Ways Thinkers and Feelers Can Accept, Respect, and Embrace Human Differences

What is the fundamental mental process you use to make a decision? Some people, for example, make decisions based on pure logic. They follow a step-by-step process leading to a conclusion that makes the most logical sense, generally disregarding the consequences to other people. Do you step away from a situation, take an impersonal approach, and after assessing the cold, hard facts arrive at a logical conclusion? Individuals who prefer this decision-making approach are known as “thinkers” (T) in the language of personality type. This more easily defendable approach to decisionmaking is revered in many important aspects of our daily life. However, using logic is not the only recognizable approach to making a decision. Others prefer to step into the situation and carefully assess what is best for the people involved. In this approach, people take a more personal view of decisions, carefully considering how others are impacted, and how all aspects of the situation play a role in arriving at the final decision. In this case, there is more focus on creating harmony in the process rather than relying solely on logic to arrive at a decision. People who use this mental process are known as “feelers” (F). These two ways of reaching a conclusion or determining what we are going to do about situations we encounter represent only one aspect of what is known as personality type. Carl Jung, a prominent 20th century psychologist, spent years looking at differences in preferred processes and approaches to living our lives and defining the basic components of personality type. The basic ideas resulting from his observations and study are summarized in the box below.