The Personality Brokers audiobook cover - The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing

The Personality Brokers

The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing

Merve Emre

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The Personality Brokers
Origins & Creators+
The MBTI Framework+
Unscientific Foundations+
Societal Appeal & Self-Help+
The Dark Side of Typing+
Enduring Value & Popularity+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
Why did the creators of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator deliberately design the test without 'right' or 'wrong' answers?
  • A. To ensure test-takers would not worry about being regarded as inferior to others.
  • B. To make it easier for Fortune 500 companies to hire a diverse workforce.
  • C. To align with Carl Jung's belief that human morality is completely subjective.
  • D. To prevent the test from being used for clinical psychological diagnoses.
Question 2 of 6
How did behavioral psychologist John B. Watson view Carl Jung's theories on personality types, which form the basis of the MBTI?
  • A. He praised them for bridging the gap between philosophy and modern clinical psychology.
  • B. He criticized them for having more in common with religious mysticism than empirical science.
  • C. He believed they were scientifically accurate but too complex for the general public to understand.
  • D. He argued they were plagiarized from earlier behavioral studies conducted in the United States.
Question 3 of 6
Which of the following best describes Katharine Briggs’s relationship with Carl Jung's work?
  • A. She viewed his work objectively and sought to correct his scientific errors through empirical testing.
  • B. She collaborated with him extensively via letters to co-author the first MBTI questionnaire.
  • C. She became deeply obsessed with him, treating his writings as a path to salvation and writing fiction about him.
  • D. She initially rejected his theories but later adopted them after her daughter proved their validity.
Question 4 of 6
Why was early twentieth-century American society so receptive to Katharine Briggs’s first personality questionnaire, 'Meet Yourself'?
  • A. The government heavily promoted the questionnaire to sort soldiers for the Second World War.
  • B. The public was looking for an alternative to the strict judgment and absolution previously offered by the Church.
  • C. Universities mandated the test for admission, making it a cultural phenomenon among young people.
  • D. The scientific community endorsed it as the first empirical tool to cure the mental anxieties of the 'roaring twenties.'
Question 5 of 6
Why did social philosopher Theodor Adorno consider the practice of personality typing to be dangerous?
  • A. He believed it would eventually replace traditional education systems and restrict intellectual growth.
  • B. He thought the 16 personality types were too vague and would lead to a widespread cultural crisis of identity.
  • C. He argued it was a symptom of fascist discrimination and capitalist oppression aimed at dividing people into classes.
  • D. He worried that giving people an excuse for their bad behavior would lead to a breakdown in societal laws.
Question 6 of 6
Despite its lack of scientific validity and low reliability upon retaking, why does the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator remain incredibly popular today?
  • A. It provides a comforting framework for self-acceptance and helps justify people's past decisions.
  • B. It is legally required by most Fortune 500 companies during the interview process.
  • C. It is the only personality test officially endorsed by the global psychological community.
  • D. It accurately predicts a person's future career success better than any other metric.

The Personality Brokers — Full Chapter Overview

The Personality Brokers Summary & Overview

The Personality Brokers (2018) explores the origins and enduring appeal of the preeminent personality test. Drawing on detailed historical research, as well as recent psychological insights, these blinks detail the origins of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and what the test can really tell us about the nature of human beings.

Who Should Listen to The Personality Brokers?

  • Anyone interested in psychology
  • Those who enjoy stories about inspiring women
  • Sociology buffs looking for new insights into twentieth-century society

About the Author: Merve Emre

Merve Emre is an author and an associate English professor at the University of Oxford. Her writing has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker and The New Republic. She holds an MPhil and a PhD from Yale University.

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