What's New In Type and Temperament

© Walter J. Geldart, M. Eng., M. Div. - November, 1998


Introduction
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section one

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
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section two

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'. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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. 7 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
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section three

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." 12

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:

Thinking back, I have to say that I've been asked over and over again for years why I have championed the Artisans more than I have the other types. Well, both of my parents were Artisans, as were my brothers and many of my friends and fellow fighter pilots in the Marine Corps. I still continue to admire their artistic capabilities. In addition, much of my work for thirty or so years as a family therapist was focused on those Artisan children who gave their parents and teachers a hard time by not doing their assignments and being noisy and restless at school. So my long association with and understanding of Artisans of all ages has enabled me to be more useful to them than to others of different temperaments. I think Artisans ought to be enjoyed for what they are instead of condemned for what they are not, something that can also be said of the other three temperaments. 16

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

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footnotes and references

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


Footnotes

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.
' back to text

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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