Personality tests, are they BS?

[OKIsItJustMe]

11. I think the the Myers Briggs test is quite useful, for what it is

Essentially, you answer a bunch of questions which boil down to, “Do you prefer A or B,” and the Myers Briggs reports back, “You have (some degree) of preference for A over B.” (That degree of preference varies based on how commonly you choose A over B.)

The mistake that some make is losing track of the idea that it is a continuum from a strong preference for A to a strong preference for B. If you have a weak preference for A over B, you might test one way today, and the other tomorrow.

You cannot assume that you can create 16 boxes, fit everyone neatly into one of those 16 boxes, and assume that they will stay put.


However, it can be quite valuable (in my opinion) to have a sort of accounting to see, “Yes, this is the way I prefer to work.” One of my friends tests out quite similarly to me, while a third tests significantly differently (just as we predicted.) We see it play out in our decision making all of the time.

While the first friend and I are wont to think over a decision, weighing various alternatives, trying to produce an optimal solution, our other friend quickly becomes impatient with this, wishing we would, “Just make a decision!”