Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a useful descriptive personality assessment that is not independently validated. The Myers-Briggs Research Institute works on it and does studies, but it is a proprietary model and there have not been any independent studies on it.
It’s based on Ayurveda because Myers Briggs was based on the work of Carl Jung who was heavily informed by Ayurveda.
It’s a useful lens to understand behavior but not a good way to make predictions. However, it can be used to plan and structure your life to accommodate strengths and weaknesses.
The Big 5 is the most validated framework for personality. The Big 5 states that most people’s personalities can be placed on five different axes. The axes are:
Its not like high neuroticism is better than low neuroticism or that high conscientiousness is better than low conscientiousness. But our society tends to select for and reward people who have high conscientiousness.
For example, medical students score highest in Neuroticism and Conscientiousness, and those two traits are also high in people with larger salaries.
Additionally, openness has a split along political lines in the US: liberals score higher and conservatives score lower.
People may think being high in neuroticism is bad but if you are really low in it you’re basically the pothead that sits around and never does anything (are also low in conscientiousness).
While everyone has an intrinsic personality, it is possible to learn different ways to behave and act.
All of these traits can be worked on to move them into a place that is more constructive for your life.
However, it is more important to play to your strengths than to fix your personality traits. Gamers are guilty of thinking certain things are objectively better than other things. This western way of thinking loves to put things on a linear scale and as a result, everything becomes about being better or worse.
Don’t worry about having the right personality or having the wrong personality. Think about YOUR personality and how you’re going to be good at it. Find the pathway that is suited to your strengths.
Whatever personality classification tool you use, understand what it says about you, and then use it to develop a strategy. Play to your strengths.