We Use Math Everyday!

I know I have discussed Extroverted Thinking in past blog posts but this mental function tends to rear its head in our household fairly frequently. Why?

For starters, my husband ‘s type preference is ISTJ. Extroverted Thinking, (logical planning and organization) is his second most natural function and, in accord with John Beebe’s work in archetypal energy, functions in a “good parent” role. Mike’s “good parent” coaches, guides, directs and cajoles me using logic – generally in the form of math, process maps, tables and general logical analysis of “if p then q” and so on.

And then there’s me. I have embraced my ENFJ preference for creating harmony, seeing the big picture, affirming and appreciating, and of course, waking up in the middle of the night with “bright ideas”, connecting the dots and feeling like I “understand the meaning of– something.”

Extroverted Thinking is my least preferred function, eighth and lowest on the totem pole of type dynamics. You can’t go any lower. In the eighth position, it can be the most rejected aspect of a personality but conversely, feels like divine energy when it appears spontaneously. It’s in my unconscious and I feel sometimes I must deliberately pull, tug, yank, and drag it screaming into my conscious for use in a situation.

Over the course of my 50 years, I have had great opportunities through work, education, and now my husband, to develop Extroverted Thinking. Didn’t know it at the time but I did. I learned to “love”, for defined periods of time, spreadsheets and defined analysis. I enjoyed seeing progress and improvement, especially those with a p < .05. I’ve developed but it is not natural to me to the point that I can readily articulate my logic. But I’m improving!

For example, I am currently trying to sell eight 4-piece plate settings of Christmas china on Ebay. The eight sets are comprised of two sets each of four different color designs all in the same Faberge egg pattern. Should I sell four 4-piece settings – with one of each color or sell all eight in one lot? Everything was perfectly clear in my mind during the discussion but my husband could not comprehend what I was describing.

So what did I do?

I said the same thing but with stronger, slower verbal articulation. It didn’t work. Imagine that.

Mike asked for more detail. I described it verbally again. Finally, he said, “draw me a picture. “Translate it using math.”

I created a lovely table with four columns and rows, labeled rows with red, purple, green and blue and the columns with mug, dinner plates, salad plate and bowl and filled in the grid. He immediately understood what I was describing. He could define “set” in his mind. We smiled. We were communicating and determined a solution for posting the lots.

God I love him!

Moral of the story?

If your Extroverted Thinking is one of your least preferred functions based on your type preference (ISTP, INTP, ESTP, ISFJ, INFJ, ESFJ and ENFJ), and you need to communicate with others whose Extroverted Thinking is in the Dominant or Auxiliary position, (ISTJ, INTJ, ESTJ, and ENTJ), consider using your skills in math and logic, current guidelines and parameters to support or define your problem or decision or idea. Consider also partnering with someone to mentor you, observe and practice with in using these processes for development.

Happy Thinking!

30 Rock - Conflict Pairs in Action

Television programs and movies can be a great way to “type watch” and identify key Jungian mental functions and MBTI personality types used to create dialogue, conflict and resolution. I’m not a huge fan of 30 Rock but it definitely becomes more interesting observing the potential conflict pairs of Alec Baldwin’s TJ (thinking/Judgment) and Liz Lemmon’s FJ (Feeling/Judgment).

A good example of this is the episode, Audition Day, aired on November 5th. The Tracy Jordan Show management team has been directed to add a character to the show. Liz Lemmon (Tina Fey) and Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) are planning an audition session for Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin). Liz and Pete conspire to stage the audition so only one actor is the obvious choice. Throughout the discussion of how to pick the best actor, Jack directs Liz to “be logical and dispassionate”, to make decisions without empathy. He tells her that she is on top of a small pyramid and not to let emotions distract her from making decisions about those that built the pyramid. Sound like Extroverted Thinking?

"That's what I'm talking about, empathy. It's about as useless as the Winter Olympics” – Jack.

Liz poorly tries to be “a robot” and manage the audition preparation work with Pete without emotion but her feelings begin to drive her decision making process. Her preference and desire for group harmony (Extroverted Feeling) persists and she approves other staff of The Tracy Jordan Show to join the audition. Needless to say, the formal audition process breaks down and chaos ensues. Meanwhile, Jack has multiple opportunities to experience empathy towards the “common man” in New York and reconsiders his own snobbery towards others.

Ah, so does this mean we should not use empathy in the decision-making process to prevent chaos? Not at all. As Jack demonstrates, if we use all of our mental functions in the decision making process we could potentially find the perfect solution. Jack selects the robot impersonator, the one person who touched a person with New York bedbugs.

"I say we hire the one who lives by the code of the robot: Care. Love. Live." – Jack

OK, so robots are not famous for creating harmony and empathy. Perhaps that’s the irony and our real robot, Jack, has briefly discovered his own. Let’s see next week if he develops his new found empathy.

To learn more, watch the episode at:

http://vodpod.com/watch/2471581-hulu-30-rock-audition-day-watch-the-full-episode-now-