Myer-Briggs is useless?

[SpeakNow]

I know a lot of FJers love the Myer-Briggs test. A friend of mine recently posted an article on Facebook that basically debunked the test. I was just wondering what others thought.

vox.com/2014/7/15/5881947/myers-briggs-personality-test-meaningless

"But the test was developed in the 1940s based off the untested theories of an outdated analytical psychologist named Carl Jung, and is now thoroughly disregarded by the psychology community. Even Jung warned that his personality "types" were just rough tendencies he'd observed, rather than strict classifications. Several analyses have shown the test is totally ineffective at predicting people's success in various jobs, and that about half of the people who take it twice get different results each time."

[aquitana]

I think Jung is still respected in some circles, if a little out of fashion.

I've gotten different things on Myer Briggs at different times, and I do agree that it's too simplistic to predict job success. But I don't think any test predicts job performance. Your anxiety level tolerance, personal discipline, the office culture, all kinds of things come into play at any job.

[DGayle]

No one test should be used by itself. They should be used as one of several tests. This is why the BMI isn't entirely useless, but shouldn't be used on its own.

[PennySycamore]

I know the Skeptic's Dictionary has had a an entry on the Meyers-Briggs test for quite a while now. It's interesting, but I don't think there's much to it especially in terms of career path. I was always more interested in science, but that's not what the MBTI would say I should go into.

ETA: I will say that I've taken the Meyers-Briggs test three times and have come out an ENFP each time. In fact, the psychologist who gave me the test most recently said that I was strongly ENFP. I do fit the description pretty well. Keirsey calls ENFPs Champions. I think that's a good way to put it. Not that I'm a champion in the athletic sense, but I do champion causes.

[treemom]

I had good experience In using it as a jumping off point in marriage counseling.

[Zock]

an outdated analytical psychologist named Carl Jung

That made me laugh quite a bit. As though Carl Jung were some complete unknown who was a minor footnote character in history. Yes, Jung is considered somewhat outdated but his work is still considered hugely influential not just psychology, but in anthropology, sociology, philosophy, and even religion and literature.

Just like any test, Meyer-Briggs is not supposed to be a definitive, be-all-end-all of diagnoses or planning. It's a jumping off point at best.

As with anything, there are people who want to slavishly follow the results, but those people are misusing the test.

Edited to add: @SpeakNow I know *you* didn't say that, that you quoted someone else. My quote makes it appear that you said it. Sorry! :)