The MBTI^® Dichotomies

The MBTI^® questionnaire sorts personalities according to four vital dichotomies--differences--that define our personal preferences.

Although these preferences may be very significant, they are not absolute. Each of us has the ability to consider and use the opposite preference from our "home plate" preference.

Extroversion / Introversion    E _____ I

Introverts are not shrinking violets and Extroverts are not the boisterous life-of-the-party. Instead, this preference tells us how we direct our energy and attention. Introverts are energized from their inner world of thoughts and ideas. Extroverts are energized by people and external events.

The E/I "attitude" often defines others' perception of us, but also offers us definable strengths in communication and career selection.

 

The S/N dichotomy reveals how you learn and accept information. Sensors tend to focus on facts, details, and that which is present or real. Intuitors have a preference for possibilities, theories and futuristic implications.

Sensors are said to be more grounded in reality, while iNtuitors may be more creative and oriented toward the abstract. The S/N dichotomy has significant implications in career planning and educational endeavours.

Thinking / Feeling         T _____ F

The T/F dichotomy indicates how we make decisions. Thinkers tend to be objective and potentially impersonal. Feelers give greater weight to the implication of decisions on people.

This function has profound implications in the workplace, where the best decisions often consider how rational criteria will impact employees. Work teams who understand the T/F relationship are ideally equipped to work as a team to make strategic decisions.

 

The final dichotomy considers how your live your life. Judgers live organized lives in accordance with rules, lists, and agendas. Perceivers value a more spontaneous, flexible lifestyle.

This dichotomy has profound implications in both interpersonal relationships and the workplace. Uninformed Judgers sometimes label Perceivers as disorganized, while Perceivers may view Judgers as rigid. Understanding these natural preferences helps work teams and couples use the opposite dichotomy to create balance in their activities.