MBTI Types: 16 MBTI Personality Types and Attributes

The Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI for short) is a self-reported personality assessment. Isabel Myers and Katharine Cook Briggs, who drew heavily on Swiss psychologist Carl Jung’s theory of personality types, developed the MBTI questionnaire to promote self-understanding by helping respondents clarify their abilities and preferences in life, work, and relationships.

The MBTI personality test organizes people into sixteen categories. The letters refer to four psychological functions or scales in human personalities:

1. 1. Introversion - Extroversion (I-E): Introversion to extroversion (or extraversion) describes how people interact with themselves and others. Extroverts thrive on socializing and find relationships relatively energizing, while introverts need to spend more time with themselves and often find socializing draining.
2. 2. Sensing - Intuition (S-N): This refers to how people gather information about the exterior world. Some tend to be more attentive to sensory information, while others are more intuitive about the world around them.
3. 3. Thinking - Feeling (T-F): This measures how people make decisions about the world and events. Those who favor thinking tend to be rational and deliberative and prefer logical conclusions. People who lean toward feeling tend to emphasize their emotions when making decisions.
4. 4. Judging - Perceiving (J-P): This scale measures people’s overall orientation toward people, events, and the outside world. Those who judge tend to favor organizational structure and precise decisions, whereas people who perceive are often more accepting, nuanced, and reserved in their opinions and ideas.

The Myers–Briggs Type Indicator organizes personalities into categories according to cognitive functions. The sixteen MBTI personality types are:

1. 1. ENFJ: The ENFJ personality type, also known as “the giver,” is an empathetic person who enjoys helping and spending time with others. The ENFJ acronym stands for “extroverted, intuitive, feeling, judging.”
2. 2. ENFP: Also known as “the champion,” the ENFP personality type is outgoing and enthusiastic. The ENFP acronym is “extroverted, intuitive, feeling, and perceiving.” People with this personality type tend to have creative-thinking skills and act spontaneously.
3. 3. ENTJ: The colloquial name for the ENTJ personality is “the commander.” The acronym ENTJ stands for “extroverted, intuitive, thinking, judging.” ENTJs are typically social and rational. These personality types often prefer logic over emotions when making decisions and have strong speaking skills, making them natural leaders.
4. 4. ENTP: A person with an ENTP personality is perceptive and innovative. ENTP stands for “extroverted, intuitive, thinking, perceiving.” This person will likely make plans and like to debate. This personality type is colloquially known as “the debater.”
5. 5. ESFJ: The ESFJ personality, known as “the caregiver,” stands for “extroversion, sensing, feeling, judging.” People with this personality type are sensitive, caring, and dependable.
6. 6. ESFP: The ESFP personality type, known as “the entertainer,” describes people who are the life of the party and thrive on social interaction. ESFP stands for “extroverted, sensing, feeling, perceiving.” They have excellent people skills, are talkative, and are great at making others feel welcome.
7. 7. ESTJ: People with the ESTJ personality type are authoritative, organized, and use logic in decision-making processes. ESTJ stands for “extroverted, sensing, thinking, judging.” The ESTJ type is colloquially known as “the director.”
8. 8. ESTP: Known as “the persuader,” the ESTP personality type takes risks and makes quick decisions. ESTP stands for “extroverted, sensing, thinking, perceiving.” ESTPs tend to be logical and observant.
9. 9. INFJ: The INFJ type is the rarest personality type. The INFJ personality is colloquially known as “the advocate” or “the idealist” type. The acronym “INFJ” stands for “introverted, intuitive, feeling, judging.” INFJs are passionate, empathic visionaries and excel in creative careers.
10. 10. INFP: The INFP personality is known as “the mediator.” The INFP acronym stands for “introverted, intuitive, feeling, and perceiving.” INFPs are big-picture thinkers and use intuition to make decisions.
11. 11. INTJ: This personality type, known as “the architect” or the “mastermind,” is logical and introspective. INTJs like to have control over their environment and are critical. INTJ stands for “introverted, intuitive, thinking, judging.” INTJ personalities are ambitious, curious, and insightful.
12. 12. INTP: People with the INTP personality type are thoughtful, logical, and objective. The INTP acronym stands for “introverted, intuitive, thinking, perceiving.” Colloquially, this personality type is known as “the thinker” or “the logician” type.
13. 13. ISFJ: The ISFJ personality is known as “the protector,” “the defender,” or “the guardian” type. ISFJs are affirming, caring, and practical nurturers. This is the most common personality type among the general population. People with ISFJ personalities have a strong work ethic and can accomplish tasks diligently and efficiently.
14. 14. ISFP: This personality type, known as “the artist,” describes quiet and solutions-oriented people. ISFP stands for “introverted, sensing, feeling, perceiving.” ISFPs also tend to be enigmatic, mysterious, and open-minded.
15. 15. ISTJ: The ISTJ personality type is common. ISTJ stands for “introverted, sensing, thinking, judging.” Also known as “the logistician” and “the inspector,” this type describes orderly people with practicality. At work, ISTJs thrive in roles that reward a keen eye for detail and strict adherence to rules or traditions.
16. 16. ISTP: People with the ISTP personality type are perceptive of the world around them. ISTP stands for “introverted, sensing, thinking, perceiving.” This person enjoys new experiences and investigates problems to create solutions. This type is colloquially known as “the crafter.”

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