Writings
Vol. 36 No. 2 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.4081/rp.2025.952

The phenomenon of individuation in Jungian psychology and personality tests

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Received: 4 October 2024
Accepted: 9 December 2024
Published: 29 August 2025
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Individuation, persona, shadow, personality testing, Jungian psychology

Authors

Wanting He
s65584946023@ssru.ac.th
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5117-2601
College of Communication Arts, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand.

This study explores the intersection of the Jungian concepts of individuation with personality testing with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), emphasizing how personality assessments influence self-discovery and personal growth. It begins by examining the limitations of the MBTI, where participants often feel constrained by binary choices that fail to capture the complexity of their identities. Through the lens of a workshop led by a psychological types expert, the study reveals the tension between fixed personality types and the dynamic nature of individual development. While the MBTI has gained popularity as a tool for self-awareness and identity exploration, it faces criticism for oversimplifying personality into rigid categories, which can obstruct the individuation process. The discussion also points toward Jung’s notions of persona and shadow, illustrating how societal expectations can shape self-perception and hinder authentic expression. Despite its shortcomings, the MBTI can serve as a starting point for individuation, prompting individuals to engage in deeper self-reflection and integration of their multifaceted selves. Ultimately, the study argues that to achieve true individuation, individuals must move beyond the confines of MBTI classifications, embracing a more nuanced understanding of their identities to foster meaningful personal growth and wholeness.

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The phenomenon of individuation in Jungian psychology and personality tests. (2025). Ricerca Psicoanalitica, 36(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/rp.2025.952
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