Psychological Type Analysis Using Myers-Briggs Type Indicator of Air Force Personnel Undergoing Treatment for Alcoholism

摘要

This study applied the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to 31 volunteer active duty Air Force members who had been medically diagnosed as alcohol abusers or problem drinkers. The MBTI is an operationalization of psychologist Carl G. Jung's theory of psychological types. The purpose was to determine whether it is possible to identify personality types of individuals with a predispositon to develop alcoholism. Participants were enrolled in out-patient treatment for alcoholism at the Social Actions facility at Wright-Patterson AFB from 1 May to 1 August 86. The sample was found to differ slightly from the general population because introverted, thinking and judging dimensions were overrepresented, but the differences were not statistically significant. Comparisons of sample data to MBTI data from a major study of civilian alcoholics likewise showed no statistically significant similarity of difference. The sample data also showed no statistically significant difference from the Air Force population in general. However, intrasample comparisons of alcohol abusers' and problem drinkers' MBTE preference scores showed a statistically significant frequency of slight type differentiation in one or more of the dichotomous scales within the sample alcoholics. Based upon these findings, alcohol abusers appeared to be characterized as preferring introverted and judging attitudes, and thinking as their auxiliary functions.