Notes on Judging Attitude (xxxJ)
Judging types (xxxJ) tend to be characterised by their focus on boundary conditions and direction. They are the types that want to know what to expect before they act, as the need for predictability is what provides them with a sense of power to arrive at desired ends.
To keep the environment predictable, Judging types tend to focus on essentials in every situation, often aiming to remove variants that might have multiple interpretations. A multitude of possibilities with no way to sift through is overwhelming, destabilising, and ambiguous, which works against the desire to achieve stability and control.
As such, the J types tend to generalise situations by finding the most important factor, i.e. the bottom-line, so they can focus their energy on shaping the environment in envisioned ways.
By contrast, P types emphasise variation and multiple options, as they aim to build an all-encompassing understanding of a situation. To them, J types appear unnecessarily restrictive, controlling, and indeed even conformist, as they tend to subscribe to rules and regulations that are often arbitrary and not based in anything real but the whims of those in power.
For example, there have been many different interpretations of human behaviour throughout the course of history, which evolve with time as new information comes to light, only to destabilise that which appeared to be timeless. P types tend to be conscious of this uncertainty, and they welcome it, because to remain attentive and adaptable to the ever-changing situations is the only way to really survive the curveballs life throws at you.
In other words, P types understand security in terms of freedom to respond to the ever-changing situations as they arise. For them, predictability can never equal security, as one is simply bound to miss a crucial detail that can overturn everything.
With this in mind, Perceivers might think that J types are simply ignorant, as they choose to be dismissive of many variants that might violate their expectations. But that’s unfair to J types.
Judging types understand security in terms of freedom to choose how to respond to situations ahead of time. They want to have an option for recourse instead of needing to merely react. They acknowledge that they cannot know everything, but it is wrong to pretend that there is no order to the dance of the universe. Things do repeat themselves - just look around. Yes, some details might be in flux in terms of how should we arrive at some end, but it is absurd to give all of them equal weight. If you look carefully, you’ll notice that most of them shouldn’t require your attention. They are simply irrelevant, and we must stay on track.
As Lenore Thomson explains:
From this point of view, the ability to establish priorities doesn’t limit one’s options. It creates options that don’t exist in nature, thus freeing one from the mercy of chance and circumstance. if a course is worth pursuing, then immediate information is important only when it has some bearing on the issue.
This attitude is also what tends to give J types a sense of power and free will to change their course of action whenever possible. Unlike P types, J types have an ingrained belief that they must put in effort and time to achieve what they want. As their attitude is already focused on influencing the world, they understand that a few slip-ups are likely, and so they do not feel as crushing as they might for a P type.
P types, by contrast, often feel immediately demotivated once the first few tries do not work, as for them this is enough to believe that what they seek is not for them. However, J types understand that they have to try until they find a way for reality to cooperate with their wishes. Ultimately, if you cannot influence your environment, you’re not secure, and therefore you are not free.
(Parts adapted from Personality Type: An Owner’s Manual by Lenore Thomson)
