I did your online MBTI certification program and I have also been to many of your trainings at UCLA. For the first time today, I did a group interpretation of the MBTI for a student government class on campus and some students were asking me for examples for the Judging and Perceiving preferences because they felt like they experienced both equally. When students have slight PCIs I have been referring to the “verifying type preferences” sheets I have from the certification program training, and use the S/N and T/F examples often with students. However, with J/P, this group was really torn and I tried several things and still some felt they could not choose. In my experience, with one-on-one interpretations J/P is usually easier than say S/N or T/F, but for this group they were confused. Do you have any suggestions for this or do you have an example that works well? The students really loved the “apple” example I used for S/N. I even used the playground example you explained in the recent CPP webinar and the students seemed to really like this too. I would appreciate any tips!
Now to your question. JP is all about the external environment — how we want to be perceived by others. In theoretical terms, it is about the mental process that we extravert (P types extravert S or N, and J types extravert T or F). The reason that it can be challenging in groups is that J and P don’t stand alone. People SP or NP and TJ or FJ. If we try to explain any of the letters in isolation, people will identify with both, because we all use one of the functions in the external environment and the other in our internal world.
The key point about J-P is that J types organize their external environments through their decision making, and P types experience their external environments through their perception.
- TJ types take charge and make decisions that result in order, getting things done right, and outcomes that demonstrate competence or efficiency.
- FJ types encourage collaboration and make decisions that result harmony, productive relationships, and outcomes that provide practical assistance or empower others.
- NP types expand their experience through brainstorming, conceptualizing, and broadening of ideas.
- SP types expand their experience through the senses by actively participating in anything physical.
The work of Cynthia Stengel Paris is integral to interpreting type through the eight functions–what I’m referencing here when I talk about the mental function that we extravert. I have way over simplified, to be sure, but the central concept is that the letters can’t stand alone. When I’m interpreting for groups I almost always start with a living type table, especially if I only have an hour. This gets them putting the letters together right away, and engages everyone. It also gives participants permission to move around. There are many variations, but for a career focus I like:
- Lay a strip of masking tape on the floor, dividing the space horizontally. Have the Is go above the line and the Es go below. Ask them to talk among themselves about something that has to do with E-I. They have their results or ITT or some other handout with the E-I definitions. I like to ask them to describe their ideal work environment in terms of E-I or study environment. A few minutes of discussion, and then sharing with the larger group.
- Divide the line vertically so that you have quadrants. Have participants remain in their E-I positions, but move to the left for Sensing and right for Intuition. Have each quadrant talk among themselves about how they like to learn and share with the larger group.
- Then divide the quadrants into columns — the hearts of type. Have them talk with each other again about what they want most from work–what they want to contribute to the world through work.
- Then divide into rows so that you now have the 16 types — they are now with their own, and have them read the full type descriptions together from ITT or their reports. If you have an extra hour, you can have each type produce something that demonstrates their type — “Show us your type” is my favorite.
I hope this gives you some ideas. The last part of this activity when you are dividing into the final rows of the type table gives you a great opening to talk about J vs. P. The J rows provide the structure to the type table, just as they provide the structure for life. The Ps live within the structure with flexibility and spontaneity.
