| *3. The study of classes with common characteristics; classification, esp. of human products, [[behavior]], characteristics, etc., according to type; the comparative [[analysis]] of structural or other characteristics; a classification or analysis of this kind. | | *3. The study of classes with common characteristics; classification, esp. of human products, [[behavior]], characteristics, etc., according to type; the comparative [[analysis]] of structural or other characteristics; a classification or analysis of this kind. |
− | The [[concept]] of [[personality]] type refers to the [[psychological]] classification of different types of [[individuals]]. Personality types can be distinguished from personality traits, which come in different levels or degrees. Types involve qualitative [[differences]] between people, whereas traits involve quantitative differences.[1] According to type theories, for example, introverts and extraverts are two fundamentally different categories of people. According to trait theories, introversion and extraversion are part of a continuous [[dimension]], with many people in the middle. While typologies of all sorts have existed throughout time the most influential idea of psychological types originated in the theoretical work of [[Carl Jung]], published as Psychological Types in 1921. Other typologies such as Socionics, MBTI, and Keirsey Temperament Sorter all have roots in Jungian philosophy. | + | The [[concept]] of [[personality]] type refers to the [[psychological]] classification of different types of [[individuals]]. Personality types can be distinguished from personality traits, which come in different levels or degrees. Types involve qualitative [[differences]] between people, whereas traits involve quantitative differences.[1] According to type theories, for example, introverts and extraverts are two fundamentally different categories of people. According to trait theories, introversion and extraversion are part of a continuous [[dimension]], with many people in the middle. While typologies of all sorts have existed throughout time the most influential idea of psychological types originated in the theoretical work of [[Carl Jung]], published as Psychological Types in 1921. Other typologies such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enneagram_of_Personality Enneagram], Socionics, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keirsey_Temperament_Sorter Keirsey Temperament Sorter], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator Myers-Briggs Indicator] all have [[roots]] in Jungian philosophy. |
| The term "type" has not been used consistently in [[psychology]] and has become the source of some confusion. Furthermore, because [[personality]] test scores usually fall on a bell curve rather than in distinct categories,[4] personality type theories have received considerable criticism among [[psychometric]] [[research]]ers. One study that directly compared a "type" instrument (the MBTI) to a "trait" instrument (the NEO PI) found that the trait measure was a better predictor of personality disorders.[5] Because of these problems, personality type theories have fallen out of favor in psychology. Most researchers now believe that it is impossible to explain the [[diversity]] of human personality with a small number of discrete types. They recommend trait models instead, such as the five factor model.[6][7][8] | | The term "type" has not been used consistently in [[psychology]] and has become the source of some confusion. Furthermore, because [[personality]] test scores usually fall on a bell curve rather than in distinct categories,[4] personality type theories have received considerable criticism among [[psychometric]] [[research]]ers. One study that directly compared a "type" instrument (the MBTI) to a "trait" instrument (the NEO PI) found that the trait measure was a better predictor of personality disorders.[5] Because of these problems, personality type theories have fallen out of favor in psychology. Most researchers now believe that it is impossible to explain the [[diversity]] of human personality with a small number of discrete types. They recommend trait models instead, such as the five factor model.[6][7][8] |