Listen To The "10 Minute Type Advice" Episode: How To Create Better Myers-Briggs (MBTI) Tests

Have you ever taken a Myers-Briggs test and felt like the results didn’t quite fit?
Maybe it felt more like a horoscope than a helpful insight. That’s exactly what Aaron, an INTP from Anaheim, California, shared in a recent Personality Hacker episode. His story is common among those on a personal growth journey: take a test, get a type, and walk away confused or misaligned. Then, something clicks — and the real inner work begins.

This blog explores why personality assessments can miss the mark — and how to go deeper to uncover your true personality type as a foundation for authentic personal growth.

The Problem with Personality “Tests”

Let’s get this straight: Myers-Briggs is not really a test.

A test implies a right or wrong answer. But in typology, we’re exploring preferences, not pass/fail outcomes. These are assessments — tools meant to help you reflect on how your mind is wired to support personal development and self-understanding.

Still, many assessments fall short. Why?

“When people answer self-assessment tools, they often do it based on who they think they should be — not who they really are.”
— Antonia Dodge

Aaron pointed out something critical: many people spend their lives running from their true selves, especially if their natural personality traits were discouraged in childhood. And when it comes to personal growth, that misalignment shows up as confusion, stagnation, or chronic self-doubt. The journey of growth begins by facing who you are with honesty.

Why We Mistrust Our True Selves

There are two big reasons people get mistyped by personality assessments — and both are deeply relevant to the personal development process.

1. Mismatch Between Personality and Environment

If your early environment didn’t affirm your natural preferences, you likely adapted to survive. You showed up in ways that were “acceptable” — and that’s exactly what most assessments measure. Unfortunately, this kind of adaptation often stunts personal growth in the long run.

2. Inner Conflict

Sometimes we’re simply at odds with ourselves. We don’t want to be who we are, or we’ve never had permission to embrace our natural wiring. This creates a distorted self-image, which blocks the growth we’re hungry for — not just emotionally, but across relationships, work, and identity.

Are Personality Assessments Still Useful?

Yes — with some caveats.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) still has merit. It has about an 80% accuracy rate, often getting three out of four preference pairs correct. But let’s be real: MBTI was created for job placement during World War II — not deep, life-changing personal growth.

“If you're trying to improve your marriage, understand your kids, or align with your life purpose, blunt instruments like self-assessments will break down quickly.”
— Joel Mark Witt

The MBTI can be a helpful entry point, but if you're committed to long-term growth, especially self-directed growth that leads to lasting change, it’s important to go deeper.

A Better Tool for Personal Growth: Profiling Conversations

At Personality Hacker, we believe real personal growth starts with being seen. That’s why we teach and use personality profiling — a deeply personal and human alternative to tests.

Unlike rigid checklists, profiling is a conversation that uncovers the “why” behind your behavior. A skilled profiler builds trust and explores not just what you do, but what drives you. This approach is especially powerful when people are internally conflicted or have been shaped by environments that didn’t honor their natural personality.

“Profiling sees people for who they truly are — not just how they’ve adapted to survive.”
— Antonia Dodge

This method unlocks profound insights and creates momentum for growth in every area of life.

Going Back to the Roots: Carl Jung and Inner Discovery

Most people forget that Myers-Briggs is based on the work of Carl Jung, who developed psychological types to explore the psyche — not for HR departments.

Jung's original vision was to help people make sense of their inner lives: their dreams, their cognition, their shadow. The MBTI simplified that vision to meet the needs of wartime job placement, which helped scale it — but lost the depth needed for meaningful personal growth.

Today, we have a chance to return to those roots — to use personality type as a map for self-understanding, healing, and growth in areas like purpose, passion, and identity.

4 Ways to Discover Your True Type (and Boost Your Personal Growth)

If you’re not convinced your test results reflect your true type, try these steps — each one aligned with real personal growth work.

1. Reflect on Your Childhood Context

• Were certain traits encouraged or punished?
  

• Did you adapt your behavior to fit in or gain approval?
  

2. Notice Patterns of Inner Conflict

• Are there traits you’ve disowned, but they keep showing up anyway?
  

• Do you “mask” your real self to be more acceptable to others?
  

3. Study the Cognitive Functions

At Personality Hacker, we use the Car Model to explore your mind’s wiring — beyond just four letters.
Example: an INTP’s “Driver” is Introverted Thinking (Accuracy), supported by a “Copilot” of Extraverted Intuition (Exploration). These functions give you real insight into how to grow.

4. Get Profiled by a Trained Expert

Sometimes you need an outside perspective. A profiling session can be a major breakthrough for your personal development journey. Visit ProfilerTraining.com to learn more.

Final Thoughts: The Starting Point of Personal Growth Is Permission

The best personality insights don’t come from forced choices or superficial quizzes. They come from honest self-reflection — and from giving yourself permission to grow into your authentic self.

“When you stop fighting yourself, you can finally start designing a life that works for your personality.”
— Joel Mark Witt

At Personality Hacker, our mission is to help you build a life path based on who you really are — not who you’ve been told to be. Your personal evolution starts with knowing your type — and embracing a path of conscious, ongoing growth.

Take the Next Step in Your Personal Growth Journey

• Start with your Owners Manual at PersonalityHacker.com
• Want a deeper experience? Explore Profiler Training at ProfilerTraining.com
• Got a question? Submit it at: personalityhacker.com/questions