It's funny that a week or two after taking the test, and shortly after sharing my post, I saw this post on SciBabe's Facebook page. I watched the video (after sitting through an excruciatingly long commercial for the Squatty Potty) and found it really interesting.
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| Don't let the name fool you - Yvette d'Entremont is a legit scientist. |
Having taken the test mostly for fun, this doesn't discourage me. But it does make me wonder about people who take the tests really seriously. And it also made me think of Hanna, who mentioned in her comment on my original post that tests like this determine what we prefer but not really how we act - and if how we act is who we are, then really, preference is a moot point.
I know some of you took the test after I posted about it. What are your thoughts?
Do you buy into the MB test, and tests like it?
Do you like science? I always say, if I hadn't gone into English, I would have majored in biology. It's my second love.
ABK
Well I already told you my feelings on my results. :) I admit I am a skeptic about the test. An open minded skeptic. I act/feel differently in certain situations and in certain moods. I may be very outgoing with my family and friends- I love telling stories and being the center of attention and making people laugh, etc. But around new people or people I don't know that well... I am too self conscious to be my loud and boisterous self. :) So sometimes when I was answering the questions, I was like, "hmmm well I could go either way on this one."
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is a total nerd about the M-B, I actually agree that there isn't much scientific validity and that it's not something to live and die by. However, that doesn't mean that the test and it's results can't provide some meaningful insight. From the perspective of my boss, who gave me the test, it can be a useful tool to figure out how to best motivate employees, how to bring out their strengths, and how to at least attempt to meet their needs so they can be happier and more productive in the workplace. I think a lot of people who hate the test just balk at the idea of being "labeled", and I get that. But again, it's not something to take so seriously, and I really don't think Myers and Briggs intended for people to use this test that way. It's just something to think about and to provide a little bit of insight into understanding people who think about the world differently than we do and how to adapt to that. The test may not meet scientific scrutiny (and I can understand how science-minded folks would feel uncomfortable with it, as many of them dislike the field of psychology in general), but that doesn't make it "meaningless". It's worth keeping an open mind about it, even if you reject the label it gives you. All of this just in my opinion, of course :)
ReplyDeleteI've never put too much stock into tests like that. That's interesting that you like science having studied English! I studied English in college and have zero interest in science. It fascinates me in many ways, but no way would/could I have studied it! lol! My husband is a chemical engineer so we always say how we balance each other out with both fields :) @hellyontherun
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