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Unconfirmed assumptions in Jungian typology

  • Published: 10-16-2015 Edited: 10-16-2015
  • Discovering what assumptions one makes is critical to be able to verify the validity of a model.
    Even though we prefer the MBTI over Big-5 it still suffers from a lack of validity of it’s factors, which Big-5 doesn't.
    Why would these traits be bimodally distributed and not continuously distributed and why would there be 16 types instead of something else?

    The cognitive function model is lacking even more in evidence supporting the assumed relationships between the functions. Why can’t a person have equally strong Te and Fe as well as Ti and Fi, is it ever tested?


    Four factor model

    The 4 factor model of MBTI does eight assumptions that science only gives mixed support for, some studies validate it and many invalidate it.
    Here are 8 assumptions related to the four factor model (there might be more):

    • People with high Extraversion have low Introversion
    • People with high Thinking have low Feeling
    • People with high Feeling have low Thinking
    • People with high Intuition have low Sensing
    • People with high Sensing have low Intuition
    • People with high Judging have low Perceiving
    • People with high Perceiving have low Judging



    Eight cognitive functions model

    The eight cognitive functions configured in a specific ordering like the Beebe Model makes at least 16 unconfirmed assumptions.

    From what we know, these assumptions have never been tested outside the interpretation of the NJT project.
    We find that our interpretation of the model fits some people, not all.

    Here are sixteen assumptions related to the eight-cognitive-functions model (there might be more):

    • People with high Se have low Ne
    • People with high Ne have low Se
    • People with high Te have low Ti
    • People with high Ti have low Te
    • People with high Fe have low Fi
    • People with high Fi have low Fe
    • People with high Ni have low Si
    • People with high Si have low Ni
    • People with high Se have high Ti or Fi
    • People with high Ne have high Ti or Fi
    • People with high Ti have high Se or Ne
    • People with high Fi have high Se or Ne
    • People with high Si have high Te or Fe
    • People with high Ni have high Te or Fe
    • People with high Te have high Si or Ni
    • People with high Fe have high Si or Ni

    All models based on a distinct set of eight cognitive functions per personality-type should have at least sixteen assumptions embedded into it.


    The future

    We are working on a major revision of the model to be able to include more personality-types into the system, instead of just 16, and to do this we believe we must create a more nuanced model.

    This model will include more traits that have not been tested before and we will try to make sure to test all of our assumptions about personality.

    Reference
    Image taken from ImageArcade