MBTI Facts | The Myers-Briggs Company

Quotes from Jung

• “Every individual is an exception to the rule.” (Jung, 1921/1971, p. 516)
  • This quote is also often used to argue that Jung’s theory isn’t valid and that people can’t be reduced to 16 personality types. However, taken in context Jung was explaining that although personality preferences exist, it is important to avoid making quick assumptions about a person’s personality type based on what one sees.
  • When taking the MBTI assessment, it is therefore important to receive competent interactive feedback in order to confirm the type that fits best.
  • Two people with the same underlying type may have had very different life experiences, such as the way they were brought up, the culture that they were raised in and the culture they currently live in, and the people they have met, had relationships with, and lost. While they will have many things in common, they will not be identical people; they will both be “exceptions to the rule.”
• Jung advises us to remember that no one personality type description can explain all aspects of a person’s entire being or psyche. This notion is reflected in the statement, “An ENFP is like every other ENFP, like some other ENFPs, and like no other ENFP” (Myers, 2015). So in his quote, Jung likely was not refuting his own theory of psychological types but rather was trying to ensure its proper use. He was also likely acknowledging that any model or theory for describing or explaining human behavior, including his theory, will be imperfect in some way.
• Jung compared his model of personality with points on a compass: “they are just as arbitrary and just as indispensable,” and added, “I would not for anything dispense with this compass on my psychological voyages of discovery” (Jung, 1921/1971, p. 541).
  • Jung is again emphasizing that no theory of human personality and behavior is perfect, as each person is unique. Yet, understanding basic personality differences is useful in interacting with other people!

What these quotes show is that most models or theories in psychology are useful for helping to understand human behavior but are not intended to describe every minutia of personality or behavior. A model or theory has value to the extent that it provides insights, people find it useful, and it leads to improvements in daily life.

References:

- Jung, C. G. (1971). Psychological types. In H. Read, M. Fordham, G. Adler, & W. McGuire (Eds.), The collected works of C. G. Jung (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.) (2nd ed., Vol. 6, p. 541, CW 6, para. 958]). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1921)

- Jung, C. G. (1977). C. G. Jung speaking: Interviews and encounters (W. McGuire, Ed., & R. F. C. Hull, Trans.) (p. 304). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1937)

- Myers, I. B. (2015). Introduction to Myers-Briggs® Type (7th ed., p. 52). Sunnyvale, CA: The Myers Briggs Company.