Typology
By
James Harvey Stout (deceased). This material is now in the public
domain. The complete collection of Mr. Stout's writing is now at
http://stout.mybravenet.com/public_html/h/
>
Jump to the following topics:
- What is typology?
- Jung designated
various categories.
- The benefits from
typology.
- Techniques for
exploring our type.
What is typology? It is a system
of classifying people into various "types," to gain a greater
understanding of their personality and behavior.
Jung designated
various categories.
- There are four categories: thinking, sensation, feeling, and
intuition.
- The "thinking" type. In typology, "thinking" is the use of
rational analysis as a way to understand. (The "thinking" type
corresponds to the "self-talk" of archetypal field-work.)
- The thinking mode is effective in circumstances which
require the use of logic and mathematics.
- The thinking mode is ineffective if we employ it at
times when we could be using the other modes of typology.
For example:
- We are cold and insensitive instead of responding
with human "feeling."
- We use ivory-tower speculations and rationalizations
when we could respond more appropriately in the physical
realities of the "sensation" mode.
- We are legalistic when "intuition" would grant a
better understanding and guidance.
- The "feeling" type. The traditional definition differs from
mine; I consider feelings to be one mode by which intuition
relays information to us, whereas "feeling" in typology refers
to emotions and impulsiveness -- and there is a separate
typology category for "intuition." (The traditional definition
of the "feeling" type corresponds to the "energy toning" of
archetypal field-work.)
- The feeling mode is effective in circumstances which
require emotional expression and warmth.
- The feeling mode is ineffective if we employ it at times
when we could be using the other modes of typology. For
example:
- We react irrationally in decisions which require the
intellectual scrutiny of "thinking."
- We "follow our feelings" even when they contradict
obvious material reality (as presented by the physicality
of "sensations").
- We permit our emotional drives to override
contradicting signals from our intuition.
- The "sensation" type. This type of person lives in a world
of physical reality, the five senses, practical results, and
the tangible and literal. (The "sensation" type corresponds to
the "as-if principle" of archetypal field-work; both deal with
the physical world.)
- The sensation mode is effective when we are dealing with
"real life," e.g., cleaning our home, planning events,
enjoying our dinner.
- The sensation mode is ineffective if we employ it at
times when we could be using the other modes of typology.
For example:
- We can deal only in superficial appearances; thus we
are weak in abstract "thinking" and ambiguity.
- We become so engrossed in the form and structure of
our creations that we don't even know whether our
"feelings" like what we are creating.
- We act according the rule-book, even when when our
"intuition" is telling us something different.
- The "intuitive" type. In typology, the intuitive person
responds to hunches and "vibes." (The "intuitive" type
corresponds to the intuition and "directed imagination" of
archetypal field-work.)
- The intuitive mode is effective when we are dealing with
creativity, and with information which is not available by
other means.
- The intuitive mode is ineffective if we employ it at
times when we could be using the other modes of typology.
For example:
- We replace substantive "thinking" with imagination
and dreaminess.
- We substitute our vital "feelings" with transcendent
sensitivities which are disconnected from our personal
human responses.
- We deny the down-to-earth facts of the sensation
mode.
- There are two associated modes of being: introverted or
extraverted. Thus, in typology, we have eight categories:
- The "thinking" type.
- The extraverted thinker. For example, a college lecturer
- The introverted thinker. For example, a philosopher.
- The "feeling" type.
- The extraverted feeler. For example, a hostess.
- The introverted feeler. For example, a musician.
- The "sensation" type.
- The extraverted sensate. For example, an athlete
- The introverted sensate. For example, a wine
connoisseur.
- The "intuitive" type.
- The extraverted intuitive. For example, a visionary
preacher.
- The introverted intuitive. For example, a novelist.
The benefits from
typology. Typology helps us to recognize our innate strengths,
weaknesses, and other characteristics (and the overall "blueprint" of
our life). Thus, we can capitalize on our advantages; for
example, if we know that we are of the "sensate" type, we can predict
that we might be more talented and successful in a job which allows
for physical activity. However, we do not have to view our type as a
fatalistic limitation. We cannot be "all things" anyway; our type is
simply a focus which directs us toward particular experiences by
which we develop particular qualities. In the long run, perhaps we do
undergo all archetypal situations -- through a process of
reincarnation which lets us spend an entire lifetime as one type of
person at a time.
Techniques for
exploring our type.
- Archetypal field-work. We can use field-work to enhance our
type, or to enhance the other types (because we need to use
them all occasionally).
- Self-talk. (For the "thinking" type.) For example: "I am
intelligent." "I enjoy using my intellect to analyze facts." "I
like to learn new facts." "I like to organize facts into usable
information."
- Directed imagination. (For the "thinking" type.) We can
visualize ourselves being successful and happy in intellectual
study.
- Energy toning. (For the "thinking" type.) We can generate
the energy tones of alertness, brightness, emotional calm, etc.
- The "as if" principle. (For the "thinking" type.) We can
act as if we already have the quality of intellectual acuity.
- We can determine our type. We might be able to ascertain our
type simply by reading the descriptions above; for more help in
this matter, we can take a psychological test such as the
Myer-Briggs or Grey-Wheelwright. For example, I am an "introverted
intuitive."
- We can develop the other modes within us. As explained in the
list of types, each mode is effective in particular circumstances,
but it is ineffective in other circumstances. We need to be able
to shift into the mode which is appropriate for a situation. The
modes are related in various ways:
- Opposites. As we use and enhance our primary type, the
most-neglected type is the opposite of that one; the opposites
are "thinking and feeling," and "sensation and intuition."
Therefore, if we are primarily a "thinking" type of person, our
capacity for "feeling" is least-developed; i.e., it is in our
shadow. We often choose friends whose type is the opposite of
ours; for example, a thinking-type person is frequently
attracted to a feeling-type person -- in an act of projection
and in an instinctive desire to fill in our weak area.
- Combinations. Along with our primary type, we might also
tend to use one or two other types (and we generally
ignore one or two types). We can create an illustration
of our two preferences:
- Draw a cross, using two perpendicular lines.
- At one end of the horizontal line, write "thinking"; at
the opposite end, write "feeling."
- At one end of the vertical line, write "sensation"; at
the opposite end, write "intuition."
- In the four quadrants which were created by the lines of
the cross, select the quadrant which expresses your
characteristics: thinking/sensation, sensation/feeling,
feeling/intuitive, or intuitive/thinking.