Temperament Definitions
A quick reference to Jungian/MBTI temperament typing
There are four temperament variables that are measured,
listed in order of importance.
1. Sensory vs. INtuitive:
How a person takes in information. Sensors (S) focus on the five senses: that which
can be seen, touched, heard, felt, taste...and are more concrete and literal thinkers.
Intuitives (N) seem to use a "sixth sense" to gain a global perspective
at the expense of detail. Sensors see the trees, Intuitives see the forest.
2. Thinking vs. Feeling.
The type of decision-making a person prefers. Thinkers (T) are logical and more
hard-headed, while Feelers (F) are more personal and prefer subjective values to dry
logic. (Thinkers are not smarter.)
3. Judging vs. Perceiving.
Judgers (J) are convergent thinkers who focus on getting things done while Perceivers (P)
are divergent thinkers who tend to be more exploratory.
4. Extrovert vs. Introvert.
Extroverts (E) are energized by the outside world (people and things), while Introverts
(I) are energized by being alone with their internal thoughts.
There are sixteen possible combinations of these four
functions. Someone with preferences for Extroversion-INtuition-Thinking-Perceiving
is known as an "ENTP."
Although people within the same temperament type have many
of the same drives and impulses, they can be very different from each other, and character
is in no way predicted. For example, Albert Einstein and Ted Kazinski (The UnaBomber) are
both INTP types.
The sixteen temperament types have been organized into four
main groups:
SJs - Guardians/ Traditionalists (ESTJ, ISTJ, ESFJ, ISFJ)
SPs - Artisans/ Experiencers (ESTP, ISTP, ESFP, ISFP)
NTs - Rationals/ Conceptualizers (INTP, ENTP, INTJ, ENTJ)
NFs - Idealists (INFP, ENFP, INFJ, ENFJ)
How to determine temperament
types.
The easiest way to find out your own temperament is to take
David Keirsey's online test at http://www.keirsey.com/cgi-bin/keirsey/newkts.cgi.
Your results are a starting point only. You must read the temperament
description and see if it sounds right because the test isn't always accurate (it usually
works, however). A few people can't seem to choose any answers on the test.
That usually means you're trying to be all things to all people or you're trying to
analyze the questions too much.
The other way to determine temperament type is to learn
more about the four variables so that you can take a guess about someone's preferences.
This is invaluable with children! With practice you can usually figure out that
someone is an extrovert, a logical thinker, a global thinker and a divergent thinker, or
an ENTP.
The best book I've seen dealing with temperament types in
children is "Nurture by
Nature - Understanding Your Child's Personality Type - And Become a Better Parent"
by Paul D. Tieger & Barbara Barron-Tieger. The authors do an excellent job of
explaining the four temperament variables and walk you through the process of determining
your child's temperment type. Then they provide lengthy descriptions of each of the
sixteen types.
"Please
Understand Me" by David Keirsey is a classic on temperament types. The Official Keirsey Website also has lots of info about the
temperament types, though nowhere near as much information as the book.
