Personality Development Based on Myers Briggs Assessment

There are two types of people: those who come into a room and say, “Well, here I am!” and those who come in and say, “Ah, there you are” (JB, n.d.). Even though this statement illustrates it, our general public fundamentally has two primary identity categories. Everyone is aware of those individuals who love to be the life of the party, and those who prefer to observe and reflect privately. The main question is which category each person fits into and how everyone can effectively interact with others.

I will be taking the Myers Briggs assessment to see what kind of personality I might have, and how it might apply to my career.

The results of my MBTI are INFJ, which stands for Introvert, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging. Upon researching and finding additional information about the interpretations of INFJ, I learned that a person with these results is very self-aware, thoughtful, detail-oriented, fascinated by understanding, keeps emotions private, and tends to be quiet and reserved in large groups. Such individuals are generally more talkative around those they know well and tend to learn through observation. I find these results accurate as I possess all these traits. I am indeed quiet unless I am around friends. I do not like sharing my emotions and feelings with others, nor do I enjoy large crowds. If I find myself in one, I tend to keep towards the back. I also learn primarily by observing others. Having this understanding of my personality will help me to become a better counselor. Using the MBTI can assist me in acquainting myself with my client’s personality to understand them better. I plan to use this assessment tool with my patients to offer them a better understanding of their personality type. Completing this task would help them understand the traits and personalities they possess.

The illumination behind the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is to make the theory of mental types delineated by C.G. Jung concrete and useful in people’s lives (McCaulley, 1990). The epitome of the theory is that a seemingly random assortment is extremely accurate and reliable, being the result of actual differences in how people prefer to use their perception and judgment (McCaulley, 1990). The MBTI instrument is built upon Carl Jung’s ideas about perception and judgment and the different ways these are used in various individuals. The purpose of the MBTI instrument is to ascertain, from self-reports of only perceived behaviors, the basic tendencies of people in terms of perception and judgment. The effects of each tendency, individually and in combination, can then be substantiated by research and put into practice (McCaulley, 1990).

Adler’s Techniques

To build a treatment plan for a small child who comes into my workplace due to disruptive behavior at home, I would likely start by referring to Adler’s personality theories. First, I would observe the specific behaviors of the child – resistance, tantrums, and hitting in this case. Then, I would examine the child’s behaviors in comparison to the birth order dynamics amongst their siblings. For example, if the child was the middle child – as indicated by Adler’s birth order theory, they may feel “sandwiched” in. This could be a significant factor amongst all the children (“Adlerian Summary of Birth Order Characteristics”). Furthermore, the fact that the child is part of a family of all boys might also contribute to his behavioral problems. According to the birth order theory, a child born into a male-dominant family may either conform to an assigned role or resist it strongly (“Adlerian Summary of Birth Order Characteristics”).

Based on the realities of the child coming from a predominantly male family, being a middle child, and the behavioral issues that brought the child to my office, I would say that it appears the child may suffer from feelings of inferiority (Friedman, 2013). Alfred Adler believed that a person’s feelings of inferiority resulted from a sense of powerlessness or an experience that left them feeling less capable. I would argue that the child has an aggression drive based on his behavior, outbursts, and instances of hitting his siblings.

In treating the child, I would first start with information arrangement by gathering essential data relating to the issues and the family history. The discussion would delve into their childhood, memories, and dreams. From this, I would formulate a preliminary hypothesis about the child’s feelings of inferiority and their coping style. Upon my findings through dialogue with the patient, I would then proceed to the next stage. During this stage, I would recognise what the patient has already accomplished, which could be as simple as refraining from physically harming their siblings. As the child’s confidence grows, I would then proceed to the community feeling stage. We have already overcome many hurdles in treatment and the child now has an improved image of themselves. They can get along and contribute towards their well-being. As the sense of community develops, the child can foster healthier relationships and improve their performance at work.

The MBTI was beneficial in helping me become more acquainted with various personality types. It confirmed that my goal to become a counselor is correct and highlighted areas in which I should focus. While I may not wholly agree with Jung’s personality theory, I found it useful in explaining my personality type. When creating treatment structures, Adler’s theory on birth order provides a valuable resource for forming fundamental ideas about why children behave a certain way. His theories are humanistic and can provide essential information when developing a treatment plan for children.

References

(n.d.). Personality test based on Jung and Briggs Myers typology. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
Friedman, H. S. (2013). Personality: Classic Theories and Modern Research. Library of Congress Cataloging.
McCaulley, M. H. (1990). The Myers-Briggs type indicator. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: A Measure for Individuals and Groups, 181.

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