Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)?

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How Do You Prefer To Make Decisions?
This third preference pair describes how you like to make decisions. Do you like to put more weight on objective principles and impersonal facts (Thinking) or do you put more weight on personal concerns and the people involved (Feeling)?

Don’t confuse Feeling with emotion. Everyone has emotions about the decisions they make. Also do not confuse Thinking with intelligence.

Everyone uses Thinking for some decisions and Feeling for others. In fact, a person can make a decision using his or her preference, then test the decision by using the other preference to see what might not have been taken into account.

The Thinking/Feeling dichotomy of the MBTI addresses the following questions:
• What do you rely on when making a decision?
• What kinds of decisions do you like to make?
• What consequences are you likely to consider when making a decision?
• How do you evaluate the opinions or decisions of others?

What Do Thinking and Feeling Look Like?
Ask yourself which of the following descriptions seems more natural, effortless, and comfortable for you.

Thinking (T)
“Is this logical?”

● You have a natural preference for making decisions in an objective, logical, and analytical manner with an emphasis on tasks and results to be accomplished.
● You objectively analyze the pros and cons of a situation, even when you have a personal stake.
● You want to discover the “truth” and naturally notice logical inconsistencies.

Feeling (F)
“Will anyone be hurt?”

● You make your decisions in a somewhat global, visceral, harmony and value-oriented way, paying particular attention to the impact of decisions and actions on other people.
● You desire to uncover the greatest good in a situation and notice when people may be harmed.
● You know what is important to people and adhere to that in the face of opposition.

Characteristics of People Who Prefer Thinking Vs Feeling
Let’s take a look at some of the characteristics of people who prefer Thinking and Feeling.

People who prefer Thinking (T)
● Are honest and direct
● Instinctively search for facts and logic in a decision situation
● Weigh the pros and cons when making decisions
● Are more likely to critique first and compliment later
● Tend toward skepticism, controversy, and impartiality
● Are motivated by achievement
● Naturally notice tasks and work to be accomplished
● Typically respond by first asking questions and challenging what is said
● Expect that the best ideas and solutions emerge from argument and debate
● Prefer situations where they can critique and get mastery over
● Do their best work when they can take an analytical approach to new ideas and situations
● Believe fairness means treating everyone by the same standards
● Are more interested in justice
● Take few things personally
● Accept conflict as a natural, normal part of relationships with people

People who prefer Feeling (F)
● Are diplomatic and tactful
● Instinctively employ personal feelings and impact on people in decision situations
● Sort through personal values when making decisions
● Are more likely to compliment first and critique later
● Ten toward acceptance, tolerance, and sympathy
● Are motivated by appreciation
● Are naturally sensitive to people needs and the work process
● Typically respond by first looking for common ground and expressing agreement or sharing concern
● Expect that the best ideas and solutions emerge from cooperation and building on everyone’s contribution
● Prefer situations where personally helping people is the main work
● Do their best work when personal relationships and harmony are the context for their learning
● Believe fairness means taking individual needs into account
● Are more interested in mercy
● Take many things personally
● Are unsettled by conflict; want to avoid disharmony

Thinking and Feeling in a Veterinary Practice
In addition to sharing a preference for Sensing (S), Katharine and Isabel also both prefer Feeling (F). Their common preferences for Sensing (S) and Feeling (F) might well explain what draws them to work in a veterinary healthcare environment—they both seek practical ways to help and serve both pets and people. They also want to be part of a predictable and harmonious work environment.

In contrast, Dr. Jung has a preference for Thinking (T). Combined with his preference for Intuition (N), this means that he differs significantly from both technicians in how he prefers to take in information and make decisions. Let’s look at how their differing approaches to decision making play out:

 Dr. Jung prefers Thinking
When making decisions, Dr. Jung will tend to look objectively at a situation, then consider the people aspects, and then return to the objective information to make a final decision.

When considering how to staff the practice to best serve clients, Dr. Jung is more likely to focus on the following questions:
- What are the pros and cons of acting on different options?
- What is the most reasonable course of action.
- What are the financial costs and considerations?
- What strategies are needed to achieve each potential outcome?

Katharine and Isabel prefer Feeling
When making decisions, Katharine and Isabel, tend to consider the effect on people first, then look at the logic involved, and then return to the feeling data for the final decision.

When considering staffing issues and delivering client service, Katharine and Isabel will consider a different set of questions:
- What are the people consequences for both the team and the client of each option?
- How will the team members and clients respond to each scenario?
- What do we personally like and dislike about what we’re considering here?
- Who is committed to carrying out this plan?

The Result:
Dr. Jung is sometimes exasperated by what he sees as the wishy washy, touchy feely approach to problems that Katharine and Isabel seem to have. “Why can’t they be rational?,” he thinks. Katharine and Isabel are sometimes put off by Dr. Jung’s apparent complete disregard for people’s perspectives and feelings.

It’s important to understand that both these ways of making decisions are rational, they are just based on different priorities and different data sets. Both Thinking and Feeling preferences are essential for the competent and sensitive delivery of healthcare services as well as the management of the veterinary health care team.

Do You Prefer Thinking or Feeling?
Based on your understanding of Thinking and Feeling, which preference do you think more accurately describes you?

The Thinking side of our brain analyzes information in a detached, objective fashion. It operates from factual principles, deduces and forms conclusions systematically. It is our logical nature.

The Feeling side of our brain forms conclusions in an attached and somewhat global manner, based on likes/dislikes, impact on others, and human and aesthetic values. It is our subjective nature.

Remember, you can and do use both preferences at different times and in different situations, but which one of these ways of forming conclusions to you lean toward?

Thinking (T)
People who prefer Thinking tend to make decisions using impartial, logical, and objective analysis.

Feeling (F)
People who prefer Feeling tend to make decisions to create harmony by applying person-centered values.