Personality Type

1. Personality Types: Understanding the Four Functions and Two Attitudes

"Jung began to realize that each of us sees reality according to his or her own 'psychological type.'"

Four functions, two attitudes. Jung's theory of psychological types is based on four functions (Sensation, Intuition, Thinking, and Feeling) and two attitudes (Extraversion and Introversion). These combine to form 16 distinct personality types. The functions are our ways of perceiving and judging information:

• Perceiving functions:

  • Sensation: Focuses on concrete, present reality
  • Intuition: Focuses on abstract possibilities and patterns

• Judging functions:

  • Thinking: Makes decisions based on logical analysis
  • Feeling: Makes decisions based on personal values

The attitudes determine whether we primarily focus our energy inward (Introversion) or outward (Extraversion). Understanding these components helps us recognize our natural preferences and areas for potential growth.

2. Extraversion vs. Introversion: The Primary Attitudes

"Extraverts define themselves in light of externals—the aspects of their lives that others will recognize and respond to."

Energy source and focus. Extraversion and Introversion represent fundamentally different ways of relating to the world:

• Extraverts:

  • Gain energy from external stimulation
  • Focus on the outer world of people and things
  • Prefer to communicate and process information externally

• Introverts:

  • Gain energy from internal reflection
  • Focus on their inner world of ideas and impressions
  • Prefer to process information internally before expressing it

Understanding your primary attitude helps explain preferences for social interaction, work environments, and how you recharge. Neither attitude is superior; both have strengths and potential blind spots.

3. Perceiving Functions: Sensation and Intuition

"Sensation prompts us to notice what is real and concrete; Intuition prompts us to imagine what is possible and abstract."

Gathering information. The Perceiving functions, Sensation and Intuition, represent different ways of taking in information:

• Sensation:

  • Focuses on concrete details and facts
  • Trusts direct experience and observation
  • Prefers practical, realistic approaches

• Intuition:

  • Focuses on patterns, connections, and possibilities
  • Trusts hunches and theoretical concepts
  • Prefers innovative, imaginative approaches

Your preferred Perceiving function influences how you learn, solve problems, and view the world. Sensation types tend to be more grounded in the present, while Intuitive types often look toward future possibilities.

4. Judging Functions: Thinking and Feeling

"Thinking organizes information impersonally and logically. Feeling organizes information personally, in terms of relationship."

Decision-making processes. The Judging functions, Thinking and Feeling, represent different ways of making decisions and evaluating information:

• Thinking:

  • Emphasizes logical analysis and objective criteria
  • Seeks consistency and fairness based on principles
  • Tends to be more detached and impersonal in decision-making

• Feeling:

  • Emphasizes personal values and impact on people
  • Seeks harmony and what's best for the people involved
  • Tends to be more empathetic and personal in decision-making

Your preferred Judging function influences your problem-solving approach, communication style, and what you prioritize in decision-making. Neither function is more rational than the other; they simply use different criteria for judgment.

5. The Dominant and Secondary Functions: Shaping Your Personality

"For most of us, one of these functions predominates. Using it feels natural and comes easily to us. This is our dominant function."

Core preferences. Your dominant function is the one you use most naturally and confidently. It shapes your primary approach to life. The secondary function complements and balances the dominant:

• Dominant function:

  • Feels most natural and effortless
  • Shapes your core approach to life
  • Develops earliest and most fully

• Secondary function:

  • Supports and balances the dominant
  • Provides a different perspective
  • Develops later and requires more conscious effort

Understanding your dominant-secondary function pair helps explain your strengths, preferred work styles, and areas where you might face challenges or need to develop.

6. The Inferior Function: Source of Growth and Conflict

"The inferior function is inferior because its point of view is genuinely inferior. The approach to life it fosters has no relationship to our conscious position or to the assumptions of others."

Unconscious influence. The inferior function is the opposite of your dominant function and is typically the least developed and most unconscious:

• Characteristics of the inferior function:
  • Often emerges in times of stress or fatigue
  • Can lead to uncharacteristic or immature behaviors
  • Represents a source of potential growth and balance

The inferior function often manifests as our "dark side" or shadow self. However, integrating aspects of the inferior function is crucial for psychological growth and achieving a more balanced personality. This integration is typically a lifelong process and can lead to significant personal development.

7. Developing Your Secondary Function: Key to Personal Growth

"When we rely on our dominant function for all our answers, we usually wind up like Alice, running hard just to stay in place."

Balancing act. Developing your secondary function is crucial for personal growth and achieving a more balanced perspective:

• Benefits of developing the secondary function:
  • Provides a complementary perspective to the dominant function
  • Helps balance out potential weaknesses or blind spots
  • Leads to greater flexibility and adaptability in various situations

Consciously using and strengthening your secondary function can be challenging at first, as it often feels less natural than your dominant function. However, this effort leads to greater psychological integration and a more well-rounded personality. It allows you to approach situations from multiple angles and adapt more effectively to different contexts.

8. The Brain and Personality Types: Neurological Correlations

"Each function operates in a different area of the brain. Each type not only activates a distinct set of neurological sites but also favors one side of the brain over the other."

Neurological basis. Recent research has shown correlations between personality types and brain activity:

• Left brain dominance:

  • Associated with Judging types (especially TJ types)
  • Linear, sequential processing
  • Focus on language and logical analysis

• Right brain dominance:

  • Associated with Perceiving types (especially SP types)
  • Holistic, parallel processing
  • Focus on spatial relationships and pattern recognition

These neurological correlations provide a biological basis for personality differences and help explain why certain types excel in different areas or approach problems in distinct ways.

9. The Impact of Culture on Personality Type Expression

"Although biology does push us in a particular direction, different cultures appear to value and support the attitudes in their own ways."

Cultural influence. While personality types have a biological basis, their expression is shaped by cultural factors:

• Cultural values can emphasize or suppress certain type preferences
• Some cultures may value Extraversion more highly, while others prize Introversion
• Societal norms can influence the development and expression of functions

Understanding the interplay between personality type and culture is crucial for:

• Recognizing potential biases in type theory and assessment
• Appreciating diversity in personality expression across cultures
• Adapting communication and leadership styles in multicultural contexts

10. Relationships and Personality Types: Understanding Dynamics

"Our most persistent relationship problems are a valuable resource. They can offer us glimpses of 'the whole elephant.'"

Complementary differences. Understanding personality types can significantly improve relationships by:

• Recognizing and appreciating differences in communication styles
• Understanding potential sources of conflict and misunderstanding
• Leveraging complementary strengths in partnerships

Common relationship dynamics:

• Attraction to opposite types (e.g., Extravert-Introvert pairings)
• Challenges in understanding different decision-making processes (Thinking vs. Feeling)
• Potential growth opportunities through exposure to less-developed functions

By recognizing and respecting personality differences, couples and teams can improve communication, reduce conflict, and create more harmonious and productive relationships.

Last updated: October 18, 2024