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Who agrees?
by Danny
I've come to find this theory of personality type, as interesting as it is, equally as useless. For instance, even if I told you my type, or my friend's type, and it was accurate, what does that really tell you? Not much. It tells you something mechanical about me.
Personality theory does not tell you why a ... person might like red crayons, or to paint with oils, or to cook on Sundays. It doesn't tell you what kind of food he likes to eat. It doesn't tell you whether he has a sensitive place in his heart for people in general, or whether he believes in a good rule of thumb: "Treat others how you would like to be treated." Personality theory tells you some basic mechanics of a person. It doesn't get into their heart. It doesn't get into why they like a certain perfume, or what a person puts in his journal.
I write all this because I've been interested in psychology for years. I probably always will. But my motivation was to understand people. Well, it's a very limited way of understanding people. Most of what people are is above the core functions. Most of a building is above the foundation. Most of a cake is not the first layer. Most of a beautiful flower is not its roots. So what if we understand all the core functions and technical things? We haven't learned much. I can't say "I only want to date an INFP" for example. INFP? I could LOVE an INFP. I could also find one very HARD to get along with. Instead, I might find myself quite in love with a personality type that hey! I never technically thought possible. That's because life surprises us. There is no knowing all there is to know. Now, I agree that certain types might more often conflict than others. That's not a rule though. And it greatly depends on the ability for each type to be self-sacrificing, instead of having to have their way, being selfish. Putting the other person ahead of yourself sometimes is like oil in an engine. It just makes life run more smoothly. There's less conflict, especially over simple stupid things, too.
This is supposed to be a question and answer board [Editor: This meant to go to Q&A section, initially]. So I'll make my question, "who agrees?" and if you haven't thought of it, you might. I've spent a lot of time studying types. And I'd say it is pretty interesting overall. But, I'm also tired of my brain trying to assess what everyone's type is. Has it reached any conclusions? Maybe for a few individuals. Has there been any real value in it? No. I appreciate those individuals for a hundred things that don't have to do with whatever I discovered about their type.
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| C30 My perception of the author of this article is this: I think there are other influencing factors (maybe religion?) that act like floatation devices, keeping you from understanding the depth and influence that personality type has on human dynamics, overcoming weaknesses and capitalizing on strengths. Your examples were not examined closely enough: The foundation of a house determines what type weather it will be able to stand up to, dry or humid, mountainside or flood prone. The seed of a flower depends on what type flower will emerge, what climate it may grow best in, what effects life factors will have on it, and it's ability to survive. As far as cooking on sunday, I can tell you are not ENFP or ESFP because you'd be going out for fast food on your way to the beach to surf. You have no idea how anxiety-provoking a list like this is for some personality types: 1. Find your recipe book 2. Follow directions exactly on the recipe 3. Borrow a saucepan from your neighbor because all you have are microwave dishes 4. Pay attention long enough not to burn the rice.... Doesn't mean it can't be done, but as an ENFP my type DOES greatly influence what I will CHOOSE to do on a day off. So yes - personality types matter, and the knowledge of them has probably changed more lives than just mine. One last example from my own experience: When I was younger, after giving two years of missionary service to others, in a 3rd world country, I had a psychological breakdown, the likes of which I never imagined could be experienced. 7 years of PTSD followed, and I did not begin the healing process until I learned my personality type. What I thought was "failure" at the end of my mission work, was actually my ENFP goals and ideals not being actualized in their entirety - sending me spiraling down a roller coaster of guilt, into a psychotic nightmare of pain. Had I only known about personality types 10 years ago, I would have realized that my goals and visions were slightly unrealistic - and that there was a slight chance God might not let them all come about exactly as my mind was prescribing. So, While your bias might or might not be religion - I say this only as a warning to all as your fellow traveler: religion can have a positive effect on the lives of some people, but I have only witnessed danger and heartache when religious concepts (like "others first") are being applied in place of type-specific psychological principles. "Putting others first" might feel like oil in the engine - but using your own analogy - no matter how much oil you dump into your engine, it will never perform better than the person who takes their engine apart, repairs it, and enhances it, after learning all the parts and pieces. -- Andrew |
| C31 Personality typing is useful for me as it allows me to penetrate into the thoughts of the people around me, to understand them, to know what they want/need/desire and what they dislike, for me to "communicate" and lead them to doing what i want. It also enable me to see one's strength and weakness, whether they are suitable for the job, on how reliable are they. Personality typing is useful for people-recruiting and people-managing jobs. -- Enfp |
| C32 I see exactly where you're coming from. I think this sight draws a lot of people who are trying to figure people out because they are loners (fitting everyone in a box). I myself am an INTP, searching the world for answers to meaningless questions...You're going back to the whole nature vs nurture argument Freud brought up and a point I think needed posting personally. Thinkers who analyze this stuff to death would love to think they have it all figured out, but human nature is much much more complicated than 4 simple letters. Factor in personality disorders, family history, drug abuse, traumatizing episodes and we begin to see maybe we dont' have it figured out. Maybe getting to know people one at a time is actually better than labeling them as something and moving on because of their type. For you single people, that girl you met at the coffee shop could be bipolar having a 'good' day. Cheers to this article, you definitely opened my eyes to the beauty of a single life, instead of the characterization of a group! -- Open minded |
| C33 i get what you mean about tired in the head. the working out of people's types i cant help but DO nowadays -- thomas - entp |
| C34 TOTALLY AGREED. -- ENTP |
| C35 My advice to C33 & C34, try to remember that we are humans first and foremost, it might help you to seperate people from the letters. Maybe just me but I found that once I re-remembered that people have their personalities, the 'delights' of their information metabolism started to shine through, which with it seperated actually helped with the typing process. So I suppose the moral is like many things, more hurry, less speed. -- Anonymous |
| C36 A useful theory: Heart Motives outline: http://www.cfchome.org/files/2000-07-14_1159.html autio: http://www.cfchome.org/files/2000-07-14_1159.html -- Anonymous |
| C37 it might tell me a bit about whether i'll get on with them or whether they'll undermine me or maybe i'll inadvertently undermine them -- Th |
| C38 I think the author of this post has hit the nail on the head. Let's not forget that people are human beings. Although personalities can be typed, the functioning styles and traits that are strongly associated with each type are but small pieces of a hugely complex personality puzzle. Types may be helpful guidelines, but I do not think there is enough empirical evidence, or valid research methodologies in existence to gather the kind of evidence, to justify the viewpoint that types are absolute and carry enough scientific weight to base a set of rules or biases upon. What regulating scientific body has validated the questionnaires? Who considers these personality tests valid? Perhaps more importantly, why? From reading the various posts on this website, it seems that many individuals strongly identify with their type and have developed a strong attachment to the label or brand that their type represents. Personality profiling has the potential to illicit biased and inaccurate judgements, poor decision making practices, and in some cases overinflated egos. Sound familiar? -- XXTx |
| C39 @C38, Socionics is recognised by every good scientific body. -- Anonymous |
| C40 @C39, You must like your Type more than yourself. -- Anonymous |
| C41 pff self-sacrifice is for GAMMAs! -- Anonymous |
| C42 Personally I don't agree this is the basic building blocks for relationship that's the bottom line. I have more than enough firsthand experience with dating personality types that I am not compatible with based on socionics and I have found it very accurate. All the other things about a particular persons taste is nice to know about and/ or deal with but without compatibility you won't have much to work with down the road. -- ESTP |
| C43 I enjoy MBTI immensely, but not so much the socionics division. I enjoy Isabel Myers Brigg's theory because she herself (other than being a pretty damn smart lady) had such a loving passion for knowing and understanding people. That's why I love it. Understanding myself, how I react to people, and how they may react to be greatly diminishes conflict. I don't like the type relations of socionics because I feel as though they are more "destructive" for me personally and constructive. I love many individuals of many different types, and to read that "These two types have a fake harmony" discourages me in relationships rather than encourages and appreciates differences. Needless to say, this was simply too much for me. Plus, the body types based on personality? How do you determine that exactly? Seems a bit too horoscopish to me. -- ENFJ |
| C44 Typology can be very useful, just not every day of the week. My knowledge of personality typing over the years has helped me through a transition from one relationship to another. In the previous relationship, when she was upset with me, she really was upset with me. In the present relationship, when she seemed upset with me, she was really upset with herself. Seeing this enabled me not to take things personally, as I had previously. Lacking typological knowledge, I probably would not have recognized this and always been on the defensive with her. This is only one example of many of how I have used typology in a practical sense. -- Ron |
C45 how boring... You sir are an Extreme Feeler also made me a bit angry to read this oranges are oranges but oh how dare they dismiss that sweet juicy orange compared to that other bright vibrant orange. Oh how dare they dismiss that... yawns Go draw something or write a poem you might be more productive   -- Anonymous |
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