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1. TJ'S -- THE THINKING JUDGING-MODE
TYPES
ISTJ -- Introverted Sensing Aided
by Thinking
Main Characteristics
ISTJs are characterized by decisiveness
in practical affairs, are guardians of time-honored institutions,
and, if only one adjective could be selected, dependable would
best describe this type which represents about 6 percent of the
general population. The work of ESTJ's is their bond, and they
experience great uneasiness by thoughts of a bankrupt nation,
state, institution, or family.
Whether at home or at work, this type is
rather quiet and serious. ISTJs are extraordinarily persevering
and dependable. The thought of dishonoring a contract would appall
a person of this type. When they give their word, they give their
honor. ISTJs can be counted on to conserve the resources of the
institution they serve and bring to their work a practical point
of view. They perform their duties without flourish or fanfare;
therefore, the dedication they bring to their work can go unnoticed
and unappreciated.
Career
ISTJ's interest in thoroughness, details,
justice, practical procedures, and smooth flow of personnel and
materiel leads this type to occupation's where these preferences
are useful. For example, ISTJs make excellent bank examiners,
auditors, accountants, or tax examiners. Investments in securities
are likely to interest this type, particularly investments in
bluechip securities. ISTJs are not likely to take chances either
with their own or others' money.
ISTJs can handle difficult, detailed figures
and make sense of them. They communicate a message of reliability
and stability, which often makes them excellent supervisors of,
for example, a ward in a hospital, a library, or a business operation.
They would be capable of handling the duties of a mortician,
a legal secretary, or a law researcher. High-school teachers
of business, home economics, physical education, and the physical
sciences are ISTJs, as are top-ranking officers of the Women's
Army Corps. Often this type seem to have ice in their veins,
for people fail to see an ISTJ's vulnerability to criticism.
ISTJs are patient with their work and with
procedures within an institution, although not always patient
with the individual goals of people in that institution. ISTJs
will see to it that resources are delivered when and where they
are supposed to be; materiel will be in the right place at the
right time. And ISTJs would prefer that this be the case with
people too.
Home
As a husband or wife, the ISTJ is a pillar
of strength. Just as this type honors business contracts, so
do they honor the marriage contract. Loyal and faithful mates,
they take responsibilities to children and mate seriously, giving
lifelong commitment to these. Duty is a word the ISTJ understands.
The male ISTJ sees himself as the breadwinner of the family,
although he can accept a working wife - as long as responsibilities
to children are not shirked. The male ISTJ's concept of masculinity
is patriarchal, and both female and male ISTJs make steady, dependable
partners. The female ISTJ may abandon the frivolous for the sensible
and may not always deepen her sensuality.
As parents, ISTJs are consistent in handling
children, and the rules of the family are made clear. A rebellious,
nonconforming child may have a difficult time, however, with
an ISTJ parent and vice versa. As a child, the ISTJ is apt to
be obedient and a source of pleasure to parents and teachers.
Although ISTJs are outstandingly practical
and sensible, they can marry people who are thoroughly irresponsible,
with the marriage developing into a relationship more parent
to child that adult to adult. The ISTJ fluctuates from being
rescuer to reformer of the wayward mate. The marriage then becomes
a lifelong game: On one side, there is Irresponsibility, Promise
of Reform, Brief Period of Reform, and Irresponsibility again;
on the ISTJ's part, the cycle is Disapproval, Rescue, Scolding,
Forgiveness, Acceptance of Promise To Do Better, and on and on.
This pattern often is seen when an ISTJ marries an alcoholic
and enters a life of caretaking punctuated by periods of anger
and rejection. Somehow, although ISTJs can accept periodic fickleness
and selfishness in significant others, they do not see this kind
of behavior as acceptable in themselves.
ISTJs have a distaste for and distrust
of fanciness in speech, dress, or home. The ostentatious is abhorred,
and a neat, orderly, and functional home and work environment
is preferred. Durability of furnishings are of primary concern,
esthetics given slim consideration. The cloths of an ISTJ tend
to be practical and durable rather than in the latest style or
luxurious. "No nonsense" in both food and clothes seem
characteristic of this type who tend not to be attracted by exotic
food and beverages, or places.
The male ISTJ may enjoy stag, men only
parties and use a different sort of language when only men are
present. The yearly hunting or fishing trip as a male ritual
is often a part of recreation for an ISTJ. More than the female,
the ISTJ male is apt to be involved in community service organizations
that transmit traditional values to the young, such as Boy Scouting.
They understand and appreciate the contributions these groups
make in preserving the national heritage. Along with the SJ's,
the ISTJ takes particular delight in festive occasions held in
the context of rituals, for example, weddings, holiday feasts,
and birthdays. At work, the ISTJ is apt to see the holiday office
party as a necessary nuisance and would be likely to participate
and enjoy these events.
Mid-life
At mid-life ISTJs might develop an interest
in collecting art objects and indulge themselves in using time
to craft objects which have utilitarian purpose. ISTJs might
enjoy relaxing physically and psychologically from a decision-making
role, perhaps even schooling themselves to allow others to wait
on them. They might want to increase their capacity to engage
in frivolity and, for a change, let someone else worry about
the future. Continuing to put off vacations, wanted luxuries,
rest periods, and other long-overdue activities could well be
abandoned in favor of some self-indulgence.
Mates
Here is the paragon of insurance, preparation,
and consolidation a person with a strong desire to be trusted.
Small wonder that he looks upon accounting, banking, and securities
with a benevolent eye. Try to imagine him married to one of his
own kind: Two Rocks of Gibraltar, each steadfastly tempering
the other's steadfast tempering! We can safely guess that this
sort of relationship wouldn't work very well.
The attraction, rather, is for the "entertainer,"
for the vivacity and sparkle of ESFP, the opposite of ISTJ. ISTJ
is the ultimate saver who is fascinated by, and frequently marries,
the ultimate spender! Here is complementary to the nth degree!
Just as often, ISTJ finds his or her opposite on the intuitive
side: the ENFP. Perhaps he senses in the ENFP's desire to spread
the word something similar to the ESFP's desire to put on a show.
Certainly the vivacity and sparkle is apparent in both, an attribute
which must be quite enchanting to the sober and careful ISTJ.
1. TJ'S -- THE THINKING
JUDGING-MODE TYPES
INTJ -- Introverted Intuition Aided
By Thinking
Main Characteristics
INTJs are the most self-confident of all
types, having "self-power" awareness. Found in about
1 percent of the general population, the INTJs live in an introspective
reality, focusing on possibilities, using thinking in the form
of empirical logic, and preferring that events and people serve
some positive use. Decisions come naturally to INTJs' once a
decision is made, INTJs are at rest. INTJs look to the future
rather than the past, and a word which captures the essence of
INTJs is builder - a builder of systems and the applier of theoretical
models.
To INTJs authority based on position, rank,
title, or publication has absolutely no force. This type is not
likely to succumb to he magic of slogans, watchwords, or shibboleths.
If an idea or position makes sense to an INTJ, it will be adopted,
if it doesn't, it won't, regardless of who took the position
or generated the idea. As with the INTP, authority per se does
not impress the INTJ.
INTJs do, however, tend to conform to rules
if they are useful, not because they believe in them, or because
they make sense, but because of their unique view of reality.
They are the supreme pragmatists, who see reality as something
which is quite arbitrary and made up. Thus it can be used as
a tool - or ignored. Reality is quite malleable and can be changed,
conquered, or brought to heel. Reality is a crucible for the
refining of ideas, and in this sense, INTJs are the most theoretical
of all the types. Where an ESTP sees ideas as the pawn of reality,
an INTJ sees reality as the pawn of ideas: No idea is too farfetched
to be entertained. INTJs are natural brainstormers, always open
to new concepts and, in fact, aggressively seeking them.
INTJs manipulate the world of theory as
if on a gigantic chess board, always seeking strategies and tactics
that have high payoff. In their penchant for logic, the INTJs
resemble the INTPs. The logic of an INTJ, however, is not confined
to the expressible logical. Unlike INTPs, INTJs need only to
have a vague, intuitive impression of the unexpressed logic of
a system to continue surely on their way. Things need only seem
logical; this is entirely sufficient. Moreover, they always have
a keen eye for the consequence of the application of new ideas
or positions. They can be quite ruthless in the implementation
of systems, seldom counting personal cost in terms of time and
energy. Theories which cannot be made to work are quickly discarded
by the INTJs.
To understand INTJs, their way of dealing
with ideas should be observed closely. Their conscious thought
is extraverted and empirical. Hence, they are better at generalizing,
classifying, summarizing, adducing evidence, proving, and demonstrating
than are the INTPs. The INTJs are somewhat less at home with
pure reason, that is, systemic logic, where principles are explicit.
In this respect they resemble the ENTJs. The INTJs, rather than
using deductive logic, use their intuition to grasp coherence.
Career
INTJs can be very single-minded at times;
this can be either a weakness or a strength in their careers,
for they can ignore the points of view and wishes of others.
INTJs usually rise to positions of responsibility, for they work
long and hard and are steady in their pursuit of goals, sparing
neither time nor effort on their part or that of their colleagues
and employees.
INTJs live to see systems translated into
substance; an INTP, by way of contrast, is content to design
the system. In both these types, however, coherence is the master.
Both internal and external consistency are important, and if
an INTJ finds that he or she is in a working situation where
overlapping functions, duplication of effort, inefficient paper
flow, and waste of human and material resources abound, the INTJ
cannot rest until an effort is made to correct the situation.
Cost-effectiveness is a concept which has a strong imperative
for INTJs, who frequently select occupations in engineering,
particularly human engineering. They also can be found in the
physical sciences, in roles which require development, such as
curriculum building, and, in general, any job which requires
the creation and application of technology to complex areas.
Fellow workers of INTJs often feel as if
the INTJ can see right through them, and often believe that the
INTJ finds them wanting. This tendency of people to feel transparent
in the presence of the INTJ often result in relationships which
have psychological distance. Thus colleagues find the INTJ apparently
unemotional and, at times, cold and dispassionate. Because of
their tendency to drive others as hard as they do themselves,
INTJs often seem demanding and difficult to satisfy. INTJs are
high achievers in school and on the job. On the job, they take
the goals of an institution seriously and continually strive
to respond to these goals. They make dedicated, loyal employees
whose loyalties are directed toward the system, rather than toward
individuals within the system. So as the people of an institution
come and go, the
INTJs have little difficulty - unlike the
NFs, who have their loyalties involved more with persons than
offices. INTJs tend, ordinarily, to verbalize the positive and
eschew comments of a negative nature; they are more interested
in moving an institution forward than commiserating about mistakes
of the past.
Home
As mates, INTJs want harmony and order
in the home and in relationships. They are the most independent
of all types. They will trust their intuitions about others when
making choices of friends and mates, even in the face of contradictory
evidence and pressures applied by others.
The emotions of an INTJ are hard to read, and neither male nor
female INTJ is apt to express emotional reactions. At times,
both will seem cold, reserved, and unresponsive, while in fact
INTJs are almost hypersensitive to signals of rejection from
those for whom they care. In social situations, INTJs may also
be unresponsive and may neglect to observe small rituals designed
to put others at their ease. For example, INTJs may communicate
that time is wasted if used for idle dialogue, and thus people
receive a sense of hurry from an INTJ which is not always intended.
In their interpersonal relationships, INTJs are usually better
in a working situation than in recreational situations. They
do not enjoy physical contact except with a chosen few.
As parents, INTJs are dedicated and single
minded in their devotion: Their children are a major focus in
life. They are supportive of their children and tend to allow
them to develop in directions of their own choosing. INTJs usually
are firm and consistent in their discipline and rarely care to
repeat directions given to children or others. Being the most
independent all the types, they have a strong need for autonomy;
indifference or criticism from people in general does not particularly
bother INTJs, if they believe that they are right. They also
have a strong need for privacy.
The most important preference of an INTJ
is intuition, but this is seldom seen. Rather, the function of
thinking is used to deal with the world and with people. INTJs
are vulnerable in the emotional area and may make serious mistakes
here.
Midlife
At midlife the feeling side of personality
should be given much attention by the INTJ, who can work at expanding
his or her abilities to respond to wishes and feelings of others.
They may also do well to turn more attention to the sensory side
of their natures, attempting to get in touch with the joys of
good food, good beverages, social rituals, kinesthetic experiences,
and play. The "wasting" of time in play is an appropriate
target as a midlife task for INTJs who can take lessons from
an SP, especially an ESP, in the art of enjoying the pleasures
of life.
Mates
Wishing to control nature, the INTJ "scientist"
probably has more difficulty than all other types in making up
his or her mind in mate selection. Even mate selection must be
done in a scientific way. It may well be that the narratives,
plays, and films impugning the "rational and objective"
approach to mating have as their target our thorough-going scientist
INTJ. Nevertheless, when young, the INTJ is attracted to the
free-wheeling, spontaneous, fun-loving "entertainer"
ESFP. But the INTJ requires that mating meet certain criteria,
else it is not undertaken. So the INTJ doesn't often go through
with what is begun by natural attraction. Since he or she proceeds
in a rational and methodical way, the selection of a similar
temperament is more likely than selection of opposite, following
the assumption that those who are similar ought to do well together.
The INTJ "scientist" is also attracted to the ENFP
"journalist," probably because of the enthusiastic,
effervescent, and apparently spontaneous enjoyment and wonderment
this type exudes - the very antitheses of the careful, thoughtful
exactitude of the INTJ.
1. TJ'S -- THE THINKING
JUDGING-MODE TYPES
ESTJ -- Extraverted Thinking Aided
by SensingMain Characteristics
ESTJ'S are very much in touch with the
external environment. They know their community and usually are
pillars of strength. The best adjective to describe ESTJs would
be responsible. They represent about 13 percent of the general
population.
ESTJs are outstanding at organizing orderly
procedures and in detailing rules and regulations. They like
to see things done correctly. They tend to be impatient with
those who do not carry out procedures with sufficient attention
to those details, prescribed by those with the most experience,
that will get the job done right.
ESTJs are comfortable in evaluating others
and tend to judge how a person is doing in terms of standard
operating procedures. They may, at times, be abrupt with those
who do not follow rules correctly. ESTJs are realistic, matter-of-fact,
and more curious about new devices
and processes than about new principles and theories.
Career
ESTJ's generally are loyal to their institutions,
work, and community and make excellent, faithful mates and parents.
They see where their duty lies and are not likely to shirk the
doing of that duty, even when this requires considerable sacrifice
on their part. They frequently rise to positions of responsibility
in their jobs, in the community, and in their religious affiliations.
They very often belong to several civic clubs, and support them
both through steady attendance and through their spoken attitudes.
ESTJs themselves are punctual and expect others to be also.
ESTJs may not always be responsive to points
of view and emotions of others and may have a tendency to jump
to conclusions too quickly at times. They may not always be willing
to listen patiently to opposing views; they are especially vulnerable
to this tendency when in positions of authority. They may need
to make special effort to remain open to input from others who
are dependent on them - their children, spouses, and employees.
ESTJs are so in tune with the established,
time-honored institutions and ways of behaving within those institutions
that they cannot understand those who might wish to abandon or
radically change those institutions. They follow routines well
at home and at work, tending to have a place for everything and
wanting everything in its place. They are usually neat and orderly
at work and at play.
Home
They approach human relations through traditions
and rituals, promoting harmony and contentment in their relationships
through creating well worked out routines and procedures. Family
traditions have meaning for ESTJs, and they willingly participate
in observing these. They enjoy opportunities to see friends,
former colleagues, and relatives at functions such as retirement
dinners, annual picnics, Thanksgiving gatherings, and weddings.
ESTJs are relatively easy to get to know; they do not tend to
confuse people by sending double messages. They are dependable
and consistent, and what they seem to be is what they are.
Mid-life
At mid-life ESTJs may find new challenge
in concentrating on better understanding the emotional reaction
of others. If they do not develop this sensitivity, they can
become bad-tempered and highly impatient with others as the years
pass. They probably have been holding a tight rein over their
emotions in the service of their careers and family; now a freer
expression of these emotions, especially the positive ones, might
be exercised. Travel to new places should have particular appeal
if the ESTJs make special effort to absorb different cultures
and lifestyles.
Mates
To preserve the establishment, to keep
it healthy, steady, balanced, well insured, that's what is enjoyable
and satisfying to the ESTJ. Yet the ESTJ is attracted to the
disestablishmentarian, the ISFP! Does he hope to redo this bucolic
spirit in his own image? Seemingly not. Perhaps he sees in this
person's extreme laissez-faire a respite from the great responsibilities
he manages to accumulate.
He can and sometimes does find another
sort of complementary opposite, the INFP "monastic."
This is very infrequent, there being 15 ESTJs for every INFP.
It is doubtful if the ESTJ finds any rest in the INFP, because
underneath the monastic is a fierce crusader - hardly what he
bargained for. He may soon find himself asked to increase the
"depth" and the "meaningfulness" of the relationship
without being given even the slightest clue on how to proceed.
His renewed efforts to "stabilize" and "solidify"
the relationship will only be taken as signs of superficiality
and/or meaninglessness.
1. TJ'S -- THE THINKING
JUDGING-MODE TYPES
ENTJ -- Extraverted Thinking Aided
By IntuitionMain Characteristics
If one word were used to capture ENTJ's
style, it would be commandant. The basic driving force and need
of ENTJ's is to lead, and from an early age they can be observed
taking over groups. This type is found in approximately 5 percent
of the total population. ENTJ's have a strong urge to give structure
wherever they are - to harness people to distant goals. Their
empirical, objective, and extraverted thinking may be highly
developed; if this is the case, they use classification, generalization,
summarization, adduction of evidence, and demonstration with
ease. They resemble ESTJ's in their tendency to establish plans
for a task, enterprise, or organization, but ENTJ's search more
for policy and goals than for regulations and procedures. An
ENTJ's introverted thinking (analysis and conservation) may be
less well developed than the extraverted thinking processes,
and the ENTJ leader may turn to an ENTP or INTP to provide his
kind of input. ENTJ's are similar to INTJ's except that the former
places greater trust in empirical thought than in intuition;
it is the ENTJ's own intuitive sense of coherence, however, that
augments and supports their empirical thinking.
Career
Although ENTJ's are tolerant of established
procedures, they can abandon any procedure when it can be shown
to be indifferent to the goal it seemingly serves. Inefficiency
is especially rejected by ENTJ's, and repetition of error causes
them to become impatient. For the ENTJ, there must always be
a reason for doing anything, and people's feelings usually are
not sufficient reason. When in charge of an organization, ENTJ's
more than any other type desire (and generally have the ability)
to visualize where the organization is going and seem able to
communicate that vision to others. They are the natural organization
builders, and they cannot not lead. They find themselves in command
and sometimes are mystified as to how this happened. As administrators,
ENTJ's organize their units into a smooth functioning system,
planning in advance, keeping both short-term and long-range objectives
well in mind. They seek and can see efficiency and effectiveness
in personnel. They prefer decisions to be based on impersonal
data, want to work from well thought-out plans, and like to use
engineered operations - and they prefer that others follow suit.
ENTJ's will support the policy of the organization and will expect
others to do so.
ENTJ's will usually rise to positions of
responsibility and enjoy being executives. They are tireless
in their devotion to their jobs and can easily block out other
areas of life for the sake of work. They will be able to reduce
inefficiency, ineffectiveness, and aimless confusion, being willing
to dismiss employees who perpetuate such behaviors. ENTJ's tend
to work in organizational structures of some sort, tend to be
in charge administratively, and rise to top levels of responsibility,
whether in the military, business, education, or government.
Home
ENTJ's take charge of the home. When an
ENTJ is present, there will be little doubt as to who is in command.
Because their work is so important to them, however, they can
become increasingly absent, especially if male. Male or female,
ENTJ's expect a great deal of their mates, who need to possess
a strong personality of their own, a well-developed autonomy,
many and varied interests, and a healthy self-esteem. A career
wife, however, may not be appealing to an ENTJ male, who is apt
to view his home and family as a part of his professional background,
a resource, and adjunct to his own career development.
As a parent, an ENTJ will be thoroughly
in charge, and the children will know what is expected of them
and will be expected to obey. When this does not occur, an ENTJ
parent is not apt to make a scene; rather, there is more likely
to be a low-key, firm issuance of reprimand and a taking-for-granted
of immediate obedience. While both mating and parenting are roles
of importance to the ENTJ's, they are to some degree preempted
by the ENTJ's strong career interest. The romantic dream and
the quest for the ideal mate is usually not a characteristic
of this type. ENTJ's generally do, however, expect a home to
be attractive, well-ordered, with meals served punctually and
maintenance accomplished on schedule - all these in the service
of the larger goal of creating a family system where children
can be reared to be productive and healthy and establishing a
devoted, harmonious relationship between man and woman. An ENTJ
male might expect his mate to be active in civic and community
affairs, to be socially sophisticated, and as well educated as
he. The ENTJ female may find it difficult to select a mate who
is not overwhelmed by her strong personality and will.
Midlife
At midlife the ENTJ's tendency to be somewhat
unaware of the feelings of others, including those close, maybe
an area that could be given attention. But perhaps the most important
midlife task of the ENTJ is to begin to allocate time and energy
to pursuits which are not work-connected and to begin to develop
a larger repertoire of play skills. Putting off vacations, travel,
hobbies, and family should be avoided.
Mates
The ENTJ is a natural "fieldmarshal,"
that is, he's itching to get his hands on several "armies"
so that he can marshal his forces and conduct the "war"
as it should be conducted. If our ENTJ is in charge of any kind
of enterprise, however small, his temperament dictates that he
run it as he would his armies - with an eye to long-term strategies
and their derivative tactics, logistics, and consequences. In
startling contrast to this, the fieldmarshal is enamored by the
"flower child," the bucolic artist ISFP, tranquilly
ensconced next to Walden pond! Perhaps the ENTJ wishes a spouse
who will share with him or her the quiet of the forest and field
far from the madding crowd, thus separating home from work by
a great, insulating distance.
The ENTJ is attracted also to his opposite
in the Appolonian camp: the monastic and questing INFP. What
in the saintly or knightly (St. Joan of Arc, Sir Galahad) INFP
calls the ENTJ fieldmarshal? First note the outward similarity
of the INFP and
the ISFP. Perhaps it is this, the underlying
missionary outlook of the INFP. In a sense, both INFP and ISFP
have great missionary zeal, the former enlisting the spouse in
the quest, the latter in the tranquil respite of nature?
Copyright
2000, Gesher, Robert I. Winer, M.D.
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