Understanding Your Core

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) assessment is a widely used instrument for understanding normal personality differences. Rooted in the psychological theories of Carl Jung and developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, the MBTI system doesn not measure skills or abilities, but rather identifies natural preferences in how individuals perceive the world and make decisions. At the heart of this framework lie four fundamental preference pairs, each representing a different dimension of personality.

These four MBTI preference pairs are:

1. Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I)
2. Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)
3. Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
4. Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

Everyone uses both sides of each pair at different times. However, the MBTI model posits that people have a natural, more comfortable preference for one side in each pair, where they feel most authentic outside of specific roles. Combining the preferred letter from each of these four pairs forms one of the 16 distinct MBTI personality types. Understanding these fundamental pairs is key to unlocking insights into yourself and appreciating the diverse ways others operate.

Let’s explore each preference pair in detail:

1. Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I): Where Do You Focus Your Energy?

This first pair describes where individuals naturally focus and direct their energy.

• Extraversion (E): Individuals with a preference for Extraversion are energized by the outer world of people, activities, and things. They direct their energy outward, engaging actively with their external environment and other people. Extraverts may process information externally and tend to “think out loud”.
• Introversion (I): People with a preference for Introversion are energized by their inner world of ideas, emotions, and reflections. They focus their energy and attention inward. Introverts often prefer time to process information internally before responding. Research has shown that those with Introversion preferences reported higher levels of Reflection compared to those with Extraversion preferences. Introverts were also more likely to discuss the risk of becoming self-obsessed.

Understanding this preference can impact communication, as Introverts may need more time to formulate responses compared to Extraverts who process externally.

2. Sensing (S) or Intuition (N): How Do You Take in Information?

This pair describes the way individuals prefer to perceive or gather information.

• Sensing (S): Those who prefer Sensing rely on their five senses to take in information. They focus on details, facts, and concrete data, attending to the realistic, practical, and traditional. Sensors often focus on details before seeing the big picture and prefer a more linear, sequential conversation style. They appreciate factual, concrete data to support claims.
• Intuition (N): Individuals with a preference for Intuition take in information by looking for patterns, meanings, and future possibilities. They focus on the abstract, imaginative, conceptual, theoretical, and original. Intuitives tend to read between the lines, may seek theoretical ideas before details, and often have a more circular or out-of-order conversation style. They are more likely to make inferences and extrapolate.

This preference significantly influences learning styles, with Sensing types often preferring practical, hands-on learning and step-by-step instructions, while Intuitive types may prefer discussing theories and big-picture concepts.

3. Thinking (T) or Feeling (F): How Do You Make Decisions?

This pair describes how individuals prefer to come to conclusions and make decisions.

• Thinking (T): People with a preference for Thinking make decisions based on logic, analysis, and objective principles. They prefer impartial, analytical, logical, and reasonable approaches. Thinking types appreciate direct, straightforward, and logical communication. Research indicated Thinking preferences were more likely to report higher levels of Rumination than Feeling preferences. Those with Thinking preferences were also more likely to talk about ruminating and dwelling on situations compared to Feeling preferences.
• Feeling (F): Those who prefer Feeling make decisions based on values, empathy, and concern for people. They prefer a more empathetic, personal approach, valuing human motives, and being compassionate, accommodating, and accepting. Feeling types appreciate warmth, good manners, and tactfulness in communication. Research showed those with Feeling preferences were more likely to talk about ruminating than Thinking preferences, but were also more likely to say they felt more confident in their personal life compared to those with Thinking preferences.

In conflict situations, Thinking types are often seen as logical and analytical, while Feeling types are more likely to include emotions and seek harmony.

4. Judging (J) or Perceiving (P): How Do You Approach the Outside World?

This final pair describes how individuals prefer to live their outer life, relating to structure and spontaneity.

• Judging (J): Individuals with a preference for Judging prefer a planned, organized, and orderly approach to the outside world. They value structure, lists, plans, decisiveness, routine, dependability, and predictability, aiming for closure. Judging types are systematic, planful, scheduled, and methodical.
• Perceiving (P): People with a preference for Perceiving prefer a spontaneous, flexible, and adaptable approach to the outside world. They like to leave things open and available for changes, enjoying spontaneity. Perceiving types are casual, open-ended, pressure-prompted, and emergent. In conflict situations, the Perceiving preference aligns with taking time to gather facts, check assumptions, and explore different points of view before seeking closure.

This preference influences how individuals manage time and projects, with Judging types often preferring deadlines and structure, and Perceiving types preferring flexibility and the ability to adjust as new information arises.

The Transformative Power of Understanding Your Preferences

Learning about these four MBTI preference pairs and your own unique personality type offers numerous benefits. It fosters self-awareness, helping individuals understand their natural strengths and potential challenges. Increased self-awareness is linked to improved psychological well-being and performance at work.

Understanding these preferences also enhances relationships and interactions by promoting an appreciation for differences. It helps people recognize that others naturally operate in different ways and to value these differences. This knowledge can lead to improved communication, as individuals gain insight into various communication styles and can adapt their approach for clearer understanding and reduced conflict. Specific communication tips can be tailored based on preferences and associated cognitive functions.

Furthermore, understanding type preferences can improve team effectiveness by helping members understand and work better together despite personality differences. Knowledge of type can also provide insight into individual approaches to conflict management.

The MBTI is an assessment, instrument, tool, or inventory – it is not a test. It describes preferences, it doesn’t measure ability or predict success. Ethical use, focused on self-awareness and development, is paramount.

In conclusion, the four MBTI preference pairs form the bedrock of the Myers-Briggs system, offering a valuable framework for understanding the diversity of human personality. By exploring Extraversion vs. Introversion, Sensing vs. Intuition, Thinking vs. Feeling, and Judging vs. Perceiving, individuals can gain profound insights into themselves and build more effective relationships and interactions with others, fostering a greater appreciation for the value in different ways of being.