Typing by Letters: A Short Guide
Word of caution: Typing by letters is not recommended by most people who possess some knowledge of mbti (including myself). But if you still wish to do so here are some helpful tips in identifying which letter you have. Still, please stay reminded that functions play a much bigger role than the letters and depending on the function stack of each type some characteristics of the letters may be diminished or exaggerated. So take the guide with a grain of salt!
I vs. E (Introversion vs. Extroversion)
Has nothing to do with the number of friends you have or liking your friends (or people in general).
¬ Tend to prefer the company of a couple of people over a big group
¬ Can feel overwhelmed in a crowd because they’re primarily “programmed” for one-on-one conversing
¬ Feel energized by solitary activities
¬ Prefer to reflect on things by themselves before turning to others
¬ Can focus their energy on multiple people at once
¬ Can struggle with one-on-one conversing because they are more natural navigating through a large amount of people
¬ Feel energized by social activities
¬ Prefer to talk things over with someone else before reflecting alone
Try asking yourself the following questions:
°When something unexpected (good OR bad) happens to you, do you feel the need to share it with others as soon as possible (extroversion) by e.g posting about it on Facebook or calling your friends? Or do you prefer to reflect on it by yourself (to for example conclude how you feel or think about it) and “prepare” yourself for sharing it with others (introversion)?
°After a fun social gathering with your best friends do you appreciate the fact it was fun but look forward to going home (introversion)? Or do you wish you could keep going and already think about the next time you can gather and have fun (extroversion)?
°Do you think you can reach an understanding of another person’s point of view by primarily listening (introversion) or by primarily conversing (extroversion)?
N vs. S (iNtuition vs. Sensing)
Has nothing to do with intelligence, creativity or uniqueness.
¬ Prefer taking in information by first gaining a general understanding and then focusing on details
¬ Try to find connections and general principles in data
¬ Can miss crucial details because they primarily focus on the big picture
¬ Prefer relaying information and ideas in metaphors and using abstract language and terms
¬ Prefer focusing on singular pieces of information and constructing an overall understanding with them
¬ Focus on finding inconsistencies and exceptions in data
¬ Can be too focused on details to see the big picture
¬ Prefer to communicate using “layman’s terms” and concrete examples
Try asking yourself the following questions:
°When studying a book about a new issue, do you take time to glance through first to get the general idea (intuition) or do you delve right into it and trust you’ll get the idea just by reading from the beginning (sensing)?
°Are you often criticized for simplifying complex issues to make it understandable with the cost of making things too black and white (sensing)? Or are you more often criticized for explaining things in a manner too complex and abstract, refusing to simplify issues for the sake of making them easier to understand (intuition)?
T vs. F (Thinking vs. Feeling)
Has nothing to do with whether or not you have feelings or are capable of logical soundness. Also has no correlation to being smart or having empathy.
¬ Are more comfortable dealing with issues that don’t involve strong feelings from self or others
¬ Trust their intellect when judging things
¬ Can struggle with showing or using their sentiment
¬ Can thrive for sole logical consistency without regard for subjective feelings
¬ Are more comfortable dealing with people’s subjective experiences and feelings as opposed to hard facts
¬ Trust their heart and “gut feeling” when judging things
¬ Can struggle with accepting facts they don’t feel are right
¬ Can disregard facts when seeking emotional comfort and security
Try asking yourself the following questions:
°When gathering information about something new, are you more curious to hear about it from someone with no personal involvement (thinking) or from someone with personal experience and insights (feeling)?
°Are you more frustrated by insensitivity to people’s feelings and suffering (feeling) or by hypersensitivity to people’s feelings with the cost of facts (thinking)?
°Which one do you feel more threatened by: emotional instability that leaves no room for rationality (thinking) or inflexible factuality without any regard to subjective experience and feelings (feeling)?
J vs. P (Judging vs. Perceiving)
Has nothing to do with being lazy or messy.
¬ Prefer to know what to expect and to plan things in advance
¬ Feel anxious in situations that lack plan, schedule, structure or a desirable end result
¬ Can struggle in situations that require improvising or “playing by ear”
¬ Tend to organize themselves and their surroundings
¬ Enjoy situations that require improvising and can have unpredictable end results
¬ Prefer doing things spontaneously when they feel like it
¬ Can struggle and feel bored in situations that follow a set schedule or structure
¬ Tend to struggle with making and following long-term plans that require commitment
Try asking yourself the following questions:
°Do you tend to feel more anxious in unpredictable turns of events (judging) or situations where you’re expected to follow a set schedule or etiquette (perceiving)?
°When working, do you work in bursts of energy (perceiving) or diligently bit by bit (judging)
That about does it for my short guide. I hope at least one of you found this helpful. I’m planning to make another post about functions as soon as possible, hopefully I’ll get to that without unnecessary delay!