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Dimensions of Personality

Myers-Briggs Typing Method

Carl Jung, one of the greatest psychologists of the last century and Sigmund Freud's best disciple, identified three important dimensions to personality. Katherine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs-Myers, incorporating Jung's work, added a fourth Dimension and developed the Myers - Briggs Typing Method, which has since been well researched and widely used. A brief description of each dimension is outlined below and its bearing on education. Type descriptions are realistically applicable much of the time, but this is not an exact science. When an appropriate choice for each dimension (I or E, N or S etc.) is selected, it gives us 16 possible personality categories, (represented in the table at the bottom)

Dimension 1 : - Introvert / Extravert (I)/ (E)

Extraverts are 'outgoing' people, who do much of their thinking in public. Being active people who enjoy meeting others and like attention, they work well in groups and are good brainstormers. One-on-One Help with 'in-depth' learning helps them as they find independent study harder.
Introverts, are more comfortable with the inner world of memories and reflections. They tend to be reserved students, who are energized by time spent alone. Being more private, they avoid public speaking. Tuition helps them share ideas and work through problems, getting valuable feedback, rarely available in large classes. With tuition, Introverts grow in confidence and avoid disengagement.

Dimension 2 : - Intuitive / Sensor (N) / (S)

Sensors are grounded, down - to -Earth people, who focus on facts and realities, rather than possibilities. They tend to be practical, valuing common sense rather than theory. Tactical rather than strategic, they use sensory information and garner facts rather than seek meanings. They present information literally and sequentially. They benefit by help with theory, exploring concepts, deriving formulae and doing exercises with imagination, awareness of meanings, connections and inferences. Intuitive students will place emphasis on hunches. Valuing inspiration and inference, they look to the future and seek change. Often idealistic, they read between the lines and are interested in possibilities more than realities. Presenting information in a roundabout way, with metaphors and analogies they generate new, often impractical ideas. Intuitives work well with new concepts, but can develop depth by practical application. The use of experimental data, and the application of theory in practice, has obvious benefits.

Dimension 3 : - Feeler / Thinker (F) / (T)

Feelers are warm, sometime over-emotional people who tend to get personally involved. Feelers are lenient, tactful and consider the effect of their actions on others. Generally accepting of others, Feelers make decisions on their emotions, often using a value system. They value harmony and avoid confrontations. Thinkers are tough, assertive people, who make decisions using logic. Thinkers, valuing justice, fairness and uniformity in standards, are often startling in their honesty and blunt in criticism. Thinkers are generally cooler, impersonal and critical. They step back, think globally and objectively, considering what is universally beneficial. Egalitarian and fair, they can overlook the emotional dimension, finding it hard to understand where people are 'coming from'. Thinkers benefit by exploring feelings in literature, history etc. Tuition helps Feeler students think more globally and develop greater objectivity. Positive feedback for Feelers is a tonic for self-esteem and confidence. Success and status are good motivators for the Thinker.

Dimension 4 : - Perceiver / Judger (P) / (J)

Perceivers gather information but tend to postpone. They prefer leaving options open, living flexibly. Easy-going, they dislike forced decisions are often disorganized. Perceiver students enjoy starting projects (rarely finished). Judgers dislike putting things off and take deadlines seriously. Judgers are decisive, organized and efficient, with a strong goal orientation and work ethic. Often living by strict rules, they may be rigid and inflexible. They can make poor choices from rushed decisions, resisting change, even if warranted. Perceivers benefit from work on study skills and personal organization. Work that is more structured and decisive, helps their performance. Judgers often need to prioritize and learn flexibility. Allowing time to gather more information, brings greater creativity and depth.

Table 1:- The 16 Personality types

INFP

INFJ

ISFP

ISFJ

INTP

INTJ

ISTP

ISTJ

ENFP

ENFJ

ESFP

ESFJ

ENTP

ENTJ

ESTP

ESTJ


Study and Career Pathways

As part of our study techniques program the student can undergo sessions to understand his or her personal preferences and understand the main concepts involved in personality. To learn more about Myers Briggs and the 4 main temperaments click Temperaments or registered students can Log in to our Personality page. To return to the Courses page, Click Courses

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