Story ignores other research
Published: Friday, January 31, 2003 at 4:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 31, 2003 at 12:00 a.m.
To The Editor: The "Mind Games" article in Sunday's paper asks the question "Do brain types determine where talents lie?" but omits important information.
Consultant Jonathan Niednagel purports he can determine how an athlete's brain is wired by studying facial expressions of athletes, the way they talk and their brain "type."
These "16 brain types" clearly reference the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator developed by Isabel Briggs Myers in 1942. The indicator is based on Dr. Carl Jung's theory that "much seemingly random variation in behavior is actually quite orderly and consistent" as it relates to how people take in information (perception) and how they make decisions (judgment). The indicator has been successfully used worldwide for career development, team training and self-growth.
Nowhere in the article was Myers-Briggs referenced. Mary McCauley, who worked side by side with Isabel Briggs Myers for many years, founded the Center for Applications of Psychological Type in Gainesville, Fla., and could provide factual information on legitimate uses of the indicator. Even if Niednagel's study eventually supports a statistical correlation between "type" and sport, I certainly hope he remembers the correlation of his findings to the 60 years of research already completed.
CAPT's Web site is www.capt.org
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