Overview of the Project
Every year, literally millions of
people take a simple paper-pencil test to learn more about their personalities:
the Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator™ (Briggs
& Myers, 1998). The MBTI™ instrument provides one view of
the psychological types (as originally described by Carl Jung
(1921/1971)), which are the unique ways that people prefer to approach
situations. The success of the Indicator has been phenomenal, and
it has found its way into schools and universities, organizations
and work settings, counseling offices, religious groups, and countless
other areas.
Until now, however,
one critical piece was missing in the use of the MBTI in
research and practice - an accounting of the influence of
behavioral environments (e.g., classrooms, work settings,
families, social groups, organizations, etc.). That is,
even though people may have distinct and recognizable
psychological types, the environments around them may or
may not provide them the opportunities to use their
preferences. Some environments can fit well with an
individual's personality, where others can be quite
inhospitable and stressful. To fill this gap in
understanding, this project evolved to describe and
measure the "personalities" of the everyday places that
people encounter - the environmental types.
This project has had two interrelated
aspects. First, after years of examining the research and writings
in this area, the Theory
of Environmental Types was
developed as a way to describe the basic differences among behavioral
environments. Second, as a tool to measure the different environmental
types, the Salter Environmental
Type Assessment was created.
When used together (like a set of binoculars), the MBTI and SETA can
provide a sharper and more three-dimensional view of people's behaviors
within particular contexts. See the Applications
section for more discussion.
This website was designed to support
the continued development of environmental type theory and the SETA,
as a tool to practice. Many parts of the site are still evolving,
as more is learned about the role of environmental types in practice.
Importantly, an assumption has been made at this point that people
coming to this site have a basic understanding of psychological type
theory (for more information, please check out the links under the
Links and Resources
section). If you have any questions, please use the Questions
e-mail link at the bottom of any page.
References
