• Question: If any of you know what myer briggs typing is, what type would yoube, and how has it helped you in science?

    Asked by bridget to Amy, Drew, Julia, Kimberley, Sara on 20 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Drew Rae

      Drew Rae answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      Hi Bridget,
      This is probably disappointing news, but there is no good evidence that Myers Briggs typing can make any useful predictions, or even that “personallity types” is a meaningful concept. Myers Briggs can be useful as an ice-breaker to discuss personality, and to appreciate that differences in personality don’t make people better or worse, but that’s all.

      Like most people, my Myers Briggs type fluctuates according to my mood and recent experiences.

    • Photo: Julia Griffen

      Julia Griffen answered on 19 Jun 2011:

      I agree with drew!

    • Photo: Amy MacQueen

      Amy MacQueen answered on 19 Jun 2011:

      Hi Bridget! I was almost borderline on all the categories for this…and most of the questions I didn’t like choosing one option over another because I wasn’t happy with any. So, other than showing I am somewhat indecisive I don’t think it is necessarily a brilliant measure of personality!

      We did spend a whole evening in my flat going through it though (coz one of my flatmates got OBSESSED!) …it was amusing trying to predict what you thought other people would be. But I don’rt think anyone walks into the lab going “right I’m an ESTJ – lets get started”.

      Your personality definitely helps you get through life – but its not to say that a certain personality is definitely better at a certain job…it takes all sorts! Its on such a sliding scale I’m not sure you can definitively type people! 🙂

    • Photo: Sara Imari Walker

      Sara Imari Walker answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Hello Bridget! I think personalities are notoriously difficult to measure. So, I don’t put much stock in things like myer briggs typing. Its interesting to think about, but ultimately it doesn’t really give you anything useful in terms of decision making or predicting how a person will turn out. I like Amy’s story, that is pretty funny!

    • Photo: Kimberley Bryon

      Kimberley Bryon answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      I had never heard of Myer Briggs typing before. Sounds really interesting though – I am learning so much from IAS.

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