A Comparison of MBTI and Big Five Personality

Authors

  • Xinyu Ma

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61173/ztqy1758

Keywords:

MBTI, Briggs Myers, popularity, big five personality, personality traits, measurements

Abstract

This article explores the two most common measurements in the world today, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Big Five Personality (Five-Factor Model). Furthermore, the article casts a critical eye on the MBTI, dissecting its methodology, reliability, and validity. It highlights measurements’ strengths, such as its ability to offer a framework for self-understanding and its user-friendly nature, while also addressing the common criticisms levied against it. These include concerns about its scientific rigor, the potential for misinterpretation of results, and the static nature of the personality types it proposes. The discussion then pivots to the Big Five Personality Inventory, exploring its origins and the evolution of its use in contemporary psychological research and practice. The overarching goal of this paragraph is to present a comprehensive study that not only illuminates the advantages and disadvantages of these personality assessments but also opens the door to considering alternative psychological instruments. By doing so, the article aims to provide readers with a broader perspective on how these tools can be utilized to enhance various aspects of life, including academic study, the recruitment process in organizations, and the promotion of mental well-being. This holistic approach encourages a more informed selection of psychological resources, ultimately leading to more effective strategies in these areas.

References

[1] Kabigting Jr, F. J. The discovery and evolution of the big Dean&Francis Xinyu Ma five of personality traits: A historical review. GNOSI: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Human Theory and Praxis, 2021, 4(3): 83-100.

[2] McCrae, R. Defining traits. In The SAGE Handbook of Personality and Individual Differences: Volume I: The Science of Personality and Individual Differences (pp. 3-19). SAGE Publications Ltd. 2018.

[3] Ben-Porath, Y. S. Self-report inventories: Assessing personality and psychopathology. In J. R. Graham, J. A. Naglieri, & I. B. Weiner (Eds.), Handbook of psychology: Assessment psychology (2nd ed., pp. 622–644). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2013.

[4] Wu, W., Hao, W., Zeng, G., & Du, W. From personality types to social labels: the impact of using MBTI on social anxiety among Chinese youth. Front. Psychol. 2024, 15: 1419492.

[5] Jiang, W. Evaluation of the MBTI Popularity in South Korea -- An Analysis Based on Media Coverage. International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology, 2024, 12(1): 26–33.

[6] Williams, J. P., & Wu, S. The MBTI, cultural creation and self-conceptions: A case study of a subcultural meme on Chinese social media, 2024.

[7] Zhang, Y. “Impression management and interpersonal communication in the internet age: exploring the new dynamics with MBTI personality testing as an example” in Addressing global challenges-exploring socio-cultural dynamics and sustainable solutions in a changing world (London, UK: Routledge), 2024, 856–862.

[8] King, S. P., & Mason, B. A. Myers‐Briggs type indicator. The Wiley encyclopedia of personality and individual differences: Measurement and assessment, 2020, 315-319.

[9] Babcock, S. E., & Wilson, C. A. Big five model of personality. The Wiley Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences: Personality Processes and Individual Differences, 2020, 55-60.

[10] Morgeson, F. P., Campion, M. A., Dipboye, R. L., Hollenbeck, J. R., Murphy, K., & Schmitt, N. Are we getting fooled again? Coming to terms with limitations in the use of personality tests for personnel selection. Personnel Psychology, 2007, 60(4): 1029-1049.

[11] John, O. P., & Srivastava, S. (1999). The Big Five Trait taxonomy: History, measurement, and theoretical perspectives. In L. A. Pervin & O. P. John (Eds.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (2nd ed., pp. 102–138). Guilford Press.

[12] Allport, G. W., & Odbert, H. S. Trait-names: A psycholexical study. Psychological Monographs, 1936, 47(1): i–171.

[13] Norman, W. T., & Goldberg, L. R. Raters, ratees, and randomness in personality structure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1966, 4(6): 681–691.

[14] Allen, B. P., & Potkay, C. R. On the arbitrary distinction between states and traits. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1981, 41(5): 916–928.

[15] Chaplin, W. F., John, O. P., & Goldberg, L. R. Conceptions of states and traits: Dimensional attributes with ideals as prototypes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1988, 54(4): 541–557.

[16] Cattell, R. B. The description of personality: basic traits resolved into clusters. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1943, 38(4): 476–506.

[17] Fiske, D. W. Consistency of the factorial structures of personality ratings from different sources. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1949, 44(3): 329–344.

[18] Tupes, E. C. & Christal, R. E. Recurrent Personality Factors based on Trait Ratings. USAF ASD Tech. Rep. No. 61-97, Lackland Airforce Base, TX: US Air Force. 1961.

[19] Goldberg, L. R. An alternative “description of personality”: The Big-Five factor structure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1990, 59(6): 1216–1229.

[20] Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. The five-factor model of personality and its relevance to personality disorders. Journal of Personality Disorders,1992, 6(4): 343–359.

[21] Cobb-Clark, D. A., & Schurer, S. The stability of big-five personality traits. Economics Letters, 2012, 115(1): 11-15.

[22] Soldz, S., & Vaillant, G. E. The Big Five personality traits and the life course: A 45-year longitudinal study. Journal of research in personality, 1999, 33(2): 208-232.

[23] Leutner, F., Ahmetoglu, G., Akhtar, R., & Chamorro- Premuzic, T. The relationship between the entrepreneurial personality and the Big Five personality traits. Personality and individual differences, 2014, 63: 58-63.

Downloads

Published

2025-06-26

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 3 (2025): Volume 3, issue 3

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 by the authors.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.