Myers, Isabel Briggs

Variant names
Dates:
Active 1885
Active 1992
Birth 1897-10-18
Death 1980-05-05
English,

Biographical notes:

Developer of psychological testing method, author, researcher. Isabel Briggs Myers was born October 18, 1897 to Lyman J. Briggs and Katharine Cook Briggs. She began developing a type indicator during World War II with her mother, Katherine Cook Briggs. Over the next 40 years, she developed and conducted research using the Briggs Myers Type Indicator (MBTI), a psychological testing instrument. She produced several articles and publications as a result of these research projects.

The original concept for the Type Indicator evolved from Katharine Cook Briggs's extensive studies of contemporary children's educational and social developmental theories. She combined these with the theories of the prominent psychologist Carl Jung to develop a testing method to help determine the best vocation for a child, what she saw as a key to their future happiness and well being. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator [MBTI] began life as the Briggs-Myers Type Indicator Test, which Katharine and Isabel constantly worked on further refining with the assistance of Edward Laney (a manager at The Pennsylvania Company who was the first to utilize and apply the MBTI concept to personnel management) under the auspices of Briggs-Myers Type Research, Inc. The name changed was to 'Myers-Briggs Type Indicator' in the late 1940s when Isabel took over the majority of the work, Katharine semi-retiring along with her husband. From there it grew in association with Educational Testing Service during the late 1950's and into the early 1960's, and later publication through the Consulting Psychologist Press.

In 1970, along with Dr. Mary H. McCaulley, she established the Typology Laboratory at the University of Florida, Gainesville. In 1975, the Center for Applications of Psychological Type (CAPT) was formed at the University of Florida as a field office of the American Medical Students Association. Isabel Briggs Myers died in 1980.

1897 Born October 18 to Lyman J. Briggs and Katharine Cook Briggs and spent her childhood and was home-schooled by her mother in Washington, D.C., where Lyman Briggs worked as a physicist. 1918 Married Clarence "Chief" Myers and settled in Swarthmore, a suburb of Philadelphia. 1919 Graduated from Swarthmore College with a B.A. degree in political science. 1926 Birth of son, Peter Briggs Myers. 1927 Birth of daughter, Ann Myers. Circa 1939 Began developing a type indicator during World War II with her mother, Katherine Cook Briggs. 1943 Publication of Test Form A and Form B. 1944 Publication of Briggs Myers Type Indicator Handbook. Conducted study project at Radio Corp. of America. Publication of Test Form C. 1947 George Washington Medical School project. Publication of Test Form C3. 1948 Occupational groups in corporations project commences. 1953 Report: "Assessment of Medical Students as to Judgment and Perception by the BMTI". 1955 Medical Schools testing project Report: "Effect of Type in Medical Schools and Proposed Use of BMTI for Admissions". 1956 Pennsylvania High Schools project commences Publication of Test Form D. 1957 High Schools project using Test Form D Publication of Test Forms D1, D2, D(EEx3). 1958 Publication of Some Findings with Regard to Type Rhodes Scholar project commences. College Student project commences 1962 Publication of Manual for the Myers Briggs Type Indicator Publication of Test Form F by the Educational Testing Service. 1963 Report: "Relation of the Jungian Types to Higher Education: A Six-year Follow-up of a High School Population." 1964 Nursing project commences. 1968 Nippon Recruit Center project. Death of Katherine Cook Briggs 1970 IBM and Dr. Mary H. McCaulley establish the Typology Laboratory at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Publication of Introduction to Type. 1974 Ann Myers Hughes dies unexpectedly after minor surgery. 1974 UF Freshman project. 1975 First national conference series on the MBTI held at UF. Consulting Psychologists Press assumes publication of the MBTI. Center for Applications of Psychological Type (CAPT) established as a field office of the American Medical Students Association. Publication of Test Forms G, GJ. 1976 Publication of Test Form GK. 1977 Publication of Test Form H. 1979 Association of Psychological Type established. 1980 Publication of Gifts Differing. Death of Isabel Briggs Myers.

From the guide to the Isabel Briggs Myers Papers, 1885-1992, 1940-1980, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)

Developer of psychological testing method, author, researcher.

Isabel Briggs Myers was born October 18, 1897 to Lyman J. Briggs and Katharine Cook Briggs. She began developing a type indicator during World War II with her mother, Katherine Cook Briggs. Over the next 40 years, she developed and conducted research using the Briggs Myers Type Indicator (MBTI), a psychological testing instrument. She produced several articles and publications as a result of these research projects.

In 1970, along with Dr. Mary H. McCaulley, she established the Typology Laboratory at the University of Florida, Gainesville. In 1975, the Center for Applications of Psychological Type (CAPT) was formed at the University of Florida as a field office of the American Medical Students Association. She died in 1980.

From the description of Papers, 1885-1992, (bulk 1940-1980). (University of Florida). WorldCat record id: 53353319

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Information

Subjects:

  • Myers Briggs Type Indicator
  • Myers
  • Psychological tests
  • Typology (Psychology)
  • Personality assessment
  • Psychology

Occupations:

  • Authors

Places:

  • DC, US