Created by renowned psychiatrist Carl Jung and popularized since the 1940s, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) uses tailored questions to find your combination of four sets of opposing traits: introverted versus extroverted; sensing versus intuitive; thinking versus feeling; and perceiving versus judging. As psychologist Kristina Hallett, Ph.D., ABPP, explains, “I think of Sensing as information gathering through the here-and-now physical senses and generally more grounded in practicality.” Among other things, S types are straightforward and literal thinkers who are concerned with facts. “Intuition is information gathering from a broader, more ‘big picture’ perspective,” Hallett notes, “making links between patterns that may not be as easily seen from the specific in the moment view.” N’s are imaginative and future-focused, reading between the lines and connecting the dots between seemingly separate things. “Rarely are people just one clear ’type,’” Hallett adds. “We can certainly be a mix, although often there is a predominance one way or the other. Everyone spends some time sensing and some time using intuition.” Taking a look at the aforementioned explanations; whichever feels more natural to you is likely the type you tend toward. Remember, one is no better than the other—both have their strengths and weaknesses. But no matter which type you are, understanding your own personality can help you gain clarity on your own strengths going forward.
