Junguian Psychological Typology Inventory

feasibility of use in the Brazilian Army Complementary Selection

Abstract

The Jungian psychological typology allows the recognition of predominant characteristics in each individual from the identification of his or her attitude (introversion or extroversion) and most prevalent psychic function (thinking, feeling, sensation, and intuition), distinguishing up to 8 psychological types. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), an extension of Jungian typology, allows to typify individuals into up to 16 distinct psychological types, by including secondary function. MBTI-based inventories are widely used in the organizational area all over the world. Thus, the objective of this paper is to investigate the viability of using a typological instrument based on the MBTI during the period of Complementary Selection of the Brazilian Army, with the purpose of enabling the allocation of recruits among the positions and jobs of a Military Organization, considering their predominant characteristics, i.e., potentiality (strengths and opportunities for improvement). In this way, the goal is to obtain a better performance in the execution of the duties inherent to these positions and jobs. We concluded it is viable to use this type of typological inventory during the complementary selection period of the military recruitment; however, we found that it is necessary to previously use an inventory to survey which psychological types are the most appropriate for each position and job. The use of inventories enables the addition of a scientifically based methodology to that complementary selection activity, contributing to improve the quality of the distribution of individuals in the positions and jobs available in the troop.