The Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) categorizes people into 16 personality types based on four preferences: introversion/extraversion, intuition/sensing, feeling/thinking, and perceiving/judging. Understanding these preferences can improve workplace relationships and project effectiveness. The INFP personality, for example, prefers introversion, intuition, feeling, and perception, and is suited for tasks that require thoughtfulness and attention to the “big picture.” Many top writers and humanitarians are believed to have this personality type.
The Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) was developed by Isabel Myers-Briggs and her mother, Katharine Briggs, to present the theories of personality developed by Carl Jung in a practical and useful way. The theory suggests that people fall into one of 16 personality types. The personality characteristics of these types offer an explanation for behavior related to how individuals use perception and judgment. Depending on the type of MBTI, individuals react with a preference for handling and processing various information and stimuli.
This is a useful tool when applied to relationship dynamics and has been used in the workplace to help managers and colleagues understand each other better. By recognizing and understanding operational preferences, it enables a group to more effectively tackle projects and develop a symbiotic team. Types are determined by four preferences. These are introversion (I) / extraversion (E), intuition (N) / sensing (S), feeling (F) / thinking (T), and perceiving (P) / judging (J).
For example, one of the personality types is the INFP personality. This indicates a person who prefers introversion, intuition, feeling and perception. A common misconception is to assume that introversion refers to a person who loathes social interaction, but in the case of MBTI traits, a preference for introversion indicates the individual’s preference for information processing and is not necessarily a social preference. True, introverts generally enjoy more alone time, but in this context, introversion means that an individual prefers to meditate in silence and share when an idea is fully developed. Those with a preference for extraversion think more clearly and develop ideas while in the process of speaking.
The INFP personality also indicates a preference for intuition over sensing. This means that they make interpretations based on intuition and recognize and build upon patterns and relationships that are not perceivable in a physical sense. Sensors prefer to use the five senses to recognize facts, details and what can be measured and proved.
The third preference, feeling, indicates an INFP personality’s preference in making decisions. Thinkers are concerned with how they and others are feeling and are not necessarily concerned with why or how something happened; they just want to fix it so they don’t get sick. Thinkers make objective decisions. Facts, justice and logic regulate their opinions and do not deal with human reactions to decisions. They worry about whether the result has been achieved or not.
The fourth position, “P,” indicates a preference for perception. The INFP personality prefers spontaneity, flexibility and doing things differently. They like to open doors. Those with a judgmental preference adhere strictly to deadlines, dislike veering off course in the middle, and seek closure.
How the four preferences play together results in a personality suited to certain situations and tasks. Due to the INFP combination, an individual with this personality will likely enjoy working alone, initiating rather than finalizing projects, working on tasks that require thoughtfulness and attention to the “big picture”, trying new and innovative methods, and making value-based decisions rather than on facts. Introverted thinking coupled with a sentimental preference make those with the INFP personality natural writers. A good number of top writers and distinguished humanitarians are believed to have the INFP personality.
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