Typology Timeline

  • ANTIQUITY

Pre-Psychological Types-Astrology

Astrology is the oldest form of personality assessments. 

  • ANTIQUITY

Pre-Psychological Types-Ayurveda

The Ancient Indian system of Holsitic Medicine uses a three-fold model of psychosomatic temperaments. These four are Kapha (Endomorph), Pitta (Mesomorph) and Vata (Ectomorph). 



  • 450 B.C.

Pre-Psychological Types-The Greek Humors

Hippocrates develops a four-fold model of psychosomatic temperaments. These four are Choleric, Melancholic, Phlegmatic and Sanguine.

  • 1789

Pre-Psychological Types-Goethe’s Systole and Diastole

Johan Wolfgang von Goethe’s publishes the poem “Ganyemed,” C.G. Jung would take Goethe’s the concepts of Systole (Prometheus) and Diastole (Ganymede) as an analogue to illustrate the idea of the Introverted and Extraverted Attitudes. Jung goes on to describe that the diastolic goes out to seize the object and the systolic detaches from it (psychological types pg.5)

  • 1872

Pre-Psychological Types-Nietzsche’s Apollonian and Dionysian

Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche publishes the poem “The Birth of Tragedy.” C.G. Jung would take Nietzsche’s the concepts of the Apollonian and Dionysian as an analogue to illustrate the idea of the Intuitive and Sensation functions. 

  • 1875-1961

Prominent Type Figure-C.G. Jung

Despite being overlooked by folks who initially get into the MBTI personality research, its originator comes from C.G. Jung. 

  • 1875-1968

Prominent Type Figure-Katharine Cooks Briggs

An American writer who developed the MBTI with her daughter, Isabelle Briggs Myers. 

  • 1881

Pre-Psychological Types-Spitteler’s Prometheus and Epimetheus

Carl Friedrich Georg Spitteler publishes the poem “Prometheus und Epimetheus,” C.G. Jung would take Spitteler’s the concepts of Prometheus and Epimetheus as an analogue to illustrate the idea of the Introverted and Extraverted Attitudes. Jung goes on to correlate the Promethean with Introvert and forethought, and the Epimethean with the Extravert and afterthought.

  • 1897-1980

Prominent Type Figure-Isabelle Briggs Myers

Co-Developer of the MBTI with her mother Katharine. 


  • 1921

Type Publications

Jung Publishes “Psychological Types, or The Psychology of Individuation,” later to become volume 6 of the Collected Works.

  • 1921-2013

Prominent Type Figure-David Keirsey

An American psychologist who focused on Temperament theory in Personality. 

  • 1923

Type Event

Katharine Briggs reads Jung’s “Psychological Types,” and begins the pre-work for the MBTI with her Daughter Isabelle. 

  • 1928

Pre-Interaction Styles

John Geier develops the DiSC model.

  • 1939-PRESENT

Prominent Type Figure-John Beebe

Jungian Analyst John Beebe, known for his eight-function, eight archetypal model of typology. John integrates elements of Jungian Psychology and the MBTI together into a cohesive model. He focuses on the shadow aspects of the personality and typology. 

  • 1939-PRESENT

Prominent Type Figure-Linda Berens

Linda Berens has designed new and integrated of the elements of the old personality models into an understandable way. She brings in Keirsey, Jung, Beebe and others. She is known for her Interaction Styles, Essential Motivators, Cognitive Dynamics and Intentional Styles Models. 

  • 1939-PRESENT

Prominent Type Figure-Dario Nardi

Known for his research on the Neuroscience of Personality, Dario is on the leading edge of Personality Type research. He has partnered with Linda Berens over the years to write a few books as well as his own. Dario has an interest in Jung and specially Jung on Yoga. 

  • 1944

Type Publications

The Briggs Myers Type Indicator Handbook is published which became the Myers-Briggs-Type-Indicator (MBTI). 

  • 1962

Type Publications

The first MBTI Manual is published. 

  • 1980

Type Publications

Isabelle Myers writes “Gifts Differing.” 

  • 2016

Type Publications

John Beebe publishes his book on his Archetypal Model on Psychological Type called “Energies and Patterns in Psychological Type: The Reservoir of Consciousness.”