Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - Essay Example

 Myers-Briggs Type Indicator One of the problems of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, is a problem dealing with the very nature of a 'type'. That is, it is a problem that can be found where any categories, types, genera and species are present. The problem concerns identity, and it can be demonstrated by a simple example. Archeology is a discipline and practice that might in some contexts be defined as 'grave robbing'. Where grave robbing is legally and conventionally in most places illegal, when the grave in question is old or archaic, we call the digging up and taking of a dead-person's bones archeology. Of course, every discipline does have an ethics or methodological code of conduct, and the point is not to criticize archaeologists. However, what the nature of their activity is as a 'type' depends on the context. In some contexts, the very same activity is grave robbing while in others, it is a respected science. Problems of identity or 'types', can be described as having a 'gray' area, and this is precisely why the question is being raised in the introduction. The problem with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, is that there are too many cross-over to other 'types' and that the line between types is no clearer than it is for any other concept that involves some notion of 'identity'. The following will analyze the Introverted Intuitive Thinking Judging (INTJ) type and the 'mastermind' within the Keirsey scale, with an eye toward demonstrating some of the limitations. INTROVERTED: On the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the first attribute of the INTJ type is introverted. It is important to stress that this is a specific form of introversion. This form might be described as an 'escaping to' rather than an 'escaping from'. Some introverts are that way because they are trying to get away from social interactions, and for a variety of reasons or causes. The INTJ personality is introverted, but they are so as a matter of choice. Being introverted allows for conceptual or analytical activity to take place, and thus as a choice, for the INTJ, it can be described as just a “practical” decision [Personality Page, 2011, “INTJ”]. INTUITIVE: Like the introverted quality, the intuitive side of the INTJ and for the writer of the present analysis, is one that is not a strictly conventional definition. Intuition or the form of intuition for the INTJ, can be said to be rational. As an individual who invests a lot of time in learning and investigating, the type of intuition that is accessible to the INTJ is also the outcome of conditioning through “reason” or “rationality” [Personality Page, 2011, “INTJ”]. That is, intuitions take the forms of finding a common thread through seemingly disparate elements, and having the insight at first which was conditioned by reasoning patterns of the past, and further, a type of intuition that can be factually verified. That is, the rational side of the INTJ will not allow an intuition into the conceptual scheme, without there being some practical or pragmatic reason to do so. And, the pragmatic or practical side of the intuition, is to verify or empirically test the intuition rather than just trust the instinctual or emotional side of the experience. THINKING: In the Myers-Briggs Personality Types, the opposite of “thinking” is “feeling” [Personality Page, 2011, “INTJ”]. As was described in the previous section on intuition, thinking or rationally analyzing phenomenon is a primary mode of operation for the INTJ. At this juncture, it is important that both the type and my own self-assessment maintain that thinking through a situation is much more important and indeed, valid, then just feeling about it. For instance, as a parent, this would mean that 'love' 'is not' all you need – that is, to invert a well known set of lyrics from the rock group, the Beatles. Rather, parenting would involve making decisions on what is most reasonable and practical, rather than what the emotion of love is dictating. JUDGING: One of the important aspects of judgment for the INTJ, is that it comes from a place of intellectual self-efficiency. That is, it is the outcome of a reasoning and thinking process. It can in this sense, be said that an 'evaluation' is the outcome of critical analysis and reasoning of the 'thinking' phase. It is important to stress that it is not a 'judgmental' dimension, but one that comes from a place of “confidence” [Personality Page, 2011, “INTJ”] precisely because it has been tested against the rigors of a scientific methodology. At the very least, the logic underlying an evaluation or judgment has been analyzed so that the 'form' of the argument is considered rationally true or structurally sound. WORK IMPLICATIONS FOR THE INTJ: The INTJ can unquestionably be said to be a profitable contributor in the work-place. However, with one exception. Their fierce independence of mind, means that they need to be cultivated in a particular way. A manager has to approach the INTJ by harnessing the independence rather than by provoking it. This means accommodating the two seemingly “contradictory” [Kroeger, Thuesen, and Rutledge 325] sides of the need for independence, which might seem defiant, with the side that wants to do the job “as fast as possible” [Kroeger, Thuesen, and Rutledge 325]. That is, they know that the more productive they are, the more they get remunerated. That is a built in assumption that one has to know when dealing with the INTJ. For instance, it is better not to deal with with a 'stick' precisely because they are always responsible for producing their own carrot, so to speak. They are highly “motivated” [Kroeger, Thuesen, and Rutledge 326] individuals who draw “energy from the complexity of future possibilities” [Kroeger, Thuesen, and Rutledge 328]. The INTJ likes to plan ahead for the future, and they are very interested in looking at the best possible outcomes for the 'long term' [Kroeger, Thuesen, and Rutledge 324]. They both like to solve problems, and to have challenges. If there are any limitations, it is only that they like to feel independent. That is, it is better to make them feel that they are unique in regard to their overall contribution. It is not to say that they are not effective team-players. On the contrary, they exhibit an excellent capacity for team work. They merely have to know where their contribution lies in the chain of the organization, and if they are given a lead role on a project, that will work even better at harnessing their basically excellent work qualities. CONCLUSION: It is not difficult to find examples of how I reflect the INTJ. I have always gravitated to leadership roles, such as a recent group project for one of my courses that took place last year. I was naturally capable of planning, and creating a time-line for the project. Likewise, I was able to break down the project into self contained components in order to delegate these talks to the other members of the project. In terms of some of the limitations, it can be said that there are so many types or traits that cross-over into other categories. For instance, when is introversion a situation where an individual is escaping from others, as opposed to getting away from others because of the practical necessity of working alone. There is no reason why an individual can't hold both of these contradictory motives. Thus, while the Myers-Briggs scale tries to separate opposites from one another, it is also being argued that the problem of identity dictates that there are some contexts where they cross-over with one another. Further, because of the cross-over, it is very possible to have two very contradictory attributes at once. Types are therefore, not that easily separated from each-other, and this is one of the important limitations. Works Cited: Kroeger, Otto, Thuesen, Janet M., and Rutledge, Hile. 2002. Type Talk at Work: How 16 Personality Types Determine Success on the Job. New York: Dell Publishing. The Personality Pages. “INTJ”. http://personalitypage.com/html/INTJ.html . Last Retrieved: July 2nd, 2011. 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