CHARACTERS, CONFLICT, AND THE MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR® - (Part II) by Michael Rigg

 

Myers-Briggs (careerfitter.com)

Wow! How time flies when you have great blog posts to read every week! Seems like only yesterday when last we chatted. But it was eons ago—the beginning of June. We’re already in August!

My previous blog provided an overview of how I’ve come to understand the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator^® (MBTI) and its use as a tool for developing characters and conflict in your stories. Feel free to take a couple of minutes to review it by clicking here.

In the meantime, here’s a quick refresher:

Katherine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers developed the MBTI. According to Introduction to Type^®, published by CPP, Inc., the MBTI springs from the psychological type theory of personality developed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl G. Jung to explain normal personality differences between healthy people.   

The four dichotomies and their single-letter identifiers are:

1. Introversion (I) vs. Extraversion (E);

2. Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N);

3. Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F); and

4. Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P).

 

Last time, we drilled down into the first dichotomy, Introversion (I) versus Extraversion (E). Remember, the I vs. E dichotomy deals with where you prefer to focus your attention—how you get your energy, “recharge your batteries.”

Let’s look at the remaining three dichotomies. 

Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N). The S vs. N dichotomy involves how you to prefer to take in information.

People who prefer Sensing live in the “concrete” world. They like to take information that is real and tangible. Think of Sergeant Joe Friday’s, “Just the facts, ma’am.” People who prefer Sensing are grounded in practical realities.

People who prefer Intuition like to absorb information in the context of “the big picture.” They are focused on the world of ideas and possibilities. They focus on relationships and connections between facts. They identify patterns.  

Imagine the S vs. N pair discussing Unexplained Aerial Phenomena (a/k/a UFOs). The “N” says, “Gosh, with all those unexplained lights flying around in ways that can’t be explained by the physical laws of nature, they must be alien spacecraft. I can’t wait to meet one of our space visitors.” The “S,” on the other hand says, “You’re a fruit cake, with extra nuts. I’ll believe in UFOs and aliens when one of them shakes my hand and says 'Hello.' You’re such an idiot. How can you possibly function on a day-to-day basis in the real world?”

Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F). The T vs. F dichotomy focuses on your decision-making preferences.

People who prefer “Thinking,” look at logical consequences of a choice or action. They remove themselves from the situation and examine the pros and cons objectively. Their goal is to find a standard or principle that will apply to all similar situations. If someone, faced with a situation, says “What’s the applicable rule,” they’re probably a “T.”

People who prefer to use “Feeling" in making decisions like to consider what is important to them and to others involved. Their goal is to create harmony and treat each person as a unique individual. “What is fair?” they ask. “What is equitable?” “Well, rules are meant to be broken,” an “F” might say.    

Think about many of the “debates” about today’s contentious societal issues. One side accuses the other of being unrealistic “Liberals” [or other, less kind descriptions]. Their opponents call them cruel and mean-spirited “Conservatives” [or other, less kind descriptions]. Maybe the political world would have less rancor and more understanding if each side would simply accept that their “opposites” simply have a different approach, i.e., Thinking vs. Feeling.  

Judging vs. Perceiving (P). The J vs. P dichotomy considers how you deal with the outer world. I characterize it as being how you like to get things done. 

People who prefer Judging, like to live in a planned, orderly way. They seek to make decisions, come to closure, and move on. Sticking to a plan is important to them. They like to get things done. Ever travel with someone who has a minute-by-minute itinerary on vacation? Probably a “J.”

People who prefer Perceiving, like to live in a flexible, spontaneous way. Detailed plans and final decisions feel confining to them. They feel energized by last minute pressures. Can you imagine the conflict between a “J” and a “P” going on vacation together? 

Remember the television show “Darma and Greg”? It was a classic J vs. P conflict situation comedy. Darma was a dog trainer and yoga instructor. Greg was a straight-laced, by-the-book Assistant United States Attorney. They loved each other, but the natural conflicts coming from their respective “J” vs. “P” approaches to life gave rise to some funny moments.

Another J vs. P conflict, and one found all-too-often in the workplace is when a “J” and a “P” are assigned a project together. The “J” wants to plan out the steps, get started immediately, and stick with the plan. The “P” wants to think about what to do, then get started in sufficient time to complete the project by the deadline. “What’s the big deal,” the “P” asks, “we have plenty of time. It’s not due until Thursday. Let’s get together on Wednesday afternoon.” (Murders have happened with less provocation.)  

Some might argue that Plotters are “Js” and Pantsers are “Ps.” That’s another blog for another day...

Thoughts? Looking forward to a lively discussion. But remember. I’m an Introvert. Be kind.  

Mike