The 4 Dichotomies

“There is no right or wrong type, and there are no better or worse combinations of types in work or relationships.” - Isabel Briggs Myers

There are four key building blocks that make up our personality type. Each of the four building blocks is made up of a pair of opposite preferences. So there are two possible ways we can choose to use each building block at any given moment in time. In type terms, these building blocks are called dichotomies and their pairs of opposite preferences are called poles. The MBTI reports preferences related to the following four dichotomies.

The Four Preference Dichotomies:

  
• Extraversion/Introversion: How you prefer to get energized

   
• Sensing/Intuition: How you prefer to take in information

   
• Thinking/Feeling: How you prefer to make decisions

   
• Judging/Perceiving: How you prefer to approach life

   

It is important to understand three key points:

1. You can and do use each of these eight preferences at different times. We use both poles at different times and in different contexts. However, we can’t use both at exactly the same time and we don’t use both with equal confidence.

2. Although you use all of the preferences, you tend to use one preference in each pair more than the other; one feels more comfortable, more natural. Neither is wrong. You can do both, but you prefer one.

3. Most importantly all eight of the preferences are equally valuable. All preferences are equally valuable and each type brings an important point of view when people interact.

The Spice of Life
A variety of types is best for a work group or team because many views are represented. Although each type approaches situations differently, and another person’s approach may not be what you would choose, each way can be effective.

For example, let’s say you have a colleague at work named Nicole. Nicole’s type may lead her to like doing things at the last minute, while you are uncomfortable if everything isn’t scheduled and planned in advance. Nicole may feel constrained when she has to plan far in advance. You are not right and Nicole wrong. Nicole is not right and you wrong. Different ways, based on different personality types, work for one of you and not for the other.

Of course when you and Nicole work together, your differences can be irritating. This is when knowing about personality type can help. You can accept her way as valid and she can accept yours.

Exercise
In her studies of people and extensive reading of Jung’s theories, Isabel Myers concluded there were four primary ways people differed from one another. She labeled these differences “preferences,” drawing a similarity to “hand preferences” to illustrate that although we all use both of our hands, most of us have a preference for one over the other and “it” takes the lead in many of the activities in which we use our hands.

To experience this concept, try this simple exercise:

• Take out a piece of paper and sign your name as you normally do.

• Now, sign your name again, but this time use your other hand.

• How would you describe the experience of writing your name with your preferred hand?

• With your nonpreferred hand?

• Most people who try this immediately notice a number of differences:

Preferred Hand   
• Feels natural
• Didn’t think about it       
• Effortless, easy   
• Looks neat, legible, adult

Nonpreferred Hand   
• Feels unnatural   
• Had to concentrate while doing it   
• Awkward and clumsy   
• Looks childlike legible, adult

The words used to describe the preferences for one hand over the other illustrate the theory of preferences in the MBTI: You can use either hand when you have to, and you use both hands regularly; but for writing, one is natural, while the other often requires more effort and doesn’t come quite as easily.

 

Source: Introduction to Type, 6th ed. Myers IB—Palo Alto, CA:CPP, 1998.