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 in this fourth installment of the introduction to type. This time, it’s about how you make your decisions, either by objective reasoning (called Thinking, represented by a T) or by subjective values (called Feeling, represented by an F). We all think and feel, so it’s important to note that this dichotomy is not within a context of intelligence versus emotion. Many Thinkers feel deeply, and many Feelers reason. But which way do you tend to make decisions? Read on to see which resonates more with you.

Thinkers:

• *search for objective truth.
• *use analytical cause-and-effect and solve their issues with logical reasoning.
• *are practical and concise and will both seek out and analyze the basic truth of a situation or thing. They then come to an effective, reasonable and clear answer that make sense.
• *look for logical explanations, inconsistencies and measures situations using pros and cons concisely.
• *may find the dilemma of weighing others’ opinions, thoughts and feelings tedious or irrelevant and puts more weight on objective principles and impersonal facts.
• *sometimes may appear to miss out on the human aspect of an issue, appearing “tough-minded”, task-oriented or uncaring.
• *want to be fair and want everyone treated equally.

Feelers:

• *have a primary need for harmony as their ultimate goal in reaching a desired decision.
• *are warm and gentle and use the heart as their principal guide.
• *need to know the particulars of others’ feelings and their subjective ideas in order to weigh the information given.
• *need connectedness with others.
• *need to see how the decision will impact others individually and as a whole.
• *are driven by passionate subjectivity met with tact and diplomacy.
• *have a compassionate and tolerant form of communication to meet others’ needs and want everyone to be treated as an individual, using empathy as a mediator to this end.

Next time, we’ll look at how you prefer to approach the outer world (judging or perceiving).

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

Never miss a blog post! Sign up for our newsletter here to read more of these bi-monthly blogs on psychological and spiritual topics.

~Pamela Thompson
Team Host Lead
Jung Society of Utah