 Introduction
Dr. Jung’s book Psychological Types
was first published in 1921. Instruments
have been developed to help individuals
find where they fit within his theory.
The Myers Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®)
is one. If you have already used it and
know your personality type code, then
the following information will refresh
and add to your knowledge.
If you have yet to be exposed to psychological
type theory, then use the information
that follows to find how you express and
experience life using this theory. Match
your energy pattern, as you know it, with
what is presented. Qualified professionals
in psychological type have an ethic to
give more weight to a person’s self-assessment
than to what the MBTI reports. So pay
attention and honor your self-assessment.
Here
are a few basics about psychological type
theory:
- It comes
from Carl Jung’s theory of personality.
- All people
are drawn to use, or prefer, certain
cognitive processes for accessing information
and making decisions.
- Cognitive
process preferences are dichotomous.
We have a natural pull to use one of
the pair of each dichotomy more so than
the other.
- Cognitive
process preferences are innate. Environment
impacts their development.
- Cognitive
process preferences are not the same
as ability or skill. Consider them instead
as antenna for attracting and emitting
certain energy frequency information.
- The cognitive
processes interact in a dynamic fashion
for balance in our personal energy system.
- As we age,
we are inclined to develop an ability
to tune into other frequencies in addition
to our natural cognitive process preferences.
- All cognitive
processes are valuable.
- We can and
do develop skills associated with our
nonpreferences. The lifelong innate
push for development encourages this
to happen.
- We are born
unconscious and continue to become more
conscious as we grow and experience
life on this planet. Jung called this
“individuation.”
- The drive
for individuation is innate.
- The more
we become aware of our cognitive process
preferences and development, the better
able we are to choose which we use.
The Processes of Our
Energy System
Jung’s theory proposes that human
behavior is not random but patterned according
to how we access information and make
decisions. We engage in both of these
cognitive processes in one of two orientations.
One is experienced when introverting;
the other, when extraverting.
Introverting
Processes
When introverting, we reflect, consider,
think, and mentally review. All of us
engage in introverting activities some
of the time. When we introvert, we often
personalize the events in our environment.
The world comes to meet us. And sometimes
our awareness is universal.
We
introvert primarily in four ways:
- By mentally
recalling past experiences.
- By foreseeing
future implications.
- By analyzing
based on closely held principles of
truth.
- By valuing
using a ranking of importance.
Extraverting
Processes
Using the extraverting orientation, we
interact with others and things in our
environment. Here we engage with the world
outside of ourselves. All of us use these
processes some of the time. We use extraverted
energy to go out to meet the world.
When
we use the extraverting processes, we
do so primarily in four ways:
- By fully
experiencing the moment.
- By inferring
global potentials and meanings.
- By structuring
things and processes.
- By harmonizing
people according to their needs.
Notice
that in each of the four processes the
focus is external, in our immediate and
particular environment.
Two
people extraverting may be quite similar
in that they actively engage in conversation
to initiate some action. However, what
they talk about and their specific actions
may be quite different depending on which
of the extraverting processes they are
using.
Summary
We use cognitive processes in both the
extraverting and introverting orientations.
When we extravert, we talk and participate
with people and things in an active way.
When we introvert, we are quiet and reflective
and internally active. We do both naturally.
Creativity and the Cognitive Processes
Adapted
from Marci Segal, Creativity
and Personality Type: Tools for Understanding
and Inspiring The Many Voices of Creativity
(Telos Publications, 2001) *Used
with permission.
How Might
You Approach Creating Something New and
Meaningful?
|
By changing something
in the environment—e.g., finding
a new use for an old tool or getting
new ideas from combining two things
in front of you such as an egg and
a radio.
|
Extraverted Sensing
(Se)
|
| By
changing a procedure that has been
less than successful in the past—e.g.,
improving upon the information available
in a spreadsheet program. |
Introverted Sensing
(Si)
|
| By
changing the pattern of what might
be—e.g., generating further new
ideas based on current market trends. |
Extraverted iNtuiting
(Ne)
|
| By
changing the representation or conceptual
vision for a new holistic view—e.g.,
imagining another direction for perfection. |
Introverted iNtuiting
(Ni)
|
| By
changing a goal or structure or organizing
principle—e.g., organizing a
business system according to new criteria
such as customer satisfaction. |
Extraverted Thinking
(Te)
|
| By
changing an understanding of how something
works and shifting categories—e.g.,
redefining the function of a pencil. |
Introverted Thinking
(Ti)
|
| By
changing the way people harmonize—e.g.,
appreciating individuals whose cultural
values are different from your own. |
Extraverted Feeling
(Fe)
|
| By
changing the importance or finding
new congruencies with personal values—e.g.,
finding value and committing to something
that before seemed worthless. |
Introverted Feeling
(Fi)
|
Adapted
from Marci Segal, Creativity
and Personality Type: Tools for Understanding
and Inspiring The Many Voices of Creativity
(Telos Publications, 2001) *Used
with permission.
|
