文档介绍：Reinterpreting the Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator From the Perspective of the
Five-Factor Model of Personality
Robert R. McCrae and Paul T. Costa, Jr.
Gerontology Research Center
National Institute on Agmg, NIH
ABSTRACT The Myers-Bnggs Type Indicator (MBTI, Myers & McCauUey,
1985) was evaluated from the perspectives of Jung's theory of psychological
types and the five-factormode l of personahty as measured by self-reports and
peer ratings on the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI, Costa & McCrae,
1985b) Data were provided by 267 men and 201 women ages 19 to 93 Con-
sistent with earlier research and evaluations, there was no support for the view
that the MBTI measures truly dichotomous preferences or qualitatively distmct
types, instead, the instrument meastires four relatively independent dimensions
The interpretation of the Judging-Pferceivmg index was also called into ques-
tion The data suggest that Jung's theory is either incorrect or madequately op-
erationalized by the MBTI and cannot provide a sound basis for interpreting it
However, correlational analyses showed that the four MBTI indices did measure
aspects of four of the five major dimensions of normal personality The five-
factor model provides an alternative basis for interpreting MBTI findings within
a broader, monly shared conceptual framework
The Myers-Bnggs Type Indicator (MBTI, Myers & McCaulley, 1985) is
unusual among personality assessment devices for three reasons It is
based on one of the classic statements of personality theory, it purports
to measure types rather than traits or other continuous vanables, and it is
Thanks are due to Hamson Gough, Mary McCaulley, and Avnl Thome for valuable
suggestions on earlier drafts of this article, however, we retain full responsibility for
the interpretations offered Correspondence concerning this article can be addressed
to Robert R McCrae, ftrsonality. Stress, and Coping Section, Gerontology Re-
search Center, 4940 Eastem Av