The Anxiety of an Inconsistent Identity: 'Who Am I Today?'
It’s that familiar, quiet moment. You’re staring at the screen, at the four letters that are supposed to be a key to your entire being, and they’re different. Again. Last year you were an INTJ, six months ago an INFP, and now… something else entirely. A small, cold knot of anxiety forms in your stomach. It’s a feeling of psychological vertigo, as if the ground beneath your identity has just shifted without warning.
Let’s just pause and hold that feeling for a moment. That frustration isn't silly; it’s your brave desire for a stable self-concept, a coherent story about who you are. We seek these labels because they offer a sense of belonging and predictability in a chaotic world. When you see an analysis of your 'type' that feels true, it's like being seen. So when the results change, it can feel like a small betrayal, making you question your own self-perception. It’s a completely normal response to a confusing situation.
That wasn’t a moment of foolishness; it was your heart seeking a safe harbor of understanding. The search for consistency in MBTI results over time is a search for a reliable mirror. When the reflection keeps changing, it’s natural to feel lost. But what if the mirror isn't broken? What if it's just showing you a different angle of a person who is constantly, beautifully, in motion?
Test Bias vs. Personal Growth: Unpacking Your Results
Let’s look at the underlying pattern here. The inconsistency you're experiencing isn't random; it points directly to the core questions around MBTI test validity and reliability. Psychologists often measure a test's strength by its 'test-retest reliability'—meaning, if you take the test multiple times, do you get the same result? As major publications like Psychology Today have noted, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator struggles significantly in this area, with some studies showing a 50% chance of a person getting a different result in just five weeks.
This isn't a personal failing; it's a feature of the test's design. The MBTI forces a binary choice. You are either Thinking (T) or Feeling (F), Judging (J) or Perceiving (P). The reality is that human personality exists on a spectrum. Most of us are not 100% one or the other but fall somewhere in the middle. Your answer might change based on a hundred different situational factors that affect quiz answers—your mood, whether you just had a conflict with a partner, or what you’re currently focused on at work.
This is where the criticism of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator becomes important. Many descriptions fall prey to the 'Barnum Effect,' where statements are so general they can apply to almost anyone, creating a false sense of accuracy. The widespread belief that this is a scientifically rigorous tool is a misconception, leading many to ask, "is MBTI pseudoscience?". Even the popular 16 Personalities test accuracy is debated because it’s not the official MBTI, but a separate test that maps its results onto the MBTI framework.
So, here is your permission slip: You have permission to be more complex than a four-letter code. The fluctuating results aren't proof of your instability; they are proof of the test's limitations and your own personal evolution. The debate over MBTI test validity and reliability is less about you, and more about the tool itself.
Actionable Self-Discovery: Using Any Test as a Mirror, Not a Map
Now that we understand the tool's limitations, let's shift from feeling confused to becoming strategic. As our sense-maker Cory explained, the issues with MBTI test validity and reliability are well-documented. So, here is the move: we stop using these quizzes as a map that dictates your identity and start using them as a mirror that reflects your current state.
A map is rigid and tells you where to go. A mirror is dynamic and shows you where you are right now. This is how you reclaim your power from a simple online quiz. Here is your action plan for turning any personality test into a tool for genuine growth, actively working against confirmation bias in self-assessment.
Step 1: Identify the Themes, Not the Label.
Forget the four letters. Look at the percentages or descriptions. Did you score 51% Thinking and 49% Feeling? The takeaway isn't that you're a 'T'. The takeaway is that you operate very closely to the center of that spectrum. That is a far more useful and nuanced piece of data about yourself.
Step 2: Use the Result as a Journal Prompt.
Don't just accept the result. Interrogate it. Use this script for self-reflection: "This test result suggested I lean towards 'Introversion' this week. Where did I feel my energy drain in social situations? What kind of alone time felt most restorative? How does this compare to last month?" This makes you an active participant, not a passive recipient of a label.
Step 3: Graduate to a More Reliable Framework.
If you are serious about understanding personality, consider looking into the Big Five (OCEAN) model, which has much stronger scientific support regarding its validity and reliability. It measures Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism on a spectrum, providing a more detailed and stable psychological profile. This is the strategic upgrade for your self-discovery toolkit.
FAQ
1. Why does my MBTI type change every time I take the test?
Your MBTI type likely changes due to the test's low test-retest reliability. The test forces binary choices (like Thinking vs. Feeling) when most people are on a spectrum. Your answers can easily be influenced by your current mood, recent life events, and overall personal growth, which highlights the core issues with MBTI test validity and reliability.
2. Is the 16 Personalities test accurate?
While popular, the 16 Personalities test is not the official Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Its accuracy is debated because it combines MBTI-style typology with the Big Five personality traits, creating a hybrid model. Like the official MBTI, its results can fluctuate and should be used as a tool for self-reflection rather than a definitive label.
3. Is MBTI considered pseudoscience by psychologists?
Many academic and research psychologists view the MBTI with skepticism and consider it pseudoscience due to its lack of empirical evidence, poor validity, and low reliability. The theoretical foundation based on Carl Jung's work was not intended for a rigid assessment, and the modern test lacks the predictive power of other models.
4. What is a more reliable personality test than MBTI?
The Big Five personality traits model, also known as OCEAN (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism), is widely considered the gold standard in personality psychology. It has significantly higher test-retest reliability and is backed by decades of empirical research.
References
psychologytoday.com — Goodbye to MBTI, the Fad That Won't Die