualities the tested individual is found to have.

As for the psychometric properties, one can state that the MBTI is a highly useful tool in understanding one’s personality and making decisions about his or her further movement in career, personal life, education, self-management etc. Thus, for example, it has been found out that the person having perception through sensing and intuiting manages to treat life situations in a spontaneous and flexible way, while the perceiving types remain aspiring for new events and impressions, adaptable to new circumstances etc. (Casement, 2001). In contrast, the judging approach to life presupposes the individuals’ desire to plan, control, and order their lives, which leaves a trace on their decisions and perceptions as well.

There are numerous fields in which the MBTI testing can be applied in a useful, constructive way. For example, the career guidance issues are often closely related to the MBTI results, and the assessment tool helps the individual identify the most suitable fields of work, professions, positions etc. (BSM Consulting, 2010). In case the individual is more apt to control and regulate the environment, he or she is not likely to succeed in an artistic career, so it will be much better for him/her to think of an accounting, managerial, or supervision position. Next, those in charge of employee management often find the MBTI application useful; the test gives them a proper idea of what the employees are adjusted to, which ways they perceive information better, which approach to decision-making is more typical for them, thus making their work-related interactions much more effective (BSM Counseling, 2010).

The MBTI results can assist the individual even in the improvement or establishment of inter-personal relationships – in case they understand their own lifestyle and values, they will be able to choose partners fitting them in their core habits. Finally, education and counseling also benefit from the application of MBTI testing; educational goals may be established more properly after receiving MBTI criteria because of the realistic outlook at the orientation in which the individual is likely to succeed. Counseling will benefit from identifying the weak and strong sides of an individual, and using that information to provide him/her with effective advice (BSM Consulting, 2010).

Notwithstanding the fact that the MBTI test possesses so many strengths and comparative advantages, and is one of the most supported and promoted personality assessment methods, there are some weaknesses in it as well. Its validity is moderate to high, lacking some objective and critical peer review (MBTI and Jung Personality Type Reviews, 2010). Reliability of the test is also quite moderate because only 75% to 90% of respondents receive the same scores on ¾ of variables in retesting; in addition, it cannot be applied to children (MBTI and Jung Personality Type Reviews, 2010). The value for money is also considered moderate, because MBTI is one of the most expensive personality assessment tools both for those taking the test, and for the practitioners (the training course for non-registered psychologists costs about $2,500) (MBTI and Jung Personality Type Reviews, 2010).

Making a conclusion about the MBTI personality assessment tool and its value in terms of providing the comprehensive psychological assessment, one can note that it is reasonably considered one of the most effective tools. The typology of personality is very detailed, and the tested individual acquires a wide range of possibilities for interpretation and decision-making. It is a result of hard work of three psychologists, so it may be considered a personality assessment technique giving a full picture of how one lives, thinks, and acts.

References

BSM Consulting, Inc. (2010). Information about Personality Types. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from http://www.personalitypage.com/html/info.html

Casement, A, (2001). Carl Gustav Jung. London, UK: SAGE.

Jung Typology Test (2010). Human Metrics. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jungtype.htm

MBTI and Jung Personality Type Reviews (2010). PsychTest Review. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from http://www.personalitytestreview.com/