CAPT Research - Who We Are

Welcome to the Research Department at the Center for Applications of Psychological Type (CAPT), the not-for-profit organization established in 1975 by clinical psychologist Mary H. McCaulley, Ph.D, and Isabel Briggs Myers, creator of the MBTI^® instrument.

CAPT's mission is to promote the understanding, practical, and ethical use of psychological type. Toward this end, CAPT provides education and conducts research on type, the MBTI instrument, Jungian psychology, and related personality assessments.

Since its inception, CAPT has been a pioneer in conducting and supporting research, collecting information on type and the MBTI instrument, and disseminating information for use by researchers and other interested members of the public. Visit our CAPT Research Projects page to learn more about past and current CAPT studies, as well as research topics that interest us.

CAPT took the lead in the development of the MBTI^® Step III^™ instrument. Envisioned by Isabel Briggs Myers to be a tool for a deep examination of type development, CAPT trains, certifies, publishes and supports research using the MBTI® Step III^™ instrument. CAPT also publishes—and supports research using the Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator for Children^® (MMTIC^®), the Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator^® (PMAI^®), and the Klein Group Instrument^® (KGI^®) assessments.

CAPT's Research Department is also home to the Isabel Briggs Myers Memorial Library, the largest collection of information and materials dedicated to the MBTI instrument and type research anywhere. Mary & Isabel's Library Online MILO^® catalog is the online access point for the Isabel Briggs Myers Memorial Library, and is a good starting point for researchers, students and the public to find books, articles, theses and more on the topics of psychological type and the MBTI instrument. Library services will be happy to help you conduct literature searches through our vast collection.

CAPT Research also encourages and supports research conducted by graduate students and professionals who want to explore or investigate their own type—and archetype—related research ideas. Researchers can learn more about CAPT collaborations and avenues for obtaining discounts for research assessments under CAPT Research Support.

Publication is an important activity for sharing knowledge, stimulating thought, and encouraging further research in the field of psychological type and Jungian psychology. CAPT encourages publication of research in peer-reviewed journals, as well as in other venues. Suggestions for finding an appropriate place to publish your type-related research, ideas and applications can be found on the page Suggestions for Publishing Your Research.

CAPT Research also publishes the Journal of Psychological Type^® (JPT). The Journal is an international publication founded in 1977 and is the premiere journal for research, theory and applications in the field of psychological type. The JPT suite of publications includes white papers, a research digest, and writings that highlight issues of theory and practice. All JPT publications offer cutting-edge explorations on the topics of psychological type, the MBTI assessment and Jungian psychology. JPT articles are freely available in downloadable form through the Mary & Isabel's Library Online MILO^® catalog.