MUMPU: August 2013

According to Myers Briggs Educator Danielle Poirier, the dominant mental function is the most distinctive marker of a person’s personality type (aka mbti type). Following this principle, she organizes the 16 Myers Briggs Personality Types in four clusters:

The Four Primary Myers Briggs Personality Types
Dominant Intuitive Types	INFJ, INTJ, ENFP, ENTP
Dominant Sensing Types	ISFJ, ISTJ, ESFP, ESTP
Dominant Thinking Types	ISTP, INTP, ESTJ, ENTJ
Dominant Feeling Types	ISFP, INFP, ESFJ, ENFJ

If you examine the MBTI Type letters within each of the four family groups, you’ll note the Personality Types within a given cluster sometimes share only one letter with another member of their group. Some would find this odd, yet none-the-less all the types within a cluster have a solid basis for collaboration and communication because they share the same dominant mental function or mental process.

These four primary Type groups can be further sub-divided based on their energy orientation or attitude (Extraversion vs. Introversion):

The 8 Secondary Personality Types
Dominant Introverted Intuitive Types	INFJ & INTJ
Dominant Extraverted Intuitive Types	ENFP & ENTP
Dominant Introverted Sensing Types	ISFJ & ISTJ
Dominant Extraverted Sensing Types	ESFP & ESTP
Dominant Introverted Thinking Types	ISTP & INTP
Dominant Extraverted Thinking Types	ESTJ & ENTJ
Dominant Introverted Feeling Types	ISFP & INFP
Dominant Extraverted Feeling Types	ESFJ & ENFJ

Note within each of these 8 sub-groups, the individual Personality Types share 3 out of 4 MBTI ® letters. So not only do they share the important core mental function, individuals within each of these groups will likely share a number of behavior traits that are correlated with the three MBTI Type letters they share.

Organizing or ordering the Personality Types in this manner flows into a more recent extrapolation of the Myers-Briggs -Jung mental functions. The original four (Intuition, Sensing, Thinking, and Feeling) now become eight when one considers the attitude or direction of the mental function (either Introverted or Extraverted). Thus the mental function of Intuition is divided into two: one mental function is Introverted Intuition and the second is Extraverted Intuition. While the two are related, Type educators who hold to this model believe the differences are enough to warrant the distinction. Some educators, like Hartzler and Nardi (see references and sources at this end of this article), have developed coaching models on these 8 functions - helping people learn to sharpen skills associated with one of more of the 8 mental functions (most typically those skills associated with mental functions that are less favored by a given type)

How you can use the "new" 8 mental functions to determine "Your Best Fit" Personality Type

While the MBTI ^® meets the conventional test standards for reliability and validity, accurately measuring something extremely complex like the whole of a person's personality type is beyond the power of our traditional psychometric tools. A whole host of conditions impact the "test taking" situation, including mood, life situation, aspirations, work implications, degree of self-insight, gender expectations, level of psychological maturity, to name just a few. Then add the fact that the human mind is constantly evolving, learning and unlearning things, and maturing-growing. All of these factors are why Isabel Myers originally called her instrument an "indicator." The instrument points in a direction - gives a clue - but not a definitive answer; the MBTI and other similar instruments attempting to measure Personality Type (including my own - the Cognitive Style Inventory) are not tests. They can only point the way; give a general direction.

Sometimes this directional pointing is spot on. At other times, a course adjustment is needed; the identified MBTI Type letters may be close but not correct in identifying which of the 16 Personality Types is a person's best fit. For this reason, an important part of the accredited MBTI administration process involves having the client verify the score through a variety of processes that assist in better understanding key concepts related to psychological type and in doing a degree of self-reflection in understanding (and appreciating) one's own inner workings.

As an MBTI Administrator, one of the most common "type score" uncertainties I've encountered is when the score on the MBTI personality type instrument is close to the borderline between two type letters. For example, a person might score close to the borderline between ENTJ and ENTP. Too frequently they remain uncertain when they employ the accepted practice of reading the respective Personality Type descriptions of the two competing types; they will find a number of phrases in each of the descriptions of characteristics of the two Personality Types that seem to fit.

This is understandable as the two Types do share 3 of the 4 MBTI letters. But if you look at the core mental function of these two types in the above example, they are quite different. ENTJ has at its core Extraverted Thinking; ENTP has at its core Extraverted Intuition. So while the two types share a number of characteristics, the "primary engine" driving each type is different. So what needs to be explored in this case to determine the proper Type affiliation is the nature of these two different mental functions and to what degree each fits the person exploring their Personality Type fit.

Another example. Sometimes the uncertainty between two type affiliations is not around the core mental function. Perhaps the Type score is near the borderline between INFJ and INTJ - both sharing the core Introverted Intuition as their dominant mental function. Here the distinction is between Extraverted Feeling and Extraverted Thinking. The person may indeed feel equally drawn to Feeling and Thinking - but Type Dynamics theory suggests most typically each would be more comfortably oriented in opposite energy dimensions. A sensitive INTJ will more comfortably Introvert his Feeling nature; a logical INFJ will more comfortably Introvert her Thinking nature . . . and visa-versa.

Page 2 - Understanding the MBTI test * - the Mental Processes of the MBTI Personality Type

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE JUNG-MYERS-BRIGGS MENTAL FUNCTIONS OR PROCESSES

Understanding the nature of the mental functions that underlie the MBTI code letters of S,N,T & F can help a person verify the accuracy of his or her MBTI test score* or the assignment to one of the 16 personality types. Read the following basic description of each of the 4 functions plus how they are experienced when used in either the external or internal world to see which seem to fit you best. Then check the four letter MBTI type codes that are aligned with each description you find best fits you to see if it validates your MBTI test report*.

Another use of these descriptions is to understand how your own mental process preferences that make up your particular personality type pattern may differ from friends, relatives, and those you associate with or with whom you need to communicate. Whatever is a person's leading function in dealing with the outside world (represented by the small "e" attached to the MBTI type letter) affects how their communication style, how they are perceived by others, and the nature of this interaction. For example Personality Types whose leading mental function is extraverted thinking (Te) will approach people and situations with quite a different perspective than Personality Types whose leading mental function is extraverted feeling (Fe). In order to effectively work together each will have to stretch outside their "box" to access parts of themselves that often are poorly developed and unconsciously exercised. As difficult as thi222 s may be, a starting point is to recognize that these differences are not one of which leading mental function or perspective is better but understanding that they are opposite sides of a coin that in one case is turned "heads up" and another is turned "tails up" presenting a quite different face to the world.

How does Thinking work; how is it experienced?

Thinking is about order and organization, being objective, detached, able to discriminate, and using logic. Thinking preference people naturally seek to understand cause and effect - using an orderly chain of reasoning to establish the relationships. The Thinking mind seeks the truth, getting to the heart of the matter in an objective way. We experience being in our Thinking function when we are being dispassionate, able to make decisions at arms-length from whatever emotional turmoil may surround a situation. Thinking is about principles and well organized foundations for beliefs. It is the engine that devises strategies and creates organized, conceptual structures.

Te - How is Thinking expressed when it is turned outward?
Extraverted Thinking's focus is order. It is organizing and ordering the outside world; organizing both people and things to achieve a purpose. It is using logic and reasoning in dialogue with others. It is directing action, calling plays, and making decisions. It is purposeful sorting out; discriminating among alternatives. Extraverted Thinking asks questions, collects information in an orderly way, and solves problems in a systematic manner.
Extraverted Thinking (Te) is dominant in ESTJ & ENTJ and supportive in ISTJ & INTJ personality types.

Ti - How is Thinking experienced when it is turned inward?
The Introverted Thinking mind presumes logical order rules the Universe; illogic is dismissed as just so much mental clutter that needs to be swept out of the mind. Beliefs, understandings, and information is taken in and logically organized in clusters of thought, with principles at the foundation. It strives to fit new pieces of information into clusters of thought where it most logically fits. It sorts out and discriminates that which makes logical sense from that which does not. Like a detective, the Introverted Thinking mind is drawn to mysteries - seeking clues and root causes - to solve a problem or a riddle.
Introverted Thinking (Ti) is dominant in ISTP & INTP and supportive in ESTP and ENTP personality types.

How does Feeling work; how is it experienced?

Feeling is about values, beliefs, moral foundations, and the human condition. It is about being open to emotions, sensations, needs, and thoughts. It is about being subjective, valuing the conclusions that arise from within. The Feeling mind desires harmony, values being attached rather than being detached, and is sensitive to one’s inner self as well as sensitive to others and their needs. This attachment to people, ideas, and moral foundations direct action and decisions. The Feeling function is an internalized moral and spiritual compass that provides direction and guidance - without the need to consciously analyze or understand why.

Fe - How is Feeling expressed when it is turned outward?
Extraverted Feeling reaches out to attach and interact with other living things . . . nurturing relationships. It is about validating and valuing others, encouraging, coaching, educating and motivating. It is protecting, helping, and caretaking. The Extraverted Feeling mind organizes action consistent with values, beliefs, spiritual foundations, and sense of humanity - how people (and other living things) ought to be treated. Extraverted Feeling promotes collaboration, a shared sense of community, and harmony in interpersonal relationships.
Extraverted Feeling (Fe) is dominant in ESFJ & ENFJ and supportive in ISFJ & INFJ personality types.

Fi - How is Feeling experienced when it is turned inward?
Introverted Feeling is being aware of and cherishing one’s own mental framework of values, beliefs and sense of self. It is being open to emotions and inner sensations. It is also being sensitive to others in an empathetic way. It is knowing what is right and wrong according to one’s personal moral and spiritual compass. It is being authentic. As a gatekeeper of the mind; it admits what is consistent with one’s value and belief framework and rejects what is repulsive or draining. Introverted Feeling seeks harmony with others and harmony within.
Introverted Feeling (Fi) is dominant in ISFP & INFP and supportive in ESFP & ENFP personality types.

How does Sensing work; how is it experienced?

Sensing is about experiencing the world as it “is” - through using the five senses. It is about attending to the here and now, being aware of the tangible sensory impressions of the moment. It is about trusting most one's direct experiences as a guideline for future action. Sensing is about being literal, concrete and practical, noticing “what is” as opposed to what “could be.” It is about remembering, cataloging and recalling, often with great detail, a wide variety of experiences and information.

Se - How is Sensing experienced when it is turned outward?
Extraverted Sensing is about seizing the moment, becoming immersed in the here and now, pleasurably and spontaneously interacting with people, things, and situations of interest. It is being aware of, fully tuned into, and energized by the options and impulses of the moment. It is making “work” into play, learning by doing, and enjoying the creative process. It is being attuned to the variety, quality, and esthetic appeal of sensory experiences. Extraverted Sensing notices tangible realities and relates to them in a pragmatic fashion.
Extraverted Sensing (Se) is dominant in ESTP & ESFP and supportive in ISTP & ISFP personality types.

Si - How is Sensing experienced when it is turned inward?
The Introverted Sensing mind attends to, enjoys acquiring, and relying upon an internal library of detailed personal knowledge, facts, feelings, sensations, and information gleaned from experiences. Information and impressions from present experiences are archived in an orderly way into memory - which is typically a vast internal storehouse of data, details and impressions. The Introverted Sensing mind seeks rhythm, reliability, and order in its internal library and in its relationships with people and the outside world.
Introverted Sensing (Si) is dominant in ISFJ & ISTJ and supportive in ESFJ & ESTJ personality types.

How does Intuition work; how is it experienced?

Intuition is about understanding, exploring, creating patterns, noticing relationships, and imagining new possibilities. It is a sixth sense that involves an unconscious awareness of facts, events, happenings, and the whole of experience to produce insights about complex relationships, concepts, future possibilities, and trends. The Intuitive mind automatically links the past and present to forecast the future, speculates about possibilities, looks at the “big picture,” and seeks to grasp the general context of an idea, concept, or a situation. It learns to trust its hunches.

Ne - How is Intuition experienced when it is turned outward?
Extraverted Intuition scans the external world to explore new ideas, new people, and emergent possibilities. The Extraverted Intuitive mind is imaginative, inventive, and innovative - seeing and describing ways things can be reshaped, altered, or improved. It naturally energizes people and engages action towards a vision of what could be . . . of future possibilities.
Extraverted Intuition (Ne) is dominant in ENFP & ENTP and supportive in INFP & INTP personality types.

Ni - How is Intuition experienced when it is turned inward?
Introverted Intuition reflects on patterns, relationships, symbols, meanings, and perspectives on matters from complex phenomena to magical connections to practical problems. The Introverted Intuitive mind typically creates a unique vision and arrives at unique insights about things, phenomena, or people. It strives to discover the essence of things and fill in the missing pieces of a puzzle. Introverted Intuitive types frequently will have complex visions or perspectives that they are unable to explain with clarity to others.
Introverted Intuition (Ni) is dominant in INFJ & INTJ and supportive in ENFJ & ENTJ personality types.

USING THE MBTI CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 16 PERSONALITY TYPES
TO CHOOSE AMONG EQUALLY ATTRACTIVE MBTI TYPE IDENTIFICATIONS

The above descriptions of characteristics focus on the four dominant mental functions in their two orientations, either extraverted or introveted, resulting in a total of 8 different leading personality patterns, each of which is shared by two MBTI Personality Types. So how would one distinguish between the two Personality Types that share a common dominant mental function? One way is to look at the descriptions of what is the Type’s auxiliary or supporting mental function. The auxiliary function is always the “other” middle letter in the MBTI ^® Type code and is expressed in the “opposite” attitude (I or E) to the dominant.

Example. ISFJ Personality Type is a dominant Introverted Sensing Type. Its auxiliary or supportive function is Feeling and it is Extraverted (opposite of the dominant, which is Introverted). So to best understand ISFJ read the description for Introverted Sensing bearing in mind it is the “captain” of the ISFJ ship. Then read the description for Extraverted Feeling bearing in mind it is the “first mate” who acts in support of the captain and at times as a collaborator in providing direction. If you blend the two together - with emphasis on the dominant function characteristics - you get a whole that is different from its ISTJ cousin - whose supporting mental function is Extraverted Thinking.

Second Example. ESTJ is a dominant Extraverted Thinking Type. Its auxiliary or supportive function is Sensing and is Introverted (opposite of the dominant, which is Extraverted). So to best understand ESTJ read the description for Extraverted Thinking bearing in mind it is the “captain” of the ESTJ ship. Then read the description of Introverted Sensing bearing in mind it is the “first mate” who acts in support of the captain and at times as a collaborator in providing direction. If you blend the two together - with emphasis on the dominant function characteristics - you get a whole that is different from its ENTJ cousin - whose supporting mental function is Introverted Intuition.

A Caveat or two. The above suggestions for better understanding individual Personality Types is by necessity a generalization that ignores the interaction of the mental functions. An INFJ type has some characteristics that can’t be explained by a simple addition of Introverted Intuition supported by Extraverted Feeling. In addition to the interaction effects, some characteristics of this type are also due to the influence of two functions not represented by its MBTI Type letters. In the case of INFJ, it would be how this type uses Extraverted Sensing (S) and Introverted Thinking (T). The impact of these hidden functions help explain why an INFJ therapist of my acquaintance in mid-life leaves her profession as a therapist and becomes a sculptor and pottery artist (activities more logically related to an expression of the Se function).

The characteristics presented as correlating with the four mental functions and the eight functions in their attitudes ring most true for individuals whose Personality Type has that function as the dominant or core function. The characteristics may be slightly less accurate when the function in question is the auxiliary or supportive function of an individual's Personality Type. And when the function is further down a Personality Type’s hierarchy of functions (go here to see a table of this hierarchy), the operation of the function in a person of that Type can be substantially muted from what is described here.

Understanding the MBTI ^® and Personality Types

The Dynamics of Personality Types: Interpreting the 4 Letter MBTI ^® Code of Personality Types
By Ross Reinhold, INTJ

ENTJ, INFP, ISTJ, ENFJ and so on. Many know these are the short-hand designations for the 16 Personality Types popularized by Isabel Myers and her successors fascinated by the theory of personality originally postulated by psychologist Carl Jung. But less well known is that there is an order and organization to these letters code.

The middle two letters of the Personality Type Code refer to what Isabel Myers and Psychologist Carl Jung called the "mental functions" (Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, and Feeling). These functions or mental processes are divided into two categories: perceiving and judging. The second letter of the personality type code represents the preferred means of perceiving of that personality type. The third letter repesents the preferred means of judging. Although the four letter type code only shows two of these functions or processes, everyone has and uses all four of them. Examples. Those who prefer Intuition (second letter is N) will use or rely upon their Sensing nature in some specialized way - complimenting rather than conflicting with their more preferred Intuition. Those whose preference is Thinking (third letter is T) will value and use its opposite, Feeling, in certain ways and sometimes will let this function be their guide even though normally the person favors Thinking.

Two Kinds of Functions
Sensing (S) and Intuition (N) are consideredPerceiving Functions. They are two contrasting ways of taking in information. Thinking (T) and Feeling (F) are considered Judging Functions. They are two contrasting ways of making decisions.

Perceiving and Judging are essential components to all cognitive activity. There can be no Judging without prior Perception; and no Perception without some form of Judging inevitably following. They are hand-in-glove processes. Whatever is a person's most favoredPerceiving process combined with whatever is his/her most favored Judging process is at the core of personality and is a major influence in the overall constellation of personality development.

The Dominant Function or Mental Process
One of these two most favored processes takes the lead and is termed the Dominant Function. The other works in a supportive fashion to the dominant and is termed the Auxiliary Function. So while two personality types may share the same two middle letters in the code (For example ESTP and ESTJ), their Dominant and Auxiliary functions can be reversed . . . and thus one reason why there can be marked differences in their respective personality makeup. In the examples, ESTP is Sensing Dominant supported by Thinking Auxiliary; whereas ESTJ is Thinking Dominant supported by Auxiliary Sensing. ESTP prefers thePerceiving half of the ST Perceiving-Judging pair; whereas ESTJ prefers the Judging half of the ST Perceiving-Judging pair.

Hierarchy of Mental Functions
Each of the 16 personality types has a characteristic pattern in the alignment of the four mental functions. This pattern is referred to as a "hierarchy" because they typically differ in the degree of influence on the personality and the degree they are consciously experienced. As indicated above, the most important or influential function is termed the "Dominant" function (#1) and the second most important is termed the "Auxiliary" (#2). The third in the hierarchy is called the "Tertiary" (#3) and is the polar opposite of whatever function is the Auxiliary. The Fourth in order Jung termed the "Inferior" function (#4). It is the mental process with the least conscious awareness and typically the least developed of the four functions. It is the polar opposite of whatever is the Dominant. So if INtuition is Dominant, its opposite - Sensing - is the Inferior or Fourth. If Feeling is Dominant, then its opposite - Thinking - is Inferior or Fourth.

The rationale for the opposite relationship of the Dominant and the Inferior (fourth function) has to do with energy and the natural polarity of the mental functions. For example, a person with dominant Intuition will direct his/her primary energy to this function - which happens to be in the exact opposite direction of Sensing. It is like trying to go North and South at the same time.

It is much easier to couple that dominant with either the Auxiliary or Tertiary because these are not polar opposites to the main direction. They are like East and West on the compass. So navigating NW or NE is a natural direction of movement - but North-South is not.

At the end of this article is a table showing the first four places in this Hierarchy of Functions for each of the 16 types.

Some students of Personality Type, myself included, are uncomfortable with using Jung's term for the Fourth function: "Inferior." Bear in mind Jung was writing in the 1920's and his works had to be translated from German to English. I bring this up to caution the reader against jumping to conclusions on this Dominant-Inferior pairing. To wit, although a person's dominant function might be Feeling and therefore their inferior function is Thinking, do not presume that their "thinking" is inferior, i.e. defective!! For reasons to be explained later, there is often a built-in growth dynamic to consciously develop whatever is opposite one's dominant mental function.

Attitude is Also Important - the first letter in the code of Personality Types
Here's another Jungian term that carries a somewhat different meaning in the 2006 English speaking world. We don't mean your world view or the rosyness of your outlook. It isn't like "Lose the attitude, Dude!"

Just as the oppositeness of the mental functions can be comprehended by using the analogy of the four points of a compass (N/S, E/W), Jung's Attitudes are a navigational concept. It has to do with orientation. Here again, we encounter opposites. Jung coined the terms Extraversion and Introversion to refer to the two polar opposite directions of psychic attention and energy. He found that whatever was a person's dominant mental function was directed to either the external world (E) or the internal world (I). This preference in attitude of the dominant function is a major distinguishing feature in personality type patterns. So while ISTP and ESTJ both have Thinking as their dominant function, the former prefers to direct itinward whereas the latter directs it outward. The result is quite different styles of personality.

This energy preference for the dominant function is denoted by the first letter in the Myers-Briggs Type Code. Jung had no similar shorthand code for his "psychological types." Here is a table of the types using Jung's terminology with the MBTI equivalent in parenthesis:

Understanding the MBTI ^® and Personality Types

Type Dynamics: Interpreting the code of MBTI Myers Briggs MBTI Personality Types
By Ross Reinhold, INTJ

Introverted Types	Extraverted Types
Introverted Intuition with Thinking (intj)	Extraverted Intuition with Thinking (entp)
Introverted Intuition with Feeling (infj)	Extraverted Intuition with Feeling (enfp)
Introverted Sensing with Thinking (istj)	Extraverted Sensing with Thinking (estp)
Introverted Sensing with Feeling (isfj)	Extraverted Sensing with Feeling (esfp)

Introverted Thinking with Intuition (intp)	Extraverted Thinking with Intuition (entj)
Introverted Thinking with Sensing (istp)	Extraverted Thinking with Sensing (estj)
Introverted Feeling with Intuition (infp)	Extraverted Feeling with Intuition (enfj)
Introverted Feeling with Sensing (isfp)	Extraverted Feeling with Sensing (esfj)

- - - table reproduced from page 1 for reference.

Another kind of Attitude - the fourth letter of the code of Personality Types
Had Myers and Briggs not inferred a second type of Attitude from Jung's work, there might have only been three letters to their type code. We would have seen INT, INF, ITS, EST, ETN, etc. But their independent study of people and people differences, with Jung's typology as an important tool, lead them to create the polar preferences of Judging and Perceiving - which became the fourth letter in their Personality Type Code system. This attitude is the Outer World Orientation and is related to the kind of mental function one turns to the outside world.

In the Myers-Briggs ^® Personality Type four letter code, J means that our Judging Function (either Thinking or Feeling) is turned to the outside world and P means that our Perceiving Function (either Sensing or Intuition) is oriented to the outside world. So ISFJ indicates Judging Function "F" is turned to the outside world; INTJ indicates Judging Function "T" is turned to the outside world. ENFP indicates this type turns their Perceiving Function "N' to the outside world; ESTP indicates their Perceiving Function "S" is oriented externally.

For Extraverted Types, their dominant mental function determines their Outer World Orientation. Note in the above table that the types with Extraverted Intuition or Extraverted Sensing have P (for their Perceiving Function) as their last MBTI type code letter. Conversely those with Extraverted Thinking or Feeling have J (for theirJudging Function) as their fourth letter. With Extraverts, what you see is what you get; they extravert their most favored mental process, their Dominant mental function.

For Introverted Types, it is an opposite flow of psychic energy. They direct their most favored mental function inward and therefore more readily show to the outside world their supportive or auxiliary function. So the four Introverted Types (I_ _ Js) whose dominant preference is a Perceiving function (which is introverted), orient their Auxiliary preference - which is Judging - to the outside world. Conversely the four Introverted Types (I_ _ Ps) whose dominant preference is a Judging function (which is introverted), orient their Auxiliary preference - which is Perceiving - to the outside world. Ergo, the 4 "I_ _J" Introverted Types are in actuality more strongly governed by their "P" (Perceiving Function) inside and the 4 "I_ _P" Introverted Types are more strongly governed by their "J" (Judging Function) inside.

The Yin Yang of J and P
In general people with a Perceiving Outer World Orientation (last letter P) have a go-with-the-flow orientation, taking things as they come, keeping their options open, and adapting to whatever comes up. Their opposite, those with a Judging Outer World Orientation, like to plan their work and work their plan. They order and anticipate what is going on in the outside world. Think about people you know; I suspect you can readily find several who fit the mold of J or P types. This characteristic is one of the four primary ways people differentiate from one another.

Now understand that everybody is both a J and a P. If they are J on the outside, they are a P on the inside. If they are P on the outside, they are J on the inside. Because they tend to hide their dominant function, Introverted Types best illustrate the befuddlement that can occur due to this Yin Yang duality: what you see is not necessarily what you get. But even extraverts can cross you up on occasion. ESTP types are among the most adaptable, go-with-the-flow, in the moment types. Yet in some situations they can be inflexible, closed minded, and set in their ways when their inner Thinking Judgment has taken over.

Another element of Yin and Yang is the natural opposite orientation of all four mental processes. If a person clearly extraverts Thinking, this is a clue that Feeling is introverted. If what you readily see is Intuition freely used in the outside world, this is a clue that Sensing is introverted. People who clearly make their stated judgments based on Feeling, typically use Thinking in their inner world. ISFJ types who are typically quite courteous, sensitive to the values & feelings of others, and present a pleasant demeanor can actually be quite firm-minded, logical thinkers on the inside. INFP types whose inner Feeling values dominate how they form judgments can be quite formidable logical debaters, sometimes to such an extent that their extraverted Thinking disguises the depth of their inner Feeling.

The Yin Yang of E and I
Picture again the Compass of the Functions. Recall that the mind cannot go both North and South simultaneously, nor East and West simultaneously. Yet if you add the dimension of the two energy consciousness realms - introversion and extraversion, it clarifies what are truly opposite. For example, the polar opposites of Thinking and Feeling would create strong competition with one another in the sameenergy consciousness realm; one must dominate. But it seems, this competition isn't an issue if they are indifferent realms: one extraverted and the other introverted. For example, a person with strong inner Feeling and well reasoned outer Thinking is a workable personality pattern; the two opposing mental functions can compliment one another. Likewise with Sensing and Intuition Functions. For example, the open, exploratory, go-with-the-flow thrust of extraverted Intuition is nicely counterbalanced by the ability to recall important details and be grounded by introverted Sensing.

As people grow and mature, this growth of opposites in the opposite realms of energy consciousness can be a natural pattern of development. People with dominant introverted Intuition may feel an urge to develop their extraverted Sensing; people with dominant extraverted Feeling may feel an urge to develop their introverted Thinking. It becomes a way of achieving some balance and expanded growth without compromising what is the person's anchor - their dominant mental function.

While the Hierarchy of Functions mentioned early in this article suggests this hierarchy forms the requisite growth or development pattern for a type, environment may alter that pattern. Occupational demands may require that a person develop skills and or a sensitivity to a mental function out of its natural order. A Feeling preference person who happens to choose accounting for a profession will certainly experience a necessity to develop and use the Thinking function. Also there are certain individuals who are simply atypical of their type (as are ambidextrous and left handed people whose brain organization is known to be atypical from what is considered the normal hemispherical organization).

This interaction of nurture with nature or the existence of atypical personality type continues to incite debate and discussion among students of Personality Type about the nature of the hierarchy of functions and whether the notion of hierarchy is even useful. What is presented here is a model of the psyche that I've found has explanatory value in my interactions with people I know and have worked with from all 16 type categories and from a variety of backgrounds.

--Ross Reinhold, MS, intj

People are like houses with several rooms and several windows. If you only look through the front room window, you may not accurately understand what is going on inside.

Understanding the MBTI ^® and Personality Types

Type Dynamics: Interpreting the code of MBTI Myers Briggs MBTI Personality Types
By Ross Reinhold, INTJ

Appendix A: Hierarchy of Preferences By Personality Type


Extraverted Types Hierarchy or Order of Preference
Type	1st/E		2nd/I		3rd/E		4th/I
ENFP	N		F		T		S
ESTP	S		T		F		N
ENTJ	T		N		S		F
ESFJ	F		S		N		T
ENTP	N		T		F		S
ESFP	S		F		T		N
ESTJ	T		S		N		F
ENFJ	F		N		S		T
E = Extraverted Energy Orientation I = Introverted Energy Orientation

Introverted Types Hierarchy or Order of Preference
Type		1st/I		2nd/E		3rd/I		4th/E
INFJ		N		F		T		S
ISTJ		S		T		F		N
INTP		T		N		S		F
ISFP		F		S		N		T
INTJ		N		T		F		S
ISFJ		S		F		T		N
ISTP		T		S		N		F
INFP		F		N		S		T
E = Extraverted Energy Orientation I = Introverted Energy Orientation

Prefer pictures over charts? Then take a look at the link below.

TYPE FACE DIAGRAMS - THE PATTERNS OF PERSONALITY TYPES

Appendix B. Validating Dominant Function.
The table below presents some characteristic ways^1. people use the four mental functions of the MBTI Personality Type model. They are arranged in pairs of polar opposite concepts and under the particular mental function they are associated with. Read them to determine which of the opposites of each pair ismost inherently characteristic of you (i.e. your natural bent vs. what wisdom or experience may have taught you). Remember it is OK and normal to have "some" characteristics that are opposite your favored preference ( as is it is OK and normal to have none that are opposite).

Click the radio button of the opposite of each pair that best fits. (Doing so will simply serve as a visible checklist to help you get acquainted with some trait correlates of these four mental functions; the checked boxes do not automatically score any test. (Persons seeking a scientifically pedigreed assessment like this are urged to seek out a qualified MBTI practitioner who has the credentials to administer an MBTI Step 2 Assessment)

Sensing	Intuition
Concrete - depend on verifiable, factual information and direct perceptions. literal, mistrust fuzzy information	Abstract - comfortable with and inferring meaning from ambiguous and non-literal information. Perceptive.
Realistic - value being practical, cost-effective, and exercising common sense.	Imaginative - enjoy being ingenious, clever and novel . . . for its own sake.
Pragmatic - highly values the usefulness or applications of an idea - more interesting than idea itself.	Intellectual - learning, acquiring knowledge, mental challenges are valued as an end in itself.
Experiential - heavily grounded by first hand, past experience. Reluctant to generalize beyond direct experience.	Theoretical - conceptual, automatically search for patterns in observed facts, comfortable with theories and inventing new ones.
Traditional - trust what is familiar, support established groups and methods, honor precedents.	Original - values initiative and enterprising, inventive, and novel solutions. Often mistrusts conventional wisdom.

Thinking	Feeling
Logical - values and trusts detached, objective, and logical analysis.	Affective - trusts emotions and feelings, values human considerations, in touch with feelings.
Reasonable - is clear-thinking, objective, reasoned, and logical in everyday decision-making.	Compassionate - makes decisions on overall impressions, patterns, and feelings (including emotional likes and dislikes).
Questioning- intellectually independent, resistant to influence, self confident.	Accommodating- seeks consensus, deferential, conflict avoiding, seeks harmony.
Critical Analytical - comfortable making distinctions, categorizing, making win/lose choices, being in adversarial situations.	Accepting - tolerant towards human failings, see positive side of others, instinctually seeks win/win resolutions of problems.
Tough Minded - results oriented, will push for valued ends, stick on task. Firm	Tender Hearted - use gentle persuasion to influence, reluctant to force compliance.

Picking your Dominant Mental Function
Based upon what you understand about the 4 mental functions (S, N, T & F) [For a review you might want to re-read the Introduction to Type page. Click here to bring it up in a separate window] and a review of the selections you've just made above, consider which of the four mental functions (S, N, T or F) may be your most fundamental guiding preference, your Dominant Mental Function.

(Some may find it helpful to talk over these considerations out loud and/or with another person.)

Does this square with what the Hierarchy Table suggests is the #1 function for people of your type? If not, it may be an indicator you are atypical for your type. Or it may signal that a different type might be a better fit for you.

Understanding the MBTI ^® and Personality Type

An exploration of Emotions, Feeling & Emotional Intelligence
By Ross Reinhold, INTJ

Introduction

“What’s your child’s EQ?” may soon rival the importance of IQ to parents and educators. EQ stands for Emotional Quotient and is the measurement equivalent of what is called “emotional intelligence” . . . or EIfor short.

One of the reasons people in the type community are interested in EQ is that the language of EQ frequently makes reference to feelings and identifies desirable EQ traits, like empathy, that are frequently correlated with the Jungian mental function of Feeling. On the surface it seems like there should be some compatibility between the models and in particular with Feeling judgment. But when I delved into this subject more deeply, I came away with a different conclusion. This nosing around Emotional Intelligence prompted me to pick up a related topic that has piqued my curiosity: the relationship of emotion to Jung-Myers mental function of Feeling.

What is Emotional Intelligence (EI)?

Many, including the contributors to Wikipedia, believe EI is rooted in a theory of “Multiple Intelligences” originally developed by psychologist Howard Gardner. Gardner believed the traditional IQ test and related measures of learning ability failed to capture the full range of human intelligence. His interest in this subject lead to his developing a "Theory of Multiple Intelligences" (1983) in which he identified what he believed were seven primary intelligences. Some intelligences were similar to the conventional concept of "intelligence" but others touched upon talents not commonly associated with IQ. Among these non-traditional "IQ concepts" were “interpersonal” and “intrapersonal” intelligences.

Several years after Gardner, another psychologist, Daniel Goleman, explored this same territory in his 1996 book "Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ". Goleman essentially re-organized two of Gardner’s intelligences under the umbrella of emotional intelligence and then sub-divided this concept into four primary areas of competence:

Self-Awareness
Self-Management
Social Awareness
Relationship Management

Given this attention, I thought it appropriate to explore in greater depth the connection of EI to Type and a related theme of how “emotion” relates to Feeling Judgment.

Is Emotional Intelligence related to Feeling, yet something distinctly
different and unrelated to Jung-Myers Thinking?

Understanding the MBTI ^® and Personality Type

An exploration of Emotions, Feeling & Emotional Intelligence
By Ross Reinhold, INTJ

Emotional Intelligence & Personality Type

“Knowing something is right ‘in your heart’ is somehow a deeper kind of certainty than thinking it with your rational mind . . . .”

“Ordinarily there is a balance between the rational and emotional minds but each, as we shall see, are semi-independent faculties. . . .”

“Boys take pride in tough independence while girls see themselves as part of a connected web. Thus in conversation men tend to talk about “things” while women seek emotional connections. . . .”

“A study of 250 executives found that most felt their work demanded their heads but not their‘hearts’. Many said that feeling empathy for co-workers would conflict with their organisational goals. They believed emotional aloofness was needed to make the hard decisions that business requires. . . .”

Those conversant with Myers-Briggs concepts might well see the above statements as juxtaposing “Feeling” vs “Thinking” - the dichotomy of Judgment.

The parallel with Jung-Myers Feeling is further strengthened by the underlying values of Emotional Intelligence; the skills and behaviors espoused by EI advocates mirror the value constellation of Feeling Preference people. Witness how one writer, education professor Leslie Owen Wilson, describes Goleman’s measure of emotional intelligence (EQ . . . for Emotional Quotient):

“EQ is not destiny - emotional intelligence is a different way of being smart. It includes knowing your feelings and using them to make good decisions; managing your feelings well; motivating yourself with zeal and persistence; maintaining hope in the face of frustration; exhibiting empathy and compassion; interacting smoothly; and managing your relationships effectively. Those emotional skills matter immensely - in marriage and families, in career and the workplace, for health and contentment.”

While at first blush, Feeling judgment seems to be what EI is about, those who have studied the connection more closely believe that skillfully executing these desired behaviors depends on effective use of both Thinking and Feeling . . . and for that matter also effective use of Sensing and Intuition.

In a the recent issue of the Bulletin for Psychological Type (Vol. 29, No.3 2006), one of the authors, Henry “Dick” Thompson (2006, p. 18), reported on some of his research into EI and Type. One finding I found quite interesting was that of the 5 personality types with the highest overall EQ score, three preferred Feeling and two preferred Thinking. In fact the top 2 were ENTJ and ESTJ ! (followed by ENFJ, ESFP, and ENFP). Of the 5 personality types with the lowest overall EQ score, three were Feeling types and two were Thinking types. And surprisingly, the bottom two were Feeling types: ISFJ and INFP! People looking for a correlation between EQ and Feeling won’t find it in Thompson’s research! About the only conclusion Thompson seemed willing to risk from this study was it appears that the EQ measures have a bias towards Extraversion.

Another authority of Personality Type, Elizabeth Murphy (2006, p. 26), reported on a study that found a correlation between dominant Intuition and high EI scores. Murphy noted that this same study, like Thompson's, found no relationship between EI and Feeling. In noting some of the unexplainable EI relationship to Type, Murphy offered the following advice: “. . . if someone is working with you and they offer suggestions or strategies for practicing any of the EQ skills that do not have a good fit for your style, check with someone who shares your type to see if they have any insight into an effective system that will work for you. The outcome of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management is available to all types. How you attain that level of success is unique to your type.”

In the third article in the recent Bulletin on Psychological Type, Roger Pearman reported on his studies of Emotional Intelligence and Personality Type (pp. 20-24). Pearman has used a measure of EI developed by Mayer, Salovey, and Caruso called the MESCEIT. Both the model and the instrument depart from Goleman in that the authors seek to measure cognitive abilities rather than skills or behaviors. Pearman has found a strong theoretical correlation between the 8 components of Mayer’s model and the 8 components one gets when Jung’s four mental functions are differentiated by extraversion and introversion (extraverted sensing, introverted sensing, extraverted feeling, introverted feeling, etc.). So Pearman believes the healthy use of emotion is related to effective use of all the mental functions rather than being uniquely associated with Feeling.

(Note: Pearman and his associates currently use a measure of EI called the BarOn EQ, which has "twenty five years of research behind it.")

From my review of the literature, it seems clear EI is not Feeling. Although Goleman frequently contrasts EI with rational thinking, his measures of this competence, the EQ inventory score and sub scores, suggest that EI is not antagonistic to Thinking judgment. I think it fair to conclude that without constructive use of our Thinking mental function, with its detachment from emotion, broad-based EI competence would be difficult to attain.

Understanding the MBTI ^® and Personality Type

An exploration of Emotions, Feeling & Emotional Intelligence
By Ross Reinhold, INTJ

Emotion and Feeling

While we have noted that the measures of EI show scant correlation to the Feeling function, both EI and Feeling share some connection with “emotion.” As we illustrated, Goleman has frequently referenced the dichotomy of logical decision-making vs emotional decision-making. The former results from the products of Thinking Judgment, the latter is the product of emotion. This is a dichotomy most people can understand. It is the classic head vs the heart. Most of us have struggled with these opposing tugs. We recognize the oppositeness of these two and the tension that can occur when both are active in making a decision.

Because most people relate to the head vs. heart dichotomy, a natural correlary is formed with Thinking and Feeling . . . which leads to an association of Feeling with emotion. We know it in ourselves; we know it in others.

Yet some of us who thought we had a handle on the nature of this Feeling judgment have been thrown a slider by some students of Jung's work who firmly pronounce Feeling Judgment is NOT about emotion! While technically this may be correct, I think such a strident insistence of a clear separation between Feeling judgment and emotion, confuses more than clarifies - especially for the non-psychologist who has an interest in learning about Personality Type.

For sure, the roots of emotion are in the primitive, non-cognitive brain . . . so they cannot be equated with cognitive Feeling. But we also know that emotion can shape cognition: both perception and Judgment

Here’s the rub. The very nature of the Feeling process makes it more open to emotional input, whereas the nature of the Thinking process makes it more resistant.

Thinking is objective, and detached. Feeling is subjective, and attached.

Thinking is systematic and orderly, building a conclusion block by block, as in a formula. Feeling is holistic, incorporating shades and subtleties in the background until a whole is formed and then just “is.” (And frequently attached to this “is” is an affective component - like or dislike, attract or repel.)

Thinking is on guard to exclude irrelevant data (including emotions), while Feeling seems to take an inclusive attitude towards emotions; it seeks harmony with them.

Theoretical psychologist James Newman (A Cognitive Perspective on Jungian Typology, 1990) described Feeling and Thinking differences in this manner:

“Whereas Thinking strives towards objectivity and the suppression of emotional factors, Feeling is an essentially subjective process which seeks to enhance and deepen the emotional context of experience. Whereas Thinking attempts to exclude personal bias and abstract some constant factor from the flow of experience, Feeling seeks to personalize individual experiences and harmonize them with established values. The values, or criteria, of Feeling take the form not of laws and formulae, but of ethical precepts, aesthetic values, and social mores. . . . Feeling is much more rooted in living experience and feeling memories . . . a largely non-intellectual, non-verbal process which, in a sense, must ‘borrow’ words from thought and intuition.” (p. 19)

The following illustrates these relationships. Feeling is shown with a direct connection to Emotions, whereas Thinking is detached.

Newman's complete thesis placed both Feeling and Sensing in what he termed the "emotional sphere of consciousness." Newman also posited an "intellectual sphere of consciousness" which he believed encompassed the domains of Thinking and iNtuition.

Understanding the MBTI ^® and Personality Type

An exploration of Emotions, Feeling & Emotional Intelligence
By Ross Reinhold, INTJEmotion and Feeling . . . concluding remarks

The orientation of Thinking judgment with respect to emotional input explains why Thinkers in business, science, finance or other fields of endeavor, who are always on guard against passions contaminating their logical discourse, will attempt to shut down the mental function that is most open to emotion: Feeling. To their Thinking mind, it is necessary to do so in order to allow that side of the brain to work effectively. While this may be an instictive reaction, I can envision few situations where only using this half of the judging brain is appropriate. . . most occasions in life call for the effective engagement of both sides. Some who prefer Thinking learn through experience to engage more of their whole brain without compromising Thinking effectiveness. But for others, this may be a skill (aided by knowledge) that we need help acquiring. This whole brain approach is essentially at the core of the EI-EQ model.

How to effectively accomplish this integration isn't easy . . . and it seems different types employ different recipes. Thinking types tend to analyze what comes from our Feeling nature and if it is logical and traceable, it is accepted as relevant input. I must confess as I’ve gotten older, it seems that Feeling has become more demanding and is able to ooze out of that logical box container - sometimes resulting in a filibuster. I think I make better decisions now . . . but negotiating this new democracy between Thinking and Feeling can be messy. And disorder is no comfort to the thinking mind!

I’ve noticed a different pattern of integration of Thinking and Feeling among some friends and associates who prefer Feeling . . . but typically extravert Thinking. Their logic is sound, yet I liken it to an exercise in reverse engineering. Here's how I think it works. Their Feeling values make a judgment on a matter. Then the issue is tossed over to Thinking to construct a logical foundation to support that judgment. Once the Thinking work is completed, it is joined together - a harmonious whole that can be logically explained and defended . . . as well as valued by the heart.

For Feeling preference people who skillfully use Thinking, logic is a tool to be used in the service of what they value. For a Thinking preference person, logic is a process that is used to discover what ought to be valued. Same tool or process, but used for different ends.

Having grasped that Thinking is somewhat different when Feeling takes the lead versus Thinking being the preference I think the same must be true of Feeling when it is the lead versus when it is subordinate to Thinking. So I get a whiff of what Feeling is like from my own experiences but wonder how similar or dissimilar it is for those whose Feeling is their dominant preference.

In the spirit of the theme of this website - exploration of personality - I certainly would appreciate hearing from Thinkers and Feelers out there about how you are negotiating resolution of the two sides of your nature. And I’d also like to hear from Feeling preference folk about how emotion and Feeling Judgment go together . . . or not.

The Sixteen Types at a Glance

By Charles Martin, Ph.D.

ISTJ

For ISTJs the dominant quality in their lives is an abiding sense of responsibility for doing what needs to be done in the here-and-now. Their realism, organizing abilities, and command of the facts lead to their completing tasks thoroughly and with great attention to detail. Logical pragmatists at heart, ISTJs make decisions based on their experience and with an eye to efficiency in all things. ISTJs are intensely committed to people and to the organizations of which they are a part; they take their work seriously and believe others should do so as well.

ISFJ

For ISFJs the dominant quality in their lives is an abiding respect and sense of personal responsibility for doing what needs to be done in the here-and-now. Actions that are of practical help to others are of particular importance to ISFJs. Their realism, organizing abilities, and command of the facts lead to their thorough attention in completing tasks. ISFJs bring an aura of quiet warmth, caring, and dependability to all that they do; they take their work seriously and believe others should do so as well.

INFJ

For INFJs the dominant quality in their lives is their attention to the inner world of possibilities, ideas, and symbols. Knowing by way of insight is paramount for INFJs, and they often manifest a deep concern for people and relationships as well. INFJs often have deep interests in creative expression as well as issues of spirituality and human development. While the energy and attention of INFJs are naturally drawn to the inner world of ideas and insights, what people often first encounter with INFJs is their drive for closure and for the application of their ideas to people's concerns.

INTJ

For INTJs the dominant force in their lives is their attention to the inner world of possibilities, symbols, abstractions, images, and thoughts. Insight in conjunction with logical analysis is the essence of their approach to the world; they think systemically. Ideas are the substance of life for INTJs and they have a driving need to understand, to know, and to demonstrate competence in their areas of interest. INTJs inherently trust their insights, and with their task-orientation will work intensely to make their visions into realities.

ISTP

For ISTPs the driving force in their lives is to understand how things and phenomena in the real world work so they can make the best and most effective use of them. ISTPs are logical and realistic people, and they are natural troubleshooters. When not actively solving a problem, ISTPs are quiet and analytical observers of their environment, and they naturally look for the underlying sense to any facts they have gathered. ISTPs do often pursue variety and even excitement in their hands-on experiences. Although they do have a spontaneous, even playful side, what people often first encounter with them is their detached pragmatism.

ISFP

For ISFPs the dominant quality in their lives is a deep-felt caring for living things, combined with a quietly playful and sometimes adventurous approach to life and all its experiences. ISFPs typically show their caring in very practical ways, since they often prefer action to words. Their warmth and concern are generally not expressed openly, and what people often first encounter with ISFPs is their quiet adaptability, realism, and "free spirit" spontaneity.

INFP

For INFPs the dominant quality in their lives is a deep-felt caring and idealism about people. They experience this intense caring most often in their relationships with others, but they may also experience it around ideas, projects, or any involvement they see as important. INFPs are often skilled communicators, and they are naturally drawn to ideas that embody a concern for human potential. INFPs live in the inner world of values and ideals, but what people often first encounter with the INFP in the outer world is their adaptability and concern for possibilities.

INTP

For INTPs the driving force in their lives is to understand whatever phenomenon is the focus of their attention. They want to make sense of the world -- as a concept -- and they often enjoy opportunities to be creative. INTPs are logical, analytical, and detached in their approach to the world; they naturally question and critique ideas and events as they strive for understanding. INTPs usually have little need to control the outer world, or to bring order to it, and they often appear very flexible and adaptable in their lifestyle.

ESTP

For ESTPs the dominant quality in their lives is their enthusiastic attention to the outer world of hands-on and real-life experiences. ESTPs are excited by continuous involvement in new activities and in the pursuit of new challenges. ESTPs tend to be logical and analytical in their approach to life, and they have an acute sense of how objects, events, and people in the world work. ESTPs are typically energetic and adaptable realists, who prefer to experience and accept life rather than to judge or organize it.

ESFP

For ESFPs the dominant quality in their lives is their enthusiastic attention to the outer world of hands-on and real-life experiences. ESFPs are excited by continuous involvement in new activities and new relationships. ESFPs also have a deep concern for people, and they show their caring in warm and pragmatic gestures of helping. ESFPs are typically energetic and adaptable realists, who prefer to experience and accept life rather than to judge or organize it.

ENFP

For ENFPs the dominant quality in their lives is their attention to the outer world of possibilities; they are excited by continuous involvement in anything new, whether it be new ideas, new people, or new activities. Though ENFPs thrive on what is possible and what is new, they also experience a deep concern for people as well. Thus, they are especially interested in possibilities for people. ENFPs are typically energetic, enthusiastic people who lead spontaneous and adaptable lives.

ENTP

For ENTPs the driving quality in their lives is their attention to the outer world of possibilities; they are excited by continuous involvement in anything new, whether it be new ideas, new people, or new activities. They look for patterns and meaning in the world, and they often have a deep need to analyze, to understand, and to know the nature of things. ENTPs are typically energetic, enthusiastic people who lead spontaneous and adaptable lives.

ESTJ

For ESTJs the driving force in their lives is their need to analyze and bring into logical order the outer world of events, people, and things. ESTJs like to organize anything that comes into their domain, and they will work energetically to complete tasks so they can quickly move from one to the next. Sensing orients their thinking to current facts and realities, and thus gives their thinking a pragmatic quality. ESTJs take their responsibilities seriously and believe others should do so as well.

ESFJ

For ESFJs the dominant quality in their lives is an active and intense caring about people and a strong desire to bring harmony into their relationships. ESFJs bring an aura of warmth to all that they do, and they naturally move into action to help others, to organize the world around them, and to get things done. Sensing orients their feeling to current facts and realities, and thus gives their feeling a hands-on pragmatic quality. ESFJs take their work seriously and believe others should as well.

ENFJ

For ENFJs the dominant quality in their lives is an active and intense caring about people and a strong desire to bring harmony into their relationships. ENFJs are openly expressive and empathic people who bring an aura of warmth to all that they do. Intuition orients their feeling to the new and to the possible, thus ENFJs often enjoy working to manifest a humanitarian vision, or helping others develop their potential. ENFJs naturally and conscientiously move into action to care for others, to organize the world around them, and to get things done.

ENTJ

For ENTJs the driving force in their lives is their need to analyze and bring into logical order the outer world of events, people, and things. ENTJs are natural leaders who build conceptual models that serve as plans for strategic action. Intuition orients their thinking to the future, and gives their thinking an abstract quality. ENTJs will actively pursue and direct others in the pursuit of goals they have set, and they prefer a world that is structured and organized.

Common Careers for Personality Types

We have also included lists of actual careers which the various types have chosen in their lives.

This material is provided for your reference, and is intended to be an informational guide. It does not comprise a complete analysis of ideal careers for individuals, and does not guarantee success or failure at any occupation. As we know, individuals vary greatly. However, we certainly encourage personal self-knowledge and research in your quest to live up to your fullest, and for this reason we provide you with this information. For a complete and personal evaluation of career possibilities, you should speak with a career guidance counsellor.

ISTJ - The Duty Fulfillers

ESTJ - The Guardians

ISFJ - The Nurturers

ESFJ - The Caregivers

ISTP - The Mechanics

ESTP - The Doers

ESFP - The Performers

ISFP - The Artists

ENTJ - The Executives

INTJ - The Scientists

ENTP - The Visionaries

INTP - The Thinkers

ENFJ - The Givers

INFJ - The Protectors

ENFP - The Inspirers

INFP - The Idealists

Careers for ISTJ Personality Types

ISTJs generally have the following traits:

· Value tradition, security, and peaceful living

· Will work long and hard to fulfill duties

· Can be depended on to follow through on tasks

· Loyal and faithful

· Stable, practical and down-to-earth

· Family-minded

· Dislike doing things which don't make sense to them

· Dislike abstract theory, unless they see the practical application

· Natural leaders

· Prefer to work alone, but work well in teams when necessary

· Extremely observant, they take in facts via their senses and store them internally

· Vast, rich inner store of facts which they rely on to understand problems which they encounter in their lives

· Profound respect for facts and concrete information

· Make decisions objectively, applying logic and rational thinking

· Dislike change, unless they are shown it's benefit in a concrete way

· Have strong opinions about the way things should be done

· Appreciate structured, orderly environments

· Have very high standards for their own behavior and the behavior of others

· Not naturally in-tune with other people's feelings

· Able to accomplish almost anything if they put their minds to it

· Community minded "good citizens"

ISTJs

Perseverance. An ISTJ can do almost anything that they have decided to do. However, there are areas in which they will function more happily and naturally. An ISTJ will do best in a career in which they can use their excellent organizational skills and their powers of concentration to create order and structure.

ISTJs seem to fit extremely well into the Management and Executive layer of the corporate business world.

careers which would be especially suitable for an ISTJ. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the ISTJ:

· Business Executives, Administrators and Managers

· Accountants and Financial Officers

· Police and Detectives

· Judges

· Lawyers

· Medical Doctors / Dentists

· Computer Programmers or Systems Analysts

· Military Leaders

What people in this job liked about it: teamwork, developing relationships, interacting with clients, being respected as an advisor, learning (e.g.: about different businesses), challenges, travel (to client), investigative work, improving things, non-routine, good money.

What they disliked: stress of work overload, lack of meaning or intellectual challenge, being disliked by some people, being in an office all day, accountancy work, working alone, lack of clear goals, politics

Careers for ESTJ Personality Types

Whether you're a young adult trying to find your place in the world, or a not-so-young adult trying to find out if you're moving along the right path, it's important to understand yourself and the personality traits which will impact your likeliness to succeed or fail at various careers. It's equally important to understand what is really important to you. When armed with an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, and an awareness of what you truly value, you are in an excellent position to pick a career which you will find rewarding.

ESTJs generally have the following traits:

· Natural leaders - they like to be in charge

· Value security and tradition

· Loyal

· Hard-working and dependable

· Athletic and wholesome

· Have a clear set of standards and beliefs which they live by

· No patience with incompetence or inefficiency

· Excellent organizational abilities

· Enjoy creating order and structure

· Very thorough

· Will follow projects through to completion

· Straight-forward and honest

· Driven to fulfill their duties

ESTJs have a lot of flexibility in the types of careers that they choose. They are good at a lot of different things, because they put forth a tremendous amount of effort towards doing things the right way. They will be happiest in leadership positions, however, because they have a natural drive to be in charge. They are best suited for jobs which require creating order and structure.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an ESTJ. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the ESTJ:

· Military leaders

· Business Administrators and Managers

· Police / Detective work

· Judges

· Financial Officers

· Teachers

· Sales Representatives

Careers for ISFJ Personality Types

ISFJs generally have the following traits:

· Large, rich inner store of information which they gather about people

· Highly observant and aware of people's feelings and reactions

· Excellent memory for details which are important to them

· Very in-tune with their surroundings - excellent sense of space and function

· Can be depended on to follow things through to completion

· Will work long and hard to see that jobs get done

· Stable, practical, down-to-earth - they dislike working with theory and abstract thought

· Dislike doing things which don't make sense to them

· Value security, tradition, and peaceful living

· Service-oriented: focused on what people need and want

· Kind and considerate

· Likely to put others' needs above their own

· Learn best with hands-on training

· Enjoy creating structure and order

· Take their responsibilities seriously

· Extremely uncomfortable with conflict and confrontation

ISFJs have two basic traits which help define their best career direction: 1) they are extremely interested and in-tune with how other people are feeling, and 2) they enjoy creating structure and order, and are extremely good at it. Ideally, the ISFJ will choose a career in which they can use their exceptional people-observation skills to determine what people want or need, and then use their excellent organizational abilities to create a structured plan or environment for achieving what people want. Their excellent sense of space and function combined with their awareness of aesthetic quality also gives them quite special abilities in the more practical artistic endeavors, such as interior decorating and clothes design.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an ISFJ. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed

Possible Career Paths for the ISFJ:

· Interior Decorators

· Designers

· Nurses

· Administrators and Managers

· Administrative Assistants

· Child Care / Early Childhood Development

· Social Work / Counselors

· Paralegals

· Clergy / Religious Workers

· Office Managers

· Shopkeepers

· Bookkeepers

· Home Economics

Careers for ESFJ Personality Types

ESFJs generally have the following traits:

· Organized

· Loyal

· Can be depended on to follow things through to completion

· Enjoy creating order, structure and schedules

· Enjoy interacting with people

· Warm-hearted and sympathetic

· Tend to put others' needs above their own

· Very good at giving practical care

· Very cooperative, good team members

· Practical and down-to-earth

· Value peaceful living and security

· Enjoy variety, but work well with routine tasks

· Need approval from others

· Receive satisfaction from giving to others

· Live in the here and now - dislike theorizing about the future

The ESFJ has two primary traits which will help define their best career direction: 1) they are extremely organized and enjoy creating order, and 2) much of their self-satisfaction is gotten through giving and helping others. Accordingly, they will do well at tasks which involve creating or maintaining order and structure, and they will be happiest when they are serving others.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an ESFJ. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the ESFJ:

· Home Economics

· Nursing

· Teaching

· Administrators

· Child Care

· Family Practice Physician

· Clergy or other religious work

· Office Managers

· Counselors / Social Work

· Bookkeeping / Accounting

· Administrative Assistants

careers for ISTP Personality Types

ISTPs generally have the following traits:

· Interested in how and why things work

· Do not function well in regimented, structured environments; they will either feel stifled or become intensely bored

· Constantly gather facts about their environment and store them away

· Have an excellent ability to apply logic and reason to their immense store of facts to solve problems or discover how things work

· Learn best "hands-on"

· Usually able to master theory and abstract thinking, but don't particularly like dealing with it unless they see a practical application

· Action-oriented "doers"

· Focused on living in the present, rather than the future

· Love variety and new experiences

· Highly practical and realistic

· Excellent "trouble-shooters", able to quickly find solutions to a wide variety of practical problems

· Results-oriented; they like to see immediate results for their efforts

· Usually laid-back and easy-going with people

· Risk-takers who thrive on action

· Independent and determined - usually dislike committing themselves

· Usually quite self-confident

The ISTP is fortunate because they have the abilities to be good at many different kinds of tasks. Their introverted and thinking preferences give them the ability to concentrate and work through problems which leaves many doors open to them. However, to be happiest, the ISTP needs to lead a lifestyle which offers a great deal of autonomy and does not include much external enforcement of structure. ISTPs will do best working for themselves, or working in very flexible environments. Their natural interests lie towards applying their excellent reasoning skills against known facts and data to discover underlying structure, or solutions to practical questions.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an ISTP. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the ISTP:

· Police and Detective Work

· Forensic Pathologists

· Computer Programmers, System Analysts

· Engineers

· Carpenters

· Mechanics

· Pilots, Drivers, Motorcyclists

· Athletes

· Entrepreneurs

Careers for ESTP Personality Types

ESTPs generally have the following traits:

· Action-oriented

· Live in the present moment

· Dislike abstract theory without practical application

· Like to see immediate results for their efforts

· Fast-paced and energetic

· Flexible and adaptable

· Resourceful

· Seldom work from a plan - make things up as they go

· Fun to be around

· Highly observant

· Excellent memory for details

· Excellent people skills

· Good-natured

· Excellent ability to see an immediate problem and quickly devise a solution

· Attracted to adventure and risk

· May be flashy or showy

· Like initiating things - not necessarily following them through to completion

ESTPs have some advantageous traits which are unique to their personality type. Their skills of observation make them extremely good at correctly analyzing and assessing other peoples' motives or perspectives. Their people skills allow them to use this knowledge to their advantage while interacting with people. For this reason, ESTPs are excellent salespeople. They also have a special ability to react quickly and effectively to an immediate need, such as in an emergency or crisis situation. This is a valuable skill in many different professions, perhaps most notably in action-oriented professions, such as police work. ESTPs enjoy new experiences and dealing with people, and dislike being confined in structured or regimented environments. They also want to see an immediate result for their actions, and don't like dealing with a lot of high-level theory where that won't be the case. For these reasons, they should choose careers which involve a lot of interaction with people, and do not require performing a lot of routine, detailed tasks.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an ESTP. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for ESTP:

· Sales Representatives

· Marketing Personnel

· Police / Detective Work

· Paramedic / Emergency Medical Technician

· PC Technicians or Network Cablers

· Computer Technical Support

· Entrepreneurs

· Athlete

Careers for ESFP Personality Types

ESFPs generally have the following traits:

· Live in the present moment

· Are stimulated and excited by new experiences

· Practical and realistic

· Warmly interested in people

· Know how to have a good time, and how to make things fun for others

· Independent and resourceful

· Spontaneous - seldom plan ahead

· Hate structure and routine

· Dislike theory and long written explanations

· Feel special bond with children and animals

· Strongly developed aesthetic appreciation for things

· Great people skills

ESFPs are good at many things, but will not be happy unless they have a lot of contact with people, and a lot of new experiences. They should choose careers which provide them with the opportunity to use their great people skills and practical perspective, which will also provide them with enough new challenges that they will not become bored.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an ESFP. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the ESFP:

· Artists, Performers and Actors

· Sales Representatives

· Counselors / Social Work

· Child Care

· Fashion Designers

· Interior Decorators

· Consultants

· Photographers

Careers for ISFP Personality Types

whether you're a young adult trying to find your place in the world, or a not-so-young adult trying to find out if you're moving along the right path, it's important to understand yourself and the personality traits which will impact your likeliness to succeed or fail at various careers. It's equally important to understand what is really important to you. When armed with an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, and an awareness of what you truly value, you are in an excellent position to pick a career which you will find rewarding.

ISFPs generally have the following traits:

· Keen awareness of their environment

· Live in the present moment

· Enjoy a slower pace - they like to take time to savor the present moment

· Dislike dealing with theory or abstract thought, unless they see a practical application

· Faithful and loyal to people and ideas which are important to them

· Individualistic, having no desire to lead or follow

· Take things seriously, although they frequently appear not to

· Special bond with children and animals

· Quiet and reserved, except with people they know extremely well

· Trusting, sensitive, and kind

· Service-oriented; they're driven to help others

· Extremely well-developed appreciation for aesthetic beauty

· Likely to be original and unconventional

· Learn best with hands-on training

· Hate being confined to strict schedules and regimens

· Need space and freedom to do things their own way

· Dislike mundane, routine tasks, but will perform them if necessary

The ISFP is a very special individual who needs to have a career which is more than a job. The middle of the road is not likely to be a place where they will be fulfilled and happy. They need to have a career which is consistent with their strong core of inner values. Since they prefer to live in the current moment, and take the time to savor it, they do not do well with some of the more fast-paced corporate environments. They need a great deal of space and freedom if they are going to function in their natural realm of acute sensory awareness. If they give free reign to their natural abilities, they may find a wonderful artist within themselves. Almost every major artist in the world has been an ISFP. Since the ISFP is so acutely aware of people's feelings and reactions, and is driven by their inner values to help people, the ISFP is also a natural counselor and teacher.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an ISFP. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the ISFP:

· Artist

· Musician / Composer

· Designer

· Child Care / Early Childhood Development

· Social Worker / Counselor

· Teacher

· Psychologist

· Veterinarian

· Forest Ranger

· Pediatrician

Careers for ENTJ Personality Types

ENTJs generally have the following traits:

· Driven to turn theories into plans

· Highly value knowledge

· Future-oriented

· Natural leaders

· Impatient with inefficiency and incompetence

· Want things structured and orderly

· Excellent verbal communication skills

· Dislike routine, detail-oriented tasks

· Self-confident

· Decisive

ENTJs are especially well-suited to be leaders and organization builders. They have the ability to clearly identify problems and innovative solutions for the short and long-term well-being of an organization. Having a strong desire to lead, they're not likely to be happy as followers. ENTJs like to be in charge, and need to be in charge to take advantage of their special capabilities.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an ENTJ. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the ENTJ:

· Corporate Executive Officer; Organization Builder

· Entrepreneur

· Computer Consultant

· Lawyer

· Judge

· Business Administrators and Managers

· University Professors and Administrators

Careers for INTJ Personality Types

INTJs generally have the following traits:

· Able to absorb extremely complex theoretical and complex material

· Driven to create order and structure from theoretical abstractions

· Supreme strategists

· Future-oriented

· See the global, "big picture"

· Strong insights and intuitions, which they trust implicitly

· Value their own opinions over others

· Love difficult theoretical challenges

· Bored when dealing with mundane routine

· Value knowledge and efficiency

· Have no patience with inefficiency and confusion

· Have very high standards for performance, which they apply to themselves most strongly

· Reserved and detached from others

· Calm, collected and analytical

· Extremely logical and rational

· Original and independent

· Natural leaders, but will follow those they can fully support

· Creative, ingenious, innovative, and resourceful

· Work best alone, and prefer to work alone

More so than any other personality type, INTJs are brilliant when it comes to grasping complex theories and applying them to problems to come up with long-term strategies. Since this type of "strategizing" is the central focus and drive of the INTJ, there is a happy match between desire and ability in this type. Accordingly, the INTJ is happiest and most effective in careers which allow this type of processing, and which promote an environment in which the INTJ is given a lot of autonomy over their daily lives.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an INTJ. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Path for the INTJ:

· Scientists

· Engineers

· Professors and Teachers

· Medical Doctors / Dentists

· Corporate Strategists and Organization Builders

· Business Administrators / Managers

· Military Leaders

· Lawyers / Attorneys

· Judges

· Computer Programmers or Systems Analysts

Careers for ENTP Personality Types

ENTPs generally have the following traits:

· Project-oriented

· Enjoy generating ideas and theories

· Creative and ingenius

· Bright and capable

· Flexible and Diverse

· Excellent communication skills

· Enjoy debating issues with other people

· Excellent people skills

· Natural leaders, but do not like to control people

· Resist being controlled by people

· Lively and energetic; able to motivate others

· Highly value knowledge and competence

· Logical, rational thinkers

· Able to grasp difficult concepts and theories

· Enjoy solving difficult problems

· Dislike confining schedules and environments

· Dislike routine, detailed tasks

ENTPs are fortunate in that they have a wide range of capabilities. They are generally good at anything which has captured their interest. ENTPs are likely to be successful in many different careers. Since they have a lot of options open to them, ENTPs will do well to choose professions which allow them a lot of personal freedom where they can use their creativity to generate new ideas and solve problems. They will not be completely happy in positions which are regimented or confining.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an ENTP. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the ENTP:

· Lawyers

· Psychologists

· Entrepreneurs

· Photographers

· Consultants

· Engineers

· Scientists

· Actors

· Sales Representatives

· Marketing Personnel

· Computer Programmer or Systems Analyst

Careers for INTP Personality Types

INTPs generally have the following traits:

· Love theory and abstract ideas

· Truth Seekers - they want to understand things by analyzing underlying principles and structures

· Value knowledge and competence above all else

· Have very high standards for performance, which they apply to themselves

· Independent and original, possibly eccentric

· Work best alone, and value autonomy

· Have no desire to lead or follow

· Dislike mundane detail

· Not particularly interested in the practical application of their work

· Creative and insightful

· Future-oriented

· Usually brilliant and ingenius

· Trust their own insights and opinions above others

· Live primarily inside their own minds, and may appear to be detached and uninvolved with other people

INTPs have a special gift with generating and analyzing theories and possibilities to prove or disprove them. They have a great deal of insight and are creative thinkers, which allows them to quickly grasp complex abstract thoughts. They also have exceptional logical and rational reasoning skills, which allows them to thoroughly analyze theories to discover the Truth about them. Since the INTP is driven to seek clarity in the world, we have a happy match of desire and ability in this personality type. INTPs will be happiest in careers which allow them a great deal of autonomy in which they can work primarily alone on developing and analyzing complex theories and abstractions, with the goal of their work being the discovery of a truth, rather than the discovery of a practical application.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an INTP. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the INTP:

· Scientists - especially Physics, Chemistry

· Photographers

· Strategic Planners

· Mathematicians

· University Professors

· Computer Programmers or Systems Analysts

· Technical Writers

· Engineers

· Lawyers / Attorneys

· Judges

· Forensic Research

· Forestry and Park Rangers

Careers for ENFJ Personality Types

ENFJs generally have the following traits:

· Genuinely and warmly interested in people

· Value people's feelings

· Value structure and organization

· Value harmony, and good at creating it

· Exceptionally good people skills

· Dislike impersonal logic and analysis

· Strong organizational capabilities

· Loyal and honest

· Creative and imaginative

· Enjoy variety and new challenges

· Get personal satisfaction from helping others

· Extremely sensitive to criticism and discord

· Need approval from others to feel good about themselves

The flexibility of these characteristics leave the ENFJ a lot of leeway in choosing a profession. As long as they're in a supportive environment in which they can work with people and are presented with sufficient diverse challenges to stimulate their creativity, they should do very well.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an ENFJ. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed here.

Possible Career Paths for the ENFJ:

· Facilitator

· Consultant

· Psychologist

· Social Worker / Counselor

· Teacher

· Clergy

· Sales Representative

· Human Resources

· Manager

· Events Coordinator

· Sales Representative

· Politicians / Diplomats

· Writers

Careers for INFJ Personality Types

INFJs generally have the following traits:

· Intuitively understand people and situations

· Idealistic

· Highly principled

· Complex and deep

· Natural leaders

· Sensitive and compassionate towards people

· Service-oriented

· Future-oriented

· Value deep, authentic relationships

· Reserved about expressing their true selves

· Dislike dealing with details unless they enhance or promote their vision

· Constantly seeking meaning and purpose in everything

· Creative and visionary

· Intense and tightly-wound

· Can work logically and rationally - use their intuition to understand the goal and work backwards towards it

The INFJ is a special individual who needs more out of a career than a job. They need to feel as if everything they do in their lives is in sync with their strong value systems - with what they believe to be right. Accordingly, the INFJ should choose a career in which they're able to live their daily lives in accordance with their deeply-held principles, and which supports them in their life quest to be doing something meaningful. Since INFJs have such strong value systems, and persistent intuitive visions which lend them a sense of "knowing", they do best in positions in which they are leaders, rather than followers. Although they can happily follow individuals who are leading in a direction which the INFJ fully supports, they will very unhappy following in any other situation.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an INFJ. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the INFJ:

· Clergy / Religious Work

· Teachers

· Medical Doctors / Dentists

· Alternative Health Care Practitioners, i.e. Chiropractor, Reflexologist

· Psychologists

· Psychiatrists

· Counselors and Social Workers

· Musicians and Artists

· Photographers

· Child Care / Early Childhood Development

Careers for ENFP Personality Types

ENFPs generally have the following traits:

· Project-oriented

· Bright and capable

· Warmly, genuinely interested in people; great people skills

· Extremely intuitive and perceptive about people

· Able to relate to people on their own level

· Service-oriented; likely to put the needs of others above their own

· Future-oriented

· Dislike performing routine tasks

· Need approval and appreciation from others

· Cooperative and friendly

· Creative and energetic

· Well-developed verbal and written communication skills

· Natural leaders, but do not like to control people

· Resist being controlled by others

· Can work logically and rationally - use their intuition to understand the goal and work backwards towards it

· Usually able to grasp difficult concepts and theories

ENFPs are lucky in that they're good a quite a lot of different things. An ENFP can generally achieve a good degree of success at anything which has interested them. However, ENFPs get bored rather easily and are not naturally good at following things through to completion. Accordingly, they should avoid jobs which require performing a lot of detailed, routine-oriented tasks. They will do best in professions which allow them to creatively generate new ideas and deal closely with people. They will not be happy in positions which are confining and regimented.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an ENFP. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the ENFP:

· Consultant

· Psychologist

· Entrepreneur

· Actor

· Teacher

· Counselor

· Politician / Diplomat

· Writer / Journalist

· Television Reporter

· Computer Programmer / Systems Analyst

· Scientist

· Engineer

· Artist

Careers for INFP Personality Types

INFPs generally have the following traits:

· Strong value systems

· Warmly interested in people

· Service-oriented, usually putting the needs of others above their own

· Loyal and devoted to people and causes

· Future-oriented

· Growth-oriented; always want to be growing in a positive direction

· Creative and inspirational

· Flexible and laid-back, unless a ruling principle is violated

· Sensitive and complex

· Dislike dealing with details and routine work

· Original and individualistic - "out of the mainstream"

· Excellent written communication skills

· Prefer to work alone, and may have problems working on teams

· Value deep and authentic relationships

· Want to be seen and appreciated for who they are

The INFP is a special, sensitive individual who needs a career which is more than a job. The INFP needs to feel that everything they do in their lives is in accordance with their strongly-felt value systems, and is moving them and/or others in a positive, growth-oriented direction. They are driven to do something meaningful and purposeful with their lives. The INFP will be happiest in careers which allow them to live their daily lives in accordance with their values, and which work towards the greater good of humanity. It's worth mentioning that nearly all of the truly great writers in the world have been INFPs.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an INFP. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the INFP:

· Writers

· Counselors / Social Workers

· Teachers / Professors

· Psychologists

· Psychiatrists

· Musicians

· Clergy / Religious Workers

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