Dawn Williams
Posts: 1
Nickname: dawilliams
Registered: Jun, 2012
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Re: The P/J Divide
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Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:44 PM
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Interesting debate about the dangers of personality tests. The Myers-Brig test failed me a few times too - I took it twice and got very different results each time. However, I think the theory - especially as further developed by Keirsey - is sound (Keirsey is also INTP, btw). In his book Please Understand Me II, he clarifies the distinctions and characteristics with precise and thorough explanations so that I can no longer say what I used to say - and what I hear many of you saying, that "there are always going to be exceptions."
Temperaments will always tend toward certain characteristics unless interfered with by outside influences (e.g. SJ parents punishing SP children for wasting their time on art), and even then, they remain latent.
Many of the adjectives that Myers-Briggs (who were NF rather than the more rational NT) uses to describe the preferences are overly generalized, whereas Keirsey fleshes these characteristics out with nuance and clarity. For instance, according to MB, J's tend to be on time and quick with decisions, but, in fact, the INTJ (because of the demands of the NT complex) tends to constantly lose track of the time and spend much time proofing a decision against error before actually making it. Thus, while they are still quite J - clear about their decisions, perhaps somewhat bossy - they do not exhibit MB's rather superficial distinctions.
If you really want to learn more about the personalities, you should read Keirsey's Please Understand Me II. His analysis of the personalities is much more precise than Myers Briggs, and you will be able to find yourself disambiguated within his pages.
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