MBTI is almost useless

[Evan]

Finally, in the last few months, I've begun to understand MBTI. There are no logical inconsistencies in my understanding, and I can break down any behavior into functions. The problem is, there is always more than one way to describe a behavior from a functional standpoint. Ne, Fi, Te, Si can solve the same problem that Se, Ti, Fe, Ni can solve. They can explain their thought processes in the same way.

I've mistyped a few of my friends -- for example, I thought one of my friends was ENFP since I met her, and I recently realized she was ENTP. But during our entire friendship, I felt like I completely understood her and her thought processes. I could predict her reactions to other people, to ideas...I "got" her as well as I got anyone (and I pride myself on ability to deeply connect with/understand people). And I thought she was ENFP at the time. The thing is, once I realized she was ENTP, absolutely nothing about my understanding of her changed. The same is true of my INFP friend that I thought was ENFP. Same with my ENTP friend I thought was ESTP.

I can completely connect with people (almost on par with therapists), and I essentially don't use the MBTI framework at all in doing so. If anything, it's hindered my ability since I'm losing information trying to shove an irregular shape into a regular-shaped-hole.

MBTI has practically no application in my life. The only thing I can think of is that it may be helpful for me to explain one person's behavior to another person. Even then, it's a gross oversimplification of total behavior. It says nothing about specific motivation. And honestly, even in using the framework to explain people to each other, I feel that I'm leading them down the wrong path. It certainly isn't enough...

[iwakar]

So you don't feel it has an application for the teaching field? More specifically, as curriculum for teachers?

[Jack Flak]

I approve of this thread. It's only useful if it's useful for you. Abandon it, and don't look back.

[Antisocial one]

If you ask me the only thing that can work in MBTI are those four letters and their strenght. All those function stuff and deep things are nonsense.

[Jack Flak]

Originally Posted by Antisocial one

If you ask me the only thing that can work in MBTI are those four letters and their strenght. All those function stuff and deep things are nonsense.

QFT although my stance is that the "templates," aka types, mean more than the sum of the preference choices.

[Lateralus]

I couldn't agree more.

[sleepless]

Damn it, I can really relate to your post and in a way I think you are right ><

Still, I would like to consider this from an MBTI perspective: We are both INFJs, and with NiFe we can gain a penetrating understanding of other people that transcends any words and categorizations. But with the Tertiary Temptation, the tendency to fall back on our Ti, we can lose this connection and start typing people categorically instead, for no use. You describe yourself as NiTi, which I find a bit alarming to be honest... We need to stay out of Ti; the third function is nothing you need to "strengthen", rather as you say, it should mostly be used to explain things to others.

Finally, in the last few months, I've begun to understand MBTI. There are no logical inconsistencies in my understanding, and I can break down any behavior into functions. The problem is, there is always more than one way to describe a behavior from a functional standpoint. Ne, Fi, Te, Si can solve the same problem that Se, Ti, Fe, Ni can solve. They can explain their thought processes in the same way.

This I would like to have explained, if you care to...

[Jennifer]

Originally Posted by sleepless

...This I would like to have explained, if you care to...

Yes, more actual discussion and explanation and less, "Oh, you're so right!" and "Oh, you are too!" and "Oh, we are so right, together -- group huggies" would be more informative and useful.

[Evan]

Originally Posted by iwakar

So you don't feel it has an application for the teaching field? More specifically, as curriculum for teachers?

It is useful in a macro sense, but applying it to individuals almost guarantees misapplication (unless you are extraordinarily careful, but then you're narrowing your scope so much that you end up not saying much).

Originally Posted by Antisocial one

If you ask me the only thing that can work in MBTI are those four letters and their strenght. All those function stuff and deep things are nonsense.

I completely disagree. Staying on the level of dichotomies makes misapplication even more likely. Thinking versus Feeling? What a joke. You end up putting things against each other that aren't actually in opposition.

[Antisocial one]

Originally Posted by Jack Flak

QFT although my stance is that the "templates," aka types, mean more than the sum of the preference choices.

What do you want to say with this?