MYERS-BRIGGS PERSONALITY TYPE

Type Dynamics

       The central key to Myers Briggs TYPE DYNAMICS are the two letters in the MIDDLE of your type code (S/N and F/T). These letters, interpreted relative to whether you get your energy from the External or Internal World (E/I), and how you organize your life (J/P), are especially powerful in defining the characteristics of your type. If you accurately identify your Dominant Mental Function, you will validate three of your four type letters. They represent the eight (8) Jungian mental functions, which is the core theory underlying Myers Briggs personality type.

Recalling details
Recall concrete data and experiences		introverted Sensing (Si)IS_J
Experiencing the physical
Notice incoming data from the 5 senses		extroverted Sensing (Se)ES_P
Foreseeing what's to come
Receive insights and understandings		introverted iNtuition (Ni)IN_J
Inferring connections and possibilities
Aware of external abstract patterns		extroverted iNtuition (Ne)EN_P
Analyzing and deciphering
Use definitions and factual principles		introverted Thinking (Ti)I_TP
Organizing by logic and criteria
Follow charts, plans, timelines		extroverted Thinking (Te)E_TJ
Considering others and responding
Apply personal beliefs and values		introverted Feeling (Fi)I_FP
Evaluating importance and conformity
Consider needs / wants of others		extroverted Feeling (Fe)E_FJ

Click here to see this concept in a different format.

       TYPE DYNAMICS explains why people who differ by only one letter are actually very different from each other. Understanding type dynamics is the key to effectively using Myers-Briggs® personality type as a personal and professional growth tool. I believe the most accurate way to determine your best-fit type is to clearly determine your dominant mental function and your temperament. Combined, I think you're likely to hit the "bulls-eye."

An Example

       Let's use ISTP and ESTP as examples. An ISTP is different from an ESTP because one is quieter, softer spoken, and prone to internal rather than external distraction. If you read the descriptions of ISTP and ESTP, they are more different than you might initially have thought just from looking at the letters. Why is this? Myers-Briggs® Extroverts put their best Myers-Briggs® foot forward into the world, and not surprisingly, Myers-Briggs® Introverts keep their best foot to themselves, using it in their internal world. This is where the analogy ends, however, because in the Myers-Briggs® world we actually have four feet rather than two.

The Four Functions

       Our dominant function or first function is the function that is easiest to use. Therefore, it's usually the most fun way for us to be in the world. Isabel Myers referred to it as the "Captain of the Ship." Staying with that analogy, our Auxiliary or second function becomes the First Mate, and our Tertiary is a somewhat lazy crew member (operates subconsciously), who stays out of the way for the most part, yet is there when needed. The Inferior, or fourth function, hides below deck (operates unconsciously), and is the ballast of our emotional ship. It is also the Seasick Sailor who comes up and takes over the ship when we are stressed. For the purposes of determining your best-fit type, you need only concern yourself with the Dominant and Auxilary functions.

First Function Dominant Used in the external world by Extroverts,
and the internal world by Introverts
Second Function Auxiliary Used in the external world by Introverts,
and the internal world by Extroverts
Third Function Tertiary The exact opposite of our Auxiliary,
used subconsciously
Fouth Function Inferior The exact opposite of our Dominant,
used unconsciously

Back to Our Example

       Let's take a closer look at ESTP and ISTP. An ESTP gets personal energy from interacting with the external world, prefers to stay in perceiving mode and relies primarily on the five senses to perceive, thereby appears flexible and spontaneous. He is most comfortable making decisions logically, based on the data he collected through his five senses.

       Of these processes, he is most comfortable collecting and being aware of all the sensory information in his external environment (dominant = extroverted Sensing). This process is easy for him to do, and therefore is often a lot of fun. If he is then required to make a decision (he'd rather just keep observing), he goes inside himself to make logical decisions on the information he collected (auxiliary = introverted Thinking). He will subconsciously recruit his emotions and values in the decision-making process (tertiary = Feeling), and unconsciously is considering and building the bigger picture and patterns (fourth = introverted iNtuition). When he's stressed, he most likely creates wild imaginary future scenarios in his mind -- the "What if's?" -- that trigger his emotions.

       Now let's look at an ISTP. Unlike ESTP, her personal energy comes from going into her inside world. Like ESTP, she also prefers perceiving mode, and uses her five senses to perceive, and makes her decisions based on data and logic rather than on personal values. However, an ISTP has the most fun thinking about how and why something works, taking things apart and putting them back together again in her mind (dominant = introverted Thinking). When she needs more information, she looks to the outside world and uses her five senses to gather more data (auxiliary = extroverted Sensing). Subconsciously, she is forming the big picture and recognizing patterns (tertiary = iNtuition), and she is unconsciously processing how all of this could benefit the greater good (fourth = extroverted Feeling). When she becomes stressed, she is likely to vent and spew a lot of emotion on those around her.

       In summary, ESTP and ISTP only differ in where they seek personal energy, yet the function they find easiest, their source of stress management, and the face they present to the world are very different because of type dynamics.

SPELL CHECK: STEP THREE
Learn the TYPE DYNAMICS of your best-guess type.

  • Find your best-guess type in the table below.
  • Read the COLUMN and ROW hyperlinks associated with your type.

    You can now see the similarities of the types that are in each row and each column. The columns of the Myers Briggs personality type table are particularly relevant to career choices. These function pairings equate to learning or cognitive style, and are a stronger factor than basic temperament when it comes to being happy in a career choice. If you were wondering why which type was placed in which square, you now you have an answer!

  • Click on the hyperlink for your best-guess personality type.

    The colored letters are the DOMINANT mental function for each type. You only need concern yourself with the Dominant and Auxilary function when determining your best-fit type.


SP Adventurous Troubleshooter
SJ Responsible Stabilizer
NF Harmonious Catalyst
NT Curious Visionary
 SENSING INTUITIVE  
THINKING FEELING FEELING THINKING
INTROVERT JUDGING ISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ decisive
introverts
PERCEIVING    ISTP ISFP INFP INTP adaptable
introverts
EXTRAVERT PERCEIVING ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP adaptable
extroverts
JUDGING ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ decisive
extroverts
  ST
practical		 SF
sympathetic		 NF
insightful		 NT
ingenious		  


       Below is the FINAL TABLE for complete sets of letter pairs, and the dominant and auxillary functions of each type. This time, the link will click through rather than open a pop-up window.

       This summary gives you the four major type dynamics of your best-fit type, and the links for all the dynamic letter pairs for, what we hope, is now your best-fit type, not just your best-guess type. Each of the letter groups is a sub-type of your best-fit type, and should also describe how you move through the world.

       Does each letter pair fit you? If not, which ones don't seem to fit? This will give you a clue as to whether you have correctly identified all four letters of your best-fit type, and if not, which pair you still need to tweeze learned and value-driven behavior from innate. If your read this final page, and still wonder if it's your best-fit type, you need to consider that your current guess of your best-fit type may be off by at least one letter and ask a professional for assistance. Remember, it is very common to be off by at least one letter.


SP Adventurous Troubleshooter
SJ Responsible Stabilizer
NF Harmonious Catalyst
NT Curious Visionary
 SENSING INTUITIVE
THINKING FEELING FEELING THINKING
INTROVERT JUDGING I S T J
Monitoring		 I S F J
Caretaking		 I N F J
Foreseeing		 I N T J
Strategizing
PERCEIVING    I S T P
Problemsolving		 I S F P
Composing		 I N F P
Advocating		 I N T P
Designing
EXTROVERT PERCEIVING E S T P
Promoting		 E S F P
Performing		 E N F P
Inspiring		 E N T P
Inventing
JUDGING E S T J
Supervising		 E S F J
Providing		 E N F J
Mentoring		 E N T J
Directing

 

       By now, you should be as certain as you can be doing this on your own, that you've identified your best-fit type. Continue on to STEP FOUR if you want to play around with some online tests, enjoy some playful perspectives on all 16 personality types, or follow links on how to apply your newly acquired personality type knowledge to fitness, stress management and meditation.

Page 6

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