Why the MBTI fails to measure a person's function order

Posted by Cory on December 05, 2000 at 19:43:36:

"Are you more likely to listen to...
a) Your own logic
b) Your own feelings"

How can the MBTI (and all other related tests) measure a persons function order when they do not directly do so? No, the MBTI turns your 4 letter code into something reductionistic. It simply measures if your Extraversion is greater/lesser than your Introversion, not if you are an Introverted Feeler with Extraverted Sensing. The problem is the MBTI views functions independently. They ask you if you prefer S or N, not Extraverted Sensing, Introverted Sensing, Extraverted Intuition, or Introverted Intuition. Here are my results from the downloadable DDLI test.

Cory's scores on the main set of questions:

Extraversion (E): 8 61 :(I) Introversion
Sensing (S): 24 46 :(N) iNtuition
Thinking (T): 16 56 :(F) Feeling
Judging (J): 17 52 :(P) Perceiving
You scored as an INFP.

Assuming that you are an INFP,
Your DOMINANT function is Introverted Feeling.
Your AUXILIARY function is Extraverted Intuition.
Your TERTIARY function is Introverted Sensing.
Your INFERIOR function is Extraverted Thinking.

That seems to make sense. I prefer Feeling more than iNtuition, plus I am an Introvert (and my Perceiving is stronger) so I am an INFP (Introverted Feeling with Extraverted Intuition). Actually, all this tells me is that I prefer the functions I, N, F, and P, when viewed regardless of extraverted or introverted orientation.

Cory's scores on the supplementary questions:

Extraverted Thinking / Introverted Feeling : 12
Extraverted Feeling / Introverted Thinking : 68

Extraverted Intuition / Introverted Sensing : 38
Extraverted Sensing / Introverted Intuition : 18

Rationality (Dominant Judging Function) : 36
A-rationality (Dominant Perceiving Function) : 23

According to the supplementary scores, Cory could be an ESFJ or an
INTP. These are opposite types, because the supplementary questions
measure for preferences that opposite types share in common. See the FAQ
for an explanation. These results conflict with the evaluation of Cory as
an INFP.

But if I was an Introverted Feeler, why did I score so incredibly low on it? 68 vs 12! The perceiving split was a bit more subtle but its clear I have preferences for Extraverted Intuition and Introverted Sensation. Finally, the last part says its likely I have a dominant Judging function, which is Extraverted Feeling or Introverted Thinking.

But if I was an Extraverted Feeler, why did I score a mere 8 points for Extraversion, but a whopping 61 for Introversion on the main set of questions?

Then that means Introverted Thinking, right? But I scored only 16 points for Thinking, but a huge 56 points for Feeling! I scored strongest in Introversion, then Feeling, then Perceiving, then finally iNtuiting.

So this makes me wonder: which test would be right? I would say the 2nd test is more reliable since it Directly tests for function order. I really don't know how to reconcile these two scores. They seem to be total opposites. Which is right?

-Cory

Follow Ups:

• Re: Why the MBTI fails to measure a person's function order Jan 00:08:06 12/06/00 (9)
  • Re: Why the MBTI fails to measure a person's function order Perciever 15:20:36 12/06/00 (0)
  • Where the Big Five fails Cory 12:05:12 12/06/00 (3)
    • Re: Where the Big Five fails Jan 14:29:57 12/07/00 (0)
    • Re: Where the Big Five fails Dave Kelly 16:29:46 12/06/00 (1)
      • He didn't nail Em at all, sir! Em [nt]! 08:23:00 12/07/00 (0)
  • Re: Why the MBTI fails to measure a person's function order Ana 05:11:23 12/06/00 (0)
  • Whoa-ha Mikko 03:28:27 12/06/00 (2)
    • Re: Whoa-ha Jan 11:36:47 12/06/00 (1)
      • Re: Whoa-ha Mikko 12:09:48 12/06/00 (0)

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