Unlocking the Depth of the Myers Briggs
Excerpts from a helpful website that digs into some of the depth of the MBTI.
I'm including some excerpts here to give you a flavor of how the MBTI is a more two-dimension model, with, below the water line of the shadow, actually 8 preference results, not just four. (Check out John Beebe's work on-line.) Meanwhile, this is a great set of tools and a visual about what you present to the world as your dominant, auxiliary, tertiary (described below) and inferior functions. -- Deb
The Great Tertiary Debate?
Our convention is to draw the Mental Muscle Diagrams(TM) are usually drawn to show the tertiary function as in the same world as the dominant - but you should remember that it could be either. In fact, any function could be in either the outer or inner world, depending on the individual. The Mental Muscle Diagram(TM) simply shows the more 'typical' configuration.
Note: this mental muscle diagram accurately reflects all that is contained within the Myers Briggs dynamic model, and enables a complicated subject to be simplified in an easy to understand visual form. However, it is a new way of representing the Myers Briggs functions, so you may not come across it anywhere else.
The Mental Muscle Diagrams(TM)
Finally, here are the typical mental muscle diagrams for each of the 16 types.
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You may have wondered why, in the diagram for an ENFP, Thinking has been shown in the outer world, and Sensing in the inner world.
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- In the Myers Briggs model, the least preferred mental muscle (called the inferior - in this case, Sensing) is believed to operate mainly in the world opposite to the dominant.
- There is some controversy as to the normal pattern for extroverting or introverting the third preferred (called the tertiary - in this case, Thinking).
- Some people believe that the tertiary operates in the same world as the dominant, others believe it operates in the opposite world, and yet more others believe it can operate in either.
- In my view, this is a dynamic model, where each function operates to some degree in both the outer and inner worlds.
Surely this means that it is not too important to resolve the issue of whether the tertiary is introverted or extraverted.
- Also, individuals do not conform to a set pattern, and everyone introverts and extroverts the mental muscles according to their own unique pattern.
Read the full article here via teamtechnology.co.ukHaving said that, the extroversion of Thinking in this case can explain some potential anomalies and misunderstandings. Whilst the ENFP is primarily a Feeling person, others may perceive him or her as being logical first.
Suppose there is a significant cultural pressure, within the business environment, to operate in a logical fashion. As other people's views affect the individual's view of himself, he may come to believe that he is more logical, and lose touch with the inner Feeling side.
(This issue might be raised during the 'mid-life transition', when individuals often seek to understand themselves better, and pay more attention to their own needs rather than accommodating the cultural pressure on them to conform. For further discussion of this subject, see 'Navigating Mid-life', a book published by Consulting Psychologists Press.)
