wCHAP.26

(9/19/98)

CHAPTER XXVI

PERSONALITY TYPES AND THE WISE PERSON

Each person is different from every other person. They are unique. But, we are all more alike than we are different. Equally important people seem to cluster differentially around a limited number of distinct attributes. Many persons have attempted to understand the similarities that exist within these differences. Astrology was an early effort to accomplish the foregoing. However, astrology fell into an error that modern science has shown us how to avoid. Scientists over the years came to recognize that even the most objective and virtuous individual will be influenced in their interpretations by their own desires and expectations. The double-blind procedure is now an essential part of any experiment where interpretation is open to question.

Examining astrology might help to demonstrate pit-falls any system that attempts to understand human behavior can encounter. Also, this study might help clarify how a naturalistic approach is used to study any phenomena. Astrology, tea leaf reading, palm reading are all examples of the same phenomena. The phenomena is the characteristic human beings have to project meaning and interpretation onto everything they observe. Astrology shows us how the Gestalt phenomena (the human characteristic to select "relevant" items from a field and ignore "non-relevant" items) achieves the foregoing. In a multifactor situation we find it easy to overlook the things that don't apply, or lack significance. Also, under such circumstances it is natural to miss where the significance comes from; i.e., the interpreter. The foregoing is particularly true when the items in the field are ambiguous and can be interpreted in many different ways depending on the mind set of the interpreter. In the case of astrology data can be very specific. But as one gets deeper into it more and more complex elements are presented which introduce more and more ambiguity until finally one can see whatever they want to see. At this point any zodiac sign would fit for anyone! These zodiac signs provide a Rorschach-like test of what the person is feeling or experiencing at the time of the reading. Only an unusually alert individual is even aware of what they are doing as they sort through the descriptions presented in their zodiac sign.

The foregoing makes clear that the secret of astrology lies not in types based on time of birth. Rather it is the clever assembly of descriptive attributes that make each sign appear unique while, in reality, they "fit" for anyone. The 12 different astrological signs allow each individual to construct their own pattern from an ambiguous collection. There is no information in an astrological description. The message is imposed by the observer! As a result astrology, tea leaf readings, palm reading, etc. can be useful tools when properly used.

These techniques are ways of getting in touch with deep concerns. These concerns may be more fundamental than our conscious, rational mind is aware of. The words, the phrases, the ideas the individual focuses on in astrology and related systems help to put us in touch with these deeper concerns. This can be helpful in making decisions, deciding which path to take, etc. But it is not the stars or the tea leafs, or the creases on our hands that are giving us answers. They are providing an ambiguous field from which we can select those items that are most relevant to us at this time. For astrology any sign is equally useful (or equally useless) for a given individual depending on how it is used. The types in astrology (astrological signs) have nothing to do with the individuals to whom they are assigned based on time of birth.

Are there other approaches to categorizing human similarities with a better scientific foundation than astronomy? Yes. Probably, one of the best researched and appropriately used is the one proposed by Carl Jung and developed by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, the MBTI. It seems to me that the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is deficient in many ways. However, I think, it still might serve as a basis for developing an accurate, useful way to conceptualize the differences and similarities that exist among people.

Ideas from TYPE TALK[1] will be presented below in the hope that this will stimulate thinking on ways to include types in discussion of the Wise Person and the Wise Community. It would seem like these factors should be very important when considering levels of membership (See Volume I, Chapter Two, "Organizing for a Wise Community -- Wisdom Groups.") However, it's not clear to me how to bring this feature in. If you see merit in this approach, get a copy of TYPE TALK and let me hear your thoughts.

(p. 2)[1] "The surprise...is that so much complexity and diversity can be captured through Typewatching [the authors' term for discussing Myers-Briggs types] using only four dimensions of human behavior."

Introvert (I)/Extrovert (E) is defined based on where individuals find their source of energy; i.e., within themselves or with other people.

Intuitive (N)/Sensor (S) is defined as how one gathers information.

Feeler (F)/Thinker (T) is defined on the basis of the decision making process.

Judger (J)/Perceiver (P) is defined based on whether one focuses on decision making (Judger) or gathering information (Perceiver).

(p. 2) With the MBTI there is no one "best" style.

(p. 3) "...impossible conflicts, unreconcilable differences, and personality conflicts are amenable to new types of solutions when seen through the lens of Typewatching."

(p. 7) "...Typewatching...is a judgement-free psychological system, a way of explaining 'normal' rather than abnormal psychology. There are no good or bad 'types' in Typewatching, there are only differences. Typewatching celebrates those differences, using them creatively and constructively.... Typewatching elevates name-calling from a negative...to a positive, healthy exercise with the potential for producing...synergy at home as well as in the workplace."

(p. 7) "Typewatching's roots date back more than sixty years, when the Swiss-born psychiatrist C.G. Jung suggested that human behavior was not random but was in fact predictable and, therefore, classifiable....Jung said, differences in behavior, which seem so obvious to the eye, are a result of preferences related to the basic functions our personalities perform throughout life.

"These preferences emerge early in life, forming the foundation of our personalities. Subsequent issues of life are translated through each of our basic personality preferences. Such preferences, said Jung, become the core of our attractions to and repulsions from people, tasks, and events all life long."

(p. 8) "...Katharine Briggs, independently of Jung had begun as early as the turn of the century to classify the people around her based on their differences in living style. Simply put, she came to the conclusion that different people approach life differently.

"The idea behind the MBTI was that it could be used to establish individual preferences and then to promote a more constructive use of the differences between people. Jung's theory has become increasingly popular in the 1980s, due largely to the landmark accomplishments of this mother-daughter team."

(p. 9) "It is interesting that we think we prefer differences, yet in reality few of us make much allowance for them."

(p. 10) "These leanings [personality preferences], said Jung, reflect both genetic predispositions and whatever else is part of your earliest moments. As life develops, your environment greatly influences the direction your preferences will take."

"...you....must translate that preference within the context of your particular situation in life. Birth order, the behavior of other family members, and other environmental factors are all part of the life forces affecting that context."

(p. 11) "According to Typewatching theory, each of us develops a preference early in life and sticks with it."

(p. 12) "...our personalities remain pretty much intact and the changes are, for the most part, merely behavioral."

RESPONSE: What does the foregoing mean? What is the evidence? What is the criteria for assessing when change takes place or has not taken place?

Since I see the "I" as more flexible than the above implies, I have some difficulty accepting this statement without more proof. However, it seems to me that the stability of a personality depends on how stable the environment is in which the personality was assembled. Also, it matters how stable and compatible for the given personality the environment is throughout life.

If one is never confronted with challenges that call into question the personality they have settled on than change would probably be minimal. If one is in an environment in which they are constantly forced to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the personality selected than I would expect more change.

(p. 23) "In Jungian theory the basic functions involve gathering information [S/N] about one's world and making decisions [T/F] based on it. We'll call the first the 'information-gathering function' and the second the 'decision-making function.'"

(p. 24) Information-Gathering Function: Sensor vs Intuition

Literal, tactile, experience //.... Figurative, Go from senses immediately to:
oriented, hands-on, tangible, //.... possibilities, meanings, relationships.
here-and-now, exact, details. //.... Grand scheme, holistic, theoretical
Rely on 5 senses: taste, //.... framework.
touch, sight, hearing, smell //.... Approximate. Absent minded professors.

(p. 26) "For intuitives, everything is relational: it must have meaning."

(p. 27) "Sensors prefer to learn through facts, which they prefer to be given sequentially....In contrast, Intuitives gather things in a more random fashion, making 'leaps' along the way."

(p. 27) The Decision-making Function: Thinker vs Feeler. This function "...seeks closure and is very focused. Its purpose is to make judgments and decisions."

Logical, detached, //... Interpersonal involvement, harmony, mercy,
analytical. Driven //... ,justice. Tenderhearted. Identify with and assume
by objective values. //... other's emotional pain.(p. 28)

(p. 29) "Thinkers feel and feelers think. What we're talking about is the process one prefers in making a decision."

(p. 32) "We believe the T/F function to be the one most closely related to how intimacy is defined: an F wants to experience intimacy, a T wants to understand it. Given the gender difference on this function, it is easy to see how this sets many couples up for some serious relationship troubles."

(p. 32) The Source of Energy: Extraverts vs Introverts. Controls where one does information gathering and decision making, inward directed or outward directed.

Verbalize, outer world //... Inside. Energized by thoughts and ideas. Drained
people/action, drained //... by intense discussion. Listen not talk.
by time alone. Talk not //... Need to be alone to 'recharge.'
listen.

(p. 34) "There's nothing more repugnant to a true Introvert than to say a third time something that's already been said correctly once or twice; Introverts are not ones to waste words. (Extraverts, on the other hand, have advanced degrees in redundancy.)"

(p. 37) Life-style Orientation: Judgers vs Perceivers. Judgers focus on the decision making function. Perceivers focus on the information gathering function.

(p. 39) The J/P preference is the easiest one to detect. It is the one that most effects how we interact with others.

(p. 41) "Judgers'...[don't] respond to new data, they stick to a rigid, present schedule."

(p. 42) "Js, we're fond of saying, aren't beyond making great time going in the wrong direction."

(p. 48) "To those with very clear preferences, it takes a lot of energy to use their 'nonpreferences.'"

(p. 51) Temperaments: NF (12%), NT (12%), SJ (38%), SP (35%).

"Although all persons with the same temperament are far from being the same, temperaments do provide some genuine insights and useful tools for developing Typewatching skill."

RESPONSE: And the above is the bottom line for personality types. How useful are the insights? Of what value are the tools?

(p. 52) NF: idealists of life and tend to serve causes that advance human interest: teaching, humanities, counseling, religion, and family medicine. As idealistic do-gooders...personalize criticism...needless hurt. NFs feel that the most important thing is to be in harmony with themselves and with others. Everything else will naturally fall into place. People are integral to an NF. Quest is for identity. Who am I?

Strengths: 1) Phenomenal capacity for working with people and drawing out their best. 2). Articulate and persuasive. 3) Strong desire to help others. 4) Ability to affirm others freely and easily.

(p. 54) NT: Learn by challenging any authority or source. Always testing system. Frequently perceived as aloof, intellectual snobs. Conceptualization is integral to an NT.

Strengths: 1) Ability to readily see the big picture. 2) Talent for conceptualization and systems planning. 3) Insight into the internal logic and underlying principles of systems and organizations. 4) Ability to speak and write clearly and precisely. Like big-risk ventures.

(p. 55) SJ: They are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, brave, clean, and reverent. Stabilizing traditionalists. Largest temperament group. Their life resolves around procedure. Home and hearth are cornerstones for SJs. Moneyed people of the world.

Strengths: 1) Administration. 2) Dependability. 3) Ability to take charge. 4) Always know who's in charge.

(p. 58) SP: Practical. Realistic, spontaneity, flexibility. Their Sensing grounds them in the reality of the moment, and their Perceiving keeps them open for other ways of dealing with that reality.

Strengths: 1) Practicality. 2) Adept problem-solving skills, particularly at hands-on tasks. 3) Resourcefulness. 4) Special sense of immediate needs.

RESPONSE: The above discussions of NF, NT, SJ, SP are not very helpful for me. I see myself as a XNXJ, but still see myself in each description to a large degree. These descriptions don't seem very useful in helping me to understand my areas of weakness and difficulty.

(p. 69) "Intuitives tend to look for the meaning of an event or an experience, while Sensors tend to examine its various components."

"Sensors focus on 'what is' and find 'what can be' unsettling; Intuitives focus on 'what can be' and find 'what is' depressing."

"Sensors are impatient with fanciful schemes; intuitives are impatient with many details."

(p. 71) "Thinkers seek objective clarity, while Feelers seek harmony with people."

"Feelers are usually situational and subjective; Thinkers tend to apply their decisions more uniformly and consistently."

"Thinkers look at the cause and effect of a decision, while Feelers show more concern for how people will feel about it."

"Both have feelings, but Feelers prefer to experience them while Thinkers prefer to understand them."

(p. 73) "Type...is only an explanation. It is never an excuse."

(p. 76) GOALS: "Judgers are not beyond making good time going in the wrong direction."

"For EPs, goals can change overnight -- or even mid-sentence...."

"...decision making by committee is not an Introvert's long suit."

(p. 77) "Effective goal-setting, then, should give Extraverts the opportunity to verbalize -- and reverbalize -- their ideas, Introverts the time to reflect by themselves on what has been discussed."

"Extraverts tend to assume that Introverts' silence means consent, which isn't necessarily true."

"Sensors want practical, down-to-earth goals....Sensors home in on the vital details and bring clarity to the goal-setting process."

(p. 78) "...Intuitives always reach for the 'there and then'; the 'here and now' is much too mundane."

Ns see the interrelatedness of various aspects -- how all the pieces fit together. This can be a real asset in goal-setting, in which the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Unfortunately, since Intuitives are not always aware...of details...their grand schemes sometimes turn out to be more theoretical than practical."

(p. 79) T/F: "It is the Thinker who strives for the most objective, concise description of what the goals will be."

"For Feelers, if a goal is to be considered worthwhile, it must be people-oriented, a criterion that Thinkers particulary T/J types, see as a ... waste of time."

(p. 80) J/P: "... its the J/P difference where goal-setting differences are most visible." Js want to set the goals and move on. Ps want to explore, explore, define, redefine, and explore some more. Very frustrating for both types.

(p. 96) When you look at a four letter opposite "... every time you face each other you are looking at the part of your personality that you don't prefer....four letter opposites allow us the maximum growth potential but also present the greatest amount of difficulty. If you're more alike, however, which is usually the case in organizations, there can be other problems."

(p. 97) "An individual who is different from the organizational mainstream can make a powerful contribution to the organization....[yet] Inevitably, that person will be pressured to 'shape up.'"

(p. 98) "What's the ideal mix? Ideally, there should be enough similarities among types to maintain peace and enough differences to allow for challenge and stimulation."

(p. 103) "...it can be said that no type deals well, effectively, or easily with conflict."

"Our experience tells us that all types face real stress dealing with conflict, and therefore a Typewatching approach to conflict resolution could be one of the most important things you'll take away from reading this book."

(p. 102 - 110) Typewatching and Conflict Resolution:

E: "Talk more than they listen." -- often to others not involved in the conflict.

I: "Introverts internalize a disagreement so they can reflect on what took place...[internal] dialogue... often resolves the problem [So they don't feel a need to talk about it.] May store issues.

S: "...hears literally what's said....too single minded in focus...." "Tend to focus on specific issues rather than the overall problem.

N: "...hears figuratively what's meant...." "Their strength is in being able to construct a blueprint for settling a dispute. Their weakness is that the blueprint may not include a provision for implementation."

T: "...shun conflict: they bury it, avoid it, and run away from it just as much as Feeling types."

"Thinking types in general have a fear of that which gets sticky or interpersonal...."

F: "...personalize everything, especially conflicts." "Their preference is to resolve conflicts by sweeping them under the rug...." (p. 105)

J: "The minute something enters the Judger's world, it must be aggressively dealt with." "Judgers strive for control....A classic J approach is to look around for someone else to blame....sound more abrasive on points of disagreement than they really may feel." (p. 106) "...are so sure they are right, they have no tolerance for any shades of meaning."

P: "...always see alternatives....share their perceptions instead of their judgments." "...get so busy in a conflict...[they] may not even recall what the argument is about." (p. 106)

(p. 108) The Five Key Steps to Resolving Conflicts:

1. The issue: List clearly.

2. The Basis: Is it typologically based?

3. The Cause: How did the impasse originate? Typological?

4. The Solution: Identify with each other's point of view.

5. The Contract: Negotiate compromises and contracts to modify problem areas.

(p. 112) Tips for Resolving Conflict:

1. E: Stop, look, and listen -- Listen to other's point.

2. I: Express Yourself. -- Make sure you get a hearing.

3. S: There's more to conflict than just the facts. -- Look at extenuating circumstances and the big picture.

4. N: Stick to the issues. -- Sometimes it helps to just settle a simple dispute, which than allows you to deal with the bigger issue."

5. T: Allow some genuine expression of emotion. -- Even if you're unable to express emotions allow others the freedom to do so.

6. F: Be direct and confrontive. -- Being upfront about your feelings facilitates moving to constructive resolution.

7. J: You're not always right. It's hard to negotiate with someone who thinks they're always right.

8. P: "Take a clear position. -- If you really feel strongly about something....take a stand and defend it."

(p. 113) Typewatching and Team Building:

The ideal working group would include all 16 types. They would be put together in such a way that they would not only understand their differences, but could draw on them.

(p. 114) "How does one go about team building typologically?"

Three basic questions:

1. What do we really want to accomplish in this organization? -- You must look for the kind of team you need to accomplish the aims of your mission statement.

2. What typological preferences are natural for that mission statement?

3. What are the typological blind spots?

(p. 116) Types as planners:

Introvert (reflecting on how "x" is doing)

Intuitive (long range planning)

Feeler (consideration of customer's needs)

Perceiver (flexibility to changing market conditions)

(p. 123) FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND TYPE:

P: Spontaneous, disorganized

E: Do talking, make the date, instigate come-on, aggressor. Provide entertainment.

I: Like being alone.

S: Exciting date -- looks good, smells good, has taste for good food, likes to hear nice music, likes to feel cozy, etc.

N: Experiences date through sense of potentiality.

T/F: Authors believe this to be the most significant one when it comes to intimacy.

"...while the T-male/F-female configuration is the most 'normal' and predictable for heterosexual relations, it has the largest potential for causing difficulties in a relationship. Thinking types want to understand intimacy.... Feeling types simply want to be intimate.... Ts may seem rather cold and aloof at times, as they 'process' and 'analyze' their feelings. And they may dislike being pushed to experience the intimacy their F partners are enjoying. Make no mistake: Ts can clearly feel emotions swirling inside them; it's just that they must intellectually come to grips with those emotions before they can share and express them."

"For a Thinker, even 'I love you' speaks for itself."

"Feeling types do think, and Thinking types do feel. Typewatching labels merely describe what each type prefers. We can't emphasize this enough."

J: Want to plan and organize a date. Want to know what's going to happen.

P: Initially may find the J approach very attractive. But it may cause problems over time. They like surprises, uncertainty.

(p. 133) During initial dating individuals often down-play their type to make points. This may make 'typing' more difficult. And cause problems as the relationship matures.

RESPONSE: It seems as though personality types would be another factor to include in the Computer Matching Program. (See Chapter VIII and XIX.)

(p. 134) IN MARRIAGE

E: want words ("I love you.") (p. 136)

I: Want actions (flowers, wash the dishes, Let's get married. Trips. Etc.)

S: Wants everything perfect.

N: Tend to look at the over all context.

F: For Fs the first of anything is important. (p. 138)

T: Ts can leave Fs out as they research a problem.

For Ts & Fs, values are arrived at very differently.

J: Js don't like surprises. (p. 141)

P: Ps like surprises.

List of gift ideas pleases Js, stifles creativity for Ps.

(p. 144) Two Basic Rules for Relationships:

"1. Compromise your differences. Given that differences exist, it may be appropriate to modify them to some extent."

"2. Reserve some space for yourself. At the same time that you are (both) compromising, you should also try to reserve enough space for your deepest needs so you don't feel imposed on."

(p. 145) Fighting Types:

1. Extraverts talk louder and faster...now oriented.

RESPONSE: I have a very strong component of Introvert. However, I notice when I am talking about something that really excites me, I talk very fast, I talk too loud, words and ideas just tumble out. If I try to change this pattern, talk more slowly and quietly, I lose the thought trend and stumble over words, my thinking is much more disorganized and superficial.

2. Introverts most often at a disadvantage when a fight breaks out, are at their best when they have time to think things through.

RESPONSE: This is very true for me. My brain goes into stasis and I need time to calm down and get things in perspective.

3. Sensors like to argue the facts, the more specific the better. They are prone to sidetrack a bigger issue by focusing on smaller, less relevant issues."

4. Intuitives like to make broad generalizations, often inflating a specific incident into a sweeping pattern.

RESPONSE: And that is especially true for me. I decoded cancer quite a while before those doing the research realized that cancer results because of a failure to control cell division. This came to me after reading an article on work done on blood cells.

5. Thinkers tend to get too analytical in a dispute, often missing the emotional side of things.

6. "Feelers tend to personalize everything...tend to 'give in' before an issue is resolved...."

7. "Judgers 'know' they're right....It's hard to negotiate with someone who knows they're right."

8. "Perceivers...tend to see many options....have trouble settling a dispute because there is always more data to examine...."

(p. 146) Fair Fighting:

1. The issues: List them clearly.

2. The Basis: Can you pinpoint the issue to a "letter" preference?

3. The cause: Where did the argument go awry?

4. The solution: Can both people identify with the other's point of view?

5. The Contract: Can compromises or contracts...be negotiated....?

(p. 148) Two Simple Rules:

1. Let Feelers Think and Thinkers Feel. Role reversal. Step outside roles.

2. Don't focus on "Winning." Active Listening. "...the ultimate flowering of a relationship is not possible without the trouble."

(p. 151) Love, Sex, and Type: Turn-ons and Turn-offs

E: Want noise and action. Without these Es become restless or even fearful that the relationship is in trouble.

I: Need to be allowed quiet time and space. Verbalizing "the obvious" makes them distrustful. Too many demands lead to tiring and inability to give their best.

E/I: "...the very thing each type needs, even demands, of their mates is the very thing that mates of the opposite type are least likely to deliver."

(p. 152-154) Advise to types.

(p. 154) S: Touch is important, as is cleanliness. Turn-offs include noises, touches, smells, tastes, visuals of negative nature.

N: Stimulated partly by the unknown. Imagination is always richer than reality.

T: Turn on -- thinking. Turn off -- feeling.

F: Turn-on -- opportunity to please lover. More than other types can be turned off by a partner or event, but can talk themselves into being turned on if they feel their mates are satisfied.

J: "Best turn-ons are things that happen according to schedule -- a schedule often more implicit than explicit....want no interruption and no surprises .... [if there are] variations, they should be planned variations."

P: Biggest turn-ons are the unplanned, the unusual, or perhaps even the risky -- and certainly the surprising....Turn-offs...routines, schedules, or anything else that limits room for surprise, exception, or variation.

(p. 156) "...as a relationship grows over time, there is almost a yearning for the security that one's own preference affords. Generally speaking, the biggest turn-ons in a long-term relationship are probably those that affirm and honor the desires of each of the partners, allowing both to feel entirely free to be themselves with each other. Probably the biggest turn-off is being made to feel ridiculous or inadequate for one's preferences, or, worst of all, being told to 'shape up' and get turned on 'the right way' -- the way the other person prefers."

(p. 158) Chapter 8: PARENT-CHILD TYPEWATCHING

(p. 160) "Introverts generally get frustrated with Extraverts' redundancy and restating of the obvious."

"Extraverts aren't great listeners...."

"Introverts need to do everything at their own pace....When the pace is dictated by others, problems can result."

Extraverts constantly need approval from others. Need for feedback on everything.

While Introverted parents serve as good sounding boards for Extraverted children, they're usually not as stroking and affirming as the child would like or need."

(p. 161) S/N: "Sensing parents often are precise and specific with their directions, while intuitive children like to use those directions as a jumping off place for myriad imaginative uses....As a parent, you might ponder the question of whether 'cleaning the room' is even appropriate for an Intuitive...."

"The Extraverted-Sensing parent is among the most demanding action-and result-oriented types."

"With...an Intuitive parent with a Sensing child the parent may often seem too general and vague to satisfy the Sensing child's need for specificity."

(p. 164) T/F: Two thirds of males are Ts. Two thirds of U.S. females are Fs. When type and gender match, it reduces dramatically the number of potential parent-child problems. When they don't, however, the parent-child dilemma is heightened."

(p. 165) "Guilt, of course, is primarily an F issue."

(p. 166) "F fathers with T children, for example, are often seen as 'soft,' even 'wimpy,' which can cause problems for some children, who may become embarrassed at not having a he-man dad."

J/P: "...the J/P difference...may be the source of the most day-to-day frustration as well as some unexpected pleasures."

Good news: P parents appreciate orderliness of J children. J parents see a P child as easygoing and playful....

Bad news: To the J parent, P children seem unable to 'get it together.' Source of frustration because of their 'uncontrollable' nature.

To a P parent, a J child's stubbornness and rigidity may be interpreted as selfishness.

Ps approach parenting on an as-needed basis -- parenting-by-crisis instead of parenting-by-objective.

(p. 177) "Our natural tendency is to try to make differences disappear, to make others as much like ourselves as possible. Nowhere is this tendency more evident in parents...who abuse their parental authority by compelling typologically uncomfortable or even impossible behavior from their children."

"P parents...may be remiss in providing needed structure or discipline."

RESPONSE: To me this is one of the most important things for any parent to realize. In the process of "doing the responsible thing," we may be destroying the child or at least giving them a burden they may never be able to remove. These are the kinds of things that a Wisdom Group would monitor so that solutions can be found that work for both parent and child. Also Choices Are Us (Volume I, Chapter Two) would be available to help parents deal better with the problems they have that they cannot alone figure out how to more productively solve.

(p. 180) Compromise and self-directed change lie at the heart of TYPE TALK goals.

(p. 181) How type plays out in the education process:

Grades K through six favor Sensor orientations. "...grade school teachers are about two-thirds Sensing, high school teachers about evenly split between Sensing and Intuitive, college faculties around 70% Intuitive (some graduate school faculties are as high as 77% Intuitive. This is significant when you recall that the U.S. population as a whole is 70% Sensing."

(p. 182-183) Education often seems irrelevant particularly to Sensors. "Sensors, as we've already seen, are hands-on 'doers' in their approach to life. So a 'relevant' education for them is one that is practical, tactile, and down-to-earth. It is more skill-oriented, preparing the Sensor to 'go and do.' For the Intuitive college professor, on the other hand, you can never master enough theory."

(p. 184) Type and Test Taking:

Timed tests favor Ns since Ss like to read carefully to make sure they understand.

EFs remember faces. ITs remember numbers.

Es express. Is reflect. Es look brighter.

NFPs are driven out of teaching by STJ administrators with their demands for detailed course outlines.

(p. 186) Temperaments: NF, NT, SJ, SP

Traits that give the most accurate predictions about behavior.

NFs often become high achievers and may end up in careers typologically difficult for them: engineers, accountants, scientists.

NTs are driven by a need for competence and expect their teachers to have it....along with parents, friends, and themselves....NT students are seen as...obnoxious, arrogant, and argumentative. In reality they are only testing the teacher's competency and their own abilities to comprehend. NTs rate poorly with teachers.

SJs (especially ESFJs) are liked best by teachers. SJs believe, "The teacher is there to teach and the student is there to learn."

SPs -- living for the moment -- have difficulty learning something that has no immediate application. There is precious little theory they find relevant. Though 35% of the U.S. population they are the least likely to receive college degrees.

RESPONSE: It seems as though levels of membership needs to be oriented to consider these kinds of differences. It may be that much of these differences can be accommodated by different approaches -- more practical and hands-on for Ss and more theoretical and the overarching reasons included (pretty much the approach of the current material since I'm highly N.)

(p. 188-190) Learning Temperaments -- breakdown by temperament as it relates to matching methods of learning about environmental issues.

(p. 192) Careers can be divided into three types: 1) those involving data, 2) those involving people, 3) those involving things.

(p. 194-196) Four letter types and careers.

(p. 196-199) Eight letter preferences, questions to ask about jobs.

(p. 199) "There would be much more job satisfaction and fewer inappropriate professional choices if career counselors and executive-recruitment firms incorporated Typewatching into their operations.

(p. 205-207) Types and Diet

INFPs and ENFPs make up the bulk of those suffering from anorexia and bulimia.

(p. 206) Ns, Ps, Es have most difficulty stopping smoking.

Percentage success: N (62%), P (55%), E (54%), I (80%), J (76%), S (73%).

(p. 207) Humor and Type:

Es laugh at others

Is laugh at themselves

Ss help us laugh at the absurdity of reality.

Ns find humor in unrelated aspects of life: puns, etc.

Ts laugh at life's less than funny moments.

Fs laugh at intimacies that can scare us.

Js can tell structured jokes

Ps flexibility and spontaneity have skill for one-liners and repartee.

(p. 209) Sports: Each sport attracts its own type. Parents might wisely be aware of how a given sport will impact their child based on type.

(p. 211) Religion: Different denominations speak to different types. ENFJ is predominant clergy profile.

(p. 215) "Typological portraits have been accused from time to time of being like astrological horoscopes: general statements broad enough to encompass everyone. That's simply not true. We believe our portraits reflect a combination of sound Jungian theory and years of clinical research."

RESPONSE: In spite of the above disclaimer it seems to me that the MBTI does in fact possess some of the shortcomings of astrology. Part of this results when the MBTI takes a diverse collection of data and reduces it to a point on a linear scale. It seems to me that something important gets lost during this process. I think this approach to data crunching keeps one from understanding trait differences in a more complete way. As a first approximation the MBTI approach makes good sense. However, if we are to move toward deeper understanding, another perspective is needed.

I would guess that Katharine Briggs went along with Jung's approach for practical reasons. It was very convenient to take a great amount of data and reduce it to a point on a line. In fact it's doubtful that any other approach could have been used at the time she was developing her scales. However, with the advent of cheap, powerful computers we now have a tool that has the potential to capture and display finer details of variations within a given trait and between different traits. This detail may, perhaps, show that there is some very different way to see what traits actually consist of. Only with computers do we now have a tool that can capture the complexity of traits and represent them in ways that might advance our understanding of individual and group behavior.

Based on my efforts to apply the MBTI to myself I conclude that the Jungian types are not in fact linear such that an individual fits somewhere on a single dimensional line. But, rather, are three dimensional where some aspects of each trait cluster at different ends of the scale and various places in between.

In one situation I have introvert behavior. In others I have extrovert behavior. In some situations I act like a perceiver. In others like a judger. Etc. But, rather than thinking this moves one along a linear plane (more or less extroverted, etc.), I think it has a very different explanation. But understanding this deeper approach is not possible when all the data gets crunched into one point on the line. Also, these specific traits change over time (adding the third dimension) as one learns and grows. These traits seem to be open to even greater change under the proper circumstances.

(p. 214) Chapter 10: The Sixteen Profiles --

This chapter includes each profile and its description. Below is a brief presentation.

(p. 215) ISTJ: Doing What Should Be Done

(p. 218) ISFJ: A High Sense of Duty

(p. 222) INFJ: An Inspiration to Others

(p. 226) INTJ: Everything Has Room for Improvement

(p. 230) ISTP: Ready to Try Anything Once

(p. 234) ISFP: Sees Much But Shares Little

(p. 238) INFP: Performing Noble Service to Aid Society

(p. 243) INTP: A Love of Problem-solving

(p. 247) ESTP: The Ultimate Realist

(p. 251) ESFP: You Only Go Around Once in Life

(p. 256) ENFP: Giving Life an Extra Squeeze

(p. 261) ENTP: One Exciting Challenge After Another

(p. 265) ESTJ: Life's Administrators

(p. 269) ESFJ: Hosts and Hostesses of the World

(p. 272) ENFJ: Smooth-talking Persuader

(p. 276) ENTJ: Life's Natural Leaders

RESPONSE: As indicated in Volume I, Chapter Two, " Organizing for a Wise Community" (Volume I) it is mentioned that one of the prime interests in studying types is to explore the issue as it relates to becoming a Wise Person. Do different types need to follow different paths in order to become a Wise Person? On the surface it would seem obvious that this would be the case.

However, if this assumption is correct what are the actual dimensions of the differences? How would the path for a ISTJ differ from that for an ISFJ, etc.? This is the relevant question and the answer is of fundamental importance. However, how to factor these issues in is not obvious to me. More thought and in-put from persons with more specific experience and education is needed.

2. Percents represent proportion of U.S. population with this characteristic.