Unraveling the role of of Myers-Briggs Personality Types in Relation to Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy - By Mayya Fleyshmakher MA, LPC

When it comes to Myers-Briggs personality types, some individuals may exhibit more unfriendly traits than others. However, it's essential to remember that no personality type is inherently unfriendly, as people are complex and unique beings. As a trauma-focused psychotherapist, weighing in on personality types - determining more or less “friendlier” types  of the MBTI requires consideration as to how trauma affects these personality traits in the first place. The updated definition of trauma is generally understood as an emotional response to a distressing or disturbing event(s) that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope. Considering how we now define trauma, more and more  individuals report that they have experienced some level of trauma in their lifetime. With increasing  awareness that trauma is not just limited to abuse and war combat, my private practice is filled with  clients who show up asking to process their trauma. So how does this affect how we utilize the MBTI?

The Myers-Briggs and its types present limitations as it does not set out to factor the role of trauma on personality. Individuals with trauma symptoms exhibit hyper independence, overthinking, and mistrust. Unfortunately this may cause confusion because these symptoms mimic the Myers-Briggs personality features and types. Many of my clients are shocked to find out that what they thought was part of their personalities, turned out to be symptoms, which quickly changed once they completed trauma work. Therefore, what may seem as the unfriendly, introverted types of the MBTI, are really just the symptoms of difficult childhoods and stress. Therefore the usage of this tool must be carefully reviewed relative to each person. 

Nonetheless, certain traits and tendencies may influence how individuals interact with others, and some types might be perceived as less friendly. While no definitive conclusion can be drawn on the most unfriendly Myers-Briggs type, the "Thinking" (T) types might be more prone to exhibit cold or detached behavior due to their focus on logic and objectivity over emotional considerations. They may lack empathy therefore portraying signs of misattunement,  appearing to be unfriendly and even selfish. For example when it’s time to check up on a friend the (T) “Thinking” type may use facts  over simply acting on an emotion such as worry. Instead, for the “Thinking” types, if it’s not logical it doesn’t make sense. This includes types like INTJ, INTP, ENTJ, and ENTP. Nevertheless, it's crucial to remember that such traits do not necessarily indicate hostility or unkindness; rather, they reflect a different approach to processing and expressing emotions. When factoring in trauma you might even meet (T) “Thinking”  types who utilize this personality trait to bypass dealing with complex emotions, often resorting to numbing responses. Out of all the types to be considered the most “unfriendly”; the INTJ types seem to face more isolating behaviors as their tendency to be introverted, thinking and judging often leads them to be reserved and less empathetic.  

In contrast, the "Feeling" (F) types tend to prioritize empathy and emotions in their decision-making process, often leading to a more friendly and compassionate demeanor. The ability to display empathy is a key factor in fostering healthy platonic and romantic relationships and overall “feeling” types come off as the friendlier types of the Myers Briggs. Individuals who struggle in finding the right partner often overlook prioritizing empathy as above looks, status, might find more success in looking to formulate relationships with “Feeling” types. These include;  INFJ, INFP, ENFJ, and ENFP who tend to make great partners and friends, since they often are able to “feel into” the needs of their partner. From the lense of therapy, I have met many “Feeling” types who fall under the ENFP types who upon doing deeper work in therapy, learned that their complacent and often lovable friendly demeanor was a  learned behavior from childhood, specifically in learning to survive with abrasive, volatile, and harsh parents. Therefore, I often shy away from creating rigid definitions of personality because it seems there is always more work under the hood. 

While the MBTI can provide insights into an individual's preferences and tendencies, it should not be used as a definitive assessment of personality or as the sole basis for therapeutic interventions since new developmental trauma research and treatment suggest that trauma can alter the brain's responses and behavior. These effects may be cumulative and hidden, appearing like personality traits when in reality they are the symptoms of trauma. Therapists may use the MBTI to better understand a client's communication style, decision-making processes, and coping mechanisms. In my own private practice I solely use the MBTI to help clients with their career choices and advancements, with the caveat that this tool is only utilized once a client has completed the appropriate clinical interventions to help them process and heal trauma. That allows for a  more accurate reading of the Myers-Briggs assessment. I hope this information creates more awareness about trauma and the importance of processing trauma before using tools like the MBTI.