Studies of Jungian Typology: III Personality and Marriage

Abstract

Jung's theory of psychological types provided the conceptual framework for a study of personality characteristics implicated in marital relationships. Partners in 20 couples completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and a series of open-ended questions describing their marital relationships. As predicted, (a) type similarity was more characteristic than type dissimilarity, particularly on sensation-intuition and thinking-feeling preferences, (b) sensation-intuition preferences were reflected in perceptions of qualities valued in self and spouse, (c) thinking-feeling preferences were significantly related to reported satisfaction in marriage, and (d) intuitives were more open to changes in the relationship than were sensing types. Marital problems were highly diverse, and were not related in any clear way to type patterns in individuals or dyads.

The Validity of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator for Predicting Expressed Marital Problems

“…This assertion is most strongly made by Myers and Myers (1980), who state, "Similarity would appear to contribute to the success of a marriage" (p. 131) and who describe several problems associated with differences on each preference. Similarly, this assertion is made by Carlson and Williams (1984).…”

“…For example, Sherman (1981) asserted that the E-I index was the most important one in accounting for marital problems, and that the worst combination was the I husband and the E wife. Carlson and Williams (1984) echo Sherman's (1981) assertion and go on to state that this combination predicts problems in the areas of sex, money, and in-laws. Myers and McCaulley (1985) repeat Sherman's assertion and add that such couples are more likely to have communication problems; they further suggest that S-N differences lead to frequent misunderstandings based upon perception of events, T-F differences lead to problems in decision making, and J wives with P husbands have problems with "who wears the pants in the family" (p. 72) and with vacation planning.…”

“…In other words, MBTI proponents contend that people are attracted to and will have fewer problems with a person who has essentially the same personality type. This assertion is made, to some degree, by all published references addressing the use of the MBTI with couples (Carlson & Williams, 1984;Myers & McCaulley, 1985;Myers & Myers, 1980;Sherman, 1981). This assertion is based upon data reflecting the distribution of common preference types among couples.…”

“…A third study was reported by Carlson and Williams (1984). This was the first study published in an available journal, but it has at least two limitations.…”

“…(See Table 1 for a summary of the data from all four studies.) However, examination of these distributions reveals that the most frequently occurring marriage Carlson and Williams (1984).…”