Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: MBTI

[Diane or Douglas (ddhle]

At one time I studied the MBTI for several years, have taken it about 8 
times or so and have read many of the books on it. In my opinion the best 
of the books is Gifts Differing by Isabella Briggs-Meyers, the daughter of 
the mother/daughter team that created the test.

It isn't quite correct to call the MBTI a personality assessment; though it 
is often refered to that way colloquially. It assesses our preferences in 
four areas. I would agree that the collection of our preferences contribute 
to our personality but I stop short of saying they define it completely.

I have heard some "experts" claim that an individual's MBTI profile is 
fixed once established. I disagree with this. I see it as somewhat 
analagous to left or right handedness. In both cases we develop a 
preference as we grow and mature. As adults we can change those preferences 
if we are determined to. As with handedness, that can be a difficult task 
for most of us and relatively easy for a small number of us. But with di  
ligenece and patience it can be done by anyone who desires to.

I like the MBTI but also regard it as only one of several tools one can use 
to assess oneself.

Douglas Larson,
Songaia Cohousing, Bothell, Washington

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