Manual: A Guide to the Development and Use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

From Acknowledgments to the 2nd Edition: "This work reflects [Isabel[ Myers' six decades of interest in Jung's theory of psychological types and four decades of research to develop a way of putting Jung's theory to practical use. The idea of psychological type, and to some extent the theory of Jung, was out of favor in psychology for some decades. Types, temperaments, and traits have been seen by some psychologists as constructs ill-suited to the sophistication of present-day psychology. However, the types described in this Manual have both constitutional and environmental roots; they are developmental and dynamic, not static. Jung's theory provides a powerful way for illuminating everyday observations about individual styles of information gathering and decision making. Because an understanding of Jung's theory is essential for understanding the MBTI, this Manual outlines the theory and then considers the psychometric properties of the MBTI, the interpretation of the MBTI, and practical applications. Many personality measures are designed to create information for professionals working with clients. The MBTI is designed to provide information that can be given directly to those who have responded to the Indicator. For this reason, this Manual goes into detail to give the interpreter specific steps and cautions when explaining and using the MBTI. .... We have tried to give a broad representation of MBTI research; in choosing studies, we tried to select those where researchers understood the theory and the instrument, presenting type tables, and scoring the MBTI as recommended setting type tables, and scoring the MBTI as recommended in the Manual."

As a graduate student in counseling, I am impressed with the detail and insight this book gives when addressing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This is a must have for anyone planning to study or use in their practice, the Myers- Briggs.