Understanding your Identity with the Myers-Briggs Typology

Necessary wisdom

Psychologists who have specialized in human personality would suggest that we could gain a good handle on our identity by studying our distinctive personality styles.

Personality typologies and tests have been developed since the time of the Ancient Greeks when Hippocrates came up with his four Humours around 5 BC. He observed that in general terms, people can be described as either impulsive (Choleric humour), reflective (Melancholic humour), easy going (Phlegmatic humour) or energetic (Sanguine humour). A number of years later, Aristotle related these humours to the forces of nature and labelled the four types as Fire, Earth, Water and Air. Since then, various psychologist have developed a whole range of typologies and a quick summary of many of the four basic option typologies can be found in Diane Turner and Thelma Greco’s book, “The Personality Compass” (Element Books, 1998). Of course, the theorists of these typologies recognise that there are many variations within each type, but the four basic options provide a useful starting point for discovering one’s general preferences.

There are two particular values in exploring our personality styles and typologies. The first is that typologies remind us that different people instinctively approach life and problems from significantly different directions and no one direction is necessarily better in the long - term than others. We simply have a different style of approach, and whilst one style might work more effectively in some situations, other styles will be more effective in others. This knowledge can help to make us more tolerant and accepting of others with a different style from us. The second value is that knowledge of our preferred styles provides us with a useful, expanded vocabulary or set of words to describe our own personality and ultimately, our identity.

To get started on the process, we will firstly explore a simple, two-part typology.

The Type A and Type B Typology

One of the most popular personality typologies is a two-option typology commonly used when exploring our likelihood of experiencing stress related illnesses. This typology was developed by cardiologists, Meyer Friedman and R. H. Rosenman and it suggests that our personalities can be described as Type A or Type B personalities (although there can also be a Type AB for those who cannot make up their minds!)

It used to be thought that people with Type A personalities were more likely to experience stress related illnesses, but recent studies have shown that some of the characteristics of Type A’s can actually help to reduce some types of stress - particularly those stressors related to feelings of powerlessness. The typology is not widely used today, but it is useful discussion starter for personality typologies. Where would you place yourself? Are you more type A, or Type B?

Type A & B Typology

Type A

-          is a hard working type

-          can often be a demanding person

-          is typically impatient

-          can readily become hostile and aggressive

-          likes to be competitive

-          is always mindful of the clock

Type B

-          takes a relaxed attitude to work

-          is an easy going, laid back person

-          usually is a very patient person

-          is not easily aroused to aggression

-          has no interest in being competitive

-          does not watch the clock

-          tries to avoid deadlines

-          finds it easy to relax

-          feels secure about their self - esteem

 

Two and four part typologies are OK for starters, but typologies become particularly interesting once you have eight or more options. I have found during forty years of looking at typologies, that the two most accessible, interesting and useful are the well-researched, sixteen type Myers - Briggs typology, and the nine type Enneagram.

The Myers - Briggs typology was developed by Isabel Myers - Briggs in the 1940s, and was based on the work of famous Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung. Jung initially came up with eight character types, but Myers - Briggs added a further dimension to the model to come up with sixteen character types based on an individual’s position on four continuums, ranges or scales of preferences with opposites at each end:

-          From Extraversion - to - Introversion

-          From iNtuitive - to - Sensate

-          From Thinking - to - Feeling

-          From Judging - to - Perceiving

Each of the opposites is assigned a letter e.g. “E” for Extraversion, “I” for Introversion, “N” for Intuitive etc. Through a carefully prepared and researched questionnaire, each individual can determine their preferences in each of these four areas and come up with one of sixteen character types represented by a set of four letters such as ENFJ (extraverted, intuitive, feeling and judging), or ISTP, or ISTJ etc. Whilst the Myers - Briggs Typology is most useful when explored with the official test and a trained facilitator, there are many books available on the theories of Myers - Briggs, and many of them come with simple tests that can provide some insights into our Myers - Briggs type, our personality and our identity. Tests are also available on the internet.

To get you started, here are some pairs of identity indicators that will give you an idea of how personality characteristics differ for people whose preferences are at either end of these four continuums. In reality, most people find themselves somewhere between these extremes.

Myers - Briggs Typology

Continuum One: Relating to the world and people through extraversion or introversion

-          An Extravert type loves and is energized by interaction with people, whereas an Introvert type is drained by interaction with people

-          An Extravert type does things and then thinks about them, whereas an Introvert type usually reflects before doing anything

-          An Extravert type has a wide range of interests, whereas an Introvert type tends to be focussed on fewer interests

-          An Extravert type has many friends and is very sociable, whereas an Introvert type has only a few close friends and is seen as difficult to get to know

-          An Extravert type gets lonely without a network, whereas an Introvert type feels lonely without a significant friend

Continuum Two: Perceiving information intuitively or through the five senses

-          An iNtuitive type sees patterns and possibilities in information, whereas a Sensing type focuses on what is happening in the "now"

-          An iNtuitive type uses their imagination and intuition to take in information, whereas a Sensing type mainly uses the five senses to take in information

-          An iNtuitive type sees the whole picture and needs to see how all things "fit" together, whereas a Sensing type notices details and facts and needs to understand the parts before understanding "the whole"

-          An iNtuitive type loves variety in what they do, whereas a Sensing type likes to follow routines

-          An iNtuitive type constantly thinks about the future, whereas a Sensing type usually focuses on the present moment

Continuum Three: Judging and making decisions through a process of thinking or feeling

-          A Thinking type makes decisions with logic, whereas a Feeling type makes decisions based on existing values

-          A Thinking type thinks about consequences to make decisions, whereas a Feeling type thinks about what is most important when making decisions

-          A Thinking type values reason, whereas a Feeling type values compassion

-          A Thinking type likes to see justice done, whereas a Feeling type is always open to offering mercy

-          A Thinking type likes to be treated fairly, whereas a Feeling type likes to be appreciated

-          A Thinking type is a task-oriented person, whereas a Feeling type is a people oriented person

Continuum Four: Relating to the outer world through judging processes or perceiving processes

-          A Judging type prefers life to be planned, structured, and orderly, whereas a Perceiving type likes flexibility and prefers to keep their options open

-          A Judging type likes to close a deal, whereas a Perceiving type likes to keep the deal open for as long as possible

-          A Judging type worries if decisions are put off, whereas a Perceiving type worries as the time approaches for decisions to be made

-          A Judging type sees life as a time to get things done, whereas a Perceiving type sees life as a time of opportunities

-          A Judging type likes to develop systems to do things, whereas a Perceiving type likes to do things however they feel like doing them at the time

-          A Judging type is goal oriented, whereas a Perceiving type is adaptable to change

Creative responses

CREATIVE RESPONSE (SU): Reflect on the Myers - Briggs Chart and identify your preferences in each of the pairs of identity indicators.

*         If using a Thematic Journal, on a clean page in the “Identity Documents” section, write the heading, “Myers-Briggs Personality Typology”.

*         Underneath the heading, copy the following chart of four pairs of preferences with opposites at each side of the page:

-          Extraversion - or - Introversion

-          iNtuitive - or - Sensate

-          Thinking - or - Feeling

-          Judging - or - Perceiving

*         Now look back at the pairs of elements listed under the heading, “Continuum One: Relating to the world and people through extraversion or introversion” above. For each pair of elements, choose the one that most relates to you and place a tick beside the appropriate preference on the chart you have just prepared. E.g. In the first pair of elements, if you are the type who “loves and is energized by being with people”, place a tick beside “Extraversion” on your chart.

*         Once you have completed the five pairs of elements relating to extraversion or introversion, add the total number of ticks for each. You will relate more to either the Extraversion (E) or to the Introversion (I) sides which will give you the first letter of your overall type style. Proceed through the other three sets of sentences to determine whether you are an Intuitive or Sensate type, a Thinking or Feeling type and a Judging or Perceiving type. You will then have a provisional four letter type style e.g. if you ticked mostly the Extraversion side, mostly Sensate, mostly Feeling and mostly Perceiving sides, your type style will be ESFP. There are sixteen possibilities.

*         If you have access to the internet, you only need to enter your four letters - without spaces - into “Google” and you will discover sites with expanded descriptions of your type. Alternatively, obtain a book on the Myers Briggs Typology and look up the details of your type. Best of all, look for an opportunity to attend a workshop on discovering details of your Myers - Briggs type.