Burning MBTI Questions Answered #3
At what age can I accurately have my daughter tested? She’s 12.
In the MBTI Manual it advises to tell students under the age of 17 that the questions were designed with adults in mind. There are also tables that indicate the utility of the items in the MBTI were done with elementary school students. I could not find a definitive age as a lower age limit. Some practitioners and professional materials recommend age 14 as being an appropriate age for initial assessment.
My questions to you would be more along the line of your purpose for having her take the MBTI and under what circumstances? If you decide that this important to her, I would highly recommend a type professional who understands adolescent development. My experience of living with teens and preteens was that hormones and social-emotional factors superceded all else.
You know your daughter. What is your sense of the value of doing the MBTI at this time? The phrase “do no harm” comes to mind. It is always a challenge to balance letting children find their path in life in their own way and providing the support and guidance that good parenting requires.
A note to readers
If you have had experience with the MBTI or other assessments with youth perhaps you would be willing to share your insights. I know that some camps have found a temperament based assessment to be of great valuable for their youthful counsellors.