In Our Maker's Image

Personality Type

Posted by: TH on: July 24, 2010

One of the most widely used measures of personality is the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. The Myers Briggs Type Indicator is based on the personality theory of Carl Jung as adapted by Myers and Briggs. The type indicator recognizes 16 different personality types based on preferences in four categories:

  1. Energy orientation–Introverted (get recharged from inner world, imagination, time alone or with a few close friends) or Extroverted (energy from outside world, people and activities).
  2. Information gathering–Sensing (five senses) or Intuition (hunches, patterns, possibilities).
  3. Values in decision-making–Thinking (logical, rational) or Feeling (consideration of emotions and others).
  4. Way of interacting–Judging (structured, closed-ended) or Perceiving (open-ended, flexible).

There is a lot of information about the different types and theories that is available to better understand this and the link above goes into more detail.

Seems to me that different personality types would have preferences for different types of spirituality. For example, extroverted individuals would likely prefer more group interactions and fellowship, whereas an introverted individual might prefer a silent retreat or more time for reflection. People with a preference for sensing might especially like to walk a labyrinth or experience God in nature, whereas an intuitive might especially appreciate a religious symbol or ritual. A thinker might be interested in the scholarly writings or to ensure that his or her belief system was logical, whereas a feeler would want to be engaged emotionally in the experience. Those with a preference for judging would do well with a regular spiritual discipline, whereas those with a preference for perceiving would rather sense the Spirit and go with the flow.

The creators of the MBTI are careful to point out that type should not be used to stereotype people (just because you’re an introvert doesn’t mean you don’t like a good group discussion or that if you’re an extrovert you can’t handle a silent retreat), but perhaps personality type is another area where we could customize spiritual formation to some extent, provided we don’t lose the balance needed for wholeness.

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