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!