The Principles of Personality Type

The Art of Speed Reading People: How To Size People Up and Speak Their Language
by Paul D. Tieger, Barbara Barron-Tieger

Chapter 1

Why We Do the Things We Do

People come in all shapes and sizes, and, certainly, every person is unique. But you'll probably agree that some people are much more alike than others. And behavior that may seem random is, in fact, quite understandable and often even predictable, once you understand that person's inborn, natural personality, or genetic blueprint, if you will, which describes basic psychological characteristics. And one's personality is by far the best and most reliable predictor of behavior.

There are a whole host of factors that influence behavior: genes, upbringing, innate talents and abilities, cultural background, time period, and location, as well as the specifics of a particular situation. Human beings have a huge repertoire of behaviors. We all act differently during a job interview than we do at a rock concert. We behave differently when socializing with our families than we do with our closest friends. That's because the situation calls for different behavior. But that doesn't mean our personality changes with each new situation we encounter. To the contrary, as human beings we approach most situations with a set of automatic responses, acting in ways in which we are most comfortable. Evidence of this abounds and is easily seen when we consider that most people's personalities are quite consistent. For example, let's say you have a friend, Ed, whom everyone describes as responsible and hardworking and whose demeanor is almost always pretty serious. He may occasionally lighten up and deviate from that style for example, at his brother's wedding reception, when he was dancing in a conga line.

But for the most part, he acts true to his conservative character because that's who he is. In fact, if he were serious and careful one day, and the next he was turning back flips in the office, you'd probably have good reason to worry something might be wrong with him! Perhaps you have another friend, relative, or coworker who is very different from the fellow just described. She is, instead, perpetually lighthearted, loves to laugh and enjoy herself, and almost seems immune to the everyday pressures and worries that plague most of us. It is unlikely that she is merely acting that way. She probably is more naturally carefree and easygoing than serious, steady Ed. And while, undoubtedly, some of every person's behavior is learned-from parents, siblings, and teachers-a greater portion of it is the natural manifestation of his or her inborn personality.

While there are many different models of behavior-a fancy phrase for saying ways of understanding people-we have found Personality Type to be the most insightful and useful. One reason is that it so accurately identifies key characteristics of personality that are present in all people. Personality Type is also useful because it describes behavior in positive, nonjudgmental terms. This is not an approach that says it is better to be one way or another, nor that it is better to be one type than another. But it helps us to recognize, and very clearly identify, our natural strengths and potential weaknesses. And by allowing us to understand the ways we are alike and different, it helps us not only to value our differences, but to celebrate them as well.

Before you begin an introduction to Personality Type, it might be helpful for you to know a bit about its history. The basic ideas behind Type are not new. In fact, they were first written about by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung more than seventy years ago. But it was two American women, Katharine Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Myers, who were really responsible for building on, including developing the fourth type dimension, and making these ideas useful in practical ways to so many people. One of Isabel's major contributions to our understanding of human behavior was the development of a psychological instrument that reliably identifies sixteen distinctly different types. She named this the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)®, and over the past several years, millions of people around the world have been introduced to the benefits of knowing about Personality Type through the MBTI®, It is routinely used in business to help managers motivate employees, develop more-productive work teams, and enhance communication. It is also heavily used by counselors and therapists to help individuals, couples, and families understand and communicate better with each other. Hundreds of thousands of people have found Personality Type invaluable in helping them make satisfying career choices. And these are only some of its many applications!

The Big Picture: An Overview of Personality Type

There are four components, or “dimensions,” that make up a personality type. They are: how people are energized, what kind of information they naturally notice and remember, how they make decisions, and how they like to organize the world around them. As you can see, each of these dimensions deals with an important aspect of life, which is why Type provides such accurate insights into our own, and others', behavior. It helps to picture each of these four dimensions as a scale-a continuum between two opposite extremes-like this:

You will notice there is a midpoint in the center of each scale. This is important because everyone has an inborn, natural preference for one side or the other on each of these dimensions.

Some people resist the notion that they have to fall on one side or the other, insisting that they are able to use either side, depending on the situation. And while it is true that all of us use both sides of each dimension hundreds of times a day, we do not use them with equal frequency, energy, or success. A simple exercise will help you understand this concept. First, find a pen or pencil and a piece of paper-any scrap will do-you can even use the margin of this book. Now simply write your signature. How did that feel? . Pretty easy, we would guess. Okay, now write your signature again, only this time with your pen or pencil in your opposite hand! How did that feel? If you're like most people, you would use words like “awkward,” “difficult,” “uncomfortable,” and “unnatural” to describe the second experience. Also, it probably took more time and energy, and the product wasn't nearly as good.

When you are using your preferred side on any of the four type dimensions-like using your preferred hand-you are doing what comes naturally. And when you are required to use the opposite side, it takes a lot of extra work and you're not as good at it; hence, the experience is usually not as satisfying.

You might ask: “Isn't it possible to be both, say, an Introvert and an Extravert?” The answer is no. But just as we can and do use our less preferred hand, we also use our other side on each type dimension, at times. Another way to think of it is that everyone is primarily one way or the other, but not exclusively that way. Those of us who have been studying and using Type for dozens of years have little doubt that every person really does have a natural, inborn preference for one side over the other, although in some people it is quite strong and apparent, while in others it is less strong and may be harder to identify.

Because there are four type dimensions, and each person has one preference per dimension, there are sixteen different possible type combinations. A personality type is really a four-letter code that reflects a person's preferences on each of the four dimensions. For example, a person can be an ISTP (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving) type, or an ENFJ (Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging) type, or one of fourteen other type combinations.

It is helpful to spend a few moments talking about some of the language used to describe Type. For example, when we refer to a preference, we're not talking about a conscious choice, but rather an inborn tendency. We can't choose to be an Extravert, for example, any more than we can choose to be born right-handed or have blue eyes. Nor can we change any of our type preferences. We are born with a type and we remain that type our whole lives. While some people don't particularly like this idea, it is not bad news. For as we said before, it is not better or worse to have one preference over another. Nor is any one type better or worse, smarter or duller than another. Rather, each type has natural strengths and potential weaknesses, due to its tendencies and inclinations. And although every individual is unique, because they have their own genes, parents, and life experiences, people of the same type share a remarkable amount in common.

Over the years, it has been pointed out that the language used to describe type preferences can sometimes create an unwanted distraction, because most of us have heard words like “Extravert” and “Introvert” and associate them with a meaning that is not the same when they are used to refer to Personality Type. For example, many people think of Introverts as being shy and withdrawn, and Extraverts as gregarious and talkative. This description is neither adequate, since there is so much more to this dimension than just the amount of social interaction people desire, nor accurate, since there are some very shy Extraverts and some very outgoing Introverts. These distinctions will be clarified when we discuss each type preference in depth, in the following section. But for the time being, try to let go, as best you can, of any preconceived notions you may have as to the meanings of these words.

Figuring Out Your Type Preferences

“To know others, you must first know yourself.” This old expression is particularly true with regard to learning about Type. Therefore, your first objective is to understand the Type concepts well enough to be able to accurately identify your own type. Look at reading this book as a series of learning adventures. And while it is important for you

To get the fundamentals down, like millions of others you'll find reading, thinking about, and discussing Type with others to be interesting and fun.

In a moment you will begin to read about the four type dimensions, in an effort to determine which preferences fit you best. To help you decide, we've posed several questions that reflect the differences between opposite sides. Most of what you read about your preference will ring true for you, but in order to clearly make the distinctions, the preferences are presented as generalities, which really represent extremes. Try not to focus on any one specific example of each preference, but rather on a pattern of behavior that is more consistently like you than its opposite. Even if one example sounds just like you, see how all the others fit before making up your mind.

The Four Type Dimensions

Extravert or Introvert: The “Inner World” or the “Outer World”?

The first type dimension is concerned with the two different ways people orient themselves to life, either as Extraverts or Introverts. Contrary to what most people may think when they hear the words “Extravert” and “Introvert,” this first type dimension is really most concerned about people's energy-where they get it and where they direct it.

Many behaviors are influenced by a person's preference for one or the other; two of the most helpful questions to determine whether you are an Introvert or an Extravert are:

What energizes me most-Interacting with other people or being by myself? Where do I like to focus my energy-in the outer world of people and things or in the inner world of ideas and thoughts?

Extraverts are “other centered.” By this we mean they both get energy from and focus their energy toward people and things outside of themselves. Think of Extraverts as possessing a sort of radar that they turn outward to constantly scan their environment. The more blips on the screen (the more interactions), the more energized they become. But Introverts are really more “self centered.” This does not mean they are selfish; rather they are more self-contained and self-reliant. Introverts tune their radar to an internal frequency because they are more interested in applying their own perceptions and experience to a situation rather than looking outside themselves for the answer. Extraverts naturally (and unconsciously) ask themselves: “How do I relate to other people and things?” While Introverts (again, unconsciously) ask themselves: “How do people or things relate to me?”

Because Extraverts are energized by being around people, they naturally seek out others more often than Introverts do, which accounts for why Extraverts typically have huge collections of friends and associates.

Two very clear Extraverts, Chas and Elaine, offer a good example of this phenomenon. Friends who often socialize together, Chas and Elaine have a running competition: who knows more people? Whenever they're out together, the game kicks into high gear when one of them recognizes someone that the other doesn't know. Instantly, the other starts scanning until he or she gets one, 'that is, locates someone not known to the other. While they obviously enjoy this game, their friends are constantly amazed at just how many people, individually and collectively, these two actually do know.

While Extraverts like to focus their attention on what is happening in the world around them, most Introverts prefer to immerse themselves totally in a project that interests them. Naturally independent, they find the solitude of working alone and thinking things through carefully both stimulating and refreshing. This concentrated single-mindedness can even make them oblivious to what is happening around them.

Shawn is a case in point. A very clear Introvert, Shawn loves nothing better than fooling around with computers. As he often does, one night he sat down to his computer to figure out a particular program. The next time he got out of his chair, he was surprised to learn it was 7:00 A.M. He had been so engrossed in his work that he had been sitting at the computer for eight hours straight.

By contrast, Extraverts are notorious for finding excuses not to focus on one thing because they are much more interested in and energized by a variety of external stimulation.

Throughout college, Tammy preferred to study at the library. While initially impressed to learn their daughter was spending so much time there, her parents were not really surprised when she revealed her true motivation. Sure, she got her work done, but she chose the library so she would be around other people and not have to work alone In the library, she often ran into lots of her friends, and she took frequent bathroom and social coffee breaks. Like most Extraverts, especially younger ones, Tammy found just being in the same room with other people was more comfortable than being by herself.

Another example of the different needs Extraverts and Introverts have for interaction and concentration can often be seen in their work styles. For example, Extraverts are much more likely to keep their office door open so they can see what's going on and not miss any of the action. And most Extraverts embrace the concept of managing by walking around. On the other hand, Introverts are more likely to keep their door closed so they won't be distracted or encourage unwanted interruptions. They prefer fewer, more substantive interactions. And their management style, like everything else about them, is more thoughtful, contemplative, and deliberate.

A popular advertising campaign encouraged telephone customers to “reach out and touch someone.” While Extraverts don't really need prodding, a common complaint among Extraverts is that their Introverted friends seldom initiate contact.

Anna and Susan have been close friends for over twenty-five years-since they met at college. But nine times out of ten, it will be Extraverted Anna who calls Introverted Susan to catch up on news, or to try and get together. lt. has taken Anna many years to finally understand that Susan's lack of initiating contact doesn't mean she doesn't care about her friend. In fact, when the two women are together, Susan is a very attentive and concerned friend. But since her own life is so self-contained, it seldom occurs to her to seek the company of others, even those she cares deeply about.

A car battery serves as a good metaphor when describing the different amount of interaction preferred by Extraverts and Introverts. With Extraverts, it's as if their batteries get charged up by being around people, while with Introverts, their batteries are often drained by too much or sustained interaction, and they need time alone to recharge. The fact is, an activity that will energize an Extravert will probably have just the opposite effect on an Introvert. A very common scenario: a couple, one Introvert and one Extravert, are invited to a party. Quite “naturally,” the Extravert is eager to attend, anticipating all the people he will be interacting with. The Introvert, on the other hand, would prefer to stay at home, or spend the evening together or perhaps with just with a few close friends.

And lest you think this is gender based-you know, a male/female thing-there is no difference in the percentages of men and women who are either Extraverts or Introverts. In other words, it is the preference for one or the other that influences behavior, rather than the gender of the individual.

As with all of the type preferences, people with one preference often find it hard to understand and appreciate people of another. Most Extraverts have such a strong need to be around others, they have a hard time believing Introverts really do like spending that much time alone. Consequently, Extraverts are notorious for trying to get their Introverted friends, coworkers, spouses, or children involved in activities they would rather avoid. Which makes us think Introverts must often feel like the old woman whom the well-intentioned Boy Scout kept trying to help across the street. The only problem was, she just didn't want to go!

It's not always possible to look to your work to determine your type, because many people's work is not well suited to their preferences. Frequently, Extraverts end up doing jobs better suited to Introverts and vice versa. If you are an Introvert, imagine what it would feel like to work as a tour guide or receptionist, where all day, each day, your job required you to meet and greet dozens of strangers, engage them in small talk, and make them feel comfortable. Now for you Extraverts, imagine a job as a researcher, working on one project for weeks at a time, completely alone, without the infusion of energy you get from interacting with other people, or talking about different projects. Neither is a bad job, but both are potential prescriptions for frustration and burnout if held by people not naturally suited to them.

Looking back at your childhood can sometimes help you determine your true type preference. Even as very young children, one's preference for either Extraversion or Introversion is often quite obvious. Typically, Extraverted children jump into new social situations with wild abandon, while Introverted children tend to study the activity from the sidelines before (and if) they decide to get involved. Predictably, Extraverts surround themselves with lots of friends, join many activities and clubs, and enjoy being at the center of the action. Introverts tend to have one or two best friends whom they keep for a long time, and are happiest working behind the scenes, rather than in the spotlight.

“Never talk to strangers” is an admonition Introverted children are much more likely to follow than Extraverted ones. And more than one Introverted child has been embarrassed by an Extraverted parent who is quick to strike up a conversation with anyone, anytime, and under almost any circumstances. Although men usually get a bad rap for being too sure of themselves to stop and ask for directions when they are lost, it is an Extravert/lntrovert issue more than it is a male/ female one. In other words, Extraverts are more likely to stop and ask a stranger for directions than are Introverts, regardless of their gender.

Should I Focus My Attention On One Task At A Time?

We are often reminded of the many contributions that are made to the world by people of different type preferences. The gift of Extraversion is breadth, for by their nature Extraverts prefer to know a little about a lot of things. This makes them well equipped to fill the role of life's generalists. For clearly, we need people who are so tuned into what is happening around them that they can see things coming, and respond quickly to them. In contrast, the gift of Introversion is depth, for by their nature Introverts are interested in fewer subjects, but study them in much greater depth. They are life's specialists. And likewise, we need people who are willing and able to consider issues thoroughly, deferring action until it is appropriate. But this difference in outlook and emphasis is profound, and would be quite obvious were you to eavesdrop on the conversations of two Extraverts talking to each other and two Introverts doing the same. The Extraverts are likely to hit on several topics, bouncing from issue to issue, like the steel ball in a pinball machine. Each person freely offers many observations but doesn't explore any one issue in great depth. Two Introverts talking are more likely to spend time discussing fewer issues but considering the other's points thoughtfully and in much greater depth. (And depending on whether you are an Extravert or an Introvert, you would find one conversation infinitely more interesting than the other.)

Am I more comfortable acting first, then thinking about it or thinking things through before I act on them?

Extraverts and Introverts often have very differ ent work styles. Typically Extraverts prefer to work at a rapid pace, moving quickly from one task to another. They are driven by action. Given their druthers, Introverts would rather work at a slower, steadier pace, carefully thinking through how they will do the job before they begin, and then taking time to assess their progress as the project unfolds. The popular expression “Measure twice, cut once” might well be the Introverted carpenter's mantra.

Many years ago, our friend Mary McCaulley explained a classic distinction between Extraverts and Introverts. She said: “If you don't know what an Extravert is thinking, you haven't been listen' ing, because he'll tell you. On the other hand, if you don't know what an Introvert is thinking, you haven't asked.” And we would add: “… or waited long enough for the answer.” If someone were so inclined, he could actually measure the difference in the number of words spoken by Extraverts and Introverts. And the reason for the great disparity is simple. Extraverts think out loud; in fact, Extraverts often need to talk in order to think. Introverts, on the other hand, think inside their heads. Much like a cake that is baked, then presented to the world after it is finished, Introverts “bake” their ideas inside their heads. Then, when they are well thought out and ready, they share them with others. In contrast, Extraverts only partially “bake” their ideas inside, preferring to finish them out in the world. (This, of course, occasionally results in the presentation of some pretty half-baked ideas!)

Although Introverts don't usually speak nearly as much as their Extraverted counterparts, what they may lack in quantity is more than made up in quality. Perhaps you've been to meetings where a few people (normally the very Extraverted ones) dominate the conversation. Then someone will ask for the opinion of someone who's said very little up until then. Often, the reaction is like the old television commercial in which a room buzzing with conversation suddenly becomes stone quiet as people crane their necks to hear the wise stockhro' ker's recommendation. This demonstrates quite well the fact that because Introverts do their editing inside their heads, what emerges is often a very good finished product. With Extraverts, you actually witness and hear the editing process as it occurs.

Am I more of a public person; or more of a private person?

If you haven't yet determined whether you are an Extravert or an Introvert, this last question may help you decide. While history is full of Introverts who have played very public roles-including many world leaders-Extraverts are normally much more comfortable occupying the spotlight and sharing their lives with the public. This is certainly not to imply that all Extraverts enjoy public speaking. The real question is how comfortable are you with letting people really get to know you? A common complaint among Extraverts of Introverts is that they are secretive, withholding, and difficult to get to know. In fact, Introverts value their privacy so much that they usually only allow those closest to them to really get to know them. While this may be hard for Extraverts to understand, it is because Introverts are naturally more selective than Extraverts. By this we mean that Extraverts welcome all kinds of external stimulation and often feel the more the better. What doesn't interest them, they simply disregard. But because Introverts are so much more selective, they tend to be comfortable allowing only a certain amount of external stimulation in. They simply screen out the information or stimulation that doesn't apply to something that interests them. Whereas Extraverts tend to share more of themselves with the outside world, Introverts keep more to themselves. Introverts therefore have a lower tolerance for the invasion of external stimulation-whether it's from information, sensations, or people.

Although there is some controversy as to how many Extraverts and Introverts there are in the world, the latest research suggests that the American population is about equally divided between Extraverts and Introverts. However, because Extraverts tend to talk more and louder than Introverts, there seems to be a strong bias toward Extraverts in our culture.

At this point you should have a fairly good idea of whether you are an Extravert or an Introvert. You may be very confident about it, or you may still have some doubts. This is perfectly normal. And if you aren't yet able to determine your preference on this dimension with certainty, you will have many other opportunities later in the book.

Below you will find a scale showing the Extravert/Introvert continuum. Please place a check mark at the point that most accurately reflects where you fall. The closer your mark is to the center of the continuum, the less clear your preference; the farther away from the center, the stronger you think it is. Even if you're not sure which side you belong on, try to indicate which side you probably fall on, even if it is just over the line. This requires an honest evaluation, for you are trying to determine which is the way you are, not the way you might want to be or think you should be. And remember, what is most helpful in determining your type is which side of each scale you prefer, not the strength of your preference.

One down, and three to go! Next we'll explore the second type dimension: Sensing and Intuition.

Sensor or Intuitive: The Forest or the Trees?

The second type dimension describes the two different ways people perceive, or take in, information. The words we use to describe people who have these two opposite preferences are Sensors and Intuitives. Each of us continuously takes in millions (perhaps billions) of pieces of information every day, the great majority of which are processed unconsciously. Some people take in this information primarily through their five senses-what they see, hear, touch, taste, or smell-hence the name Sensors. Others take in information through their sixth sense, focusing not on what is, but rather on what could be. We use the word Intuitives to describe these people. Remember that no one is a pure Sensor or Intuitive any more than a person is a pure Extravert or Introvert. Each of us has the ability to use both Sensing and Intuition, and all of us do use both every day. But we have a natural, inborn preference for one over the other.

Below are several questions to ask yourself to determine whether you are a Sensor or an Intuitive.

Do I usually pay more attention to the facts and details or do I try to understand the connections, underlying meaning, and implications?

Sensors see the trees, while Intuitives see the forest. By this we mean that Sensors naturally pay attention to what they are experiencing at the moment. Handed a flower and asked to tell you about it, the Sensor will note how vivid the colors are, the smooth texture of the leaves, the delicate fragrance, and how light and fragile it is-in other words, what her three senses tell her about the flower. Hand the same flower to an Intuitive and ask her to tell you about it, and you are likely to hear something more like: “This reminds me of my grandmother. She used to have these growing in her yard, and when we'd visit each summer, we'd pick them to put on the table for family meals.” You'll notice that the Intuitive perceived the flower in a very different way than the Sensor. Instead on focusing on what is, she immediately focused on her connection to the flower, and her associations with it.

Here's another metaphor that can help demonstrate how different the focus is for Sensors and Intuitives. Imagine a photographer taking a picture with a single-lens reflex camera (the kind of camera that you focus by turning the ring on the lens). The photographer is shooting a person who is standing in front of a huge panoramic view of a mountain range. With Sensors, it's as if they turn the lens until the person in the foreground (the detail) is in sharp focus, while the view behind (the big picture) is blurry. With Intuitives, it's just the opposite: they turn the lens so that the view (the big picture) behind the person is in focus, but the person in the foreground (the detail) is blurry and out of focus.

Arnie, a very clear Intuitive, learned just how attentive to details Sensors are when his apartment got robbed. Fortunately, he was away at the time and discovered the intrusion upon returning home. When the police arrived, they gave a cursory look around the kitchen first and asked him: “Was that drawer open when you left the house?” So inattentive to details was Arnie that he was embarrassed to admit he had never even noticed there was a drawer where the offcer was pointing!

While Sensors tend to think in a linear fashion, one thought following the next, Intuitives frequently engage in intuitive leaps in thinking.

Jessica and lan were driving in their car one afternoon' when she happened to notice and point out an exceptionally beautiful tree they were passing. After only a few seconds of looking at the tree, lan turned to Jessica and said: “You know, I'm really ticked off at Jimmy.” Now Jessica and lan had been together long enough for her to understand the way his mind worked, and to often be able to track the origin of his many intuitive connections. But she was at a total loss this time. “Okay, explain how you got from seeing that tree to being mad at Jimmy [one of lan's oldest childhood friends].” lan explained: “When we were growing up, Jimmy had a tree house in a tree that looked a lot like that one. As soon as I saw it, it reminded me of him and the fact that he hasn't called me in two months. So that's why I'm mad at Jimmy.”

These fundamental differences also may be seen early on in children. While one child has memorized every one of his favorite baseball player's stats, and can reel them off with impressive accuracy, his brother can't remember where he left his sneakers five minutes after he took them off.

Am I a more down-to-earth and sensible person or an imaginative and creative one?

It bears repeating that it is not better to have one preference over another. However, there are definitely gifts that are unique to each. Intuitives are often (but not always) creative; able to see possibilities and alternatives that aren't immediately apparent. Typically, they have rich imaginations, which they use to engage in fantasies of all kinds.

By this, we do not mean to imply that only Intuitives possess creativity, for this is certainly not the case. Creativity, like intelligence, takes many forms. But the ways that Intuitives express their creativity seem to be in seeing or doing things differently from the way they've been seen or done before. Sensors more often demonstrate their creativity by finding a new application for something that has already been invented or established. This tendency stems from their natural inclination to trust what they know from experience, their own or others'. One of the reasons Sensors like data so much is that data are just facts that have been collected in a purposeful way. Intuitives are generally satisfied with less empirical proof in order to believe something is possible, or doable, since they have greater faith that although an answer may not be apparent, it just means it hasn't been found . . . yet!

Which do I trust more: my direct experience or my gut instinct? Am I more tuned in to the here-and-now or do I often imagine how things will affect future events?

Many Type experts believe that of the four type dimensions, the Sensing and Intuition scale represents the greatest differences between people, since it really influences one's worldview. A research project we conducted demonstrated this vividly. People were presented the facts of a murder case that involved a young woman accused of stabbing her live-in boyfriend. The boyfriend had abused the defendant in the past while intoxicated. Her attorney argued that she suffered from “battered woman syndrome.” And so, at the time of the incident, she had reason to believe that her life was in jeopardy, and acted in self-defense. On the other side, the prosecution claimed she offered no proof that she had reason to fear for her life, could have left the scene, and therefore had no justification for killing her boyfriend.

While the majority (75%) of both Sensors and Intuitives voted “not guilty,” Sensors were more than twice as likely to vote for murder as were Intuitives. These results were consistent both with Personality Type theory and with our experience as trial consultants. “Battered woman syndrome” is a theory; an idea, a concept that requires jurors to imagine how an abusive relationship can cause a particular psychological response. It is not a condition that can be documented or verified scientifically. Since Intuitives are naturally interested in the psychological workings of human relationships, they are much more likely to accept this theory as valid than their Sensing counterparts.

Sensors, on the other hand, prefer clear, tangible proof, and are naturally drawn to practical, rather than theoretical, explanations. In this case, the Sensors focused on the murder itself, and the fact that the defendant was physically able to leave her boyfriend that evening, while the Intuitives focused on the defendant's motivations and psychological justification for her behavior.

Sensors and Intuitives tend to have different attitudes about important issues such as crime and punishment, as their answers to this question demonstrate

To fight crime, tax dollars would be better spent on ( 1 ) more police, tougher sentencing, and more prisons or (2) more social programs for disadvantaged youth.

Twice as many Intuitives as Sensors answered “social programs,” and Sensors were more than three times as likely to answer “more police and prisons” as Intuitives. Predictably, Sensors favored established actions designed to have an immediate effect (such as adding more police or building additional prisons), and whose effect could be somehow measured. Intuitives sought solutions that took into account the underlying causes of societal problems (such as how the lack of social programs is related to increased crime), and were more eager to seek new, untried, and innovative solutions. And their focus was on how actions taken today would affect future generations. The results reinforced the belief that, politically, Sensors tend to be more conservative and Intuitives more liberal.

Do I like new ideas just for their own sake or only if they have practical utility?

Many Sensors are most comfortable with what is familiar, while Intuitives are usually drawn to what is new and different. Theories, concepts, and hypotheses appeal to most Intuitives because they represent possibilities. The fact that something is untried and unproven is not a turnoff to Intuitives. Rather, it is the potential offered by the new idea or situation that excites them the most. Sensors, of course, are also interested in new ideas, but only once they are convinced that something real and useful will come of them.

Sal was always inventing something. If it wasn't a brand-new idea, he could find ways of improving just about anything. His latest idea was a new kind of bracket to hang pictures on the wall that would keep them straight-eliminating the need for constant straightening. As he had with countless other ideas, Sal discussed this with his brother-in-law, Jack, with hopes of persuading him to invest the necessary seed money to make a prototype. Jack, a clear Sensor, had his doubts. First, he questioned whether the world really needed a better way of hanging pictures. After all, the old way must be good enough, since it had been around forever. He was skeptical that this new mechanism would really work as Sal promised, and, even if it did, wondered whether Sal had the patience and single-mindedness required to make his idea a reality. Fortunately, Sal met another amateur inventor, who had a contact at a fastener company. Sal met with a representative there, who expressed genuine interest in his project. When Sal reported this to his brother-in-law, Jack's attitude changed completely. Having received validation from a credible source that Sal's gizmo might really be marketable, Jack became more enthusiastic and eventually provided Sal's seed money.

If Intuitives are the “thinker-uppers”-people who love to invent the better mousetrap-then, certainly, Sensors are the “getter-doners”-the people who actually make the idea work. As we've said before, people of both preferences have different gifts, and it is easy to see the important role each plays in so many areas of life. Take business, for example. Each year, thousands of new businesses are started up in this country. Many are franchise operations, which duplicate already successfully tested ideas. But others are truly entrepreneurial, the result of someone's vision (or intuition) about a product or service which doesn't yet exist, but that the entrepreneur believes people will want.

Would I rather use an established skill or do I become bored easily after I've mastered it?

For many Intuitives, it is the creative part of the process that is most energizing. Once their inspiration has been given life, and the bugs have been worked out, they would rather go on to something else, leaving the details to others. Fortunately, those people are usually Sensors, who often enjoy and excel at setting up systems and following procedures so that things run smoothly. This is called being effficient. While the exact statistics of all the many hundreds of new businesses started each year are often disputed, it is common knowledge that a high percentage of them fail. Although many reasons are cited for this, including undercapitalization, lack of experience, and unanticipated market forces, there is another possible explanation that has a lot to do with Type preferences. Quite simply, the people who are talented at thinking things up are seldom as talented at making them work. This rests primarily on the fact that they dislike, and therefore avoid, any routine or repetitive activity for any period of time. Their interest tends to wane as soon as the creative challenges have been met.

Conversely, Sensors enjoy learning a skill, then using it repeatedly in an effective way. Whether as a surgeon performing an operation, an artist painting a portrait, a bookkeeper tallying figures, or a plumber installing a toilet, Sensors' combination of being very aware of their bodies and living totally in the present moment enables them to derive pleasure from performing the act itself. Intuitives often have a very different experience. For them, what the act means or represents is often more important than the act itself. And coupled with their future time orientation, they are often less than fully engaged in whatever task they are performing at the time. Therefore they don't usually experience the same pleasure Sensors take in repeating a task or using the same skill once they've mastered it.

From the time he was a young boy, Thomas, an Intuitive, thought he wanted to be a dentist. Of course the fact that both his father and grandfather were dentists may have influenced his decision a little bit. By his second semester of dental school, Thomas realized he had made a big mistake. For while the other students enjoyed learning standard tooth repair techniques, such as filling a cavity, Thomas thought he would go crazy if he had to do the procedure the same (excruciatingly boring) way, even one more time. When he found himself fantasizing about all the other ways a tooth could be filled, even outrageous ones like going in through the ear, or removing the top ofthe head, he realized he would never be happy as a dentist and fortunately (for him, and future patients!) changed professions.

That Sensors and Intuitives are often drawn to different subjects in school should come as no surprise. Intuitives are often more interested in theoretical studies like philosophy, psychology, sociology, and literature, while Sensors are often interested in more tangible subjects with practical applications, such as engineering, science, and business. This is not meant to imply that there are no Intuitive engineers, or that Sensors can't be successful psychologists, only that they don't tend to gravitate to these types of occupations in nearly the same percentages.

Sensors represent about 65 percent and Intuitives about 35 percent of the American population, giving Sensors somewhat of a numerical advantage. By now you should have a fairly good idea of whether your preference is for Sensing or Intuition. Again, if you are unsure, don't worry about it-you will have several other opportunities to clarify which one it is. As you did with Extraversion and Introversion, please place a mark on the continuum below to indicate where you think you fit. And again, even if you're not 100 percent certain which side you belong on, try to indicate which side you probably fall on, even if it's just slightly over the center line.

You're doing great! Now we'll move on and describe the third type dimension: Thinking and Feeling.

© 1998 by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger

About the Author

Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger have been married for many years, and are internationally recognized experts in the application of Personality Type. Their other books include the bestselling Do What You Are, Nurture by Nature, and, most recently, The Art of SpeedReading People. They live in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger have been married for many years, and are internationally recognized experts in the application of Personality Type. Their other books include the bestselling Do What You Are, Nurture by Nature, and, most recently, The Art of SpeedReading People. They live in West Hartford, Connecticut.