MBTI (funzioni cognitive)

Il MBTI è probabilmente il test più conosciuto ed usato negli Stati Uniti. Sviluppato da Isabel Briggs Myers e da sua madre, Katharine Cook Briggs, fu pubblicato per la prima volta nel 1956 (forma F). La versione F e la versione G sono state pubblicate in Italia fino al 2000 da OS di Firenze. Per diversi anni quindi gli psicologi italiani non hanno potuto utilizzare strumenti psicometrici ispirati alla teoria dei tipi di Jung. Recentemente è stato validato in Italia il test Jung Type Indicator (JTI) che può essere considerato l’evoluzione del MBTI, soprattutto per le sue solide basi psicometriche. Il MBTI veniva presentato così:

“Il MBTI applica la teoria dei tipi di Jung, la cui essenza è che le variazioni apparentemente molto casuali, del comportamento umano sono in realtà del tutto ordinate e coerenti, in quanto dovute a certe differenze di base nel modo in cui le persone preferiscono usare la percezione e il giudizio. Con il termine “percezione” si intendono i processi del divenire coscienti di cose, persone, avvenimenti o idee; con quello di “giudizio” si intendono i processi del “giungere a conclusioni” su ciò che è stato percepito. Se le persone differiscono sistematicamente in ciò che percepiscono e nelle conclusioni a cui giungono, esse possono di conseguenza mostrare altrettante differenze nelle loro reazioni, nei loro interessi, valori, bisogni e motivazioni, in ciò che fanno meglio e in ciò che a loro piace di più fare. Adottando questa ipotesi di lavoro, il MBTI mira ad accertare le preferenze di base delle persone in merito alla percezione ed al giudizio, così che gli effetti delle preferenze e delle loro combinazioni possano essere evidenti attraverso la ricerca e possano, di conseguenza, essere utilizzati praticamente. In genere, la conoscenza delle preferenze di base di una persona potrebbe essere utile in quasi tutte le decisioni che interessano il suo futuro. Questo test si rivela quindi fondamentale nel campo della selezione del personale, dell’orientamento e del counseling, venendo a colmare un vuoto e rispondendo ad una sentita esigenza degli utenti.

Il MBTI contiene quattro indici separati per determinare ognuna delle quattro preferenze di base che, secondo la teoria junghiana, strutturano la personalità dell’individuo. L’indice EI ha lo scopo di evidenziare se la persona è un estroverso o un introverso. L’estroverso è principalmente orientato verso il mondo esterno e tende perciò a focalizzare la sua percezione e il suo giudizio sulle persone e sulle cose; l’introverso è principalmente orientato verso il mondo interno e tende quindi a focalizzare la propria percezione ed il proprio giudizio sui concetti e sulle idee. Il fine dell’indice SN è quello di evidenziare la preferenza della persona tra i due modi opposti di percepire; cioè se essa si affida principalmente al familiare processo della sensazione, per cui diviene cosciente delle cose direttamente attraverso uno qualsiasi dei suoi cinque sensi, oppure principalmente al processo meno ovvio dell’intuizione, che è intesa come percezione indiretta attraverso l’inconscio, in cui l’enfasi è posta sulle idee o sulle associazioni che l’inconscio aggiunge alle cose percepite dal mondo esterno. L’indice TF ha lo scopo di evidenziare la preferenza della persona tra i due modi opposti di giudicare cioè se si affida principalmente al pensiero, che discrimina impersonalmente tra il vero e il falso, o principalmente al sentimento, che discrimina tra ciò che ha valore e ciò che non ne ha. Infine, l’indice JP ha lo scopo di evidenziare se la persona si affida principalmente ad un processo basato sul giudizio (T o F) o ad un processo percettivo (S o N), nei suoi rapporti con il mondo esterno, cioè sulla parte estroversa della sua vita. Il questionario della Forma F si articola su 166 item, mentre quello della Forma G su 126. Quest’ultima forma, più breve, risulta essere quella di maggiore praticità.

L’esaminato può partecipare alla valutazione dei suggerimenti offerti dal test, in quanto le classificazioni si basano essenzialmente su ciò che egli stesso predilige e sceglie, in una struttura che non comporta alcuna implicazione di valore né positiva né negativa. Una volta che l’individuo capisce che ciò che è in discussione è la sua legittima scelta tra alternative ugualmente degne di credito, egli si trova in una posizione unica per confermarle o rifiutarle. Tale scambio può offrire ulteriori utili informazioni sia per il consulente che per il consultante. In quest’ottica, il MBTI si rivela un interessante strumento nel settore dell’orientamento scolastico, essendo d’aiuto nella scelta universitaria o del tipo di scuola da frequentare; nel campo occupazionale, una conoscenza del tipo può indirizzare la selezione del personale e il suo inserimento e sviluppo in azienda, individuando il profilo professionale più adatto al candidato, nonché la sua inclinazione al lavoro in un’organizzazione. Il modo più appropriato di usare il MBTI è come uno stimolo alla capacità di intuito di colui che lo utilizza. Quando la descrizione di una persona offerta dal test ha senso per colui che lo usa alla luce dei fatti che si conoscono, quando suggerisce una soluzione promettente, si può giudicare quella soluzione in base ai suoi vantaggi.” (tratto dal catalogo OS Organizzazioni Speciali, 1998)

In addition to the Enneagram type, people are also considered to be one of three instinctual variants (also called subtypes). The self-preservation instinct (dealing with oneself), the sexual (dealing with another person) and the social instinct (dealing with a group) can be most pronounced.

We strongly identify with one primary drive and with some secondary traits in another drive. On the occasion when two of the instinctual drives are equally dominant, it is noteworthy that the third drive is usually omitted. This perhaps still demonstrates the imbalanced use of the three very essential instinctual drives. The teaching of Instinctual Subtypes suggests that these fundamental instinctual drives need to be equally cared for and in balance in order to harness the energy needed to move toward transformation. The concept is that the energy expended in dealing with the instinctual drives' imbalance diminishes one's access to the energy necessary to move against fixation and toward transformation.

Self Preservation (SP) Instinct
People who have this as their dominant instinct are preoccupied with the safety, comfort, health, energy, and well-being of the physical body. In a word, they are concerned with having enough resources to meet life's demands. Identification with the body is a fundamental focus for all humans, and we need our body to function well in order to be alive and active in the world. Most people in contemporary cultures are not faced life or death "survival" in the strictest sense; thus, Self-Preservation types tend to be concerned with food, money, housing, medical matters, and physical comfort. Moreover, those primarily focused on self-preservation, by extension, are usually interested in maintaining these resources for others as well. Their focus of attention naturally goes towards things related to these areas such as clothes, temperature, shopping, decorating, and the like, particularly if they are not satisfied in these areas or have a feeling of deficiency due to their childhoods. Self-Pres types tend to be more grounded, practical, serious, and introverted than the other two instinctual types. They might have active social lives and a satisfying intimate relationship, but if they feel that their self-preservation needs are not being met, still tend not to be happy or at ease. In their primary relationships, these people are "nesters"—they seek domestic tranquility and security with a stable, reliable partner.

Sexual (aka "Attraction") (SX) Instinct
Many people originally identify themselves as this type because they have learned that the Sexual types are interested in "one-on-one relationships." But all three instinctual types are interested in one-on-one relationships for different reasons, so this does not distinguish them. The key element in Sexual types is an intense drive for intimacy and a constant awareness of the "chemistry" between themselves and others. Sexual types are immediately aware of the attraction, or lack thereof, between themselves and other people. Further, while the basis of this instinct is related to sexuality, it is not necessarily about people engaging in the sexual act. There are many people that we are excited to be around for reasons of personal chemistry that we have no intention of "getting involved with." Nonetheless, we might be aware that we feel stimulated in certain people's company and less so in others. The sexual type is constantly moving toward that sense of intense stimulation and intimacy in their relationships and in their activities. They are the most "energized" of the three instinctual types, and tend to be more aggressive, competitive, charged, and emotionally intense than the Self-Pres or Social types. Sexual types need to have deep intimacy in their primary relationships or else they remain unsatisfied. They enjoy being intensely involved—even merged—with others, and can become disenchanted with partners who are unable to meet their need for intense energetic union. Losing yourself in a "fusion" of being is the ideal here, and Sexual types are always looking for this state with others and with stimulating objects in their world.

Social (aka "Adaptive") (SO) Instinct
Just as many people tend to misidentify themselves as Sexual types because they want one-on-one relationships, many people fail to recognize themselves as Social types because they get the (false) idea that this means always being involved in groups, meetings, and parties. If Self-Preservation types are interested in adjusting the environment to make themselves more secure and comfortable, Social types adapt themselves to serve the needs of the social situation they find themselves in. Thus, Social types are highly aware of other people, whether they are in intimate situations or in groups. They are also aware of how their actions and attitudes are affecting those around them. Moreover, Sexual types seek intimacy, Social types seek personal connection: they want to stay in long-term contact with people and to be involved in their world. Social types are the most concerned with doing things that will have some impact on their community, or even broader domains. They tend to be warmer, more open, engaging, and socially responsible than the other two types. In their primary relationships, they seek partners with whom they can share social activities, wanting their intimates to get involved in projects and events with them. Paradoxically, they actually tend to avoid long periods of exclusive intimacy and quiet solitude, seeing both as potentially limiting. Social types lose their sense of identity and meaning when they are not involved with others in activities that transcend their individual interests.

INTP - The "Engineer"
Temperament: NT (Intellectual)
Primary Function: Introverted Thinking
Population: 2.5% (4% male, 1% female)

About the INTP
Expert Quotes & Links

"INTPs are relatively easy-going and amenable to most anything until their principles are violated, about which they may become outspoken and inflexible. They prefer to return, however, to a reserved albeit benign ambiance, not wishing to make spectacles of themselves."
- INTP Profile (TypeLogic)

"The INTP is above all a thinker and his inner (private) world is a place governed by a strong sense of logical structure. Every experience is to be rigorously analysed, the task of the INTP's mind is to fit each encountered idea or experience into a larger structure defined by logic."
- An INTP Profile (intp.org)

"INTPs live in the world of theoretical possibilities. They see everything in terms of how it could be improved, or what it could be turned into. They live primarily inside their own minds, having the ability to analyze difficult problems, identify patterns, and come up with logical explanations. They seek clarity in everything, and are therefore driven to build knowledge. They are the "absent-minded professors", who highly value intelligence and the ability to apply logic to theories to find solutions."
- Portrait of an INTP (The Personality Page)
"The Architects' distant goal is always to rearrange the environment somehow, to shape, to construct, to devise, whether it be buildings, institutions, enterprises, or theories. They look upon the world -- natural and civil -- as little more than raw material to be reshaped according to their design..."
- The Portrait of the Architect Rational (iNTp) (Keirsey)

"INTPs contribute a logical, system-building approach to their work. They like being the architect of a plan, because of the scheming and thinking involved, far more than being the implementer of that plan. Implementation tends to be drudgery. They are content to sit back and think about what might work, given their view of the situation. INTPs may ignore standard operating procedures. The hours that they spend are not what is important to them, but rather the completion of their thought process"
- INTP - The Wizard (Lifexplore)

"likes solitude, not revealing, unemotional, rule breaker, avoidant, familiar with the darkside, skeptical, acts without consulting others"
- Jung Type Descriptions (INTP) (similarminds.com)

Famous INTPs

Real INTP People

Abraham Lincoln - American President
Albert Einstein - German physicist
Ashley Olsen - actress (Full House)
Blaise Pascal - French mathematician
Bob Newhart - comedian, actor
Brent Spiner - actor ("Data" on Star Trek)
Carl Jung - Swiss psychiatrist
Charles Darwin - English naturalist
Gerald Ford - American President
James Madison - American President
Jeff Bingaman - U.S. Senator

John Quincy Adams - American President
John Tyler - American President
Mary-Kate Olsen - actress (Full House)
Meryl Streep - actress
Midori Ito - Japanese figure skater
Rene Descartes - French philosopher
Rick Moranis - actor (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids)
Socrates - Greek philosopher
William Harvey - medical doctor
William James - American psychologist

Fictional INTPs (Characters)

Ash - Alien
Avon - Blake's 7
Brian Griffin - Family Guy
Data - Start Trek: The Next Generation

Dr. Susan Lewis - E.R. TV show
Filburt - Rocko's Modern Life
Seven of Nine - Star Trek: Voyager


INTP Career Matches

INTPs are often happy with the following jobs which tend to match well with the Engineer/Intellectual personality.

Artist
Actor
Architect
Archaeologist
Agent
Consultant
Computer Specialist
Computer Animator
Computer Programmer
Engineer
Economist
Forestry/Park Ranger
Financial Planner
Historian
Human Resources Manager
Investigator
Investment Banker
Inventor
Interpreter/Translator

Judge
Legal Mediator
Logician
Lawyer/Attorney
Mathematician
Musician
Marketer
Network Specialist
Psychologist
Psychiatrist
Philosopher
Project Manager
Photographer
Researcher
Systems Analyst
Scientist
Strategic Planner
Technical Writer
Teacher/Professor