Anyway, should you find the MBTI to be interesting, you might want to consider reading the newsgroup alt.psychology.personality. In that newsgroup there is a lot of practical discussion about the MBTI system. Have a good day. Jon Noring ============================================================================ Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ============================================================================ THE FOUR SCALES MEASURED BY THE M.B.T.I. In each of the following four scales, every person usually has a preference for one of the two opposite choices (designated by a letter). This does not mean that they do one at the exclusion for the other - most people go both ways depending on the circumstances. But most people usually do have an overall preference. Where a person does not have a clear and resounding preference, the letter 'X' is used to designate the middle ground. 1. Energizing - How a person is energized: Extroversion (E)- Preference for drawing energy from the outside world of people, activities or things. Introversion (I)- Preference for drawing energy from one's internal world of ideas, emotions, or impressions. 2. Attending - What a person pays attention to: Sensing (S)- Preference for taking in information through the five senses and noticing what is actual. Intuition (N)- Preference for taking in information through a "sixth sense" and noticing what might be. 3. Deciding - How a person decides: Thinking (T)- Preference for organizing and structuring information to decide in a logical, objective way. Feeling (F)- Preference for organizing and structuring information to decide in a personal, value-oriented way. 4. Living - Life style a person adopts: Judgement (J)- Preference for living a planned and organized life. Perception (P)- Preference for living a spontaneous and flexible life. ============================================================================= PREFERRED VOCABULARY FOR THE FOUR SCALES There seems to be a definite vocabulary associated with each preference for the four scales. By reading the word list on the left and on the right for each scale, and determining which list you like the sounds and/or meanings of the words better, may indicate your preference for that scale. Also included with each scale is the percentages of the total population (in Western culture) who hold that preference. EXTROVERSION-INTROVERSION PREFERRED VOCABULARY Extroversion, E (75% of Population) Introversion, I (25% of Population) =================================== =================================== sociability territoriality breadth depth external internal extensive intensive interaction concentration expenditure of energy conservation of energy interest in external events interest in internal reaction multiplicity of relationships limited relationships SENSING-INTUITION PREFERRED VOCABULARY Sensing, S (75% of Population) Intuition, N (25% of Population) ============================== ================================ experience hunches past future realistic speculative perspiration inspiration actual possible down-to-earth head-in-clouds utility fantasy fact fiction practicality ingenuity sensible imaginative THINKING-FEELING PREFERRED VOCABULARY Thinking, T (50% of Population) Feeling, F (50% of Population) =============================== =============================== objective subjective principles values policy social values laws extenuating circumstances criterion intimacy firmness persuasion impersonal personal justice humane categories harmony standards good or bad critique appreciate analysis sympathy allocation devotion JUDGEMENT-PERCEPTION PREFERRED VOCABULARY Judgement, J (50% of Population) Perception, P (50% of Population) ================================ ================================= settled pending decided gather more data fixed flexible plan ahead adapt as you go run one's life let life happen closure open options decision-making treasure hunting planned open ended completed emergent decisive tentative wrap it up something will turn up urgency there's plenty of time deadline! what deadline? get show on the road let's wait and see... ============================================================================ THE FOUR SOCRATIC TEMPERATMENT TYPES CORRELATED TO MYERS-BRIGGS There are other systems that have been developed to type personality. The most well-known one, and the oldest, is Hippocrates system of four types: melancholic, sanguine, choleric, and phlegmatic. There are certain combinations of Myers-Briggs preferences that seem to correlate well with the older Socratic system. In the same order they are the SJ, SP, NT, and NF. Melancholic: SJ (38% of population) Key Focus: Responsibility Fundamental Emotional Need: To Maintain Order Beliefs/behaviors -- Conserves heritage and tradition, or establishes new ones -- Can be very analytic -- Belief in hierarchy: subordination and superordination -- Rules: compelled to be bound and obligated -- My duty is to serve, give, care, save, share -- "Shoulds" & "oughts"; "be prepared" -- Fosters and creates social units: clubs, church groups -- Management Style: Traditionalist, Stabilizer, Consolidator Sanguine: SP (38% of population) Key Focus: Freedom, Independence Fundamental Emotional Need: To Have Fun Beliefs/behaviors -- Impulsive - can be very expressive -- To do what I want, when I want -- Action to fulfill my current needs, impulses, not as investment for longer term need -- Works dramatically and quickly in crisis -- Hungers for action without constraints -- Tremendous stamina -- Management Style: Troubleshooter, Negotiator, Fire Fighter Choleric: NT (12% of population) Key Focus: Competence Fundamental Emotional Need: To Lead and Control Beliefs/behaviors -- Tries to understand "whys" of the universe -- Very demanding of selves and others - a driver -- "Should have known" and "Should have done better" -- Cooly objective; straightforward in dealing with others -- Reluctance to state obvious; little redundancy in communications -- Work is for improvement, perfection, proof of skills -- Love of knowledge -- Management Style: Visionary, Architect of Systems, Builder Phlegmatic: NF (12% of population) Key Focus: Search for Self Fundamental Emotional Need: Peace and Harmony Beliefs/behaviors -- "How do I become the person I really am?" -- Value relationships -- Harmony with others - can be very amiable -- Desire to inspire and persuade -- Need to live a life of significance -- Search for unique identity -- Tend to focus on the good in others -- Management style: Catalyst, Spokesperson, Energizer ============================================================================= THE SIXTEEN TYPES The two preferences for each of the four Myers-Briggs scales give 16 different combinations (2x2x2x2). If one includes the 'X' preference, there can be as many as 81 different combinations. However, each 'X' preference can be handled by blending the two associated preferences. The order of designating the letters is done as Energizing:Attending:Deciding:Living . Here's a summary of the overall personality for each of the 16 types as determined from various studies: ENFJ: "Pedagogue". Outstanding leader of groups. 5% of the total population. INFJ: "Author". Strong drive and enjoyment to help others. Complex personality. 1% of the total population. ENFP: "Journalist". Uncanny sense of the motivations of others. Life is an exciting drama. 5% of the total population. INFP: "Questor". High capacity for caring. Calm and pleasant face to the world. High sense of honor derived from internal values. 1% of the total population. ENTJ: "Field Marshall". The basic driving force and need is to lead. Tend to seek positions of responsibility and enjoy being executives. 5% of the total population. INTJ: "Scientist". Most self-confident of all types. Decisions come very easily. A builder of systems and the applier of theoretical models. 1% of the total population. ENTP: "Inventor". Enthusiastic interest in everything and always sensitive to possibilities. Non-conformist and innovative. 5% of the total population. INTP: "Architect". Greatest precision in thought and language. Can readily discern contradictions and inconsistencies. The world exists primarily to be understood. 1% of the total population. ESTJ: "Administrator". Much in touch with the external environment. Very responsible. Pillars of strength. Loyal. 13% of the total population. ISTJ: "Trustee". Decisiveness in practical affairs. Guardians of time- honored institutions. Dependable. 6% of the total population. ESFJ: "Seller". Most sociable of all types. Nurturers of harmony. Outstanding host or hostesses. 13% of the total population. ISFJ: "Conservator". Desire to be of service and to minister to individual needs. Do everything by the book. Traditions and established procedures are revered. 6% of the total population. ESTP: "Promotor". Action! When present, things begin to happen. Entrepreneur, diplomat, conciliator, negotiator par excellence. 13% of the total population. ESFP: "Entertainer". Radiate attractive warmth and optimism. Smooth, witty, charming clever. Fun to be with. Very generous. 13% of the total population. ISTP: "Artisan". Impulsive action. Life should be of impulse rather than of purpose. Action is an end to itself. Fearless, crave excitement, master of tools. 5% of the total population. ISFP: "Artist". Interested in the fine arts. Expression primarily through action or art form. The senses are keener than in other types. 5% of the total population.