In this final installment in the series we continue our exploration of another component of the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), a personality typology based on C.G. Jung’s work of personality theory. Now we will examine how you and I prefer to deal with the outer world. The words in this dichotomy have little to do with the first meanings we may give them. Judging (represented by the letter J) in this context means those preferring structure in their outer world while Perceiving (represented by the letter P) means those who prefer their outer world to be more open ended. Which way speaks more to you?

Those who prefer Judging:

*create a plan and organize the world to achieve its set goals efficiently and in a predictable way.

*collapse open-ended possibilities into a chosen point of outcome, feeling accomplished and in control having “tied up loose ends”.

*seek to keep on task and fulfill the arrangements that are executed regardless of external or internal flow.

*feel safe and comfortable in a set framework and needs order to feel secure. -Judging looks forward to ending projects rather than beginning them.

*love to-do-lists and feel gratified when things have been mentally checked off.

 

Those who prefer perceiving:

*seek to take in the world rather than act upon it.

*go with the flow, are tolerant of differences and adapt to whatever the situation requires.

*tend to be rebellious against rules, structure and hierarchy, preferring to go with the flow and see what happens “just around the corner”.

*prefer an open-ended perspective of the world-needing a continuous flow of observation and may frequently feel that it needs more information to make a decision. They move toward an open-ended stream of exploration without the urge to collapse the diverse possibility’s into a single option, making a decision only when necessary.

*delight in beginning projects and may become too distracted to finish a goal.

*can move in many different directions at once depending on the natural and inherent flow of the moment and will change direction often.

If you missed the other installments of this series, check out the intro to type, find out if you’re an extrovert or introvert, discover the different ways you take in information.

 

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~Pamela Thompson
Team Host Lead
Jung Society of Utah