Aagh, help me understand this. When it is written that Thinkers make decisions based on logic and Feelers make decisions based on feelings and values, what does it mean? What kinds of decisions are talked about here? Because there are so many kinds of decisions! So which decisions matter the most?
#1 small decisions that don't include other people, like whether to go out now or later: The decision is pretty much based on my feelings of the moment. Also, the consequences I think the decision will create can play a role (like getting all wet and then having to take a shower or becoming frustrated very soon if I don't go out right now)
#2 forming opinions about topical things: I typically form my opinions (political etc) based on both values and reason. I am often frustrated by how illogical and incoherent people seem to be, how they for example say that they are in favour of freedom of speech but the next moment they are ready to limit someone's freedom of speech because they don't like that someone's opinions. x( So, when forming opinions (especially political ones), I am (and strive to be) logical, just, impersonal and coherent, but of course I base my oh so coherent opinions on values such as social justice, respect (yes, I think that people should respect each other and I disapprove of disrespectful behaviour), equality, freedom, and people's as well as other natural creatures' well-being.
#3 big decisions about my life: This is a hard one. I feel like I just let things happen. Like, when I chose my major in university, I went with my feelings of the moment, with what I was interested in. I didn't make definitive plans about my future or consider all the consequences of the choice, I just chose to have faith that my decision would turn out to be the right decision. Then again, sometimes I do calculate how my "big decisions" will affect my future. Like, in relationships I seem to be unable to go with my feelings-- immediately when I see a candidate, I start calculating, summing up his looks, health, wealth, interests, personality traits, intelligence, and considering intellectually the chances of the possibility that we could have a happy family together. I've been hoping that this fairly unromantic calculation tendency will be turned off when I meet Mr Right One.
#4 small decisions in social settings: I do take others into consideration in my small decisions. I am friendly to people. I try not to hurt anyone. I often keep my thoughts to myself just because I think they could hurt someone or because I think that others would disapprove of my thoughts. Lately I have started to make a point about voicing my thoughts more openly because I've come to the conclusion that it's good for my own well-being to be who I am more openly, without letting the fear of other people's disapproval etc guide me, and also because sometimes I believe it's the right thing to do. Like, when everyone is saying negative things about someone who I don't think deserves to be talked badly about, I often pluck up the courage to open my mouth and defend the person that is being discussed unfairly or even point out others' hypocrisy (although I see that as a huge social risk). These kinds of things are sometimes quite important to me; to do the "right thing", to go against the flow. Is this an example of making decisions based on Feeling? I'm pretty sure it's either Fi or Ti, not sure which one however.
#5 beliefs about the world: I have gone through a cynical phase when I based nearly all my beliefs about the reality on evidence and rationality. I feel like I'm at the end of that phase and ready to move on to a more holistic approach where not only evidence matters, but also feelings and hunches. I used to be a strict determinist, believing that free will is an illusion, but lately I have started thinking as if free will existed anyway. I still don't believe that it actually exists but I feel like it is a very useful way of approaching life. I have also started having faith in a god even though there is no logical reason to have faith in such a being. Actually I do think that there is a rational reason to have faith in some kind of a "god" (just thinking about the universe and the beauty and infallibility of mathematics, and how mathematical laws seem to regulate the universe and its natural laws leads me to think that there must be some kind of a superior force that has set all the order and beauty in this world) but there is no reason to believe in a god who is interested in us, people. However, I have started to pray. Without any logical/rational reason to do so. I don't believe that god can hear my prayers, I just choose to have faith that he (or she) can.
Anyway. This is such a complicated issue! I still have no idea what the T/F dichotomy is all about! Which of these many kinds of decisions is the kind of decision that is meant when it is said that F people make decisions based on feelings and T people make decisions based on logic?
#1 small decisions that don't include other people, like whether to go out now or later: The decision is pretty much based on my feelings of the moment. Also, the consequences I think the decision will create can play a role (like getting all wet and then having to take a shower or becoming frustrated very soon if I don't go out right now)
#2 forming opinions about topical things: I typically form my opinions (political etc) based on both values and reason. I am often frustrated by how illogical and incoherent people seem to be, how they for example say that they are in favour of freedom of speech but the next moment they are ready to limit someone's freedom of speech because they don't like that someone's opinions. x( So, when forming opinions (especially political ones), I am (and strive to be) logical, just, impersonal and coherent, but of course I base my oh so coherent opinions on values such as social justice, respect (yes, I think that people should respect each other and I disapprove of disrespectful behaviour), equality, freedom, and people's as well as other natural creatures' well-being.
#3 big decisions about my life: This is a hard one. I feel like I just let things happen. Like, when I chose my major in university, I went with my feelings of the moment, with what I was interested in. I didn't make definitive plans about my future or consider all the consequences of the choice, I just chose to have faith that my decision would turn out to be the right decision. Then again, sometimes I do calculate how my "big decisions" will affect my future. Like, in relationships I seem to be unable to go with my feelings-- immediately when I see a candidate, I start calculating, summing up his looks, health, wealth, interests, personality traits, intelligence, and considering intellectually the chances of the possibility that we could have a happy family together. I've been hoping that this fairly unromantic calculation tendency will be turned off when I meet Mr Right One.
#4 small decisions in social settings: I do take others into consideration in my small decisions. I am friendly to people. I try not to hurt anyone. I often keep my thoughts to myself just because I think they could hurt someone or because I think that others would disapprove of my thoughts. Lately I have started to make a point about voicing my thoughts more openly because I've come to the conclusion that it's good for my own well-being to be who I am more openly, without letting the fear of other people's disapproval etc guide me, and also because sometimes I believe it's the right thing to do. Like, when everyone is saying negative things about someone who I don't think deserves to be talked badly about, I often pluck up the courage to open my mouth and defend the person that is being discussed unfairly or even point out others' hypocrisy (although I see that as a huge social risk). These kinds of things are sometimes quite important to me; to do the "right thing", to go against the flow. Is this an example of making decisions based on Feeling? I'm pretty sure it's either Fi or Ti, not sure which one however.
#5 beliefs about the world: I have gone through a cynical phase when I based nearly all my beliefs about the reality on evidence and rationality. I feel like I'm at the end of that phase and ready to move on to a more holistic approach where not only evidence matters, but also feelings and hunches. I used to be a strict determinist, believing that free will is an illusion, but lately I have started thinking as if free will existed anyway. I still don't believe that it actually exists but I feel like it is a very useful way of approaching life. I have also started having faith in a god even though there is no logical reason to have faith in such a being. Actually I do think that there is a rational reason to have faith in some kind of a "god" (just thinking about the universe and the beauty and infallibility of mathematics, and how mathematical laws seem to regulate the universe and its natural laws leads me to think that there must be some kind of a superior force that has set all the order and beauty in this world) but there is no reason to believe in a god who is interested in us, people. However, I have started to pray. Without any logical/rational reason to do so. I don't believe that god can hear my prayers, I just choose to have faith that he (or she) can.
Anyway. This is such a complicated issue! I still have no idea what the T/F dichotomy is all about! Which of these many kinds of decisions is the kind of decision that is meant when it is said that F people make decisions based on feelings and T people make decisions based on logic?