▲ Photo dealing with 16 types of MBTI (Source: Freepik)

Recently, among college students, it has become a common practice to ask about MBTI when introducing oneself. MBTI is an acronym for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a personality framework that divides people into 16 different types. MBTI is used by students who face difficulties in interpersonal relationships as a tool for self-expression, and has become extremely popular among college students. It is also used as a reference for self-understanding and personal development.

The popularity of MBTI seems to be influenced by psychological factors. According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory, the need for "self-actualization" is the highest level of human needs. MBTI serves to fulfill the psychological needs of college students who are trying to understand themselves and form interpersonal relationships with others.

MBTI is being actively used not only in universities, but also in businesses and public institutions. In November of last year, the Gwangjin District’s One-person Household Support Center in Seoul conducted an education session on investment methods based on MBTI personality types. Gwangjin District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho explained that this program, using MBTI, was one of the most practical policies for supporting one-person households. Additionally, in February, Jeong Mun-cheol, CEO of KB Life Insurance, used MBTI as a communication tool during a "2025 CEO Town Hall Meeting" with employees. During the "empathy session," employees were given time to ask personal questions, and it was reported that many questions related to MBTI were asked. Furthermore, some companies require candidates to list their MBTI types on job resumes. Companies now offer MBTI-based career counseling, reflecting the widespread influence of MBTI in society.

The popularity of MBTI is also evident among students at CWNU of Science and Technology. According to a survey conducted from the 18th to 20th of February on students' perceptions of MBTI, 70.7% of 58 respondents reported that they had mentioned their MBTI type during their first encounters with others. When asked how much they trusted their MBTI results, 12.1% answered "strongly trust," 63.8% answered "slightly trust," and 19% answered "neutral," showing that 94.9% of the respondents trusted their results to a high degree. In addition, 93.1% of students reported that MBTI was often mentioned in class, clubs, or within friendships, demonstrating its deep integration into university life.

The demand for "official MBTI tests" provided by the campus counseling center is also increasing. Choi Seon-gyeong, a counselor at CWNU’s Student Counseling Center, stated, "The MBTI official test is the most preferred test in our center," adding, "In 2023, it was the most requested test." According to the survey, amongst students who used campus or external counseling centers (27.6%), 52% had undergone an official MBTI test. While receiving an official test at an external center costs 9,000 KRW, it is offered for free at the campus counseling center, which likely contributed to its popularity.

However, how much trust and emphasis can we put into a personality test? MBTI is often used not only as a tool for self-understanding, but also as a primary basis for critically judging others. Some people have biases, such as believing that, “‘P’ types are lazy and ‘T’ types are rude." In some cases, individuals may even fear that they will make a poor impression or face disadvantages during a job search, leading them to present a different MBTI result.

Professor Kim Kyung-il of psychology appeared on the TV program "Oops, I Did It Again 3" and recalled being asked, "Which MBTI type is most likely to embezzle public funds?" He replied, "MBTI is not appropriate for judging an individual's unique traits, nature, potential, or job suitability," and emphasized, "We should not judge people based solely on the 16 types." Shin Na-rae, a counselor at the CWNU Counseling Center, also pointed out, "We should not blindly trust MBTI results, as they do not reflect one's temperament, and the results can change over time."

Using MBTI in hiring processes or promoting prejudice through personality classification in human relationships can be dangerous. In the end, over-immersion in MBTI and blind trust should be avoided. If used cautiously, MBTI can become an interesting topic of conversation in daily life.

By Cho Seo-jin, cub-reporter  ellen7026@naver.com

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