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NOTE: If you have not looked at the
descriptions of preferences, (Learn
about Temperament Preferences}
you need to do that prior to reading this page.
Temperament and Type
Grouping combinations
of the eight possible preferences
(Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition,
Thinking/Feeling and Judging/Perceiving, results in
more useful descriptions than do the preferences
alone. David Kiersey1 found that
the combinations of Sensing and Perceiving (SP},
Sensing and Judging (SJ], Intuition and Thinking
[NT], and Intuition and Feeling [NF], produce
particularly distinctive patterns of behavior.
He has called these, respectively, the
Artisan,
Guardian,
Rational
and
Idealist temperaments.
Within these temperament families we then describe
the individual types that result from the four total
preferences that were chosen. This
gives us four temperament families with four
distinctive types within each family for a total of
16 possible types. Below are very brief
descriptions of the temperament families and the
individual types as they are found in adults. (For much more detailed
descriptions of adult temperament and type
see Raising CuddleBugs and BraveHearts, Vol. II.
Here you will find descriptions of the impact of
temperament on relationship style, communication
style, working style, decision making, managing
change, managing conflict, potential problems
in very strong preferences, and in depth, on the impact
of temperament on parenting styles.
The "Artisan" Temperament
Family[SP]:
ESFP,
ISFP, ESTP, ISTP
Artisans share an intense focus on the present,
delight in doing and making, and great pleasure in
skillful performances. They are talented in
acquiring and storing all sorts of information, but
little interested in theory building. As
Perceivers they are highly productive when
interested and challenged, but tend to work in
bursts and spurts. Because this is their
natural pattern, they tend to find the structured
rules and regulations of others confining and
aversive.
The ESFP Adult—Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling,
Perceiving
With
Extraversion and Feeling added to the SP core, this
is the quintessential SP. The
typical ESFPs love to let life happen, and live with
much zest and enthusiasm. As good Sensors, they are
observant, and tend to learn more from working
through experiences than by reading or
classroom instruction.
As good SPs, they place a very high value on being
flexible and adapting to circumstances. Of all the
types, they may be the least likely to let the rules
and norms of others get in the way of what they want
to do.
The
ISFP Adult—Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving
Introversion seems to counterbalance or reduce the
most dramatic characteristics of the SP core, rather
than enhancing these, as Extraversion does. It also
works with the Feeling preference to produce a
person who is somewhat less hostile to established
rules and regulations. ISFPs tend to be described as
sensitive, gentle, kind, considerate, and though
they do many things that are spontaneous and in the
moment, and share the SP dislike of routine, these
behaviors surface more quietly. Strong ISFPs are not
likely to be described as excitement seeking, yet
they certainly are variety seeking.
The ESTP Adult —Extraverted, Sensing, Thinking,
Perceiving
Like the ESFP cousin, strong ESTPs love to
let life happen and live with much zest and
enthusiasm. They typically show great interest in
all sorts of things going on around them. They are
into lots of interaction with varied people; they
are likely to be up on whatever is current in
clothes, music, foods, etc., and enjoy new
experiences of all sorts. The Thinking
preference inclines them toward being rational
problem solvers but as SPs they are not as driven as
the NT might be toward a need for the very best
solution. A good one is good enough, and then
they want to move on. Again, they hate routine
and structure imposed by others.
The Adult ISTP- Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, and
Perceiving
The Sensing and the Thinking preferences work well
together here to produce an individual who is both
highly observant of the surrounding world, and able
to analyze these observations quickly and logically.
They tend to use Thinking to understand the
practical world rather than to theorize, whether it is
in unclogging a household drain
or a blocked human artery. Their SP approach
takes the form of wishing to find the shortest and
most efficient route to a solution. They have no
wish to be tied down by “how we have always done
it.” Generally ISTPs are “confident, independent
and self-determined" in a quiet way. Like all
SPs they produce in bursts of activity and resent
outside restrictions.
The "Guardian" Temperament
Family [SJ]: ESTJ, ISTJ, ESFJ, ISFJ
The SJ Guardian temperament group is well
named. Guardians share the Sensor's focus on
the present, and interest in practical matters, but
combine that with the Judger's love of order and
structure. Together, these qualities produce
an individual who cares deeply about maintaining
both personal and social order, being prepared for
problems that might disrupt that order, and using
good and well tested methods to solve problems.
This group tends to be dependable, decisive and
action oriented, and produces many natural leaders.
The Adult ESTJ -- Extraverted, Sensing, Thinking,
Judging
Both the Extraversion and Thinking preferences
tend to enhance SJ leadership qualities. This
is the ultimate take-charge, take control, make it
real, and make it happen individual. ESTJs are
persistent, practical, disciplined, goal-oriented
doers. The point of interest remains in the here and
now, but within that framework, ESTJs are good
systematic thinkers. In planning projects, they
think through the relevant steps and anticipate
problems. The SJ
certainty about what is right and what is wrong
comes through very strongly here. It is not hard
to imagine that others may find the strong ESTJ a
bit much from time to time.
The Adult ISTJ – Introverted, Sensing, Thinking,
Judging
Like the ESTJ, the ISTJ relies heavily
on facts and details in order to prove what is real,
true, right, and thus, what ought to be done.
Reliable, dependable, and responsible are good
descriptors. As Introverts they are also more
serious and quiet. Persistent, prepared, hard-working,
careful, results-oriented, this SJ is particularly
good at finishing the job, but less likely to take
on leadership roles. ISTJs take an equally
serious approach to their personal lives, taking
great care to meet their obligations.
The Adult ESFJ – Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling,
Judging
As an SJ, the ESFJ prefers to have an organized and
orderly life, to focus on the here and now and on
facts and details, and to decide and take action
promptly.
However, the addition of preferences for
Extraversion and Feeling together shift action from
a focus on physical tasks and products, towards
people and service. The basic SJ tendency to quickly and frequently
remind others of shoulds and should nots is pulled
in two directions by Extraversion and Feeling, with
Extraversion increasing the tendency to be
outspoken, but Feeling concerns mellowing it.
The end result may be frequent advice giving that is
expressed more softly, gently, and carefully.
The Adult ISFJ – Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and
Judging
Once again, as an SJ, the ISFJ prefers to have an
organized and structured life, focusing on the
present and on facts and details.
Interestingly, they are especially good at noticing
people-related details such as the tone of voice
used in a statement or the facial expression of a
speaker. Closure in decision-making remains
important, though it may not be quite the driving
force that it is in the SJs with the Thinking
preference. In addition, like the ESFJ, the ISFJ is
more likely to focus on outcomes that involve people
and service rather than tasks and products. The
Introverted ISFJ will often be viewed as quiet and
caring, having strong personal values and judgments.
The "Rational" Temperament
Family(NT): ENTJ, INTJ, ENTP, INTP
The strong NT core is a balance of the
dreaming, imagining, Intuition preference and the
reasoning, analyzing Thinking preference. As
noted in Volume II, "The strong Thinker preference
anchors the Intuitive tendency, and directs it
toward real world projects, while the
Intuitive preference makes for a Thinker with
substantial imagination. This results in a
person who is impressed by good ideas wherever they
may originate..." The focus is on looking at
the big picture, on using reason and logic, on being
effective, on independent-mindedness and on
fairness. With the Thinking preference comes a
tendency to be frank and outspoken, sometimes to the
annoyance of others.
The Adult ENTJ- Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking,
Judging
At the top of their form, the ENTJs are typically
busy running some part of our world. they are born to see possibilities and
patterns, and translate this into projects that can
transform the world around them. Judging almost
guarantees that their ideas will turn into action
plans and to-do lists. In any organization, they
will quickly spot inefficiencies, and be dying to
dig in and make things better.
Everything we have described for NTs is here in the
ENTJ in vivid form. As Extraverts they love to talk,
as Thinkers they love to
argue, and as Judgers, they love to get things done. They love to know something
about everything, have a good sense of fairness and
honesty, and live a busy, engaged life.
The Adult INTJ: Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking,
Judging
The
INTJ shares the same intense delight in ideas and
theories and the same long range view of the future
that the ENTJ cousin has. As Introverts they are less
attracted by the external world of people and
events, and more in love with their own ideas.
Isabel Myers, one of the founders of the MBTI, has
described them as having an extraordinary sense of
independence, and taking considerable pride in that
fact. It would seem that the reduced need for having
a multitude of friends and wide social acceptance
frees them to be even more completely the Intuitive,
Thinking Judger than is true for the more
Extraverted type.
The
Adult ENTP: Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking,
and Perceiving
Like
the ENTJ, the ENTP is verbally quick and talkative,
and is generally seen as
both assertive and somewhat outspoken. Like all NTs,
they can be blunt, sparing no feelings in the face
of incompetence and inefficiency, but without the
Judging preference, as bosses they are much
less likely to be constantly keeping track of the
work of others. The ENTP will be much like the related ENTJ in
having remarkable talents for perceiving patterns
and connections and projecting these into
predictions for the future. Here the ENTP
might be the more creative of the two, but also
might be more likely to develop occasional dazzling
ideas that fizzle in the end for lack of dogged
follow-through.
The Adult INTP: Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking,
and Perceiving
Like
all NTs, they rely strongly on logic and find it
challenging to discover logical explanations behind
complex situations of all kinds. Like most
Introverts, they prefer to work independently. The NT core and
Perceiving preference unite here, as in the ENTP, to
produce an intense curiosity about everything, and
great ingenuity in getting to the root of problems
and their solutions. Of all the NT types, however,
the INTP has the least interest in putting solutions
into action. The powerful drive is to gain
understanding. Once a good solution has been found,
someone else can worry about implementing it. This
focus on the excitement of ideas rather than actions
or outcomes makes routine work especially hard for
the INTP.
The "Idealist" Temperament
Family [NF]: ENFJ, INFJ, ENFP, INFP.
Idealists
are at their finest when deep in a world of
possibilities. They relish digging into theories and
ideas and love to imagine positive change. The
search for hidden patterns beneath surface details
is highly rewarding. The Feeling preference directs
most of this search toward human relationships and
events. Here the strong drive toward
harmony and good will is a very important component.
This is often becomes part of a lifelong search for
personal identity and for a deeper meaning in life.
A downside of this may be
a tendency to minimize factual detail and negative
information at times, leading to beliefs that are
held in a somewhat unbending fashion.
The Adult ENFJ: Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling,
Judging
The NF
temperament is both intensified and focused by the
addition of Extraversion and Judging. Making a
difference in the world (through helping others) is
likely to be top priority to the ENFJ, enhanced by
the increased interest in the outer world of people
and activities and the strong drive of the Judger to
achieve.
The addition of Extraversion to this core
temperament typically results in a very social and
outgoing nature, engaging to others, and even
charismatic. Interacting with a very strong ENFJ can
feel intensely personal, as if his or her light
shines only upon you. Fun for some, too intense for
others.
The Adult INFJ: Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling,
Judging
Just as INFJs are more selective in their
relationships and the sharing of personal thoughts
and ideas, so they are selective in the choice and
expression of their life interests. Unlike ENFJs,
they are not interested in making a big splashy
impact in lots of different areas. INFJs will focus
on a few areas in which they are intensely
interested. Both types share the additional
preference for Judging, and as a result, both will
focus their search for meaning and identity on
purposeful action. INFJs with intense personal
beliefs will likely associate with
occupations/lifestyles that reflect their views and
often relate to a personal cause.
The Adult ENFP: Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling,
Perceiving
Pursuit of a wide variety of interests will be a
dominating quality of the ENFP. Indeed, those
closest to the ENFP may wonder when this individual
will finally settle down and focus on something for
the long haul. These well-meaning friends and
family may never realize that the ENFP’s process of
pursuing and learning is the meaning and purpose of
life to this individual. Finally arriving is
not. They are, however, both creative and
innovative. As a result, they are terrific assets in
the start-up portion of new projects.
Extraversion and Perceiving influence the NF core
and result in a very open-minded view of
relationships and lifestyles, where variety and
change are embraced.
The INFP Adult: Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling,
Perceiving
While the ENFP gains many insights into human
behavior through many different relationships, the
INFP is more likely to develop insights through
observation, reading, and quiet reflection.
The INFP’s journey is not loud and busy and full of
action, but rather quiet, calm, and even somewhat
mysterious to others. Of all the NF types,
INFPs show the quest for identity and meaning in its
most essential form. They are intensely
private, emotional, and perceptive. Others view them as
complex and introspective. When they share their
insights about life it is often accomplished through
writing, music, or art. Being highly flexible
and adaptable, allowing their lives to simply unfold, is natural and true to their nature.
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