Extroverion/Introversion = With Whom.
Others, Community vs. Self, Individuality
Sensing/Intuition = What.
Action, Experience, Skill vs. Contemplation, Analysis, Understanding
Thinking/Feeling = Why.
Logic, Efficiency, Data vs. Emotion, Whim, Harmony
Judging/Percieving = How.
Control, Conclusions, Order, Duty vs. Discovery, Exploration, Spontinaeity, Play
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
The "Short" Keirsey/Myers-Briggs Theory
As this is the theory I am most familiar with, and most fond of, it will probably be the topic of most of my posts. Thus, I figure it would be helpful for those who aren’t familiar with it to offer a “brief” summary here in my own words as a reference. I'm not the official word on this, of course, and I've gathered my understanding of this theory from a variety of sources, though primarily from Keirsey's Please Understand Me books.
The Basics
E/I S/N T/F J/P
There are Four Trait Scales, each with two opposite preferences, which form the basis of this Personality Theory. A combination of 4 letters, out of the 8 possibilities, representing one’s preferences on the four scales make up the “name” for each type. Thus there are 16 different Types. It is also recognized that someone may be close enough to the center of one of the scales to be considered a combination of both traits then represented by an X. However most people exhibit some traits from both sides while clearly favoring one or the other.
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1. Extraversion and Introversion - represented by E and I
This is primarily concerned with where we get our energy, from people or personal time. Our desire for Interaction or Introspection is determined by which drains and which energizes us.
Extraverted people feel most energized and alive when they are with other people. Whenever they are alone they seek to find a chance to interact with others. Their personal pursuits usually take second place to spending time with friends or family. They welcome interruptions from others and when working alone will take frequent breaks to go talk to someone in order to keep their energy up. They prefer group work and like a sense of camaraderie. They hate feeling left out, and may feel bad about themselves when they can't find someone to talk to. They enjoy meeting people, talk easily with strangers, and have many friends. They are driven to seek interaction.
- - - - Extraverts are often uncomfortable alone and tend to feel bored and unmotivated when they are by themselves. They may even feel a little scared of having to keep themselves company, preferring the distraction of others to introspection. It’s not that most Extraverts don’t know themselves or have an individual identity, but they derive a lot of their sense of self from their interactions with others. As they value relationships over personal interests, who they are is more easily shaped by those they spend time with, as is their sense of confidence and satisfaction with life. They will often take up the interests and activities of their friends so that they can enjoy doing them together. They also like to draw people into their interests. They can't stand staying home when they know their friends are out doing something together, and are likely to drop everything to go join them. They don’t really like thinking to themselves or doing things on their own, finding everything to be more rewarding when done in company. The more the merrier is their motto.
- - - - Extraverts tend to approach everyone as friends and openly share their thoughts and feelings with whomever happens to be around. They often think out loud and like to talk through things with others, incorporating their input as part of their own thoughts. They usually don’t mind attracting attention to themselves or being in the spotlight. They make new friends wherever they go, always able to find something to talk about with people. They love finding out about people’s interests or personal lives, love hearing their stories and sharing their own. They are aware of societal groups and tend to be savvy concerning the knowledge interests and trends among their peers. They people watch and speculate about others lives and are highly aware of all the people around them. They tend to feel energized in a crowd and enjoy entering into the group mentality, whether it be as an audience at a movie, dancing at a club, or playing on a team. Shared experiences bring a light to their eye and enthusiasm to their actions.
- - - - Extraverts like being out and about with people, and enjoy being in social places. They like malls, bars, amusement parks, fairs, conventions, parties and all kinds of social events. They keep their doors or windows open, inviting people to come in, and find ways to bring personal activities out to places like coffee shops or parks. When they are by themselves they seek interaction and if they can’t call up a friend, are likely to choose to sit in public places where they have the possibility of striking up conversation, or simply absorbing the energy of the people around them. They place themselves in the path of new people all the time. While they usually have a steady group of friends they see often, they won’t stick just with them when there are other people around. They will introduce themselves or invite people to join them whenever they can and are excited by making new acquaintances. They greet people on the street, talk with people in lines, make comments to strangers in stores, and get to know the checkers at their grocery store. They hardly ever seek seclusion and don’t find the presence of other people too distracting. They are likely to feel the urge to talk to people who are near them and will rarely ignore people.
- - - - Shyness from low self-esteem can be devastating to Extraverts who crave the acceptance and company of others. Longing to connect, yet too afraid to do so leaves them feeling unfulfilled and lost. On the other hand, some extraverts can be quite overbearing, assuming everyone wants to hear them. Their identity may be so wrapped up in those around them that they expect others to do as they do and may manipulate them into their own image rather than giving them some personal space.
- - - - In conversation, Extraverts are forthcoming and engaging. They are usually friendly and speak easily with strangers as well as friends. They jump in and add their two cents, sometimes interrupting or cutting others off. They have a tendency to speak loudly, and don’t mind if people beyond their group happen to hear them. They listen in on other’s conversations and don’t feel shy to contribute if they have something to add. If they hear people asking a question to someone else they are likely to offer any information they have. They tend to assume people want to talk if they look alone or unoccupied, and readily initiate or draw people into their conversations. Their business is everyone’s and everyone’s business is theirs. They like to talk about other people, and may be prone to gossip.
Introverts are most energized by spending time in personal pursuits and introspection. They do not feel a strong need to interact, even with their close friends, and will more often choose to do something on their own than with others. They enjoy keeping themselves company and are perfectly capable of entertaining themselves. They don't often feel lonely, and are often more relieved than offended by being 'left out' of other people's social plans or conversations. They don't feel like something is wrong with them because they don't have a lot of friends, and an empty callander doesn't make them feel like they are missing out on life. They are more likely to feel bored and lonely in a crowd than on their own. They thrive on time spent pursuing their personal Interests which they usually choose over relating with others.
- - - - Introverts are drained by interaction with others, even when they are with people they like, and need to spend time alone after social events to recuperate. It is not unusual for an Introvert to leave a party early because he is tired, only to find himself feeling quite alert after a half hour at home. Knowing their social-energy is limited, they spend it wisely. They do not like to waste interaction with people who don’t mean something to them, and thus tend to keep acquaintances and strangers at a distance. They don’t go looking to make new friends, being content, and sometimes even overwhelmed, with those they already have. Often even when they are lonely, Introverts will wait to be discovered by potential friends rather than seeking them out and introducing themselves. They prefer to maintain a few deep relationships and keep superficial interaction to a minimum. As they need little social interaction they can maintain a sense of close friendship with relatively little interaction. They seem to handle long distance relationships well, and may not seek new friends even if their old friends no longer live near them. With family members they may share space, but maintain their concentration on private endeavors. They do not feel the need to interact with someone just because they are nearby and often maintain mental private space even when in a crowd.
- - - - Introverts tend to dislike small talk and superficial, unimportant conversations, and thus do all they can to avoid having to talk to acquaintances with whom they do not wish to cultivate a close relationship. They are likely to ignore strangers entirely, and in public places will focus only on their friends, or bury their nose in a book. They don’t like to invite attention or interruptions from people they don’t know, and don’t assume that strangers would want to talk with them. They often feel awkward meeting new people and have trouble finding things to talk about, since their preferred topics tend to be things which require more depth of relationship or specialized knowledge. They may not always be up on popular culture or common knowledge and thus feel lost when people attempt to make conversation with them. They are frequently absorbed in thir own thoughts or tasks and may find it jarring and unpleasantly distracting when people interrupt them, making it difficult for them to think of how to respond.
- - - - Introverts seek out privacy and prefer to spend time in their own homes, or secluded places. They may prefer getting take-out to eating in restaurants, or invite friends back to their place rather than hanging out at the pub or the mall. They feel more comfortable engaging with people on their own territory, and also like to cut down on the amount of strangers in the vicinity. Introverts are perfectly happy to do things by themselves, even things which others consider social activities. They will go to movies, shopping, or the beach alone and have a very good time of it. True introverts do not feel sorry for themselves when they are alone.
- - - - Their sense of self and personal energy is found mainly in the development of their Interests. They usually invest a lot more time and energy in their field of interest than Extraverts do, and find great fulfillment in furthering their knowledge and honing their skills. They are willing to put a great deal of time into study and practice while extraverts would grow bored of such solitary pursuits and go find someone to talk with. Introverts often meet their friends through their common interests and enjoy discussing their interests with them, although they will still tend to pursue them more often alone. They do not have a need for general social approval, which allows them freedom to pursue less popular interests without worrying about displeasing their peers. They may find it annoying when peers pester them about being different and can’t seem to just leave them alone, but they don’t feel any genuine regret for being different or not being part of the “in crowd.” As long as they have a few people who like them for who they are, Introverts can feel confident in themselves and content, even in the face of persecution from others. They inwardly laugh at other’s attempts to make them feel ostracized from a group they never desired to join in the first place.
- - - - Introverts prefer deep relationships to shallow ones, but also prefer those deep relationships to be few. Thus they may show two very different faces to the world. With their inner circle of friends and family they may be very open and expressive, even loud and dramatic, but to the world at large they present a closed or distant expression. They do not encourage others to engage them in conversation. They do not readily share their thoughts or opinions with outer-circle people, and feel that their emotions are none of their business. They usually wait to be asked before sharing their input, and wait to be introduced before talking to someone at all. In groups they tend to stand back and observe others, rather than participate, and do not like to be put in the spotlight. They may comment quietly to someone next to them, but don’t have the knack for interrupting when they have something to say, and so often the moment passes and they are overlooked. Within their 'inner-circle' of friends and family, however, they value the ability to be open, and want those people to understand and know them very well. They enjoy sharing their passions with their friends, and enjoy the sense of being part of a small tight-knitt group. Loyalty is important to them, and when they do let someone into their inner-circle they like to know it is going to be a long lasting relationship. They greatly value their true friends and do not desire to move on and find new friends when they move to a new town, or change jobs or schools. They like to engage in deep, meaningfull conversations which are often a continuation of past conversations. They enjoy the consistancy of knowing the people they spend time with, knowing what they like, their background and oppinions, what kinds of things they will say, how they will react, etc.
- - - - Not all Introverts are shy, even though they may be perceived as such. Shy Introverts don’t suffer as badly as shy Extraverts because they don’t watch social groups with longing. They try to connect with people less frequently, and thus suffer less often from their inability to do so. They still have their primary source of identity available to them, their personal Interests, even if they may wish they had someone to share them with. On the otherhand, Introverts naturally find themselves in fewer circumstances where they can meet others, and thus sometimes tragically waste the few opportunities they do have to make friends if they are too shy to make the initial connection.
- - - - In conversation, Introverts prefer to talk about their Interests more than about other people. They take more time to collect their thoughts before speaking and may pause before answering a question. They do not interrupt or jump into other people’s conversations. They may sit close and listen if they want to be a part of it, but will not speak unless they know they are welcome. In a large group they will speak quietly to one or two other people nearby rather than raising their voice to be heard by everyone. Among extraverts and outer-circle people they will usually stick to observation and withhold their thoughts and feelings. Among fellow Introverts they tend find it easier talk about things, and easier to find a chance to get a word in edgewise. With eachother they are able to recognize when others have something to say and tactfully finnish their piece and hand the conversation off to the next person. When they don’t feel overpowered they can enjoy mutual respect and easily fall into lengthy conversation. With their inner-circle they are comfortable sharing their inner thoughts and feelings, are more willing to speak up, interrupt, or take center-stage and may even appear extraverted.
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2. Sensing and INtuition - represented by S and N
This is how we gather information and take in the world. It indicates what arena we most focus on or “live” in.
Sensing people rely on their 5 senses to tell them about the world. Thus their primary focus is on the physical outer world. They value experience and action, and feel alive in their sensations. They are most aware of and concerned with What IS, How Things ARE. They pay attention to Who, What, When, Where, and How. They are good at taking in details about the world around them. Some may be so attuned to their senses that they appear prophetical in their ability to know the truth about people or situations just like the famous Sherlock Holms on whom even the smallest detail is never lost.
- - - - Practical application is very important to them and they don’t like to waste their time on theories they can’t put into action, or information that has no relevance or practical use in their lives. They tend to be experiential learners and may find concepts and instruction dry or incomprehensible until they see it in action - in the doing they grasp and master it. They are more likely to act than to contemplate and move quickly from the point of Idea to Implementation. They like to develop their skills and are concerned with the practicality of method. Sensing people like to keep themselves busy or entertained, immersed in their experiences. They don’t like wasting time in inactivity and contemplation - thought demands action. They engage the world with their hands, their eyes, their ears, their mouths, and like working with objects and tools. They focus on what’s going on now, rather than possibilities or deeper meaning.
- - - - An easy place to take note of this preference is in conversation. Sensing people most enjoy talking about their experiences. They tell about their day, describe things they’ve seen, explain how to do something. They don’t engage for long in abstract theorizing, and often want concrete examples in order to keep their minds from wandering during a discussion of ideas. Ss will often talk about what they are doing together at the moment, or are likely to move from discussion into activity before long. Ss may feel confused by Ns long involved theoretical discussions and feel frustrated by the Ns tendency to get “sidetracked” into them.
Intuitive people rely on their intuition to tell them about the world. Their minds are geared for making connections, detecting patterns, and seeing possibilities. They often understand or know things without having to have them explained in detail, or without doing much research. The mere mention of an idea can give them an understanding of the whole, as their minds quickly work out all the implications and related facets. In essence, they can see without seeing and experience without actually experimenting - this is Intuition. They are concerned with Understanding Why much more than knowing facts. They are not content to merely observe how things are, but find themselves automatically analyzing Why things are the way they are, how they got to be that way, how they affect other things, the future possibilities, their significance in the grand scheme of things, etc. And by “things” I don’t mean physical objects so much as underlying principles, ideas, beliefs, systems; “things” such as society, the nature of consciousness, literary archetypes, the meaning of life.
- - - - Their primary focus is on the inner immaterial world of ideas. They live much more in their minds than in their physical bodies. They relish intellect and emotion and feel most alive when working mentally with ideas, as opposed to physically with their hands. Their drive is more to Understand than to Do and they may dwell much longer on thinking about something before acting on it, or may never get past imagining and planning to implementation. They may feel rather detached from the world around them, and can seem unaware of their environment or miss noticing details. They usually thrive in academic situations and don’t need a lot of action to keep themselves alert or focused. Their minds are always engaged, while keeping their bodies active seems optional. Thinking is their primary mode of action. They engage the world with their Minds and relish imagination and contemplation.
- - - - In conversation an INtuitive will quickly move from the discussion of events and objects to the theoretical. The N’s mind is likely to wander during accounts of everyday things once an idea is triggered. Their focus is constantly drawn to the workings of their minds rather than input from outside, making it harder for them to be attentive. Ns like to talk about their theories and ideas, things they imagine, feelings, or future possibilities. Ns will sit and philosophize with eachother for long periods of time, but may find it difficult to hold a conversation with an S about more concrete things.
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3. Thinking and Feeling - represented by T and F
This is how we make decisions and value judgments. It indicates whether we prefer looking at things Objectively or Subjectively.
Thinking people value logic, facts, and practicality. They like things to make sense and are quick to notice faulty reasoning. Information is their realm and they don’t have much patience for the “airy-fairy” feelings and whims of their Feeling counterparts who strike them as inconsistent and illogical. They tend to distrust emotion, or consider it irrelevant, a mere side-note. The preference for Thinking doesn’t mean they are without feelings, but that when it comes down to it they will make the logical choice regardless of how they or others may feel about it. They tend to downplay their own feelings and are more comfortable with people telling them “that’s just how it is” or “snap out of it” than they are with sympathy. They don’t take things personally, and can usually take criticism well, being willing to consider what is said without letting feelings of hurt or defensiveness overpower them. They don’t find emotions to be very useful in solving problems, and thus set them aside. They are comfortable being impersonal and are likely to favor justice over mercy. They don’t mind competition or opposition and often enjoy debate, feeling that they think more accurately when faced with counter-arguments. They are able to disengage their personal feelings during such discussions and maintain cool logical thinking. They don’t get easily riled up nor easily depressed. They are not easily aware of feelings, their own or others’, and do not put much effort into trying to influence or understand their emotional landscape.
- - - - They may notice underlying emotions lending colour to life, but they don’t feel a great need to express these openly. They often feel uncomfortable with other people’s display of emotion, not really knowing how to respond. They do not naturally identify with others, and while they may understand a person feels bad and want to help them, they do not necessarily experience the feeling with them. Their practical minds often find it hard to just listen to another person’s troubles without wanting to jump in with a solution or plan. They prefer to deal with their own feelings privately, and when they do share them are likely to maintain a calm detached air. Their communication of affection, or dislike, is usually not direct but implied. They often feel awkward saying things like “I love you” and are not often in tune enough with how others feel or what they like or dislike to know when/if someone would like to be sent roses or given a hug, etc. Being uncomfortable with “sot” romantic expressions, it is sometimes actually through jibes and arguing that they show their affection. They may even find the excitement of opposition so attractive that they form relationships with people they can maintain a merry war with. Some Thinker’s may feel strong affection in spite of their difficulty in expressing it, while others may not make sentimental attachments, but form close relationships based more on mutual respect and practical support. Thinkers like to be independent and resourceful, and value being respected.
- - - - They tend more towards economy and practicality than extravagance, indulgence, or frivolous things. They keep things that are useful and tend to get rid of things that just collect dust. They don’t form sentimental attachment to possessions, and may not feel a need to orchestrate attractive surroundings. As long as it serves it’s function it makes little difference if it looks pretty. In fact, Thinkers may often find ornamentation annoyingly frivolous and unnecessary. This is not to say that none of them appreciate aesthetics, but that function comes first. Their style tends to be more sleek and minimalistic. They can be rather disgusted by the soft, the fluffy, the sentimental, the cute, the sweet, the abundance of extra, pretty, useless stuff that other people accumulate and enjoy. Usefulness is more important than looks, and too much attention to looks is illogical and wasteful. They are more oriented to knowing and mastering and being competent, than they are toward seeking comfort and enjoyment. They may seem to take life just a little more seriously, yet they do enjoy humor. Theirs is more often humor of wit or sarcasm, however, and they are not likely to entertain others with silly antics or stupid jokes. In their ability to remain emotionally detached from problems, they often find the difficult situations in life to be ironically amusing.
- - - - In conversation, Thinkers are uncomfortable talking about feelings, and are much more likely to talk about things or ideas than how they feel about them. They like to maintain a more objective scholarly approach to topics, rather than applying strong opinions and feelings. They relish debate and may play the devil’s advocate during a discussion. They don’t mind offering criticism, and do not tailor their comments to please others. They may choose to counter the opinions expressed by others, especially when they feel the conversation has turned too emotional, in an attempt to bring it back to the realm of logical discussion rather than emotional gushing. Even when they are amused or excited about something, they tend to tone down their feelings of exuberance or eagerness, and tend toward Understatement rather than overstatement. They may find feeling questions such as “How are you doing?” to be annoying and are less likely to respond with the expected good or bad assessment as with stating what they are doing or thinking about, or perhaps a snippy “How am I doing what?”
Feeling people value empathy, emotion, and expression. Straightforward facts hold little charm for them. Everything they experience is coloured with an emotion, whether slight or strong. They are highly aware of likes and dislikes and approach things subjectively, valuing their tastes and opinions. At any given time they are aware of how they are feeling, and are likely to mention it or display it in some way. They tend to enjoy expressing their emotions and will appear more excited about things than their Thinking counterparts (whom they often see as boring or inhuman). Feelings are something to be experienced, expressed, understood, shared, and cherished.
- - - - The importance of emotion in their lives doesn’t mean that all Fs are moody, depressed, angry, or unpredictable. Many Fs are happy stable people who simply take a warmer more expressive approach to life. Feelers have an instinct for empathy and want to be identified with themselves. They find it hard to connect with people who do not share and participate in their feelings of joy or sadness. The Thinker’s subdued expression and lack of identifying makes Feelers feel distant from them and not understood by them. Feelers dislike conflict and seek harmony and cooperation, usually emphasizing similarities and agreements. They see themselves as part of an emotional landscape, influencing others and being influenced by them. Feeling people are comfortable dealing with others’ emotions and are usually in tune with the emotional climate of those they are with. Maintaining good feelings between people and within themselves is important to them, so they try to understand people and value being tactful and considerate, particularly in the realm of how people may feel about something. Unless severely and personally hurt, they are willing to give people the benefit of the doubt and prefer mercy over justice. However, when they do feel wronged they are more likely to desire vengeance than the more detached Thinker.
- - - - Their feelings can affect their energy and focus, either giving them a surprising burst of energy or immobilizing them. They must express their feelings and deal with them in order to get past them and deal with the more rational aspects of a situation. Sometimes merely expressing a negative feeling will seem to solve half the problem for them, after which they are able to focus and regain hope or reason. Feelers like to be listened to and have their feelings affirmed, but aren’t necessarily asking for advice when they share their problems.
Preferring Feeling to Thinking doesn’t mean that they are illogical, but that when it comes down to it the feelings of others or themselves are a more weighty factor than convenience or practicality. Feelers are not very comfortable with objectivity or detachment and dislike the Impersonal. To feelers everything is Personal in one way or another, and they feel that people (or companies and administrations) ought to take the needs and assets of individuals into consideration. They are likely to take up the cause of another person with as much vehemence as if it was their own. They know how emotions affect things and think it is important to take them into account.
- - - - Feelers are more likely to be idealistic than they are willing to accept the uncomfortable “way it is.” They seek happiness and comfort in life, often buying or doing things simply because they like them. It’s convenient if something is useful, but it only needs to be beautiful for them to want it. Surrounding himself with things he finds attractive, does in fact serve a purpose to the Feeling person, though this may not seem apparent to a Thinker, for a pleasant environment disposes him to pleasant feelings which boosts his energy and enables him to act and focus more effectively (and more happily). Feelers form sentimental attachments with people and things. Their relationships are important to them, as are the things which remind them of those relationships. Feelers find it important to feel close and understood by others. Warmth and affection are natural to them, and they are good at communicating their care for others. They tend to be romantic, and enjoy thinking fondly of others and planning how express that feeling.
- - - - In conversation, Feelers often share their feelings and willingly listen to others’. They mirror the emotions of others, entering into their happiness, intensity, or subdued expressions of feeling. They like to know how others feel and like to be asked how they feel. Unwillingness to share and explain feelings, especially for extraverts, feels like a personal affront, and seems untrusting and secretive. Even when not talking about feelings in particular, they openly share their opinions on the topic at hand. They are excitable and will express their opinions with vigor. They often have a dramatic flair and may tend toward Overstatement. They are not interested in opening debates on their tastes or opinions, preferring to agree with others or change the topic. They guard their right to individual tastes and feelings, and usually recognize that others have that right too. They try their best to steer conversation away from conflict and smooth things over between people. Attempts to open debate, or trying to counter or disregard their emotions is seen as hostile, or at least insensitive, and may be met with anger, whining, or abruptly ending the conversation.
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4. Judging and Perceiving - represented by J and P
This describes our approach to dealing with the world, whether we are more interested in organizing, making decisions and coming to conclusions about things, or more interested in observing, discovering, and spontaneity.
Judging people have a need for order and conclusion. They like things to be certain, and prefer to look at them as black and white rather than grey. They feel strongly that there is a right and a wrong way to go about things, and are concerned with seeing that the right way is adhered to. They tend to like systems, regulations, rules, and instructions because these give them a sense of structure and closure - things aren’t up for debate, actions and results have already been decided. They respect rules and don’t like going against them. They feel comfortable operating within systems because it gives them a sense of security. Js like to have a feeling of being on top of everything, and dislike the uncertainty and instability of not feeling in control of what’s going on. They love to plan things out ahead of time, make lists and schedules, and feel satisfied when they can stick to them until completion. They don’t like to leave things half-finished and usually tie up all the loose ends before moving on to something new. They like things to happen in the “proper” sequence and they like objects to have a “proper” place. They strive for order in their physical surroundings as well as in their activities. They like things to be predictable, always in the same place, always occurring at the same time. They set up routines for themselves, fill in calendars, and pay attention to the clock.
- - - - Js tend to approach life with a sense of Duty, focusing on work rather than play. It’s not that they don’t like to have fun, but they can’t properly enjoy recreation until all the work is finished, their obligations met. They can have a tendency to make extra work for themselves and even turn pleasurable events into obligations in their minds. They are always concerned with planning and executing those plans, making sure everything runs smoothly. They seem to always be on the alert for jobs that need to be done, and can’t rest till they’re taken care of. They believe in taking their work seriously, and don’t believe that everything ought to be fun. They don’t resist putting up with discomfort in order to get the job done. They take a kind of martyr’s pride and satisfaction in being the one who accomplishes all the hard work that needs to be done. They are dependable and often take on a great deal of responsibility.
- - - - Js are very reliable and are good at both serving people and at directing them. They see themselves as part of a larger social structure, and take comfort in this. They honor hierarchy and defer to authority figures. They feel more comfortable knowing that someone is in charge rather than in blazing their own trail. They read instructions before acting, and don’t like to jump into action without a game-plan. While they enjoy organizing things themselves, they also feel a particular satisfaction in following an established or widely accepted plan, knowing that this is the Right way, not just my way. They do not really enjoy experimentation or “making it up as they go.” When things don’t go as planned Js have difficulty adjusting. They feel unprepared and insecure when their plan fails, and may become immobilized. Thinking on the spot is not usually their forté.
- - - - They like to make decisions and get things settled. They feel frustrated with indecisiveness, and may make choices prematurely just to satisfy their need to have things settled. Indeed, they feel unsettled before a decision is made, and comfortable afterwards. They highly value sticking to choices once they are made and may not be willing to change course even when they realize they made the wrong choice. They don’t like to have to think about a plan once it’s been set in motion, and thus may continue operating on autopilot rather than discarding their precious plan and coming up with a new one in the middle of things.
- - - - In conversation, Js push for conclusions to be made about things. They are not very interested in probing all the different aspects of an idea, nor finding out all the possibilities. They make positive, conclusive statements, rather than tentative ones. They like to Know rather than to guess or suppose or wonder. In their need to feel like they have a handle on things, they can be unopen to other ideas or information once they have made up their minds, and may come across as closed-minded or too sure of themselves. As they like to be organized, they usually plan how to tell something in a clear orderly fashion. They don’t like making tentative plans, but push for commitment to a plan. They can become exasperated by people who feel too wishy-washy to them, those who won’t commit to a plan or specific opinion. They have a hard time understanding people who like to look at things from different perspectives and thus seem to contradict their own conclusions about things. For a J you either think this or don’t think this.
Perceiving people like to make observations but prefer to withhold judgment. They are focused on taking in the world around them. They like discovering new things and are usually open to new experiences, ideas, or methods. They try to look at things from several different points of view, striving to understand different perspectives. They are often reluctant to take a strong stand for their opinions or beliefs, preferring to take a middle ground between different views because they can honestly understand more than one side of an issue. They are open to people disagreeing with them because they recognize that people have different values and perspectives. Perceivers are also reluctant to state their theories or discoveries as fact because they have a feeling that there is always more information out there. Because Ps do take a long time to make decisions and gather a great deal of information before coming to them, when the finally do come to a conclusion they are likely to be right, and may believe very firmly in their choice. Yet even on things he feels pretty certain about, a P is usually willing to concede the possibility that he is wrong and that there is much he does not yet know.
- - - - Perceivers like to experiment and find things out for themselves rather than follow instructions, and often disregard policy and rules, feeling that they are unnecessary and confining. As they are more interested in observing the world than directing it, they tend to dislike being in places of authority as well as being under authority. They are free spirits who tend to keep out of the way of those wielding plans and regulations on a mission to change the world. There is no one way things ought to be as far as they are concerned, and they appreciate all the variety there is to be found in the world. They often flout social norms in favor of whatever seems to work best for them at the time. They are more interested in how something Can be done than how other’s think it should be done. Thus it is often Perceivers who come up with new methods, discover new uses for things, and create new inventions. They are masters at thinking outside the box. They look at things not as they are, but as their potential. They see possibilities everywhere and usually have an open optimistic view of the world.
- - - - Ps take a playful approach to life, guiltlessly enjoying dessert before dinner, play before work. In fact, they do their best to turn work into play. The believe life ought to be enjoyed. They may procrastinate their duties and don’t feel particularly satisfied for having done them. They avoid extra responsibilities and often think their Judging friends need to relax more. They are easy-going and don’t usually get uptight about things. They don’t place a high priority on schedules or things happening “on time.” Rather, they approach life with spontaneity and a sense of wonder. They do what they feel like doing in the moment, relying more on inspiration to motivate them rather than a sense of duty. Indeed it is inspiration and seizing the moment that makes a P feel most alive, he lives for acting in his spontaneous urges. When he tries to work without inspiration everything feels flat and forced and no longer fun or interesting.
- - - - Perceivers resist making choices or commitments until the last minute because they never know when a better option or new information might come along. After a decision has been made, a P may feel unsettled, questioning whether he was really right, or if perhaps it was made prematurely. A P does not like to feel locked into a plan or statement. Not only does he feel uncertain that his choice or opinion is right, but he has a kind of rebellious spirit that resents confinement and makes him want to say “maybe not after all” just to keep from feeling like things are set in stone. Once he feels compelled from the outside to stick with something he looses his sense of autonomy and inspiration. Thus, Ps usually make tentative plans, leaving room to cancel or revise it if they want to do something else when the time comes. They usually leave the details to be determined in the moment, and just agree to a general plan. They deal with situations as they arise and are good at making things up as they go and thinking on the spot. A P thrives on creative ad-hoc solutions, while feeling dead and bored when fulfilling routine duties. Ps may despise the boring and unoriginal, seeing adherence to common practices or preset instructions as a cop-out, a sign that people have turned off their brains and disengaged from life. They encourage mixing things up, trying something different, doing the unexpected.
- - - - Order is not necessary to their sanity, and Ps can usually put up with a messy or chaotic environment. Because they don’t need closure, it is easy for them to have several projects going at once in various stages of completion, some of which they may never get back to. They will leave things out that they are working on indefinitely, perhaps coming back to finish it or clean up the remnants months later. There is no “proper” place for things - wherever is currently convenient is where it should be. There is no “proper” sequence for things to be completed in either. A Perceiver may approach a project from several different angles, start in the middle, or work on bits and pieces all at once. He may also gain new inspiration when halfway done and throw it all out to start anew. For a Perceiver it’s never too late to change your mind.
- - - - In conversation Ps may get sidetracked and jump to new topics and then come back to something they were saying earlier. They don’t necessarily convey their thoughts in an organized linear way, which may confuse their listeners. Because they are good at understanding different sides of things, they may at first seem to agree with one view, and then to be agreeing with another. In reality, they may not be trying to say they agree with either of them, but merely discussing different aspects of a given topic. They are usually open to, and interested in, hearing what others have to say. They may stir up conversation on a topic but feel no need to reach a conclusion or agreement. They generally don’t like passing judgments and don’t really enjoy listening to people who are too insistent upon being right. Ps like to acknowledge all the possibilities and may be good facilitators of discussions. They may not like feeling pushed to defend one side or the other more than they agree with, though their ability to see both sides may allow them to argue a cause they don’t actually believe in. Ps are likely to talk about things they’ve recently discovered, or are discovering, whether a new ice-cream flavor they tried, a new dance they’re learning, a new person they’ve met, a new idea they’re developing, a new insight they’ve had, a new book they’re reading. They like to share their observations about the world, which naturally does include some level of drawing conclusions, but they enjoy discussing these in an open way with people who may deepen their insight and broaden their knowledge. Ps can be annoyed by people who pester them to make choices quickly, or are unwilling to listen to more than one side of an issue. When someone belligerently keeps stating his own view without giving others a chance, a P is likely to become disgusted and leave the conversation.
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Dominant Traits
The descriptions of the 8 different preferences is enough to give a useful understanding of the different types of people. However, this Theory further notes that either S, N, T, or F will be a person’s Dominant Trait. This is determined by the other four traits E, I, J, and P.
S and N are related to Perceiving because they are how we perceive our world.
T and F are related to Judging because they are how we make decisions.
J and P represent our preferred style for interacting with the Outer World, either Observing it or Ordering it. Thus a person who prefers to Order the world will tend to use the T/F trait most, and someone who prefers to Observe the world will tend to use his S/N trait most.
However, whether one is Extraverted or Introverted also has a bearing on this trait dominance.
The Dominant Trait of Extraverts lines up with his Outer World preference with a straightforward correlation as explained above, because his main focus is on the Outer World.
Introverts primarily focus their energy and attention on the Inner World, which means their Outer World preference is actually Secondary (Auxiliary), making the other trait set the source of their preferred Inner World Dominant Trait.
Thus an Introvert who prefers to Observe the Outer World will favor the T/F trait for his Dominant Inner World focus, and an Introvert who prefers to Order the Outer World will prefer the S/N trait for his Dominant Inner World focus.
For Example
ISTP Dominant (Inner) Thinking, Auxiliary (Outer) Sensing
ISTJ Dominant (Inner) Sensing, Auxiliary (Outer) Thinking
ESTP Dominant (Outer) Sensing, Auxiliary (Inner) Thinking
ESTJ Dominant (Outer) Thinking, Auxiliary (Inner) Sensing
The Basics
E/I S/N T/F J/P
There are Four Trait Scales, each with two opposite preferences, which form the basis of this Personality Theory. A combination of 4 letters, out of the 8 possibilities, representing one’s preferences on the four scales make up the “name” for each type. Thus there are 16 different Types. It is also recognized that someone may be close enough to the center of one of the scales to be considered a combination of both traits then represented by an X. However most people exhibit some traits from both sides while clearly favoring one or the other.
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1. Extraversion and Introversion - represented by E and I
This is primarily concerned with where we get our energy, from people or personal time. Our desire for Interaction or Introspection is determined by which drains and which energizes us.
Extraverted people feel most energized and alive when they are with other people. Whenever they are alone they seek to find a chance to interact with others. Their personal pursuits usually take second place to spending time with friends or family. They welcome interruptions from others and when working alone will take frequent breaks to go talk to someone in order to keep their energy up. They prefer group work and like a sense of camaraderie. They hate feeling left out, and may feel bad about themselves when they can't find someone to talk to. They enjoy meeting people, talk easily with strangers, and have many friends. They are driven to seek interaction.
- - - - Extraverts are often uncomfortable alone and tend to feel bored and unmotivated when they are by themselves. They may even feel a little scared of having to keep themselves company, preferring the distraction of others to introspection. It’s not that most Extraverts don’t know themselves or have an individual identity, but they derive a lot of their sense of self from their interactions with others. As they value relationships over personal interests, who they are is more easily shaped by those they spend time with, as is their sense of confidence and satisfaction with life. They will often take up the interests and activities of their friends so that they can enjoy doing them together. They also like to draw people into their interests. They can't stand staying home when they know their friends are out doing something together, and are likely to drop everything to go join them. They don’t really like thinking to themselves or doing things on their own, finding everything to be more rewarding when done in company. The more the merrier is their motto.
- - - - Extraverts tend to approach everyone as friends and openly share their thoughts and feelings with whomever happens to be around. They often think out loud and like to talk through things with others, incorporating their input as part of their own thoughts. They usually don’t mind attracting attention to themselves or being in the spotlight. They make new friends wherever they go, always able to find something to talk about with people. They love finding out about people’s interests or personal lives, love hearing their stories and sharing their own. They are aware of societal groups and tend to be savvy concerning the knowledge interests and trends among their peers. They people watch and speculate about others lives and are highly aware of all the people around them. They tend to feel energized in a crowd and enjoy entering into the group mentality, whether it be as an audience at a movie, dancing at a club, or playing on a team. Shared experiences bring a light to their eye and enthusiasm to their actions.
- - - - Extraverts like being out and about with people, and enjoy being in social places. They like malls, bars, amusement parks, fairs, conventions, parties and all kinds of social events. They keep their doors or windows open, inviting people to come in, and find ways to bring personal activities out to places like coffee shops or parks. When they are by themselves they seek interaction and if they can’t call up a friend, are likely to choose to sit in public places where they have the possibility of striking up conversation, or simply absorbing the energy of the people around them. They place themselves in the path of new people all the time. While they usually have a steady group of friends they see often, they won’t stick just with them when there are other people around. They will introduce themselves or invite people to join them whenever they can and are excited by making new acquaintances. They greet people on the street, talk with people in lines, make comments to strangers in stores, and get to know the checkers at their grocery store. They hardly ever seek seclusion and don’t find the presence of other people too distracting. They are likely to feel the urge to talk to people who are near them and will rarely ignore people.
- - - - Shyness from low self-esteem can be devastating to Extraverts who crave the acceptance and company of others. Longing to connect, yet too afraid to do so leaves them feeling unfulfilled and lost. On the other hand, some extraverts can be quite overbearing, assuming everyone wants to hear them. Their identity may be so wrapped up in those around them that they expect others to do as they do and may manipulate them into their own image rather than giving them some personal space.
- - - - In conversation, Extraverts are forthcoming and engaging. They are usually friendly and speak easily with strangers as well as friends. They jump in and add their two cents, sometimes interrupting or cutting others off. They have a tendency to speak loudly, and don’t mind if people beyond their group happen to hear them. They listen in on other’s conversations and don’t feel shy to contribute if they have something to add. If they hear people asking a question to someone else they are likely to offer any information they have. They tend to assume people want to talk if they look alone or unoccupied, and readily initiate or draw people into their conversations. Their business is everyone’s and everyone’s business is theirs. They like to talk about other people, and may be prone to gossip.
Introverts are most energized by spending time in personal pursuits and introspection. They do not feel a strong need to interact, even with their close friends, and will more often choose to do something on their own than with others. They enjoy keeping themselves company and are perfectly capable of entertaining themselves. They don't often feel lonely, and are often more relieved than offended by being 'left out' of other people's social plans or conversations. They don't feel like something is wrong with them because they don't have a lot of friends, and an empty callander doesn't make them feel like they are missing out on life. They are more likely to feel bored and lonely in a crowd than on their own. They thrive on time spent pursuing their personal Interests which they usually choose over relating with others.
- - - - Introverts are drained by interaction with others, even when they are with people they like, and need to spend time alone after social events to recuperate. It is not unusual for an Introvert to leave a party early because he is tired, only to find himself feeling quite alert after a half hour at home. Knowing their social-energy is limited, they spend it wisely. They do not like to waste interaction with people who don’t mean something to them, and thus tend to keep acquaintances and strangers at a distance. They don’t go looking to make new friends, being content, and sometimes even overwhelmed, with those they already have. Often even when they are lonely, Introverts will wait to be discovered by potential friends rather than seeking them out and introducing themselves. They prefer to maintain a few deep relationships and keep superficial interaction to a minimum. As they need little social interaction they can maintain a sense of close friendship with relatively little interaction. They seem to handle long distance relationships well, and may not seek new friends even if their old friends no longer live near them. With family members they may share space, but maintain their concentration on private endeavors. They do not feel the need to interact with someone just because they are nearby and often maintain mental private space even when in a crowd.
- - - - Introverts tend to dislike small talk and superficial, unimportant conversations, and thus do all they can to avoid having to talk to acquaintances with whom they do not wish to cultivate a close relationship. They are likely to ignore strangers entirely, and in public places will focus only on their friends, or bury their nose in a book. They don’t like to invite attention or interruptions from people they don’t know, and don’t assume that strangers would want to talk with them. They often feel awkward meeting new people and have trouble finding things to talk about, since their preferred topics tend to be things which require more depth of relationship or specialized knowledge. They may not always be up on popular culture or common knowledge and thus feel lost when people attempt to make conversation with them. They are frequently absorbed in thir own thoughts or tasks and may find it jarring and unpleasantly distracting when people interrupt them, making it difficult for them to think of how to respond.
- - - - Introverts seek out privacy and prefer to spend time in their own homes, or secluded places. They may prefer getting take-out to eating in restaurants, or invite friends back to their place rather than hanging out at the pub or the mall. They feel more comfortable engaging with people on their own territory, and also like to cut down on the amount of strangers in the vicinity. Introverts are perfectly happy to do things by themselves, even things which others consider social activities. They will go to movies, shopping, or the beach alone and have a very good time of it. True introverts do not feel sorry for themselves when they are alone.
- - - - Their sense of self and personal energy is found mainly in the development of their Interests. They usually invest a lot more time and energy in their field of interest than Extraverts do, and find great fulfillment in furthering their knowledge and honing their skills. They are willing to put a great deal of time into study and practice while extraverts would grow bored of such solitary pursuits and go find someone to talk with. Introverts often meet their friends through their common interests and enjoy discussing their interests with them, although they will still tend to pursue them more often alone. They do not have a need for general social approval, which allows them freedom to pursue less popular interests without worrying about displeasing their peers. They may find it annoying when peers pester them about being different and can’t seem to just leave them alone, but they don’t feel any genuine regret for being different or not being part of the “in crowd.” As long as they have a few people who like them for who they are, Introverts can feel confident in themselves and content, even in the face of persecution from others. They inwardly laugh at other’s attempts to make them feel ostracized from a group they never desired to join in the first place.
- - - - Introverts prefer deep relationships to shallow ones, but also prefer those deep relationships to be few. Thus they may show two very different faces to the world. With their inner circle of friends and family they may be very open and expressive, even loud and dramatic, but to the world at large they present a closed or distant expression. They do not encourage others to engage them in conversation. They do not readily share their thoughts or opinions with outer-circle people, and feel that their emotions are none of their business. They usually wait to be asked before sharing their input, and wait to be introduced before talking to someone at all. In groups they tend to stand back and observe others, rather than participate, and do not like to be put in the spotlight. They may comment quietly to someone next to them, but don’t have the knack for interrupting when they have something to say, and so often the moment passes and they are overlooked. Within their 'inner-circle' of friends and family, however, they value the ability to be open, and want those people to understand and know them very well. They enjoy sharing their passions with their friends, and enjoy the sense of being part of a small tight-knitt group. Loyalty is important to them, and when they do let someone into their inner-circle they like to know it is going to be a long lasting relationship. They greatly value their true friends and do not desire to move on and find new friends when they move to a new town, or change jobs or schools. They like to engage in deep, meaningfull conversations which are often a continuation of past conversations. They enjoy the consistancy of knowing the people they spend time with, knowing what they like, their background and oppinions, what kinds of things they will say, how they will react, etc.
- - - - Not all Introverts are shy, even though they may be perceived as such. Shy Introverts don’t suffer as badly as shy Extraverts because they don’t watch social groups with longing. They try to connect with people less frequently, and thus suffer less often from their inability to do so. They still have their primary source of identity available to them, their personal Interests, even if they may wish they had someone to share them with. On the otherhand, Introverts naturally find themselves in fewer circumstances where they can meet others, and thus sometimes tragically waste the few opportunities they do have to make friends if they are too shy to make the initial connection.
- - - - In conversation, Introverts prefer to talk about their Interests more than about other people. They take more time to collect their thoughts before speaking and may pause before answering a question. They do not interrupt or jump into other people’s conversations. They may sit close and listen if they want to be a part of it, but will not speak unless they know they are welcome. In a large group they will speak quietly to one or two other people nearby rather than raising their voice to be heard by everyone. Among extraverts and outer-circle people they will usually stick to observation and withhold their thoughts and feelings. Among fellow Introverts they tend find it easier talk about things, and easier to find a chance to get a word in edgewise. With eachother they are able to recognize when others have something to say and tactfully finnish their piece and hand the conversation off to the next person. When they don’t feel overpowered they can enjoy mutual respect and easily fall into lengthy conversation. With their inner-circle they are comfortable sharing their inner thoughts and feelings, are more willing to speak up, interrupt, or take center-stage and may even appear extraverted.
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2. Sensing and INtuition - represented by S and N
This is how we gather information and take in the world. It indicates what arena we most focus on or “live” in.
Sensing people rely on their 5 senses to tell them about the world. Thus their primary focus is on the physical outer world. They value experience and action, and feel alive in their sensations. They are most aware of and concerned with What IS, How Things ARE. They pay attention to Who, What, When, Where, and How. They are good at taking in details about the world around them. Some may be so attuned to their senses that they appear prophetical in their ability to know the truth about people or situations just like the famous Sherlock Holms on whom even the smallest detail is never lost.
- - - - Practical application is very important to them and they don’t like to waste their time on theories they can’t put into action, or information that has no relevance or practical use in their lives. They tend to be experiential learners and may find concepts and instruction dry or incomprehensible until they see it in action - in the doing they grasp and master it. They are more likely to act than to contemplate and move quickly from the point of Idea to Implementation. They like to develop their skills and are concerned with the practicality of method. Sensing people like to keep themselves busy or entertained, immersed in their experiences. They don’t like wasting time in inactivity and contemplation - thought demands action. They engage the world with their hands, their eyes, their ears, their mouths, and like working with objects and tools. They focus on what’s going on now, rather than possibilities or deeper meaning.
- - - - An easy place to take note of this preference is in conversation. Sensing people most enjoy talking about their experiences. They tell about their day, describe things they’ve seen, explain how to do something. They don’t engage for long in abstract theorizing, and often want concrete examples in order to keep their minds from wandering during a discussion of ideas. Ss will often talk about what they are doing together at the moment, or are likely to move from discussion into activity before long. Ss may feel confused by Ns long involved theoretical discussions and feel frustrated by the Ns tendency to get “sidetracked” into them.
Intuitive people rely on their intuition to tell them about the world. Their minds are geared for making connections, detecting patterns, and seeing possibilities. They often understand or know things without having to have them explained in detail, or without doing much research. The mere mention of an idea can give them an understanding of the whole, as their minds quickly work out all the implications and related facets. In essence, they can see without seeing and experience without actually experimenting - this is Intuition. They are concerned with Understanding Why much more than knowing facts. They are not content to merely observe how things are, but find themselves automatically analyzing Why things are the way they are, how they got to be that way, how they affect other things, the future possibilities, their significance in the grand scheme of things, etc. And by “things” I don’t mean physical objects so much as underlying principles, ideas, beliefs, systems; “things” such as society, the nature of consciousness, literary archetypes, the meaning of life.
- - - - Their primary focus is on the inner immaterial world of ideas. They live much more in their minds than in their physical bodies. They relish intellect and emotion and feel most alive when working mentally with ideas, as opposed to physically with their hands. Their drive is more to Understand than to Do and they may dwell much longer on thinking about something before acting on it, or may never get past imagining and planning to implementation. They may feel rather detached from the world around them, and can seem unaware of their environment or miss noticing details. They usually thrive in academic situations and don’t need a lot of action to keep themselves alert or focused. Their minds are always engaged, while keeping their bodies active seems optional. Thinking is their primary mode of action. They engage the world with their Minds and relish imagination and contemplation.
- - - - In conversation an INtuitive will quickly move from the discussion of events and objects to the theoretical. The N’s mind is likely to wander during accounts of everyday things once an idea is triggered. Their focus is constantly drawn to the workings of their minds rather than input from outside, making it harder for them to be attentive. Ns like to talk about their theories and ideas, things they imagine, feelings, or future possibilities. Ns will sit and philosophize with eachother for long periods of time, but may find it difficult to hold a conversation with an S about more concrete things.
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3. Thinking and Feeling - represented by T and F
This is how we make decisions and value judgments. It indicates whether we prefer looking at things Objectively or Subjectively.
Thinking people value logic, facts, and practicality. They like things to make sense and are quick to notice faulty reasoning. Information is their realm and they don’t have much patience for the “airy-fairy” feelings and whims of their Feeling counterparts who strike them as inconsistent and illogical. They tend to distrust emotion, or consider it irrelevant, a mere side-note. The preference for Thinking doesn’t mean they are without feelings, but that when it comes down to it they will make the logical choice regardless of how they or others may feel about it. They tend to downplay their own feelings and are more comfortable with people telling them “that’s just how it is” or “snap out of it” than they are with sympathy. They don’t take things personally, and can usually take criticism well, being willing to consider what is said without letting feelings of hurt or defensiveness overpower them. They don’t find emotions to be very useful in solving problems, and thus set them aside. They are comfortable being impersonal and are likely to favor justice over mercy. They don’t mind competition or opposition and often enjoy debate, feeling that they think more accurately when faced with counter-arguments. They are able to disengage their personal feelings during such discussions and maintain cool logical thinking. They don’t get easily riled up nor easily depressed. They are not easily aware of feelings, their own or others’, and do not put much effort into trying to influence or understand their emotional landscape.
- - - - They may notice underlying emotions lending colour to life, but they don’t feel a great need to express these openly. They often feel uncomfortable with other people’s display of emotion, not really knowing how to respond. They do not naturally identify with others, and while they may understand a person feels bad and want to help them, they do not necessarily experience the feeling with them. Their practical minds often find it hard to just listen to another person’s troubles without wanting to jump in with a solution or plan. They prefer to deal with their own feelings privately, and when they do share them are likely to maintain a calm detached air. Their communication of affection, or dislike, is usually not direct but implied. They often feel awkward saying things like “I love you” and are not often in tune enough with how others feel or what they like or dislike to know when/if someone would like to be sent roses or given a hug, etc. Being uncomfortable with “sot” romantic expressions, it is sometimes actually through jibes and arguing that they show their affection. They may even find the excitement of opposition so attractive that they form relationships with people they can maintain a merry war with. Some Thinker’s may feel strong affection in spite of their difficulty in expressing it, while others may not make sentimental attachments, but form close relationships based more on mutual respect and practical support. Thinkers like to be independent and resourceful, and value being respected.
- - - - They tend more towards economy and practicality than extravagance, indulgence, or frivolous things. They keep things that are useful and tend to get rid of things that just collect dust. They don’t form sentimental attachment to possessions, and may not feel a need to orchestrate attractive surroundings. As long as it serves it’s function it makes little difference if it looks pretty. In fact, Thinkers may often find ornamentation annoyingly frivolous and unnecessary. This is not to say that none of them appreciate aesthetics, but that function comes first. Their style tends to be more sleek and minimalistic. They can be rather disgusted by the soft, the fluffy, the sentimental, the cute, the sweet, the abundance of extra, pretty, useless stuff that other people accumulate and enjoy. Usefulness is more important than looks, and too much attention to looks is illogical and wasteful. They are more oriented to knowing and mastering and being competent, than they are toward seeking comfort and enjoyment. They may seem to take life just a little more seriously, yet they do enjoy humor. Theirs is more often humor of wit or sarcasm, however, and they are not likely to entertain others with silly antics or stupid jokes. In their ability to remain emotionally detached from problems, they often find the difficult situations in life to be ironically amusing.
- - - - In conversation, Thinkers are uncomfortable talking about feelings, and are much more likely to talk about things or ideas than how they feel about them. They like to maintain a more objective scholarly approach to topics, rather than applying strong opinions and feelings. They relish debate and may play the devil’s advocate during a discussion. They don’t mind offering criticism, and do not tailor their comments to please others. They may choose to counter the opinions expressed by others, especially when they feel the conversation has turned too emotional, in an attempt to bring it back to the realm of logical discussion rather than emotional gushing. Even when they are amused or excited about something, they tend to tone down their feelings of exuberance or eagerness, and tend toward Understatement rather than overstatement. They may find feeling questions such as “How are you doing?” to be annoying and are less likely to respond with the expected good or bad assessment as with stating what they are doing or thinking about, or perhaps a snippy “How am I doing what?”
Feeling people value empathy, emotion, and expression. Straightforward facts hold little charm for them. Everything they experience is coloured with an emotion, whether slight or strong. They are highly aware of likes and dislikes and approach things subjectively, valuing their tastes and opinions. At any given time they are aware of how they are feeling, and are likely to mention it or display it in some way. They tend to enjoy expressing their emotions and will appear more excited about things than their Thinking counterparts (whom they often see as boring or inhuman). Feelings are something to be experienced, expressed, understood, shared, and cherished.
- - - - The importance of emotion in their lives doesn’t mean that all Fs are moody, depressed, angry, or unpredictable. Many Fs are happy stable people who simply take a warmer more expressive approach to life. Feelers have an instinct for empathy and want to be identified with themselves. They find it hard to connect with people who do not share and participate in their feelings of joy or sadness. The Thinker’s subdued expression and lack of identifying makes Feelers feel distant from them and not understood by them. Feelers dislike conflict and seek harmony and cooperation, usually emphasizing similarities and agreements. They see themselves as part of an emotional landscape, influencing others and being influenced by them. Feeling people are comfortable dealing with others’ emotions and are usually in tune with the emotional climate of those they are with. Maintaining good feelings between people and within themselves is important to them, so they try to understand people and value being tactful and considerate, particularly in the realm of how people may feel about something. Unless severely and personally hurt, they are willing to give people the benefit of the doubt and prefer mercy over justice. However, when they do feel wronged they are more likely to desire vengeance than the more detached Thinker.
- - - - Their feelings can affect their energy and focus, either giving them a surprising burst of energy or immobilizing them. They must express their feelings and deal with them in order to get past them and deal with the more rational aspects of a situation. Sometimes merely expressing a negative feeling will seem to solve half the problem for them, after which they are able to focus and regain hope or reason. Feelers like to be listened to and have their feelings affirmed, but aren’t necessarily asking for advice when they share their problems.
Preferring Feeling to Thinking doesn’t mean that they are illogical, but that when it comes down to it the feelings of others or themselves are a more weighty factor than convenience or practicality. Feelers are not very comfortable with objectivity or detachment and dislike the Impersonal. To feelers everything is Personal in one way or another, and they feel that people (or companies and administrations) ought to take the needs and assets of individuals into consideration. They are likely to take up the cause of another person with as much vehemence as if it was their own. They know how emotions affect things and think it is important to take them into account.
- - - - Feelers are more likely to be idealistic than they are willing to accept the uncomfortable “way it is.” They seek happiness and comfort in life, often buying or doing things simply because they like them. It’s convenient if something is useful, but it only needs to be beautiful for them to want it. Surrounding himself with things he finds attractive, does in fact serve a purpose to the Feeling person, though this may not seem apparent to a Thinker, for a pleasant environment disposes him to pleasant feelings which boosts his energy and enables him to act and focus more effectively (and more happily). Feelers form sentimental attachments with people and things. Their relationships are important to them, as are the things which remind them of those relationships. Feelers find it important to feel close and understood by others. Warmth and affection are natural to them, and they are good at communicating their care for others. They tend to be romantic, and enjoy thinking fondly of others and planning how express that feeling.
- - - - In conversation, Feelers often share their feelings and willingly listen to others’. They mirror the emotions of others, entering into their happiness, intensity, or subdued expressions of feeling. They like to know how others feel and like to be asked how they feel. Unwillingness to share and explain feelings, especially for extraverts, feels like a personal affront, and seems untrusting and secretive. Even when not talking about feelings in particular, they openly share their opinions on the topic at hand. They are excitable and will express their opinions with vigor. They often have a dramatic flair and may tend toward Overstatement. They are not interested in opening debates on their tastes or opinions, preferring to agree with others or change the topic. They guard their right to individual tastes and feelings, and usually recognize that others have that right too. They try their best to steer conversation away from conflict and smooth things over between people. Attempts to open debate, or trying to counter or disregard their emotions is seen as hostile, or at least insensitive, and may be met with anger, whining, or abruptly ending the conversation.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
4. Judging and Perceiving - represented by J and P
This describes our approach to dealing with the world, whether we are more interested in organizing, making decisions and coming to conclusions about things, or more interested in observing, discovering, and spontaneity.
Judging people have a need for order and conclusion. They like things to be certain, and prefer to look at them as black and white rather than grey. They feel strongly that there is a right and a wrong way to go about things, and are concerned with seeing that the right way is adhered to. They tend to like systems, regulations, rules, and instructions because these give them a sense of structure and closure - things aren’t up for debate, actions and results have already been decided. They respect rules and don’t like going against them. They feel comfortable operating within systems because it gives them a sense of security. Js like to have a feeling of being on top of everything, and dislike the uncertainty and instability of not feeling in control of what’s going on. They love to plan things out ahead of time, make lists and schedules, and feel satisfied when they can stick to them until completion. They don’t like to leave things half-finished and usually tie up all the loose ends before moving on to something new. They like things to happen in the “proper” sequence and they like objects to have a “proper” place. They strive for order in their physical surroundings as well as in their activities. They like things to be predictable, always in the same place, always occurring at the same time. They set up routines for themselves, fill in calendars, and pay attention to the clock.
- - - - Js tend to approach life with a sense of Duty, focusing on work rather than play. It’s not that they don’t like to have fun, but they can’t properly enjoy recreation until all the work is finished, their obligations met. They can have a tendency to make extra work for themselves and even turn pleasurable events into obligations in their minds. They are always concerned with planning and executing those plans, making sure everything runs smoothly. They seem to always be on the alert for jobs that need to be done, and can’t rest till they’re taken care of. They believe in taking their work seriously, and don’t believe that everything ought to be fun. They don’t resist putting up with discomfort in order to get the job done. They take a kind of martyr’s pride and satisfaction in being the one who accomplishes all the hard work that needs to be done. They are dependable and often take on a great deal of responsibility.
- - - - Js are very reliable and are good at both serving people and at directing them. They see themselves as part of a larger social structure, and take comfort in this. They honor hierarchy and defer to authority figures. They feel more comfortable knowing that someone is in charge rather than in blazing their own trail. They read instructions before acting, and don’t like to jump into action without a game-plan. While they enjoy organizing things themselves, they also feel a particular satisfaction in following an established or widely accepted plan, knowing that this is the Right way, not just my way. They do not really enjoy experimentation or “making it up as they go.” When things don’t go as planned Js have difficulty adjusting. They feel unprepared and insecure when their plan fails, and may become immobilized. Thinking on the spot is not usually their forté.
- - - - They like to make decisions and get things settled. They feel frustrated with indecisiveness, and may make choices prematurely just to satisfy their need to have things settled. Indeed, they feel unsettled before a decision is made, and comfortable afterwards. They highly value sticking to choices once they are made and may not be willing to change course even when they realize they made the wrong choice. They don’t like to have to think about a plan once it’s been set in motion, and thus may continue operating on autopilot rather than discarding their precious plan and coming up with a new one in the middle of things.
- - - - In conversation, Js push for conclusions to be made about things. They are not very interested in probing all the different aspects of an idea, nor finding out all the possibilities. They make positive, conclusive statements, rather than tentative ones. They like to Know rather than to guess or suppose or wonder. In their need to feel like they have a handle on things, they can be unopen to other ideas or information once they have made up their minds, and may come across as closed-minded or too sure of themselves. As they like to be organized, they usually plan how to tell something in a clear orderly fashion. They don’t like making tentative plans, but push for commitment to a plan. They can become exasperated by people who feel too wishy-washy to them, those who won’t commit to a plan or specific opinion. They have a hard time understanding people who like to look at things from different perspectives and thus seem to contradict their own conclusions about things. For a J you either think this or don’t think this.
Perceiving people like to make observations but prefer to withhold judgment. They are focused on taking in the world around them. They like discovering new things and are usually open to new experiences, ideas, or methods. They try to look at things from several different points of view, striving to understand different perspectives. They are often reluctant to take a strong stand for their opinions or beliefs, preferring to take a middle ground between different views because they can honestly understand more than one side of an issue. They are open to people disagreeing with them because they recognize that people have different values and perspectives. Perceivers are also reluctant to state their theories or discoveries as fact because they have a feeling that there is always more information out there. Because Ps do take a long time to make decisions and gather a great deal of information before coming to them, when the finally do come to a conclusion they are likely to be right, and may believe very firmly in their choice. Yet even on things he feels pretty certain about, a P is usually willing to concede the possibility that he is wrong and that there is much he does not yet know.
- - - - Perceivers like to experiment and find things out for themselves rather than follow instructions, and often disregard policy and rules, feeling that they are unnecessary and confining. As they are more interested in observing the world than directing it, they tend to dislike being in places of authority as well as being under authority. They are free spirits who tend to keep out of the way of those wielding plans and regulations on a mission to change the world. There is no one way things ought to be as far as they are concerned, and they appreciate all the variety there is to be found in the world. They often flout social norms in favor of whatever seems to work best for them at the time. They are more interested in how something Can be done than how other’s think it should be done. Thus it is often Perceivers who come up with new methods, discover new uses for things, and create new inventions. They are masters at thinking outside the box. They look at things not as they are, but as their potential. They see possibilities everywhere and usually have an open optimistic view of the world.
- - - - Ps take a playful approach to life, guiltlessly enjoying dessert before dinner, play before work. In fact, they do their best to turn work into play. The believe life ought to be enjoyed. They may procrastinate their duties and don’t feel particularly satisfied for having done them. They avoid extra responsibilities and often think their Judging friends need to relax more. They are easy-going and don’t usually get uptight about things. They don’t place a high priority on schedules or things happening “on time.” Rather, they approach life with spontaneity and a sense of wonder. They do what they feel like doing in the moment, relying more on inspiration to motivate them rather than a sense of duty. Indeed it is inspiration and seizing the moment that makes a P feel most alive, he lives for acting in his spontaneous urges. When he tries to work without inspiration everything feels flat and forced and no longer fun or interesting.
- - - - Perceivers resist making choices or commitments until the last minute because they never know when a better option or new information might come along. After a decision has been made, a P may feel unsettled, questioning whether he was really right, or if perhaps it was made prematurely. A P does not like to feel locked into a plan or statement. Not only does he feel uncertain that his choice or opinion is right, but he has a kind of rebellious spirit that resents confinement and makes him want to say “maybe not after all” just to keep from feeling like things are set in stone. Once he feels compelled from the outside to stick with something he looses his sense of autonomy and inspiration. Thus, Ps usually make tentative plans, leaving room to cancel or revise it if they want to do something else when the time comes. They usually leave the details to be determined in the moment, and just agree to a general plan. They deal with situations as they arise and are good at making things up as they go and thinking on the spot. A P thrives on creative ad-hoc solutions, while feeling dead and bored when fulfilling routine duties. Ps may despise the boring and unoriginal, seeing adherence to common practices or preset instructions as a cop-out, a sign that people have turned off their brains and disengaged from life. They encourage mixing things up, trying something different, doing the unexpected.
- - - - Order is not necessary to their sanity, and Ps can usually put up with a messy or chaotic environment. Because they don’t need closure, it is easy for them to have several projects going at once in various stages of completion, some of which they may never get back to. They will leave things out that they are working on indefinitely, perhaps coming back to finish it or clean up the remnants months later. There is no “proper” place for things - wherever is currently convenient is where it should be. There is no “proper” sequence for things to be completed in either. A Perceiver may approach a project from several different angles, start in the middle, or work on bits and pieces all at once. He may also gain new inspiration when halfway done and throw it all out to start anew. For a Perceiver it’s never too late to change your mind.
- - - - In conversation Ps may get sidetracked and jump to new topics and then come back to something they were saying earlier. They don’t necessarily convey their thoughts in an organized linear way, which may confuse their listeners. Because they are good at understanding different sides of things, they may at first seem to agree with one view, and then to be agreeing with another. In reality, they may not be trying to say they agree with either of them, but merely discussing different aspects of a given topic. They are usually open to, and interested in, hearing what others have to say. They may stir up conversation on a topic but feel no need to reach a conclusion or agreement. They generally don’t like passing judgments and don’t really enjoy listening to people who are too insistent upon being right. Ps like to acknowledge all the possibilities and may be good facilitators of discussions. They may not like feeling pushed to defend one side or the other more than they agree with, though their ability to see both sides may allow them to argue a cause they don’t actually believe in. Ps are likely to talk about things they’ve recently discovered, or are discovering, whether a new ice-cream flavor they tried, a new dance they’re learning, a new person they’ve met, a new idea they’re developing, a new insight they’ve had, a new book they’re reading. They like to share their observations about the world, which naturally does include some level of drawing conclusions, but they enjoy discussing these in an open way with people who may deepen their insight and broaden their knowledge. Ps can be annoyed by people who pester them to make choices quickly, or are unwilling to listen to more than one side of an issue. When someone belligerently keeps stating his own view without giving others a chance, a P is likely to become disgusted and leave the conversation.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dominant Traits
The descriptions of the 8 different preferences is enough to give a useful understanding of the different types of people. However, this Theory further notes that either S, N, T, or F will be a person’s Dominant Trait. This is determined by the other four traits E, I, J, and P.
S and N are related to Perceiving because they are how we perceive our world.
T and F are related to Judging because they are how we make decisions.
J and P represent our preferred style for interacting with the Outer World, either Observing it or Ordering it. Thus a person who prefers to Order the world will tend to use the T/F trait most, and someone who prefers to Observe the world will tend to use his S/N trait most.
However, whether one is Extraverted or Introverted also has a bearing on this trait dominance.
The Dominant Trait of Extraverts lines up with his Outer World preference with a straightforward correlation as explained above, because his main focus is on the Outer World.
Introverts primarily focus their energy and attention on the Inner World, which means their Outer World preference is actually Secondary (Auxiliary), making the other trait set the source of their preferred Inner World Dominant Trait.
Thus an Introvert who prefers to Observe the Outer World will favor the T/F trait for his Dominant Inner World focus, and an Introvert who prefers to Order the Outer World will prefer the S/N trait for his Dominant Inner World focus.
For Example
ISTP Dominant (Inner) Thinking, Auxiliary (Outer) Sensing
ISTJ Dominant (Inner) Sensing, Auxiliary (Outer) Thinking
ESTP Dominant (Outer) Sensing, Auxiliary (Inner) Thinking
ESTJ Dominant (Outer) Thinking, Auxiliary (Inner) Sensing
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
With a Grain of Salt
The most important thing to remember when approching any Personality test or profile is that whatever a book or webiste might claim is true about you, YOU are the final judge of whether a description is accurate or not.
It bothers me that many writers on Personality Theories insist that everyone must fit into one of their types. This is, after all, one of the main complaints agianst personality typing which turns a lot of people off from the whole endeavor. The true point of making theories about personality is to help people understand themselves and others; it is not to gain a sense of control over one's social environment by organizing and labeling people like so many test tubes on a shelf. The really appalling thing is that oftentimes writers will go on to insist that even though a person may not at first identify with all the traits in the description of his "type, " if he continues to reflect on them he will inevitably find that they do all apply to himself after all. However insightfull a psychologist may be, he can hardly know every random person he's never met better than that person knows himself. Such claims are arrogant with undertones of childish insecurity. Insisting that one's theories must be completely right in spite of contrary evidence does no service to people or "science" (if psychology can truely be called that considering how much subjectivity is involved). These claims exhibit a twisted kind of psychological power that psychologists have gotten used to exerting over people who are raised by society to assume that "proffessionals" know more about everything than themselves and thus ought to be unquestioningly believed. Sadly, many people feel obligated to make the shoe fit like the hopelessly doomed stepsisters of Cinderella. It pains me to think of people psyching themselves into believing things about themselves which do not ring true.
It is, of couse, sometimes the case that we cannot see ourselves clearly, and it is usefull to turn to the observations of people we know as well as the general observations about people like us made by Personality Theorists. But then we must take what others tell us about ourselves and examine it in comparrison to our own experience. It is very usefull to get a different perspective on ourselves, but it is in no way to be assumed that someone's understanding of us from the outside is totally "objective" and should be allowed to override our own inner understanding and sense of self.
Thus I urge anyone interested in Personality Types to always read test results and profiles with a grain of salt. Understanding Personality Types is only usefull to the extent that they actually correspond with real people in real life contexts. As you read about your own type in any of the Theories, feel free to ignore the parts that don't seem to match you, glean bits from other types, and re-analyse the author's conclusions based on your own observations of yourself and people you know. When seeking to discover the Type of other people around you, always remember that just as one description may not fit you to a T, you must not expect Type descriptions to fit others you identify with complete accuracy either.
It bothers me that many writers on Personality Theories insist that everyone must fit into one of their types. This is, after all, one of the main complaints agianst personality typing which turns a lot of people off from the whole endeavor. The true point of making theories about personality is to help people understand themselves and others; it is not to gain a sense of control over one's social environment by organizing and labeling people like so many test tubes on a shelf. The really appalling thing is that oftentimes writers will go on to insist that even though a person may not at first identify with all the traits in the description of his "type, " if he continues to reflect on them he will inevitably find that they do all apply to himself after all. However insightfull a psychologist may be, he can hardly know every random person he's never met better than that person knows himself. Such claims are arrogant with undertones of childish insecurity. Insisting that one's theories must be completely right in spite of contrary evidence does no service to people or "science" (if psychology can truely be called that considering how much subjectivity is involved). These claims exhibit a twisted kind of psychological power that psychologists have gotten used to exerting over people who are raised by society to assume that "proffessionals" know more about everything than themselves and thus ought to be unquestioningly believed. Sadly, many people feel obligated to make the shoe fit like the hopelessly doomed stepsisters of Cinderella. It pains me to think of people psyching themselves into believing things about themselves which do not ring true.
It is, of couse, sometimes the case that we cannot see ourselves clearly, and it is usefull to turn to the observations of people we know as well as the general observations about people like us made by Personality Theorists. But then we must take what others tell us about ourselves and examine it in comparrison to our own experience. It is very usefull to get a different perspective on ourselves, but it is in no way to be assumed that someone's understanding of us from the outside is totally "objective" and should be allowed to override our own inner understanding and sense of self.
Thus I urge anyone interested in Personality Types to always read test results and profiles with a grain of salt. Understanding Personality Types is only usefull to the extent that they actually correspond with real people in real life contexts. As you read about your own type in any of the Theories, feel free to ignore the parts that don't seem to match you, glean bits from other types, and re-analyse the author's conclusions based on your own observations of yourself and people you know. When seeking to discover the Type of other people around you, always remember that just as one description may not fit you to a T, you must not expect Type descriptions to fit others you identify with complete accuracy either.
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Quest to Understand
I've always valued listening to and trying to understand other people, as well as appreciating and encouraging their individuality.
Identifying with others and emphasizing similarities has always been my style, yet learning about people's differences is quite fascinating to me. Understanding and creating my own personal identity is very important, and fun for me, but as I have explored my own motivations, outlook, emotions, habits, and interests I can't help wondering what other people's personal experience of life is like, and rather enjoy the mind-blowing revelations of different ways of approaching life.
I suppose you could say that one of the prominent aspects of my own personality is the desire to understand. I want to understand other people. I want to understand society. I want to understand the world - how things work, why things are the way they are, and how all this works together.
I've started this new blog as a precursor to a project I've long wanted to put together - a website that brings together and compares many different theories on Personality. There are a lot of different ideas and tests out there which don't necessarily speak to eachother. Being a personality quiz junkie myself, I've always rather wished I could find a one-stop page with information and tons of links to all kinds of different theories, profiles, and quizes. I also tend to do a lot of thinking and writing about personality traits and decided it might be nice to bring all those random bits together into one place.
I plan to include links to different sites I find, both serious and silly, and provide some information on different theories that I study up on, along with my own ramblings. I may post some of my own results from different quizes - probably along with an analysis - but I don't intend this to just be about me - it's about investigating personalities in general. I think I may repost some things here that I have posted elsewhere just to gather them all together.
Identifying with others and emphasizing similarities has always been my style, yet learning about people's differences is quite fascinating to me. Understanding and creating my own personal identity is very important, and fun for me, but as I have explored my own motivations, outlook, emotions, habits, and interests I can't help wondering what other people's personal experience of life is like, and rather enjoy the mind-blowing revelations of different ways of approaching life.
I suppose you could say that one of the prominent aspects of my own personality is the desire to understand. I want to understand other people. I want to understand society. I want to understand the world - how things work, why things are the way they are, and how all this works together.
I've started this new blog as a precursor to a project I've long wanted to put together - a website that brings together and compares many different theories on Personality. There are a lot of different ideas and tests out there which don't necessarily speak to eachother. Being a personality quiz junkie myself, I've always rather wished I could find a one-stop page with information and tons of links to all kinds of different theories, profiles, and quizes. I also tend to do a lot of thinking and writing about personality traits and decided it might be nice to bring all those random bits together into one place.
I plan to include links to different sites I find, both serious and silly, and provide some information on different theories that I study up on, along with my own ramblings. I may post some of my own results from different quizes - probably along with an analysis - but I don't intend this to just be about me - it's about investigating personalities in general. I think I may repost some things here that I have posted elsewhere just to gather them all together.
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