Introduction
This article reviews new MBTI books from the Center for the Applications
of Psychological Type (CAPT), and the new Please Understand Me II book by
David Keirsey. It also announces three new test instruments without
reviewing them. The mission of 'The Enneagram and the MBTI: An Electronic
Journal' is to explore human consciousness in terms of personality type.
We gain by understanding the common ground that these two very different
systems - type and temperament - share, even though each also retains a
distinctive character deriving from its different formal definitions.
In the next issue of the Journal we hope to review a new book,
Personality Type: A User's Manual, by Lenore Thompson Bentz. Lenore
has a Jungian orientation and her book gives new insights into personality type
by reclaiming Jungian principles.
Section One - CAPT Publications
The Center for Applications of Psychological Type, Inc. (CAPT) has
introduced several short books that should be on the shelf of either
the novice who is just getting his or her feet wet with MBTI type, or
the professional who wants to keep up to date on new areas of emphasis
in the MBTI, such as 'whole type'.
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Four of these books are reviewed below.
Looking at Type - A Description of the Preferences Reported by the
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is aimed at the beginner. The author, Earle
C. Page, gives the bare essentials for the system in 40 pages with large
eye-catching bold print and cartoon-like figures. The meaning of the four
preference scales - Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition,
Thinking/Feeling, and Judgment/Perception - is explained simply and
clearly. Of particular importance is the emphasis on the fact that individuals
need to use the other side of a preference scale for balance. This can be
easily overlooked when people focus on the details of their particular
type, which is by definition an unbalanced condition of consciousness. A
person's type development can be retarded if he identifies with a narrow
understanding of type and believes that he doesn't have or can't use less
developed functions for balance.
Looking at Type in the Workplace is aimed for people who want to apply
type at work. Larry Demarest, Ph.d. gives very clear practical information
in 47 pages. The eight Preferences at Work are each summarized on one
page, and the sixteen Types at Work are each summarized on one page. Each
'Type at Work' description includes information on: what you might notice
first, work style, in groups/on teams, during changes, during conflict,
and the kinds of contributions that each type may make and how
they may be experienced. Significantly, the two types on
facing pages are exact opposite types with exact opposite Jungian function
order. For example, ENFJ (with F-N-S-T) is listed on page 18 on the left
side, and ISTP (with T-S-N-F) is listed on page 19 on the right side. This
turns out to be a good way of contrasting the two type behaviors - and
suggesting the benefits of teamwork and learning to use both sides of a
preference. Separate Tables are given for the estimated frequency of the
Types in the United States population for: 1) Managers, Administrators,
and Supervisors, 2) Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, 3)
Marketing Personnel, 4) Accountants, and 5) Human Resource Workers. The Z
diagram (S-N-T-F) approach for problem solving is given on page 40. This
useful book accomplishes its purpose without referring to Dominant,
Auxiliary, Tertiary, or Inferior functions. This is a wise choice for the
practical minded workplace.
Looking at Type and Learning Styles is aimed for teachers and students.
Gordon Lawrence, Ph.d. gives the Learning Preferences found by research to
apply to the eight Preferences, and the sixteen Types. Lawrence notes on
page 6 of this 56 page book - "This book being about student's learning
styles, our focus is on motivations for learning and how best to tap into
them". The author makes a distinction between the behavior that is usually
emphasized in type descriptions by Myers and others, and the motivating
energy behind the behaviors. "What works" for E and I Differences in
Learning, S and N Differences in Learning, T and F Differences in
Learning, and J and P Differences in Learning - are discussed on nine
pages. For example, physical movement while learning "works" for the
Extraverted student, using immediately the skills they learn "works" for
the Sensing student, a warm and friendly classroom "works" for the Feeling
students, and teachers who are organized "works" for students who run
their outer lives by Judgment. How each of the four preference scales
affect learning is summarized on a separate page with preference
information included for Cognitive Style, Study Style, and Instruction
that Fits. Several facets for each of the sixteen Learning Styles are
reported on 22 pages. For example ISTP, ESFJ, ISFP, ESTP, ESFP, ISFJ have
sensory learning preferences. ESPT has a sensory, active learning
preferences, and ISTJ has a preference for clear sensory instruction.
"Looking at Type and Learning Styles" contributes to whole type theory by
identifying parameters that might not be expected from the MBTI Form M
preference scales by themselves.
Looking at Type: The Fundamentals by Charles Martin, Ph.D. is designed
to accompany an explanation of the Myers-Briggs Type IndicatorŪ. It
contributes to whole type theory by using inclusive language that does not
rule out using the opposite side of a preference scale, and takes care to
include that caveat frequently. Students and teachers of type and
temperament would be well advised to add this 59 page book to their
reading lists. It replaces the earlier Introduction to Type - A description
of the theory and applications of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (39
pages). Each of the four preference scales are described on one page with
a side-by-side comparison for contrast. The Judging and Perceiving
preference scale is the unique Myers-Briggs contribution; it is not part
of Jungian theory. Inclusive whole type definitions are given for "J" and
"P". For example, after describing the Judging scale in the usual way, the
author adds "Remember though, this only describes how their outer life
looks. Inside, they may feel flexible and open to new information (which
they are)." The Dynamic Basis for Type is covered in four pages. It is
clear that everyone uses all four mental functions, but people prefer them
in a certain order. A Table for the Priorities of Functions for each of
the sixteen MBTI types is given. The attitudes of four functions for
introverted types is specified to be I-E-E/I-E, and the attitudes of four
functions for extraverted types is specified to be E-I-I/E-I. The role of
the second or auxiliary function to provide balance between Judging and
Perceiving (and vice-versa) is explained. Lifelong development of the four
functions, true type and type falsification is discussed. The core of the
book is 44 pages of descriptive material for the sixteen MBTI Types. The
language is chosen to support 'whole type' theory. For each type the role of
the dominant function and attitude is clear. The balancing role of the
auxiliary function and its opposite attitude is pointed out. The influence
of the auxiliary function with the same attitude as the dominant attitude
is not explicitly ruled out, and the language used implicitly includes it
in several descriptions. This captures the balancing spirit of Isabel
Briggs Myers very well. The new Manual confirms that the dominant and
auxiliary function may share the same attitude, but that the auxiliary
function needs to be developed with an opposite attitude for balance.
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This concept is compatible with the Geldart Enneagram of Consciousness model where
the 8-5, 7-1, 1-4, and 4-2 arrows have the same attitude but the 5-7 and
2-8 arrows have opposite attitudes. Only a small part of each description
covers negative behavior under stress. This is in keeping with the MBTI
emphasis of dominant function gifts. Some readers will be able to
associate the negative behavior under stress of a type with various
enneagram personality types. The book gives an overview of the four
patterns ST, SF, NF, and NT for the sixteen types, and closes with a model
that shows the ideal order for using the four Jungian functions to solve
problems in a group setting. This book is recommended for all students of
type and temperament, and its $7 cost makes it a natural to accompany MBTI
Form M score results and follow-up discussions.
Section Two - Please Understand Me II by David Keirsey
Please Understand Me II - Temperament, Character, and Intelligence8 shows the natural development of David Keirsey's system since the original Please Understand Me - Character and Temperament Types 9 in 1978, and later developments.
10 11 Several aspects of this new book are discussed below.
Test Instrument
The 70 question Temperament Sorter II is presented on pages 4-11. The
Temperament Sorter II scores are explained. Four types, indicated by four
letters for the Myers-Briggs preference scales, are given for each
temperament. If there is a tie score on the T-F scale (for example ESXJ),
then you are advised to read two type descriptions, However, if there is a
tie or nearly equal score on the S-N scale, then you are advised to skip
the Temperament Sorter II, and use the 16 question Keirsey Four Types
Sorter on page 348 to indicate one of four temperaments. Keirsey may be a
bit hasty in retreating from sixteen types to four temperaments with the
speed of an Artisan. I suggest that the reader consider two of the eight
patterns NTJ, NTP, NFJ, NFP, STP, SFP, STJ, and SFJ on page 341. They
represent the columns of the MBTI Type Table when extraversion (E) and
introversion (I) rows in the table are combined. These patterns have a
whole interpretation on the Geldart Enneagram of Consciousness.
Correlation With Myers-Briggs and Jung
The Temperament Sorter II test is followed by what the Myers-Briggs
preference letters mean in Keirsey's temperament system , and a generous
recognition of the contributions of Isabel Myers on pages 12-16. Keirsey
contrasts the Jungian and Myers-Briggs Function Types with his
Intelligence Types (tactical, logistical, strategic, and diplomatic) on
pages 341-341. The essential difference with his approach is clear. He
groups sixteen Types into pairs of two "Jungian" functions in which the
exact same two functions appear in each pair. For example, ESTJ has a dominant
extraverted thinking function, and an auxiliary introverted sensing function (function order Te-Si). ISTJ has a different preference order for the same two
functions (Si-Te). These XSTJ type pairs are more natural than EXTJ type pairs,
according to Keirsey. The EXTJ pairs are ESTJ (function order = Te-Si) and
ENTJ (function order = Te-Ni). Keirsey views E-I (the first letter of the
type name) as the least important of Jung's distinctions. Keirsey writes
on page 331 - "In my view it borders on the trivial compared to S-N, and
is much less useful than T-F and J-P." He defines E-I as an expressive or
reserved social attitude.
The new MBTI manual makes a positive comment about temperament theory:
"Type theory and temperament theory are two separate systems
for explaining personality that are independent of each other in origin, in
the number and kind of basic elements each hypothesizes, and in the way
each theory's elements are combined. ...A valuable contribution of
temperament theory to type theory is the clarification of the important
differences between Extraverted Sensing and Introverted Sensing."
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Jung helps us to understand the difference between the eight Jungian
psychological types, the sixteen Myers-Briggs types, and the four Keirsey
temperaments. He said: "The Greek Classification System according to the
four physiological temperaments took as its criteria the appearance and
behavior of the individual, exactly as we do today in the case of
physiological typology. But where shall we seek our criteria for a
psychological theory of type?"13
Jung answered his question by developing a purely psychological model from the point of view of the subject's mind. The Myers-Briggs approach is a variation of Jung's
psychological model. Jung's psychological model excluded the functional
psycho-motor system.14
He fully recognized the the moving function as being external to the mind and part of the body. This is why the moving function is explicitly added on the Geldart
Enneagram of Consciousness to represent a whole human being. The Keirsey
temperament approach works from the outside observable behavior and Persona expressed by Tools (Cooperative and Utilitarian) and Words (Abstract and Concrete). The
person's character and habits are observed but their inner motivations are
not (which is why Jung developed his model). Keirsey's dualistic
categories for each scale gives rise to the four temperaments. It is very
useful to have the temperament approach and the MBTI approach because they
can cross-check each other at common interfaces. Both approaches are also
useful cross-checks for enneagram personality types and the Enneagram of
Consciousness.
The Historical Basis for Four Temperaments
Keirsey makes a major addition to his theory by introducing the idea of
four kinds of intelligence (tactics-T, logistics-L, strategy-S, and diplomacy-D).
Each of the Artisan, Guardian, Rationalist, and Idealist temperaments has
a preference for using one kind of intelligence more than others.
According to Keirsey, the intelligence orders are Artisan:SP (T-L-S-D),
Idealist:NF (D-S-L-T mirror image of Artisan), Rationalist:NT ( S-D-T-L), and
Guardian:SJ (L-T-D-S mirror image of Rationalist). His grouping
by intelligence types is completely different from the MBTI groupings by a
dominant Jungian function type.
In his previous books he traces temperament theory back to Hippocrates and
the four humors (Sanguine, Melancholic, Phlegmatic, and Choleric). Keirsey places
these four categories on more solid philosophical ground in this book by
relating them to Plato's categories. This move works quite well because
the language has a stronger philosophical basis. Plato's four types of men
is not unique in the ancient world. Ouspensky reviewed the four types of
yoga to demonstrate the eastern ideas associated with Gurdjieff's
enneagram teachings.15
This suggests that there may be a natural parallel between Keirsey's four
temperaments, the four types of yoga from the older Indian philosophy, and
four enneagram centers.
The Realism of the Artisan Temperament
Readers of Keirsey's previous books will recall that the Artisan
temperament is very active and full of movement. The Artisan uses and
overuses their moving function. This was one reason that I added a fifth
moving function to Jung's four psychological functions on the Geldart Enneagram
of Consciousness. Keirsey commented on his special interest in the Artisan
Temperament:
Conclusion
Keirsey's latest book is a welcome addition to the field, and is the best
presentation of his temperament system to date. It is very readable and
useful. You don't have to agree with all aspects of his theory, or all of
his examples to get a lot a valuable information, and understand his point
of view. It is a valuable benchmark for other personality type
descriptions.
Section Three - Announcing New Test Instruments
The new MBTIŪ Form M has been released by Consulting Psychologists Press
along with a new manual for MBTI professionals. The Form M has 93
questions: 21 for the E-I, scale, 26 for the S- N scale, 24 for the T-F
scale, and 22 for the J-P scale. All questions have the same weight and
there is no differences for male and female, in contrast with the Form G
(which will be phased out). Contact the author if you wish to take the
MBTI Form M questionnaire.
Two new Enneagram Personality Type Questionnaires have been released. The
Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator Version 2.5 has 18 pages with 144
paired questions. The wording for ten percent of the RHETI questions was
changed to increase accuracy. The original version has sold over 100,000
copies, and has been translated into German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese,
French, and Spanish. The Stanford Enneagram Discovery Inventory and Guide
(SEDIG) has been released by Virginia A Price, Ph.D. and David N. Daniels,
M.D. The 32 page SEDIG questionnaire is easy to use, and it is based on
Helen Palmer's understanding of the enneagram.
Even though MBTIŪ Psychological Type and Enneagram Personality Type are
completely different systems, a student of type will benefit from both.
The Jungian information measured by MBTI will be of interest to enneagram
students, and the Jungian information that can be calculated from RHETI
will be of interest to MBTI students.17
1. Earle C. Page, Looking at Type - A Description of the Preferences reported by the Myers- Briggs Type Indicator, Fourth Edition, Center for
Applications of Psychological Type, Gainesville, Florida, 1998. back to text
2. Larry Demarest, Ph.D., Looking at Type in the Workplace, CAPT, 1997. back to text
3. Gordon
Lawrence, Ph.D., Looking at Type and Learning Styles, CAPT, 1997' back to text
4. Charles Martin, Ph.D., Looking at Type The Fundamentals", CAPT, 1997 back to text
5. Sandra Hirsh and Jane Kise, Looking at Type and Spirituality, CAPT, 1997.
6. Isabel Briggs Myers, Mary H. McCaulley, Naomi L. Quenk, Allen L. Hammer, MBTI Manual, A Guide to the Development and use of the
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Third Edition, 1998, 418 pages. back to text
7. MBTI Manual, 1998, page 230. back to text
8. [8] David Keirsey, Please Understand Me II - Temperament, Character, Intelligence, Prometheus Nemesis Books, 1998, 352pages. back to text
9. David Keirsey, Marilyn Bates, Please Understand Me - Character
and Temperament Types, Prometheus Nemesis Books, 1998, 210 pages. back to text
10. David Keirsey, Portraits of Temperament, Prometheus Nemesis Books, 1987, 124 pages. back to text
11. Ray Choiniere, David Keirsey, Presidential Temperament,
Prometheus Nemesis Books, 1992, 610 pages. back to text
12. MBTI Manual. 1998, page
59. back to text
13. C. G. Jung, The Collected Works of C. G. Jung - Volume 6,
Psychological Type, Princeton University Press, ninth printing, 1990, page
532. back to text
14. C. G. Jung, Volume 6, page 530. back to text
15. P. D. Ouspensky, A New Model of the Universe, Dover Publications, 1997, pages 242-270. back to text
16. P. D. Ouspensky, A New
Model of the Universe, Dover Publications, 1997, pages 242-270. back to text
17. W. J. Geldart, Mark's RHETI Scores on the Enneagram of Consciousness, Issue 3, 'The Enneagram and the MBTI' back to text
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