Many companies use personality tests to determine the characters of their employees. They say that, if colleagues know each other’s personality type, they can work together more effectively.
One famous personality test is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It works like this. Firstly, you answer a series of questions; then, you are given four letters which indicate your personality type. You can be extroverted (E) or introverted, intuitive (I) or sensing (S), thinking (T) or feeling (F), and judging (J) or perceiving (P). How you answer the questions in the test determines the personality type you are assigned.
The MBTI was developed as a workforce recruitment tool in the U. S. during the second world war. Since the 1960s, around 50 million people have taken the MBTI, including people from public and private institutions, militaries, universities, charities, and sports teams. Altogether, the Myers-Briggs Company—owner of the MBTI trademark—generates around $20 million from such organisations per year.
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extroverted—socially confident
introverted—lacking social confidence
intuitive—acting based on what you feel is true without thinking deeply
perceiving—being aware