Turi
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- Jun 1, 2017
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- MBTI Type
- INTP
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- sp/so
'sup.
The aim of this thread, is to assist people in understanding introversion and extraversion from my perspective (not that anyone gives a shit lol).
Introversion and Extraversion.
Of introversion and extraversion, Jung stressed that every individual possesses both mechanisms, and the only way to distinguish one from another, is the observation of the attitude that prevails most of the time:
This is to say, nobody is completely introverted or completely extraverted, they still possess the opposing mechanism - and a type is only produced when one attitude is predominant.
I also interpret Jung as suggesting here, that most people, most of the time, are somewhere in between the two extremities of introversion and extraversion.
Introversion and extraversion should then be seen as a push-pull dynamic, not unlike the pumping action of pistons in an engine, this idea is evidenced in the following:
Of the introverted attitude, Jung says:
It is clear, here, that the heart of an introverted preference, is a placement of oneself as a higher priority than the object - the object being, anything in the outer world, a person, a thing, an idea, a feeling, etc - and these objects in the outer world sometimes representing nothing more than a projection of the introverted types own subjective content.
A preference for introversion, then, can be viewed as Jung noted as an “inward turning of libido†- in other words, a ‘me first’ mentality - not in a stereotypically selfish nature, but in an 'oriented towards ones self' way - the introverted attitude places a higher value on itself than the outer world.
Of the extraverted attitude, Jung says:
..and so, the extraverted attitude is one that places a higher value on objects in the outer world, than it does on the subject, or person, themselves.
This then, is essentially an “outward turning of libidoâ€, as noted by Jung - it is an attitude of giving oneself to the outer world, an outer-world-first mentality, not in an “I am worthless†kind of way, but in an 'oriented towards the outer world' kind of way.
Although we all possess both introvert and extravert mechanisms, we can never actually be precisely in the middle - there will always be a preference, regardless of how slight, one way or another, of the, Jung says:
Something important to note, is that introversion and extraversion are not actually traits of character - introversion is not merely being ‘shy’ or ‘reserved’, likewise, extraversion is not being ‘hearty’ or ‘gregarious’ - and so, any and all stereotypes pertaining to introversion and extraversion have no place in Jungian typology (imo) when typing others - Jung notes the following:
You can see in the above, introversion and extraversion are not merely ‘traits’ but are indeed mechanisms - ones that we can switch on or off at will - what is important - the only determining factor - is which mechanism is more predominant, introversion or extraversion?
Jung also notes that introversion and extraversion are not entirely dependent on any in-born disposition, but are indeed influenced by ones environment, as follows:
Jung outlines that there is no such thing as an ‘introvert’ or an ‘extravert’, in the following:
Thus, it should be clear that there is no such thing as an ‘introvert’ or ‘extravert’ rather, there is introverted Thinking types, or extraverted Sensation types, so on and so forth - the attitude manifests itself through the function, it does not manifest as an isolated ‘thing’ in itself, so to speak - thus, if the general attitude of the consciousness is in the introverted attitude for instance, then the preferred functions are also in the introverted attitude - take an ISTJ for example - due to a general preference for introversion - they become an:
IIEE/EEII - not IEIE/EIEI.
To support the above, I feel the need to include the following quotes from Jung, as without additional support - this is all that will be targeted, defeating the purpose of the post which is merely to draw attention to 'true' introversion and extraversion from a Jungian perspective, and so:
The above draws attention to the preferred attitude, introversion or extraversion, pertaining to an essential bias which conditions the whole psychic process - not just the 'style of behaviour' but also the quality of the subjective experience - in other words, how we communicate with others (see: MBTI P/J) is still in the preferred attitude, and our subjective experience is also in the preferred attitude (see: MBTI P/J again).
Here is a little information on this 'stack':
What Jung is saying above - is that the conscious functions form a 'block' in the same pattern as the conscious, likewise with the unconscious functions forming a 'block' in the same pattern as the unconscious - so, this supports the IIEE stack for the ISTJ example above - in fact, as luck would have it - I've used the exact same type in the example - conscious 'block' in the introverted attitude - Thinking and Sensation in the same attitude - and the unconscious 'NF' block in the extraverted attitude - with Feeling at the bottom.
I suggest ISTJ as a 'Thinking' type by the way, due to this 'stack' then, having Thinking preferred more than Sensation, so the rational function is more dominant than the irrational function - ergo, J>P, logically.
..and of course, the coup de grace:
Underlined emphasis is mine. The picture Jung paints is clear. IIEE for introverted types, EEII for extraverted types.
Expanding possibilities regarding type.
Despite 'introverted' types pulling away from 'the object' and preferring to orient themselves towards their own experience/perspectives etc - there are no restrictions or limitations being placed on how loud or gregarious these types may be, nor are there any regarding how forceful or aggressive these types may be etc - and so, it would not be anti-Jung to suggest the idea of somebody with a stereotypical and perhaps accurate via dichotomy 'E' preference, actually being a best-fit for Jungs introverted attitude.
Likewise, 'extraverted' types leaning towards 'the object' and preferring to orient themselves towards the objective outer world, doesn't prevent them from being stereotypically 'introverted' to the point that an 'I' preference re: dichotomy isn't the best fit - and, it shouldn't require too large a stretch of the imagination, to envision this as somebody that is so oriented towards the outer world, so interested in external happenings, so stimulated by others ideas/opinions/objects in their surroundings, that due to placing themselves of a lower value than all of this, they keep their own subjective opinions and thoughts to themselves, deciding they are not 'worthy' of the outer-world.
Ergo, a 'dichotomy introvert' with a true Extraverted preference from a Jungian perspective.
The reason for this is, introversion and extraversion in MBTI-land, are absolutely nothing like Jungs introverted or extraverted types.
It is absolutely possible to be a Jungian introverted type, yet be an MBTI 'E' and vica versa - this leads into the next section:
The effects of all of the above on the MBTI.
A critical misunderstanding of introversion and extraversion on Myers and Briggs behalf, formulates the ‘type dynamics’ aspects of their personality theory - they believe the introverted type requires the extraversion of another function, in order to communicate with the world, and similarly that extraverted types 'require' the introversion of some other function to access their inner world (ergo, P/J) - this idea is incorrect, as outlined above - but, Myers says:
We can see here a complete failure to understand what exactly introversion and extraversion are, a failure to realize they are both mechanisms that run throughout single functions - the push-pull dynamics of I/E do not relate to those of differing functions but rather the general attitude of consciousness, and Jung lays out loud and clear, that the divide between introversion and extraversion within the same function can be blurry:
In the above quote, we can see that Jung is demonstrating the difference between idea-related Thinking in the introverted type to pertain to their own objective experience, and Thinking in the extraverted type to pertain to the intellectual atmosphere of the times ie the objective outer world - what is important to take note of here, is that both are Thinking and both are related to ideas - and the line between the two is simply the preferred orientation of those ideas - no such requirement for an auxiliary introverted function to enable the extraverted type to access their own 'world of ideas', then.
In Gifts Differing, Myers states:
Clearly not Jungs theory - I/E is definitely not independent of the SN and TF preferences, as I've demonstrated, and so the entire MBTI J/P theory comes crumbling to the ground insofar as it’s supposedly a reflection of Jungs theory.
Perhaps it’s valid, in it’s own way - if so, it is absolutely not utilizing Jungs theories in any way, shape or form.
Contrary to this belief Myers and Briggs held, Jung states the following - note, no suggestion of a magic function-switch - that, despite what people tend to think - absolutely was a part of Myers and Briggs understanding:
To further drill home the fact that the MBTI is built upon such an incredibly flawed understanding of introversion and extraversion, note the following:
Given what Jungs wrote, that I've shared here - it should be clear that there is no General nor Aide in the tent in the fashion outlined by Myers here.
Notice the General is intended to reflect a function (here, called, a 'process') in an entirely one-sided orientation, and if there is no Aide, then the opposing orientation is non-existent, it is required, according to this faulty understanding.
The following is relevant - of the General Attitude of Consciousness:
In the above, we can understand the general attitude of the consciousness is what orients ourselves towards either the external world (extraversion) or the internal world (introversion) - it is this orientation towards the the object - towards the outer world of values, ideas, principles etc, that creates the extraverted attitude - not the idea of being so super focused on and living in the outside world that the extraverted type requires introversion to have any kind of internal thoughts or subjective ideas or values - extraversion is simply an orientation towards the outer world - it is not a lack of an inner world, so severe one requires some 'introverted process' (see: function) completely different to the dominant nature of the type, to even remotely access.
Of the introverted general attitude of the conscious, Jung states:
So the introverted attitude is distinguished from the extraverted, due to an orientation towards subjective factors (their own ideas/values/thoughts/perceptions) as opposed to being oriented towards the outer world.
Note - it is not a deficiency in extraversion, to which Jung says:
.."the introverted consciousness is naturally aware of external conditions" - here we see in the most simplest of terms, how Myers has missed the mark with regards to introversion and extraversion - she says, as I quoted earlier "the introverts’ auxiliary gives them a means to adapt to the world of action and to deal with it effectively" - this is obviously incorrect - Jung demonstrates that the introverted consciousness is indeed aware of external conditions, therefore it requires no such assistance of an extraverted function in order to "adapt to the world of action" or "deal with it effectively" - introversion is no more, no less, than an orientation towards ones self - not a lack of awareness of the outer world.
Introversion and extraversion stand on their own two feet and are complete 'temperaments', capable of precisely the same things - the difference merely being as has been outlined all post - an orientation towards the self (introversion) or towards the outer world (extraversion).
The introverted type can do everthing the extraverted type can do, and vica versa - there are no restrictions or limitations placed upon either attitude, outside of them simply not being oriented in the opposite way, 'most' (see: 51%) of the time.
..and so, the P/J divide, forcing alternating function-attitudes on us - is untrue to Jung and is simply a solution to a problem that only exists due to a misunderstanding of introversion and extraversion.
Now, as I understand it - Myers believed this dom-aux relationship altering the orientations of the functions, was due to this section from Jung:
Underlined emphasis is mine, however that's the part Myers latched on to:
Myers was under the belief that this meant the auxiliary function was different in each and every way from the dominant function - and it is - where Myers went wrong, is that Jung was not talking about attitudes (introversion and extraversion), he was talking about the four functions. Not I/E.
This was a fatal assumption on her behalf, an error, a mistake, a fail, whatever you want to call it - this is where she was wrong and this is why everyone is wrong now.
Myers brought up I/E out of nowhere, as it doesn't even fit within the context of the section she quoted - further to this, in - quite literally - the very next paragraph, Jung goes on to outline what he meant by the above, as follows:
So Jung - immediately after suggesting the auxiliary is in 'every respect' different to the dominant function, outlines what he meant - Thinking can be allied with Sensation for 'practical thinking', or with Intuition for 'speculative thinking' - Intuition can be supported by Feeling (artistic intuition) or Thinking (philosophical intuition) - the idea is clear - he is speaking, purely and entirely, of the functions.
NOT of the introverted or extraverted attitudes - in essence, he means - as so much of that section of the book suggests - that rational functions can only be directly supported by an irrational function (T/F supported by S/N) - and not supported by the other rational one (ie, Thinking with Feeling auxiliary is a no-go) - and, the same concept applies with the irrational functions - now the peculiar thing, is Myers actually quotes this exact same section in Gifts Differing, and still failed to understand it.
To further support her misguided assumption - Myers quotes the following Jung passage:
However, using the above to support her point is again, an error of understanding - what Jung intended here (imo) is the effects of what happens when the introversion of Thinking is taken too far - when this occurs, it creates a 'block' whereby the auxiliary function joins the other functions in their unconscious attitude (so the above ISTJs Sensation shifts into becoming an Extraverted Sensation) - and this is when those functions of feeling, intuition and sensation which counterbalance introverted thinking possess a primitive, extraverted character - the take home note here, is the switch from the conscious attitude to the unconscious attitude by the auxiliary function - it's after the switch, that Myers has taken a quote from - so she is not supporting her argument with anything pertaining to the ordinary preferred orientation of the auxiliary function, which is that of the conscious attitude.
Now, the above will obviously draw attention from my fellow readers - right above the section Myers quoted, was this:
I don't believe it's a giant leap, to assume the section Myers quoted as supporting her alternating I-E dom-aux relationship, is actually, in context - to do with what happens when the introversion of Thinking is taken too far - too far removed from extraverted Thinking (in the same person), evidenced in the last line of the above quote - which is to say, given the rest of this post - that Jungs 'ordinary' 'stack', should there be one - would be IIEE for introverts and EEII for extraverts - however when the dominant function-attitude is taken too far - the auxiliary joins the tertiary and the inferior in their attitude, and forms an entire block of the unconscious in that opposing attitude to the dominant function.
..and so, the example ISTJ goes from Ti-Si-Ne-Fe to Ti-[Se-Ne-Fe]
To summarize, introversion and extraversion are mechanisms that pertain to the orientation of a function - they are not their own, separate entities - each, and every person possesses both mechanisms and alternates between them - stereotypes need not apply and it is possible to be a dichotomy I/E, yet 'lead' with a function in the opposing attitude (ie, an INTP in dichotomy, yet be an Extraverted Intuitive type from a Jungian perspective).
Myers completely and utterly misunderstood introversion and extraversion in every way, and this manifests itself in there even being an I/E dichotomy in the first place (the attitudes aren't to be separated from the functions), her J/P "how we communicate with the outer world" being a direct failure to understand how I/E actually work from a Jungian perspective, and the 'cognitive function stack', if there is one, should be IIEE or EEII.
Basic Definitions.
I would like to note here, that I am aware of modern scientific advancements with regards to introversion and extraversion and am more than aware of how capable the MBTI is as its own personality type indicator.
I simply believe it is so far removed from Jungs theories that it we should not under any circumstances, attempt to merge the two.
ie, typing as a dichotomy INFJ, does not mean you are an 'Ni' dominant, from about a million different angles.
I feel the need here, to add my own personal thoughts on the above in relation to my 'beliefs' on 'stacks' - first and foremost, I do indeed believe the above to be the true Jungian stack - however, I am not opposed to the Harold Grant&Co IEIE/EIEI stacks playing out in reality, as genuine preferences as well - I don't see any reason to force ourselves to be restricted in our understandings - it's simply not true to Jung (or Myers, who believed in an IEEE stack for introverts, and an EIII stack for extraverts) - this doesn't mean it's not true in reality, now, so many decades later.
We should seek to make the theory fit the facts, not the other way around.
The aim of this thread, is to assist people in understanding introversion and extraversion from my perspective (not that anyone gives a shit lol).
Introversion and Extraversion.
Of introversion and extraversion, Jung stressed that every individual possesses both mechanisms, and the only way to distinguish one from another, is the observation of the attitude that prevails most of the time:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (pp. 5-6). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.One mechanism will naturally predominate, and if this condition becomes in any way chronic a type will be produced; that is, an habitual attitude in which one mechanism predominates permanently, although the other can never be completely suppressed since it is an integral part of the psychic economy. Hence there can never be a pure type in the sense that it possesses only one mechanism with the complete atrophy of the other. A typical attitude always means merely the relative predominance of one mechanism.
This is to say, nobody is completely introverted or completely extraverted, they still possess the opposing mechanism - and a type is only produced when one attitude is predominant.
I also interpret Jung as suggesting here, that most people, most of the time, are somewhere in between the two extremities of introversion and extraversion.
Introversion and extraversion should then be seen as a push-pull dynamic, not unlike the pumping action of pistons in an engine, this idea is evidenced in the following:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 5). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.The one sees everything in terms of his own situation, the other in terms of the objective event. These contrary attitudes are in themselves no more than correlative mechanisms: a diastolic going out and seizing of the object, and a systolic concentration and detachment of energy from the object seized. Every human being possesses both mechanisms as an expression of his natural life-rhythm, a rhythm which Goethe, surely not by chance, described physiologically in terms of the heart’s activity.
Of the introverted attitude, Jung says:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 5). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.But in general one could say that the introverted standpoint is one which sets the ego and the subjective psychological process above the object and the objective process, or at any rate seeks to hold its ground against the object. This attitude, therefore, gives the subject a higher value than the object, and the object accordingly has a lower value. It is of secondary importance; indeed, sometimes the object represents no more than an outward token of a subjective content, the embodiment of an idea, the idea being the essential thing. If it is the embodiment of a feeling, then again the feeling is the main thing and not the object in its own right.
It is clear, here, that the heart of an introverted preference, is a placement of oneself as a higher priority than the object - the object being, anything in the outer world, a person, a thing, an idea, a feeling, etc - and these objects in the outer world sometimes representing nothing more than a projection of the introverted types own subjective content.
A preference for introversion, then, can be viewed as Jung noted as an “inward turning of libido†- in other words, a ‘me first’ mentality - not in a stereotypically selfish nature, but in an 'oriented towards ones self' way - the introverted attitude places a higher value on itself than the outer world.
Of the extraverted attitude, Jung says:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 5). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.The extraverted standpoint, on the contrary, subordinates the subject to the object, so that the object has the higher value. In this case the subject is of secondary importance, the subjective process appearing at times as no more than a disturbing or superfluous appendage of objective events.
..and so, the extraverted attitude is one that places a higher value on objects in the outer world, than it does on the subject, or person, themselves.
This then, is essentially an “outward turning of libidoâ€, as noted by Jung - it is an attitude of giving oneself to the outer world, an outer-world-first mentality, not in an “I am worthless†kind of way, but in an 'oriented towards the outer world' kind of way.
Although we all possess both introvert and extravert mechanisms, we can never actually be precisely in the middle - there will always be a preference, regardless of how slight, one way or another, of the, Jung says:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 47). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.Fantasy it was and ever is which fashions the bridge between the irreconcilable claims of subject and object, introversion and extraversion. In fantasy alone both mechanisms are united.
Something important to note, is that introversion and extraversion are not actually traits of character - introversion is not merely being ‘shy’ or ‘reserved’, likewise, extraversion is not being ‘hearty’ or ‘gregarious’ - and so, any and all stereotypes pertaining to introversion and extraversion have no place in Jungian typology (imo) when typing others - Jung notes the following:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (pp. 266). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.But as I have pointed out more than once, introversion and extraversion are not traits of character at all but mechanisms, which can, as it were, be switched on or off at will. Only from their habitual predominance do the corresponding characters develop.
You can see in the above, introversion and extraversion are not merely ‘traits’ but are indeed mechanisms - ones that we can switch on or off at will - what is important - the only determining factor - is which mechanism is more predominant, introversion or extraversion?
Jung also notes that introversion and extraversion are not entirely dependent on any in-born disposition, but are indeed influenced by ones environment, as follows:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (pp. 267). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.The predilection one way or the other no doubt depends on the in-born disposition, but this is not always the decisive factor. I have frequently found environmental influences to be just as important. In one case in my experience, it even happened that a man with markedly extravert behaviour, while living in close proximity to an introvert, changed his attitude and became quite introverted when he later came into contact with a pronounced extraverted personality. I have repeatedly observed how quickly personal influences can alter the duration of the secondary function even in a well-defined type, and how the previous condition re-establishes itself as soon as the alien influence is removed.
Jung outlines that there is no such thing as an ‘introvert’ or an ‘extravert’, in the following:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (pp. 476-477). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.I would like to stress that each of the two general attitudes, introversion and extraversion, manifests itself in a special way in an individual through the predominance of one of the four basic functions. Strictly speaking, there are no introverts and extraverts pure and simple, but only introverted and extraverted function-types, such as thinking types, sensation types, etc.
Thus, it should be clear that there is no such thing as an ‘introvert’ or ‘extravert’ rather, there is introverted Thinking types, or extraverted Sensation types, so on and so forth - the attitude manifests itself through the function, it does not manifest as an isolated ‘thing’ in itself, so to speak - thus, if the general attitude of the consciousness is in the introverted attitude for instance, then the preferred functions are also in the introverted attitude - take an ISTJ for example - due to a general preference for introversion - they become an:
- Introverted Thinking type; and an
- Introverted Sensation type.
- Intuition in the Extraverted attitude.
- Feeling in the Extraverted attitude.
IIEE/EEII - not IEIE/EIEI.
To support the above, I feel the need to include the following quotes from Jung, as without additional support - this is all that will be targeted, defeating the purpose of the post which is merely to draw attention to 'true' introversion and extraversion from a Jungian perspective, and so:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 487). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.Introversion or extraversion, as a typical attitude, means an essential bias which conditions the whole psychic process, establishes the habitual mode of reaction, and thus determines not only the style of behaviour but also the quality of subjective experience. Not only that, it determines the kind of compensation the unconscious will produce.
The above draws attention to the preferred attitude, introversion or extraversion, pertaining to an essential bias which conditions the whole psychic process - not just the 'style of behaviour' but also the quality of the subjective experience - in other words, how we communicate with others (see: MBTI P/J) is still in the preferred attitude, and our subjective experience is also in the preferred attitude (see: MBTI P/J again).
Here is a little information on this 'stack':
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 374). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.The unconscious functions likewise group themselves in patterns correlated with the conscious ones. Thus, the correlative of conscious, practical thinking may be an unconscious, intuitive-feeling attitude, with feeling under a stronger inhibition than intuition.
What Jung is saying above - is that the conscious functions form a 'block' in the same pattern as the conscious, likewise with the unconscious functions forming a 'block' in the same pattern as the unconscious - so, this supports the IIEE stack for the ISTJ example above - in fact, as luck would have it - I've used the exact same type in the example - conscious 'block' in the introverted attitude - Thinking and Sensation in the same attitude - and the unconscious 'NF' block in the extraverted attitude - with Feeling at the bottom.
I suggest ISTJ as a 'Thinking' type by the way, due to this 'stack' then, having Thinking preferred more than Sensation, so the rational function is more dominant than the irrational function - ergo, J>P, logically.
..and of course, the coup de grace:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 487). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.One cannot be introverted or extraverted without being so in every respect. For example, to be “introverted†means that everything in the psyche happens as it must happen according to the law of the introvert’s nature.
Underlined emphasis is mine. The picture Jung paints is clear. IIEE for introverted types, EEII for extraverted types.
Expanding possibilities regarding type.
Despite 'introverted' types pulling away from 'the object' and preferring to orient themselves towards their own experience/perspectives etc - there are no restrictions or limitations being placed on how loud or gregarious these types may be, nor are there any regarding how forceful or aggressive these types may be etc - and so, it would not be anti-Jung to suggest the idea of somebody with a stereotypical and perhaps accurate via dichotomy 'E' preference, actually being a best-fit for Jungs introverted attitude.
Likewise, 'extraverted' types leaning towards 'the object' and preferring to orient themselves towards the objective outer world, doesn't prevent them from being stereotypically 'introverted' to the point that an 'I' preference re: dichotomy isn't the best fit - and, it shouldn't require too large a stretch of the imagination, to envision this as somebody that is so oriented towards the outer world, so interested in external happenings, so stimulated by others ideas/opinions/objects in their surroundings, that due to placing themselves of a lower value than all of this, they keep their own subjective opinions and thoughts to themselves, deciding they are not 'worthy' of the outer-world.
Ergo, a 'dichotomy introvert' with a true Extraverted preference from a Jungian perspective.
The reason for this is, introversion and extraversion in MBTI-land, are absolutely nothing like Jungs introverted or extraverted types.
It is absolutely possible to be a Jungian introverted type, yet be an MBTI 'E' and vica versa - this leads into the next section:
The effects of all of the above on the MBTI.
A critical misunderstanding of introversion and extraversion on Myers and Briggs behalf, formulates the ‘type dynamics’ aspects of their personality theory - they believe the introverted type requires the extraversion of another function, in order to communicate with the world, and similarly that extraverted types 'require' the introversion of some other function to access their inner world (ergo, P/J) - this idea is incorrect, as outlined above - but, Myers says:
Myers, Isabel Briggs; Myers, Peter B.. Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type (Kindle Locations 510-512). Hodder & Stoughton. Kindle Edition.The basic principle that the auxiliary provides needed extraversion for the introverts and needed introversion for the extraverts is vitally important. The extraverts’ auxiliary gives them access to their own inner life and to the world of ideas; the introverts’ auxiliary gives them a means to adapt to the world of action and to deal with it effectively.
We can see here a complete failure to understand what exactly introversion and extraversion are, a failure to realize they are both mechanisms that run throughout single functions - the push-pull dynamics of I/E do not relate to those of differing functions but rather the general attitude of consciousness, and Jung lays out loud and clear, that the divide between introversion and extraversion within the same function can be blurry:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 318). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.So far as the practical thinking of the business man, the technician, or the scientific investigator is concerned, its outer-directedness is obvious enough. But in the case of the philosopher it remains open to doubt when his thinking is directed to ideas. We then have to inquire whether these ideas are simply abstractions from objective experience, in which case they would represent higher collective concepts comprising a sum of objective facts, or whether (if they are clearly not abstractions from immediate experience) they may not be derived from tradition or borrowed from the intellectual atmosphere of the time. In the latter case, they fall into the category of objective data, and accordingly this thinking should be called extraverted.
In the above quote, we can see that Jung is demonstrating the difference between idea-related Thinking in the introverted type to pertain to their own objective experience, and Thinking in the extraverted type to pertain to the intellectual atmosphere of the times ie the objective outer world - what is important to take note of here, is that both are Thinking and both are related to ideas - and the line between the two is simply the preferred orientation of those ideas - no such requirement for an auxiliary introverted function to enable the extraverted type to access their own 'world of ideas', then.
In Gifts Differing, Myers states:
Myers, Isabel Briggs; Myers, Peter B.. Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type (Kindle Locations 332-333). Hodder & Stoughton. Kindle Edition.Since the EI preference (extraversion or introversion) is completely independent of the SN and TF preferences, extraverts and introverts may have any of the four combinations of perception and judgment.
Clearly not Jungs theory - I/E is definitely not independent of the SN and TF preferences, as I've demonstrated, and so the entire MBTI J/P theory comes crumbling to the ground insofar as it’s supposedly a reflection of Jungs theory.
Perhaps it’s valid, in it’s own way - if so, it is absolutely not utilizing Jungs theories in any way, shape or form.
Contrary to this belief Myers and Briggs held, Jung states the following - note, no suggestion of a magic function-switch - that, despite what people tend to think - absolutely was a part of Myers and Briggs understanding:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 268). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.A tense attitude is in general characteristic of the introvert, while a relaxed, easy attitude distinguishes the extravert. Exceptions, however, are frequent, even in one and the same individual.
Give an introvert a thoroughly congenial, harmonious milieu, and he relaxes into complete extraversion, so that one begins to wonder whether one may not be dealing with an extravert. But put an extravert in a dark and silent room, where all his repressed complexes can gnaw at him, and he will get into such a state of tension that he will jump at the slightest stimulus.
The changing situations of life can have the same effect of momentarily reversing the type, but the basic attitude is not as a rule permanently altered. In spite of occasional extraversion the introvert remains what he was before, and the extravert likewise.
To further drill home the fact that the MBTI is built upon such an incredibly flawed understanding of introversion and extraversion, note the following:
Myers, Isabel Briggs; Myers, Peter B.. Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type (Kindle Locations 439-445). Hodder & Stoughton. Kindle Edition.A good way to visualize the difference is to think of the dominant process as the General and the auxiliary process as his Aide. In the case of the extravert, the General is always out in the open. Other people meet him immediately and do their business directly with him. They can get the official viewpoint on anything at any time. The Aide stands respectfully in the background or disappears inside the tent. The introvert’s General is inside the tent, working on matters of top priority. The Aide is outside fending off interruptions, or, if he is inside helping the General, he comes out to see what is wanted. It is the Aide whom others meet and with whom they do their business. Only when the business is very important (or the friendship is very close) do others get in to see the General himself.
Given what Jungs wrote, that I've shared here - it should be clear that there is no General nor Aide in the tent in the fashion outlined by Myers here.
Notice the General is intended to reflect a function (here, called, a 'process') in an entirely one-sided orientation, and if there is no Aide, then the opposing orientation is non-existent, it is required, according to this faulty understanding.
The following is relevant - of the General Attitude of Consciousness:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 310). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.Although it is true that everyone orients himself in accordance with the data supplied by the outside world, we see every day that the data in themselves are only relatively decisive. The fact that it is cold outside prompts one man to put on his overcoat, while another, who wants to get hardened, finds this superfluous. One man admires the latest tenor because everybody else does, another refuses to do so, not because he dislikes him, but because in his view the subject of universal admiration is far from having been proved admirable.
One man resigns himself to circumstances because experience has shown him that nothing else is possible, another is convinced that though things have gone the same way a thousand times before, the thousand and first time will be different. The one allows himself to be oriented by the given facts, the other holds in reserve a view which interposes itself between him and the objective data. Now, when orientation by the object predominates in such a way that decisions and actions are determined not by subjective views but by objective conditions, we speak of an extraverted attitude.
When this is habitual, we speak of an extraverted type. If a man thinks, feels, acts, and actually lives in a way that is directly correlated with the objective conditions and their demands, he is extraverted.
In the above, we can understand the general attitude of the consciousness is what orients ourselves towards either the external world (extraversion) or the internal world (introversion) - it is this orientation towards the the object - towards the outer world of values, ideas, principles etc, that creates the extraverted attitude - not the idea of being so super focused on and living in the outside world that the extraverted type requires introversion to have any kind of internal thoughts or subjective ideas or values - extraversion is simply an orientation towards the outer world - it is not a lack of an inner world, so severe one requires some 'introverted process' (see: function) completely different to the dominant nature of the type, to even remotely access.
Of the introverted general attitude of the conscious, Jung states:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 345). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.As I have already explained in the previous section, the introvert is distinguished from the extravert by the fact that he does not, like the latter, orient himself by the object and by objective data, but by subjective factors.
So the introverted attitude is distinguished from the extraverted, due to an orientation towards subjective factors (their own ideas/values/thoughts/perceptions) as opposed to being oriented towards the outer world.
Note - it is not a deficiency in extraversion, to which Jung says:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 345). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.Although the introverted consciousness is naturally aware of external conditions, it selects the subjective determinants as the decisive ones.
.."the introverted consciousness is naturally aware of external conditions" - here we see in the most simplest of terms, how Myers has missed the mark with regards to introversion and extraversion - she says, as I quoted earlier "the introverts’ auxiliary gives them a means to adapt to the world of action and to deal with it effectively" - this is obviously incorrect - Jung demonstrates that the introverted consciousness is indeed aware of external conditions, therefore it requires no such assistance of an extraverted function in order to "adapt to the world of action" or "deal with it effectively" - introversion is no more, no less, than an orientation towards ones self - not a lack of awareness of the outer world.
Introversion and extraversion stand on their own two feet and are complete 'temperaments', capable of precisely the same things - the difference merely being as has been outlined all post - an orientation towards the self (introversion) or towards the outer world (extraversion).
The introverted type can do everthing the extraverted type can do, and vica versa - there are no restrictions or limitations placed upon either attitude, outside of them simply not being oriented in the opposite way, 'most' (see: 51%) of the time.
..and so, the P/J divide, forcing alternating function-attitudes on us - is untrue to Jung and is simply a solution to a problem that only exists due to a misunderstanding of introversion and extraversion.
Now, as I understand it - Myers believed this dom-aux relationship altering the orientations of the functions, was due to this section from Jung:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 374). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.For all the types met with in practice, the rule holds good that besides the conscious, primary function there is a relatively unconscious, auxiliary function which is in every respect different from the nature of the primary function.
Underlined emphasis is mine, however that's the part Myers latched on to:
Myers, Isabel Briggs; Myers, Peter B.. Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type (Kindle Locations 518-519). Hodder & Stoughton. Kindle Edition.The operative words are “in every respect.†If the auxiliary process differs from the dominant process in every respect, it cannot be introverted where the dominant process is introverted. It has to be extraverted if the dominant process is introverted, and introverted if the dominant process is extraverted.
Myers was under the belief that this meant the auxiliary function was different in each and every way from the dominant function - and it is - where Myers went wrong, is that Jung was not talking about attitudes (introversion and extraversion), he was talking about the four functions. Not I/E.
This was a fatal assumption on her behalf, an error, a mistake, a fail, whatever you want to call it - this is where she was wrong and this is why everyone is wrong now.
Myers brought up I/E out of nowhere, as it doesn't even fit within the context of the section she quoted - further to this, in - quite literally - the very next paragraph, Jung goes on to outline what he meant by the above, as follows:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 374). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.The resulting combinations present the familiar picture of, for instance, practical thinking allied with sensation, speculative thinking forging ahead with intuition, artistic intuition selecting and presenting its images with the help of feeling-values, philosophical intuition systematizing its vision into comprehensible thought by means of a powerful intellect, and so on.
So Jung - immediately after suggesting the auxiliary is in 'every respect' different to the dominant function, outlines what he meant - Thinking can be allied with Sensation for 'practical thinking', or with Intuition for 'speculative thinking' - Intuition can be supported by Feeling (artistic intuition) or Thinking (philosophical intuition) - the idea is clear - he is speaking, purely and entirely, of the functions.
NOT of the introverted or extraverted attitudes - in essence, he means - as so much of that section of the book suggests - that rational functions can only be directly supported by an irrational function (T/F supported by S/N) - and not supported by the other rational one (ie, Thinking with Feeling auxiliary is a no-go) - and, the same concept applies with the irrational functions - now the peculiar thing, is Myers actually quotes this exact same section in Gifts Differing, and still failed to understand it.
To further support her misguided assumption - Myers quotes the following Jung passage:
Myers, Isabel Briggs; Myers, Peter B.. Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type (Kindle Locations 521-522). Hodder & Stoughton. Kindle Edition.The relatively unconscious functions of feeling, intuition and sensation, which counterbalance introverted thinking, are inferior in quality and have a primitive, extraverted character. (1923, p. 489)
However, using the above to support her point is again, an error of understanding - what Jung intended here (imo) is the effects of what happens when the introversion of Thinking is taken too far - when this occurs, it creates a 'block' whereby the auxiliary function joins the other functions in their unconscious attitude (so the above ISTJs Sensation shifts into becoming an Extraverted Sensation) - and this is when those functions of feeling, intuition and sensation which counterbalance introverted thinking possess a primitive, extraverted character - the take home note here, is the switch from the conscious attitude to the unconscious attitude by the auxiliary function - it's after the switch, that Myers has taken a quote from - so she is not supporting her argument with anything pertaining to the ordinary preferred orientation of the auxiliary function, which is that of the conscious attitude.
Now, the above will obviously draw attention from my fellow readers - right above the section Myers quoted, was this:
Jung, Carl. Psychological Types (Routledge Classics) (p. 357). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.The thinking of the introverted type is positive and synthetic in developing ideas which approximate more and more to the eternal validity of the primordial images. But as their connection with objective experience becomes more and more tenuous, they take on a mythological colouring and no longer hold true for the contemporary situation.
I don't believe it's a giant leap, to assume the section Myers quoted as supporting her alternating I-E dom-aux relationship, is actually, in context - to do with what happens when the introversion of Thinking is taken too far - too far removed from extraverted Thinking (in the same person), evidenced in the last line of the above quote - which is to say, given the rest of this post - that Jungs 'ordinary' 'stack', should there be one - would be IIEE for introverts and EEII for extraverts - however when the dominant function-attitude is taken too far - the auxiliary joins the tertiary and the inferior in their attitude, and forms an entire block of the unconscious in that opposing attitude to the dominant function.
..and so, the example ISTJ goes from Ti-Si-Ne-Fe to Ti-[Se-Ne-Fe]
To summarize, introversion and extraversion are mechanisms that pertain to the orientation of a function - they are not their own, separate entities - each, and every person possesses both mechanisms and alternates between them - stereotypes need not apply and it is possible to be a dichotomy I/E, yet 'lead' with a function in the opposing attitude (ie, an INTP in dichotomy, yet be an Extraverted Intuitive type from a Jungian perspective).
Myers completely and utterly misunderstood introversion and extraversion in every way, and this manifests itself in there even being an I/E dichotomy in the first place (the attitudes aren't to be separated from the functions), her J/P "how we communicate with the outer world" being a direct failure to understand how I/E actually work from a Jungian perspective, and the 'cognitive function stack', if there is one, should be IIEE or EEII.
Basic Definitions.
- Introversion - a placement of a higher value on ones own perspective, known information and ones own self, than on that of outside influences and outer-world information/objects/things/people/ideas etc - an orientation towards, or more-natural alignment with, ones own self/experience and all things within it.
- Extraversion - a placement of a higher value on the objective perspective, new information and external things/people/objects/ideas etc, than on that of ones own personal perspective, known information or self - an orientation towards, or more-natural alignment with, the objective outer world and all things within it.
I would like to note here, that I am aware of modern scientific advancements with regards to introversion and extraversion and am more than aware of how capable the MBTI is as its own personality type indicator.
I simply believe it is so far removed from Jungs theories that it we should not under any circumstances, attempt to merge the two.
ie, typing as a dichotomy INFJ, does not mean you are an 'Ni' dominant, from about a million different angles.
I feel the need here, to add my own personal thoughts on the above in relation to my 'beliefs' on 'stacks' - first and foremost, I do indeed believe the above to be the true Jungian stack - however, I am not opposed to the Harold Grant&Co IEIE/EIEI stacks playing out in reality, as genuine preferences as well - I don't see any reason to force ourselves to be restricted in our understandings - it's simply not true to Jung (or Myers, who believed in an IEEE stack for introverts, and an EIII stack for extraverts) - this doesn't mean it's not true in reality, now, so many decades later.
We should seek to make the theory fit the facts, not the other way around.