by Sandy | Feb 1, 2018 | MBTI Facts
There seems to be 2 myths (or perhaps more accurately “oversimplifications”) that exist around the MBTI preferences of Thinking and Feeling.
Myth 1 – Men are thinkers and women are feelers
Myth 2 – Thinking is a superior function to Feeling
If I harken back to university days and saw these two statements as a logic problem I might assume based on these myths that men are ….
FULL STOP Required here …I can’t even say what I was going to type
— so before I give a third myth any more credence let me focus on myth number 1.
The simple truth is that either sex can have a preference for either function. There are men with a preference for Feeling and women with a preference for Thinking.
Statistically there may be a higher number of males who are Thinkers. I have heard it suggested that there might be a cultural influence to these numbers as males may answer according to cultural expectations.
Last year at the MBTI Conference held by Psychometrics Canada Chuck Pratt, a former member of the U. S. Coast Guard for 23 years, posited an interesting theory. He felt that there were more men who actually had a preference for Feeling in the Coast Guard than the official scores would indicate. The expectations of their training would predispose individuals to choose answers swayed toward Thinking. (As an aside this is another reason that MBTI assessments from qualified professionals include a guided self determination of best type fit.)
Our expectations of males and females in society in general are still tainted by the cultural and perhaps physiological influences that mark our behaviour. Does it make sense that males are genetically wired to be hunters and that this may align more with thinking? And that females are genetically wired to be play the gathering nurturing roles that may be more aligned with feeling? There are a lot of assumptions in those statements and the exceptions are just as valid – if not more so.
Rather than oversimplify or over complicate the matter, this trainer suggested that we think in terms of the Thinking /Feeling dichotomy as having 4 parts – Thinking/Males, Thinking/Females, Feeling/Males and Feeling/Females.
He did an exercise where an individual asked the above 4 groups for feedback about whether their hair was in good enough shape for an important job interview in two hours time. Here’s how people responded:
Feeling/Female – You look great! Who you are is what counts.
Feeling/Male – What do you need to do the best you can?
Thinking/Female – How much time do you have? Perhaps you have time to get a comb out at the hairdressers.
Thinking/Male – Get a haircut.
The Feeling/Female and the Thinking/Male had responses that fit our stereotypes. We need to expand our perceptions beyond these stereotypes to include men who have a preference for Feeling and women who have a preference for Thinking. You think I protest too much and that we have evolved beyond this limited thinking? Ask any high school teacher if girls aren’t still dumbing down so they don’t compete with the boys.
My hope is that we be aware of our assumptions about gender and preference.
I would love to hear from Thinking/Females and Feeling/Males about their experience in the workplace.
Next post I will talk about one aspect of Myth #2….
by Sandy | Jan 30, 2018 | MBTI Facts
I’m ENTJ, E and J very borderline, N and T very pronounced. What difference does the relative strength of tendencies make?
It is very common for people to refer to the “strength” of a preference. In fact the MBTI manual talks about this interpretation of having “more “ or “less” of a preference as “the most presuasive source of misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the MBTI.” In the official version of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator there is a Preference Clarity Index which has been designed to illustrated how sure a person is that they prefer one pole of a preference pair over the other. It does not refer to “amount” of a preference.
One of the preliminary steps when you take the MBTI with a certified practitioner is to identify which type is the “best fit” for you. This is done by an investigation of what you know about yourself outside of the inventory. Those whose results show a clear or very clear preference are consistent in their responses to which of the pairs they prefer when forced to chose on the inventory. This level of clarity does not indicate that they have excellence in using this preference however. Those who have a slight level of clarity were not as consistent in their responses but they will be able to get clearer on which of the preference pairs is a better fit for them with help from the practitioner.
In your particular situation, the Step 2 version of the MBTI can help you get a clearer picture on the Extraversion/Intraversion pair as well as the Judging/Perceiving pair. The MBTI code ENTJ indicates through the J at the end that what you show to the world is the Judging preference of Thinking. If your preference is for Extraversion (ENTJ as opposed to INTJ) it will mean that Thinking is your dominant function – that is that Thinking that is most often in the driver’s seat. However if your prefernce is for Intraversion (INTJ) the Dominant function is Intuition. Your dominant function will really influence how you process and how you consequently show up to others.
Gaining full benefit from knowing your type is much larger than reading a type description. Understanding the interplay of the functions will help you to see what is behind the description and the way you think, act and communicate. The ultimate goal is to help you understand how to utilize the dynamics of the MBTI to function in the best way in your life.
by Sandy | Jan 30, 2018 | Enneagram
Pressure, stress, no time, frustration….
This litany of complaints is felt to various degrees by many people but how and why we create this for ourselves differs from person to person.
Today I received this reminder from Russ Hudson’s site, Enneagram Institute.
Your Type Six EnneaThoughts for February 16th—
A major feature of your personality is to find more work for yourself as soon as the pressure lightens. Notice this tendency in yourself today. (Personality Types, 232)
I had to laugh. Well because it is true for the most part. My theory is that we become accustomed to a certain state in our bodies and the adrenaline that is generated from having something on my plate lets me know that I am alive. I love the energy of “Get’ er done!!!” Or at least that’s my warped thinking about how accomplishing tasks gives me energy and life purpose .
The flow of chemicals after a long walk in nature, laughing with friends, watching a sunset or snuggling under a blanket with some classical music and a fire is equally enlivening. The trick is to be at choice and not on auto-pilot.
by Sandy | Jan 30, 2018 | MBTI Facts
I’m a big fan of using the MBTI in team context to help people understand themselves and team dynamics better. In my experience it always aids in communication and the J’s and P’s end the day laughing about their differences. Recently though, I was faced with a situation where two co-workers just do not get along. Due to the nature of their work they have to work closely together. The underlying tension is affecting the whole team. They are both female, one verified her type as ESTP (slight preference on E as well as T), the other verified her type as ESFJ (slight preference on Feeling). (In both cases their reported and verified types were the same – they were in agreement with their reports). I would really appreciate some guidance on this issue.
This sounds like an uncomfortable situation which could escalate to create a toxic environment if it is not resolved. While I empathize with the challenges of this situation, it feels unethical to make a definitive statement from such a brief description. I will speak briefly from a theoretical perspective which may in fact have very little to do with the reality of the situation. Please use anything that makes sense and leave behind what you know does not apply.
Through the lens of temperament:
These two people have different temperament types. The SJ temperament may predispose the woman with the ESFJ type to want to obey the laws, respect authority and the rights of the others and prefer what has been traditionally done in the past.
The woman with the ESTP preferences falls within the SP temperament. Those with this temperament type are motivated to be where the action is and value being spontaneous and flexible. Sometimes their style resembles “Ready Fire Aim” and can easily conflict with the “Ready Steady Aim and then Fire” style of the SJ.
Depending on the type of work that these two are working on this can have greater or lesser effect. The SJ frustrated with the “cowboy” approach of the SP which they see as affecting issues of quality and the SP feeling held back when they could be getting on with it and correcting as they move forward gaining new and important information as they go.
Through the lens of the T/F differences
Those with a preference for Thinking can be intimidating to others because things are so clear and the logical rational decision making preference can seem cold and unyielding. On the other hand those with a preference for Feeling can seem soft and dithering to Thinking types.
The context of the work being done has an impact as well. People who are working in a therapeutic environment may have a greater need to bring empathy into play in the workplace than a very traditional workplace environment.
Fostering appreciation of differences is not always an easy thing to do. Developing Emotional Intelligence competencies and gaining skills with conflict resolution training can be valuable tactical approaches. Engaging people in conversations focused on what it means to do “good work ” together and having a focus on building a culture that supports the mandate of the organization are more complex but ulimately more sustainable approaches.
Through the lens of the J/P preferences
The differences between these two ways of approaching the world can be (is) one of the biggest sources of conflict in the workplace. A good answer to the impact of this pair of preferences could fill a book. When two people work together – designing the flow of work and having some structures in place for communication can be helpful. For example, if the person with the preference for Judging has to wait for material from the Perceiver due to the sequence of the flow of work that might just be a recipe for ever increasing tension on both sides. Depending on how far things have escalated the best solutions occur when people can sit down and design how they work together informed by the knowledge of their preferences. Also depending on the level of these people in the organization a manager may find it necessary to set a clear framework of expectations regarding timelines.
Through the lens of type
The book Introduction to Type in Teams has some insights.
The ESFJ can irritate others by “trying to please too many people too often or by stepping in to speak for others” and they can be irritated by being given “last minute assignments” especially when their hard work is not appreciated. When under stress they can help the situation by “honouring their own needs and by realizing that solving another’s problems for them may in fact diminish the power of the very people they are trying to help”.
The ESTP can irritate others by “taking the easy expedient route and by being too flexible.” They can be irritated by those who are “too duty bound and structured or overly focused on the future and unknown”. When under stress they can help by ” perservering and maintaining committment when things are complicated or boring.”
Psychometrics Canada has a recent research report on conflict in the workplace. This particular issue maybe beyond the scope of the MBTI to provide helpful insights. In a perfect world, it is always easier to prevent than intervene. As a final thought -there may be a possibility of creating an even stronger team if the this conflict can be worked through in an open way focused on the larger issues beyond ego. Best of luck! Perhaps you will share your insights on the resolution of this issue.
by Sandy | Jan 29, 2018 | MBTI Facts
At what age can I accurately have my daughter tested? She’s 12.
In the MBTI Manual it advises to tell students under the age of 17 that the questions were designed with adults in mind. There are also tables that indicate the utility of the items in the MBTI were done with elementary school students. I could not find a definitive age as a lower age limit. Some practitioners and professional materials recommend age 14 as being an appropriate age for initial assessment.
My questions to you would be more along the line of your purpose for having her take the MBTI and under what circumstances? If you decide that this important to her, I would highly recommend a type professional who understands adolescent development. My experience of living with teens and preteens was that hormones and social-emotional factors superceded all else.
You know your daughter. What is your sense of the value of doing the MBTI at this time? The phrase “do no harm” comes to mind. It is always a challenge to balance letting children find their path in life in their own way and providing the support and guidance that good parenting requires.
A note to readers
If you have had experience with the MBTI or other assessments with youth perhaps you would be willing to share your insights. I know that some camps have found a temperament based assessment to be of great valuable for their youthful counsellors.
