MBTI: NF Temperament

                The NF is one of the most difficult categories to define. To put it simply, they are trying to find self. According to Keirsey, the NF “hungers for self-actualization, to be and to become real.”[1] They long to be unique, and recognized for it, no matter what role they fulfill in the world. They wish to be real, honest, transparent. Integrity does not lack in their lives. They search for a life of significance.

                The relationships of the NF are characterized by their willingness to invest effort and enthusiasm and emotion into the other person, often feeling disappointment in what is returned. This characteristic, however, makes them into wonderful counselors, psychiatrists, and teachers. They adopt causes and only abandon them if they are not accomplishing some life-changing, long-lasting goal.

                A wonderful aspect of the NF is his ability to see good in anyone. This can result in an ability and willingness to make great personal sacrifice for the good of others. They are the ones urging the world to “be real.”[2] They long to provide significance in addition to service.

                The NF will concentrate on people over things. Their interest is in relationships, not abstractions. They love interaction. These things set them apart from the SP, SJ, and NT.

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[1] David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, Please Understand Me: Character & Temperament Types, (Del Mar: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company, 1984), page 59.

[2] David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, Please Understand Me: Character & Temperament Types, (Del Mar: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company, 1984), page 64.

MBTI: NT Temperament

                The NTs are one of the most unique categories, living in a world where the others are unlike them. This will be become more obvious as we advance in our study of them. They include the INTJ, the most unusual of all the types.

                One of the things that fascinates and is highly desirable to the NT is power – not over people as much as the understanding and predicting of realities and natural things. Perhaps “power” is not so much the word to use as “competency” or some similar word. Keirsey puts it like this: “The extreme NT can even be seen as addicted to acquiring intelligence, hooked on storing up wisdom…”[1] He has a need, a desire, a MUST to be good at everything he does. This means he is strongly critical of himself and his abilities. Indeed, “the NT must be competent in whatever domain of enterprise or inquiry he chooses; he will settle for nothing less.”[2] This occasionally results in perfectionism. But because of the NT’s thirst for and pursuit of knowledge, the semi-common result is that he does indeed become an expert in the field of his choice. He often does have a greater proficiency in more areas than the average person.

                Unfortunately, the NT tends to project attitudes of expecting little of others (since they cannot usually comprehend his mode of communication and the extensiveness of his actions) and yet expecting them to at least attempt to equal him in production and effort. These attitudes result in those around NTs sometimes feeling “intellectually inadequate.”[3] Thanks to this, arrogance and pride can often be an appearance (and regularly a reality) for the NT. Indeed, it is one of their most serious issues.

                NTs tend to speak briefly, without repetitiveness, communicating concisely. Sometimes they leave things out, assuming that others know them already. For an NT, idleness is the worst thing that could possibly happen. Everything is work and knowledge and growing, whatever it may be. Additionally, randomly, NTs like word-play. They enjoy words in general, but especially when they are put together in witty or humorous ways.

                All of this combined tends to make the NT a rather unemotional person, often unaware of the emotions and feelings of others. They are not usually sensitive. Unkind remarks aimed against them do not generally phase them, but the NT is more than capable of returning with a biting sarcasm that can deeply hurt the one who is on the receiving end.

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[1] David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, Please Understand Me: Character & Temperament Types, (Del Mar: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company, 1984), page 48.

[2] David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, Please Understand Me: Character & Temperament Types, (Del Mar: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company, 1984), page 49.

[3] David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, Please Understand Me: Character & Temperament Types, (Del Mar: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company, 1984), page 51.

MBTI: SJ Temperament

                One of the primary concerns of the SJ is to belong – yet not simply for himself (that is, because of who he is), but because he has worked to belong and deserves it. The attitude of an SJ often tends towards being parental, with a longing to be needed. They almost desire to be “bound and obligated.”[1] A deeply rooted belief in hierarchy is a sizable part of what makes an SJ function.

                SJs tend to be a little pessimistic in all they do, or at least, the strongest SJs are. This comes partially from a strong sense of reality. They long and strive to be prepared for anything that may occur. They want to be useful, to belong in the groups they are near.

                One unique characteristic of the SJ is that he feels strongly that it is “his duty to give, serve, and care for.”[2] He does not like to accept care from others, since he is, in his own mind, the one who should be giving it. They have a strong sense of caring, especially for the very young and old. It is the SJs who conserve and save, most especially in any line of work they may be in: pastor, accountant, banker, manager, medical fields, etc. Often they may end up in a position of some power, revealing themselves to be conservative in spending and life in general. They are also very responsible, but often without the thanks and appreciation that such responsibility should receive. This responsibility results in many SJs being teachers, librarians, dentists, or entering other solidly respectable lines of work.

                One of their most distinguishing characteristics is their passion for tradition. To an SJ, history is of the utmost importance. They want to learn the lessons of history and put them to practical use. And, to an SJ, tradition is there and inherently rooted somehow in history.

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[1] David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, Please Understand Me: Character & Temperament Types, (Del Mar: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company, 1984), page 40.

[2] David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, Please Understand Me: Character & Temperament Types, (Del Mar: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company, 1984), page 42.

MBTI: SP Temperament

                Before we can continue on to the sixteen personality combinations that can be created from these eight options, it would be beneficial to the reader to have a rudimentary understanding of how I am organizing the sixteen. Certainly, they could be in a random order but they are not. Rather, I have chosen to group them according to the categories given by David Keirsey in his book titled Please Understand Me: Character & Temperament Types. For anyone interested in pursuing further studies on the MBTI, I highly recommend this book and its sequel. Much of my information stems from it. But for now, let me introduce you to the four categories, known as temperaments, into which Keirsey groups the personality types. They are SP, SJ, NT, and NF and they organize the types in the following way: SP (ISTP, ESTP, ISFP, ESFP); SJ (ISFJ, ESFJ, ISTJ, ESTJ); NT (INTP, ENTP, INTJ, ENTJ); and NF (INFJ, ENFJ, INFP, ENFP).

The SP Temperament

                The aim of the SP is to be free. Indeed, he must be free. The SP holds a hunger for action that seems strange to others. If the action accomplishes some goal or does some good, so be it – the important thing is to simply have that action. They are process-oriented, while most types are motivated by the end that will be completed. Their love for action leads them to a great mastery of tools. They “cannot not put it to use”[1] when a tool is present, be that a hammer or a bulldozer or a gun or a scalpel. For them, the joy is in the action, in the labor. They have an endurance which can often stretch far beyond the endurance of the other types.

                Yet even beyond the longing to be in action, the SP longs to be seen as active by others. They want to appear to have the freedom to act how they will, to be impulsive when they choose. They have joy in almost everything, bringing a sense of “something exciting is about to happen”[2] to all that they do. Randomness and spontaneity are an important part of life to an SP. Out of all the types, they are most likely to wander and can cut social ties quite easily, although they may be aware of the distress which they may cause. Sometimes they miss the little romantic things such as a phone call, while remembering the grand gesture of a dozen roses or a ring.

                The SP has an egalitarian point of view, living in a state of opulence unless money is short, and then he will believe that it is only for a time. In general, SPs are willing to share, open and welcoming, ready to give what they have and accept what you give. They are not prone to thinking ahead or planning, but living in the moment and to the fullest.

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[1] David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, Please Understand Me: Character & Temperament Types, (Del Mar: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company, 1984), page 32.

[2] David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, Please Understand Me: Character & Temperament Types, (Del Mar: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company, 1984), page 33.