Typing Outside the Box

A lot of people get their first taste of personality theory through the MBTI®, or Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®. Those four-letter types like INTP or ESFJ (or was it CFNY?) can feel like they’re describing you better than you can. But if you’ve also experienced Personality Dimensions®, you might’ve noticed something familiar. The two models come from different places, and they’re both a helpful introduction to understanding how we differ in the way we think, decide, and interact. But do they relate to each other? The short answer is yes; they’re connected, but they focus on different things; and that’s actually what makes them complement each other so well.

The MBTI® is based on Carl Jung’s theory of psychological type. It’s about cognitive processes: where people get their energy, how they take in information, how they make decisions, and how they orient themselves to the world. It’s also the model that introduced the familiar language of Introversion and Extraversion to everyday conversations.

Personality Dimensions® comes from a slightly different starting point: David Keirsey’s modern temperament theory. While the MBTI® looks at how people think, temperament theory is more concerned with why people are motivated to act the way they do. Personality Dimensions® builds on that foundation, but modernizes it by weaving in insights from type theory, like Introversion and Extraversion, and adapting the language and framework to be more accessible0 and practical.

In his early work on personality, David Keirsey noticed that when the 16 personality types are grouped in certain combinations, SJ, SP, NT, and NF, patterns start to emerge that go beyond cognitive preferences. These groupings show deeper motivations, core values, and behaviour patterns. This is where temperament theory steps in; it identifies the underlying value systems that link those types together. In other words, it’s not just how someone thinks, but what truly drives them, that creates these groupings. That’s the space Personality Dimensions® steps into, helping bring those deeper motivations into focus.

What’s the crossover between the 16 personality types, and the 4 Personality Dimensions®?

• NT types (Intuitive Thinking) align with Inquiring Green; driven by curiosity, logic, and a need for competence.
• NF types (Intuitive Feeling) align with Authentic Blue; guided by values, empathy, and the desire for connection.
• SJ types (Sensing-Judging) align with Organized Gold; grounded in tradition, dependable, and focused on stability and responsibility.
• SP types (Sensing Perceiving) align with Resourceful Orange; action-oriented, adaptable, and energized by challenge and variety.

Once you add in Introversion and Extraversion with Personality Dimensions®, you can see even more overlap between the two models. One key difference, though, is how the models approach individual personality. The MBTI® gives you a single type, like ISTJ or ENFP. Personality Dimensions® recognizes that most people don’t fit within a single box. While a single personality type can mostly describe you, the world you live in has an impact on your personality.  Instead of being one fixed type, you’re a unique mix of traits, a kind of personality plaid. Maybe you’re mostly Organized Gold, but with a solid streak of Resourceful Orange, and just enough Authentic Blue to keep things people-focused.

This layered approach can be really helpful in real-life situations. While the MBTI® is great for understanding how people process information and make decisions, Personality Dimensions® adds another layer by tapping into values, needs, and motivations. That’s what makes it so useful in areas like career development, communication, and team dynamics.

Personality Dimensions® is also designed to be accessible. Its everyday language and visual format make it easier to understand and use without needing a deep dive into psychological theory. It’s approachable whether you’re doing a workshop, having a coaching conversation, or just trying to figure out why you and your friend approach the same problem so differently.

That’s not to say the MBTI® isn’t valuable, it definitely has its place, especially in helping people reflect on their thought patterns and preferences. But Personality Dimensions® offers something that many people find more practical and flexible. It doesn’t just tell you how you think, it helps you understand what drives you and how to navigate the world in a way that works for you.

If you’re already familiar with your four-letter MBTI® type and curious about how it connects to Personality Dimensions®, you’re not starting from scratch. The ideas build on each other, and exploring both can give you a deeper, more nuanced understanding of yourself and the people around you.