Myers Briggs Types & Students

What the MBTI Says About Your Learning Style and Study Skills

Sep 26, 2007

Do you prefer to study independently? Do you work well in study groups? Here's what your Myers Briggs type says about your learning style.

When you're in college, it's important to figure out what study habits work best for you. One tool that can help you figure this out is the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, a personality test that measures four aspects of people's personalities:

According to the MBTI, there are 16 different personality types, which are combinations on how people rank on each of these four characteristics. For example, if a person takes the MBTI and ranks as Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Perceiving, that person is an ISTP personality type.

The MBTI is often used in the workplace. By learning about their Myers Briggs type, people learn how they can perform and interact with colleagues better. Similarly, the MBTI can be used by students to identify their natural strengths and weaknesses, and find appropriate strategies to help them succeed.

ENFPs (Extroverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving) are creative and like classes where there's lots of participation and opportunities to write, draw, or build things. They like study groups and prefer to do homework in busy places like coffeeshops.

ENFJs (Extroverted Intuitive Feeling Judging) are creative, but also structured. They need a well-organized workspace and a good desk calendar. They do well in study groups and group projects as long as there's not a lot of chit chat, and they're natural group leaders.

ENTPs (Extroverted Intuitive Thinking Perceiving) are both logical and creative, so they tend to think outside the box and take a problem-solving approach to their work. They work best in classes that don't have lots of rules, deadlines, and structures.

ENTJs (Extroverted Intuitive Thinking Judging) need to be well-organized and prefer classes with lots of structure. They like to set goals for themselves and work hard to meet them. They work well by taking organized notes and sticking to a study schedule.

ESFPs (Extroverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving) are very social and have to be careful not to let fun get in the way of work. They study well in groups, as long as they stay on task. They're visual learners who like hands-on work more than theory.

ESFJs (Extroverted Sensing Feeling Judging) are social, but also well-organized, so they balance work and play well. They're natural leaders in study groups and group projects. They prefer facts over theory.

ESTPs (Extroverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving) are pragmatic problem solvers who prefer hands-on work. They're natural leaders, but need to work with people who are equally results-oriented. They look for the most efficient way to complete their coursework.

ESTJs (Extroverted Sensing Thinking Judging) are logical and well-organized. They study best in structured environments. They're decisive group leaders who get impatient with group members who don't pull their weight.

INFPs (Introverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving) are imaginative and enjoy working with abstract theory. They work better by themselves and feel a little intimidated by groups. They do well in courses where there's lots of reading and are good at seeing multiple sides of an issue.

INFJs (Introverted Intuitive Feeling Judging) enjoy both hands-on work and theory. They tend to do well in classes with lots of writing, especially technical writing, but they also love helping people and can be very supportive group members.

INTPs (Introverted Intuitive Thinking Perceiving) are logical and enjoy solving problems, and often do well in areas like computer science and mathematics They work best independently. INTPs have a strong work ethic and sometimes are too hard on themselves.

INTJs (Introverted Intuitive Thinking Judging) are organized, efficient, and hard-working. They need a clean desk in a quiet room to study, and they work best independently. INTJs are are very goal-oriented and love to solve problems, so they do well with a structured list of tasks.

ISFPs (Introverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving) are curious and have a powerful love of learning. They channel their creativity into hands-on projects, especially ones that are useful to other people. They prefer working independently, but interact well in groups..

ISFJs (Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging) are practical, serious, and organized. They prefer classrooms with lots of structure and need to organize their work carefully with a calendar. They prefer to work alone but will contribute generously to group efforts.

ISTPs (Introverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving) are logical and analytical, and have a strong preference for facts over theories. They like to use their hands and make make good engineering majors. They're often good at dealing with stress.

ISTJs (Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging) are practical and tend to do well in detail-oriented majors like accounting or engineering. They're big planners who need lots of structure, and they're good at memorization and working with facts.

For more information on each of these personality types, and to take the MBTI, see "MBTI Manual: A Guide to the Development and Use of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, 3rd edition," by Isabel Briggs Myers, Mary H. McCaulley, Naomi L. Quenk, and Allen L. Hammer (Consulting Psychologists Press, 1998).

The copyright of the article Myers Briggs Types & Students in Study Skills is owned by Naomi Rockler-Gladen. Permission to republish Myers Briggs Types & Students in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.