The Myers and Briggs personality system is one of the most popular personality frameworks in the world. Developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers, and inspired by Carl Jung’s theories of psychological types, its purpose is to help people better understand themselves and others. It does this by categorizing test-takers into one of 16 distinct personality types.
Each of these types is described by a four-letter code, for example INTP or ESFJ, where each letter represents your preference on a “dichotomy.” The dichotomies, also called dimensions, reflect four pairs of opposite traits: Extraversion vs. Introversion, Sensing vs. Intuition, Thinking vs. Feeling and Judging vs. Perceiving. Your unique combination of preferences across these dichotomies forms your Myers and Briggs personality type, offering insight into how you gain energy, process information, make decisions and approach the world around you.
Let’s explore what these dichotomies are, how they work, and what they can and can’t tell us about ourselves.
The Four Myers and Briggs Dichotomies
Extraversion vs. Introversion, The Energy Style
This first dichotomy describes where you focus your energy and get your motivation. A person’s energy style describes:
How they engage with the people in their environment.
How they gain, expend and conserve their energy.
Whether they tend to process thoughts and ideas verbally, or through quiet reflection.
The two opposing energy styles are:
Extraversion (E): Extraverts are energized by the outer world of people, activity and things. They tend to be talkative, outgoing and enjoy social gatherings. Extraverts often think out loud and process ideas through discussion.
Introversion (I): Introverts are energized by their inner world of thoughts, ideas and reflection. They may prefer solitude, quiet environments and deep one-on-one conversations. Introverts usually think before they speak and may need time alone to recharge.
Common misconceptions: Extraverts aren’t always the life of the party, and Introverts aren’t necessarily shy. These are stereotypes based on outward behaviors, when the key difference is where each type draws their energy.
Sensing vs. Intuition, The Cognitive Style
This dichotomy explains how you prefer to take in information. Cognitive style refers to:
The type of information that naturally commands our attention.
Whether we focus on the big picture or specific details.
Our preference for seeing the data or circumstances as they are, or as they could be.
The two opposing cognitive styles are:
Sensing (S): Sensors focus on the present and concrete information gained from their five senses. They value facts, details and real-world experience. Sensors are practical and grounded, often preferring step-by-step instructions.
Intuition (N): Intuitives focus on patterns, possibilities and the big picture. They are more interested in ideas, concepts and future possibilities than immediate realities. Intuitives enjoy brainstorming and imagining what could be.
Common misconceptions: Sensors are not unimaginative, and Intuitives are not flighty or disconnected from reality. Both simply have different ways of processing information.
Thinking vs. Feeling, The Values Style
The third dichotomy addresses how you make decisions. Values style refers to:
Our preference for logic and reason, or empathy and identification.
The conclusions we form based on experiences and/ or data we have observed.
The manner in which data squares with our personal values system.
Our focus on objective rightness or fairness, or on individual concerns and outcomes.
The two opposing values styles are:
Thinking (T): Thinkers base decisions on logic, data, consistency and objective analysis. They value fairness and often prioritize truth over tact. In conflict, Thinkers look for logical solutions.
Feeling (F): Feelers base decisions on personal values, empathy and the impact on others. They value harmony and often prioritize personal concerns or relationships over rules. In conflict, Feelers seek compromise and understanding.
Common misconceptions: Thinkers aren’t cold or unfeeling, and Feelers aren’t irrational. Both use reason and values, but weigh them differently.
Judging vs. Perceiving, The Self-management Style
This final dichotomy describes your approach to structure and organization. Self-Management style describes:
Our manner of structuring and scheduling time and tasks.
Our preference for either structure and plans, or spontaneity and flow.
Work patterns—measured and paced, or sporadic bursts.
Our desire to halt the flow of information and make a decision, or to continue receiving information while prolonging a definitive answer or action.
The two opposing self-management styles are:
Judging (J): Judgers prefer structure, planning and decisiveness. They like to have things settled, enjoy making lists and schedules, and turn up on time. Judgers are often seen as organized and reliable.
Perceiving (P): Perceivers prefer flexibility, spontaneity and keeping their options open. They adapt easily to change and enjoy exploring new opportunities. Perceivers are often seen as adaptable and curious.
Common misconceptions: Judgers aren’t necessarily rigid, and Perceivers aren’t necessarily disorganized. It’s about preference for structure versus flexibility, and how comfortable a person is with ambiguity.
Combining Dichotomies: The 16 Personality Types
Each one of the 16 personality types is a unique combination of these four dichotomies. For example:
ISTJ (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging): The four dichotomy preferences combine to describe a personality that is independent, pragmatic, logical, reliable, predictable and skilled in organization and time-management.
ENFP (Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving): The four dichotomy preferences combine to describe a personality that is enthusiastic, creative, sociable and passionate, who takes things as they come and is bored by the mundane.
Each type has its own strengths and challenges, and no type is better than another. Understanding our personality style can help us understand why we behave the way we do, make the most of our strengths, account for our differences, and appreciate the gifts, talents and preferences of those whose types are different from our own.
Do We Always Fit Neatly Into One Category?
The Myers and Briggs personality system is an example of type theory. Type theory classifies people into distinct personality categories, or “types,” based on shared patterns of behavior, thinking and emotion. Unlike trait theory, which sees personality characteristics as existing on a spectrum, type theory suggests that individuals fit into a limited number of fixed groups, each defined by a specific set of stable qualities, such as being a Judger or a Perceiver.
In reality, the four dichotomies also exist on a spectrum. No one falls 100% on one side of the continuum or the other at all times. This is unrealistic and fails to take into account that, as humans, we may exhibit different approaches depending on the situation or environment.
People do have natural preferences that are fairly consistent throughout the course of life, but we can all lean into the opposing side when needed. For example, someone who prefers Introversion may still enjoy social gatherings, just as a Thinker can make decisions based on personal values in certain situations. The 16-type framework is designed to highlight your most comfortable, default tendencies, not to put you in a box or suggest you can never act differently.
A high-quality test like Truity’s TypeFinder® will give you not just your four-letter type, but also show you where you fall on each dichotomy. For example, it doesn’t just tell you that you’re an Extravert, but also how strongly you lean toward Extraversion versus Introversion. This approach adds nuance by introducing elements of trait theory into type theory, helping you understand both your overall type and the unique balance of your personality preferences. Some people will score highly for certain dimensions of personality, while with regard to other dimensions, they may fall closer to the middle. This is normal.
Ultimately, the dichotomies are best understood as helpful guides to your preferences, not as rigid labels. Recognizing this flexibility allows you to appreciate the full range of your personality and adapt to different roles, relationships and environments as needed.
