In general, making the assumption that the T/F diff is somewhat biological in origin-evolution is a whore of a mistress. She finds the best solution via trial and error and implements it. The solution we currently have, was the best combination of types/functions to keep humans alive as a functional species. Thus you need both thinking driven and feeling driven decision making in combination it seems to have a balanced society.
Yes, exactly, and it seems much more realistic to me to let some people lean more one way and some the other and then just cooperate together, than to try making out that every individual should aspire to attain a perfect inner balance of both inclinations. This might be the Taoist in me speaking, but I tend not to like things that recommend trying to alter your innate nature by internal struggle because of external pressure. I mean, if you're ready to make a change in yourself and it's necessary, you will naturally do it anyway. Lecturing a T that s/he should be more value and feeling driven or an F that s/he should be more logical and objective isn't really going to achieve anything except to either put their backs up, or else make them feel down on themselves, like they're "not good enough", I think that witih most mortals it only stands in the way of them finding self-acceptance.
I guess I'm too old for most of you to get my reference: You Are There (series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sigh.
One of the unfortunate consequences of a classification system like MBTi is that it encourages a reactionary mindset against other types and tendencies rather than encouraging the view of there being a boundary-less, complex spectrum of behavior in which the value of each "type" expression is largely situational. Factionalism is a consequence of defining type.
One problem I have is with the NT prejudice against Feeling. As if being dispassionate is a virtue, applied generally. There seems to be this idea that being an NT means cutting loose from emotional motivations or values, as if this is even possible. Rational sense must work in concert with emotional sense to achieve wholeness as a person. There is really no division. So, why do we NT's devalue "feeling" or at least leading with a feeling orientation? How do you personally define feeling? Can you be healthy and dispassionate?
I mean there's a difference between learning to understand and value the functions you're weak in, and therefore respecting and valuing the people who are profficient in them - and actually trying to alter your own nature so as to acquire profficiency in them yourself. I can admire someone who's good at sports without feeling the need to become good at sports myself, at the expense of excellence in the things I'm already good in. And that guy didn't get so good at sports by studying linguistics all his life to be more "rounded"
This seems like a weak analogy because being good at sports or linguistics is not a necessary condition to lead a rich and satisfying life (feelers) or even a healthy life (thinkers). Being good at sports is neither necessary nor sufficient for most people to lead healthy lives. However, learning the value of exercise and being able to incorporate in our lives could be valuable to most people. Similarly, realizing the importance of both and making an effort to incorporate more of the weaker function (be it thinking or feeling) could help with leading healthier lives.
I don't think being as good with Fe as an EXFJ is essential to a fulfilling life either, same goes for any function. Self-acceptance is though. And the process you're describing happens naturally in most people anyway - call it growing up, maturing, gaining wisdom or whatever you like, but it happens to most people without having to make a point of it all the time. Like I say, when people are ready to change or grow and they see the need, they do naturally. No need to bash people over the heads with their weaknesses. God, it's like some kind of religious evangelist, always trying to tell you what you need to be happy, when what you really need is to be left alone to find your own way and accept yourself, to be accepted and loved and just use your own life experiences to gain wisdom like people have since time began.
Um okay, so I didn't read any of the replies simply because I cannot be bothered, I just wanted to add that I feel that prejudice as well. One T boldly told me that "feelers are fucking weak" I was like, "Oh really?" because if not myself, I know a lot of feelers that are hella strong.
Yes I aggree. Sometimes this whole MBTI thing seems like grouping from High School and too often its used to generalize unique personalities into much more larger groups. I think tho, it is not possible to get rid of that, cause most humans cannot live with the concept of infinity diversity in infinite combinations.
It would drive them insane
[...] And, I do not think it is generalized, it is more a focus on certain behavioral traits in each group [...]
Thats exactly the kind of generalizations I am talking about. People dont belong to groups
The feeling, be it Fe or Fi, is surely there for me. The difference imo is that the 48.1% of the feeler i really think i am only accounts for roughly 20% of the decisions/choices i make.
So but even according to MBTI every person posseses feeling and thinking and interaction between people often is a mixture of them both. So do you either want to split up interactions in so many tiny bits of information to single-out which bit belongs to thinking and which belongs to feeling or are you rather intrested in what unique new forms of mind- and soullife are created because of the mixture in one person ?
I am sorry but I cant follow you on this one, I simply dont classify people or think of them in groups. Come as you are, Nirvana knew that
A reason I am here is to find something that actually makes sense and to classify people in groups one day, but it eluded me thus far
To me grouping is sensor talk, my concept is still infinity diversity in infinite combinations
Ultimatively at old age tho, I am pictureing me more to live alone. Cause the company of people is taxing sometimes, if you want to get to know everyone and dont say from time to time, ok this guy I will exclude from my "getting-to-know-attitude"