CHAPTER 8: The Keirsey and Myers-Briggs Personality Types
Now let me describe the Myers-Briggs and Keirsey personality models. The Myers-Briggs model, originating with Carl Jung, consists of four dichotomies with sixteen personality types. Jung identified the first three dichotomies. After factor analysis Myers and Briggs discovered that there was another dichotomy, which is different and only later identified. The fourth square is always a sort of maverick in relation to the preceding three. The four dichotomies are:
*Square one; extraversion-introversion (E-I)
*Square two; sensing-intuition (S-N)
*Square three; thinking-feeling (T-F)
*Square four; judging-perceiving (J-P).
Extraverts gain energy by being around others, and are more action oriented. Whereas introverts gain energy by being alone, and are more cerebrally oriented.
Sensing and intuiting types are called the perceiving, information gathering functions. Sensors are concerned primarily with facts and details, while the intuitive are more concerned with comprehending “the big picture” and deeper meanings.
Thinking and feeling are the judging functions. Thinkers care more about logic, consistency, and doing what works. Feelers are more concerned with what other people feel and think, and are interested in maintaining interpersonal harmony. The third square is always about doing; the personality types in this third square want to do what works and what creates social harmony.
Next is judging and perceiving. The fourth square always points beyond itself, engaging in a larger context. Judging and perceiving deal with how people relate to the outside, wider world. Judging personalities prefer to use their thinking and feeling functions when relating to the world. Perceivers prefer to use their sensing and intuitive functions. Those who prefer judging tend to want things planned and decided, whereas, perceivers tend to like things to left open-ended.
The varied combinations of these personality types yield sixteen possibilities. Keirsey separates the types into four temperaments; the Idealist, the Guardian, the Artisan, and the Rational. I link the 16 types to the 16 squares of the quadrant model pattern.
Quadrant 1 = the Idealist. Square one, the sensor (INFJ); square two, the perceiver (ENFJ); square three, the responder (ENFP); square four, the aware person (INFP).
Quadrant 2 = the Guardian. In square one is the believer (ISFJ); in square two is the faithful person (ESFJ); in square three is the behaver (ESTJ); square holds the belonger (ISTJ).
Quadrant 3 = the Artisan. In square one the thinker (ISFP); in square two is the emoter (ESFP); in square three is the doer (ESTP); in square four is the dreamer (ISTP)
Quadrant 4= the Rational. In square one is the contemplator (INTJ), in square 2 is the passionate person (ENTJ); in square three is the flow-er (ENTP); in square four is the knower (INTP).
Keirsey's’ temperament model
Quadrant 1 - Idealists Quadrant 3- Artisans
Sensing (INFJ)
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Responding (ENFP)
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Thinking (ISFP)
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Doing
(ESTP)
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Perceiving(ENFP)
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Awareness (INFP)
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Emoting (ESFP)
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Dreaming (ISTP)
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Believing
(ISFJ)
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Behaving (ESTJ)
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Contemplating (INTJ)
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Flowing (ENTP)
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Faithful (ESFJ)
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Belonging (ISTJ)
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Passion
(ENTJ)
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Knowing (INTP)
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Quadrant 2- Guardians Quadrant 4- Rationals
There are two dichotomies that yield Keirsey's four temperaments: dichotomy 1--concrete and abstract; dichotomy 2--cooperative and utilitarian. Concrete people care more about details and facts. Abstract people care more about the big picture and connections. Cooperative people focus on maintaining social harmony, while utilitarian people care more about what works.
In Quadrant 1 are found the Idealists. Idealists are abstract and cooperative. Like all other “residents” in the first square, they are weird. They are intelligent, and like social harmony, wanting to belong and fit in. But at the same time they do not fit in because they are very abstract in their consciousness, and are perceived by the group as weird. They are sensitive, perceptive, responsible and aware, caring deeply about things like the environment and nature. They are very spiritual, which is a characteristic of the first quadrant, and they want to be helpful. The first quadrant is conservative, which coincides with being helpful. Idealists are sensitive to others and can help others to feel better. They put others before themselves. When asked about the meaning of life the idealists say it is “to find yourself”. Awareness is of the self. They desperately want to belong, and look up to guardians. Idealists make up only about ten percent of the population. The first quadrant is linked to the self. Idealists are very mental and even are inclined to see the universe as a mind. They are empathetic and compassionate but can run the risk of not being compassionate or sensitive to people they don't like. Idealists are more likely vegetarians. They are smart but their ideas can run wild and they are likely to believe in aliens and other things considered weird. Some may say they need a straight jacket for their ideas but they are brilliant. They sometimes run the risk of trying to belong too much though and caring too much about what others think. They are cooperative and want to be seen as responsible and they can be described sometimes as too nice and too sensitive and a critique against them is that they can work too hard to try to make everybody happy, and I the process can sometimes be disingenuous. Idealists tend to feel responsibility is important and are responsible themselves and expect others to be responsible. They are into self reliance. Idealists recall are aware. When you are aware you can't quite put your finger on something completely but are just aware of it. Idealists like to say things like “the world is so incomprehensible it's beyond our comprehension”. They also like to express awe of the cosmos and being idealists, like to portray to others their awe and inspire them. Idealists are likely to believe that things like levitation or walking on water are really possible, which is kind of magical thinking, but they will try to explain it scientifically or metaphysically. They love to inspire and help people and make people feel good. They tend to be into things like crystals, astrology, the occult, and literature, in part because these are weird and idealists are weird, and in part because these are avenues for finding the self and better understanding the self, which idealists love.
Quadrant 2 contains the Guardians. Guardians are concrete and cooperative. Unlike the Idealists, they are normal and fit in. Idealists tend to like guardians and look up to guardians and want to be them. The first square wants to be the second, the second wants to be the third, and the third wants to be the fourth. The second square focuses on homeostasis; it is about maintaining order. The second square thinks in “black and white”. Guardians are very concerned with right and wrong, and morality. Not extremely deep thinkers, they are concrete thinkers concerned with facts. But they are also cooperative and concerned with social harmony and belonging. They tend to be religious; even if not religious about religion, they are religious about other things. Being religious connotes believing deeply and having strong faith in something in spite of not necessarily having a deep knowledge or understanding of it. They maintain order and structure, and are good at producing social harmony and establishing strong friendships. They will “give you the shirt off their backs”. When asked about the meaning of life a Guardian will likely say that it is to “put food in the fridge, and to take care of family”. Guardians are very into family and friends, while also envying the Artisans who are more spontaneous and into having fun. While looking down on Artisans because of their wild and destructive behavior, and appearance of being less intelligent,
simultaneously they wish to be more like the Artisan. They tend to like white people and like order. They try to play the role they feel is assigned to them, whether it is the role they thing a Black man should play if they are Black, or a woman, and so on. They are less likely to think very deeply about topics and are more likely to believe whatever they feel will help them belong. Guardians make up about fifty percent of the population.
In Quadrant 3 are the Artisans. The third square is characteristically very physical. Artisans are very into the physical. They are concrete, and utilitarian They are rational, and “cool”. They are good at thinking, yet are also emotional. As doers they love to get things done while having fun. They can be very spontaneous and even destructive; the third square is destructive, and often viewed as bad. They like sports and art. However, they can envy those who are able to think abstractly, often turning to drugs in pursuit of the abstract and elusive. Artisans like respect, and like to have authority and they are not afraid to hurt feelings and be renegades and be politically incorrect. Unlike their opposites, the idealists they don't mind doing what they feel works even if it disrupts social harmony and is not empathetic. Donald Trump is an example of an artisan. They are showmen. Artisans are plentiful, making up about thirty five percent of the population
In Quadrant 4 are found the Rationals. Rationals are abstract and utilitarian, and somewhat “weird”, which is a characteristic of the fourth square. Abstract people look for principles, patterns, and connections. The fourth quadrant is knowledge and contemplation. Rationals are very contemplative, tend to be calm, but can also be passionate. They may not show emotions, but when they do they tend to lose control or be very intense. Rationals are utilitarian, doing what works best, not caring particularly about social harmony, hence they can be destructive. This allows them to be philosophical and a transformative force. Einstein was a Rational. He had a hard time taking care of himself. Rationals are said to “have their heads in the clouds”. They are good at contemplating, thereby transcending the normal world. They also can be chameleons, fitting in with the other types by pretending to be like them. Benjamin Franklin is a good example. Especially the INTP is able to “see the big picture”. Rationals care most about gaining truth and want to press people and promote debate, which other types might feel is threatening and even confrontational. But Rationals do not really hold onto beliefs, and will just pretend to hold to one in order to spark debate so they can gain deeper insights and produce greater inquiry. Rationals are rare, making up about five percent of the population. The fourth is always different, and seems not to belong with the other three. Whereas idealists are very into values and have emotional investment in their ideas, Rationals tend to be less sensitive and don't have as much emotional investment in beliefs. A Rational may appear to take a stance in order to promote inquiry and debate, but he really does not have one, and this may confuse idealists. I am an INTP rational. I do not necessarily have any feelings for what I say or believe it, I just hopefully want to promote debate and inquiry.
Chapter 9: The Nature and Qualities of Each Square and Each Quadrant
Quadrant 1 is always sort of weird yet homeostatic and conservative. Quadrant 1 is mental; related to the mind. Every Square 1 has similar qualities. Quadrant 2 is more normal and homeostatic and conservative. Every square 2 has analogous qualities. Quadrant 3 is always related to action. Quadrant three is more tangible and physical. Quadrant 3 is more destructive. Quadrant 3 has the same qualities as square 3. The fourth quadrant is always weird and destructive and has a quality of transcendence. The fourth square is similarly weird and destructive and transcendent. The qualities of the square depend on the squares number and the quadrant it is in.
The qualities of the quadrant and the square are analogous. For instance quadrant 3 has the same qualities as square 3. Square 1 has the same qualities of quadrant 1. But the quality of a square depends upon what quadrant it is in along with what square number it is. For instance square nine is the first square of the third quadrant. Because it is in the third quadrant it is going to be sort of solid and physical and destructive and wild. But because it is the first square it is going to have a mental quality and a weird quality. The first square of the third quadrant is thinking. Thinking is physical in that it is brought about by neuronal firings and thoughts affect physical reality, but thinking is also mental.
The first Quadrant is the self. Sensation perception response and awareness are linked to the self. For instance, there is a sense of self, self perception self responsibility and self awareness.
The second quadrant is the group/culture. Belief, faith, behavior, and belonging are all associated with the group. Belief and faith glue groups together, and behavior is determined by the groups’ values. Belonging, has to do with acceptance by the group. Once you have achieved a sense of self, which is the first quadrant, then you can move to the group.
The third quadrant is the ego/body. The third quadrant is the individual and identity. Thinking emotion doing and dreaming are associated with the ego. The ego shapes thoughts and emotions and what you do. The ego is shaped a lot by one’s physical qualities. Dreaming involves a sort of transcendence of the ego/body in that you are disconnected from your body when you dream and experience inspiration that is beyond the rational when you dream, but dreaming is still ego oriented. Once you have gained group belonging, which is the second quadrant, you can then break out of the group and become an individual ego.
The fourth quadrant is the transcendence of the ego/body. The fourth quadrant is the astral body and transcendence of identiity. Contemplation, passion, flowing, and knowing is the astral body. When you dream you sort of transcend the ego body. When you contemplate and are passionate and flow, you are transcending the ego, and a part of something larger than the ego. In order to know something, according to Socrates, you must recall it from the World of Forms, which is transcendent to the ego/body. Drugs, sports, sex, and death can help lead people to the astral body and transcendence of the ego bod, but these are not necessary.
The second and the fourth quadrants are opposites. The second quadrant is life. Belief, faith, behavior and belonging is life. The fourth quadrant is death. Contemplation, passion, flowing and knowing is death. The first two quadrants are more oriented towards life. The second two quadrants are more oriented towards death. At the end of the book I provide an in depth analysis of each quadrant and square of the quadrant model, delving deeply into the natures of all of the squares.
There is always an opposition between the first and third squares, which in this case are seeing and touching, and the second and fourth squares, which in this case are tasting and hearing. The first and third square are the least related to each other, and the second and fourth square are least related to each other.
A heuristic to distinguish the squares is that square 1 is the light, square 2 is the word, square 3 is the flesh, and square 4 is the true word. Square 1 is related to space, square 2 is related to time, square 3 is related to matter, and square 4 is related to energy. Light is seen- square 1. The word is associated with hearing. Words are heard- square 2. Touching is associated with the flesh and physicality- square 3. The true word is associated with speaking, and that is connected with taste and the mouth- square 4.
It is crucial to understand that the number of items is unimportant. The validity of the quadrant model has nothing to do with the number represented by a phenomenon. What matters is the pattern out of which things emerge, and the relationships within the pattern. An example of this can be illustrated in Piaget's four stages of child development. It does not matter that there are four stages; there could be 19 stages or three stages. What matters is that the order fits the quadrant model pattern, in that the nature of each stage possesses the qualities of that the square in which they reside defines. What my thesis is, is that nature organizes itself along the quadrant model pattern.
Now finally we will analyze the quadrant model in nature, going through manifold cases of the quadrant model’s permeation of reality. The quadrant model is in fact the organizing principle of all reality.
CHAPTER 10: The Four Fields of Inquiry
The four personality types relate to the four fields of inquiry, which are Science, Religion, Art, and Philosophy.
*Square one: Science. Science, like the Idealist, is abstract, concerned with belonging, and is somewhat weird, which is the nature of the first square. Philosophers of science, including Kuhn and Popper, point out that science likes to consider itself objective, but is very much shaped by authority. Scientists are tempted to see only what they are looking for. Science is sensation and perception. An example of this occurred in observations of photos of the pyramids that showed evidence of cavities within them. But nobody took note of that evidence. An architect looking at the photos, being aware of the capacity to build something from the inside out, was the first to realize those cavities were used to build the pyramids.
Science, as well as the Idealist, is very much shaped by consensus and tradition. Boltzmann, a scientist, proposed that atoms were real things, and people thought he was crazy. Scientists are often afraid to shake up the status quo, tending instead to hold consensus-established views. He ended up committing suicide. Only after his death did the scientific community realize that he was right. This occurs often in science; often proposals are considered by fellow scientists to be crazy, only later to be proven valid. It is difficult to trust science because it is based on sensation and perception, which are limited and somewhat flawed.
Science is subjective, not objective. Its initial findings are shaped by prejudices. For a long time eugenics, the study of race, was very popular. But after world war II such studies became politically incorrect and taboo. Cultural norms shape science, which is very dependent on volunteer funding, so scientists are constantly trying to appeal to people and worrying about what others think. Science and Idealists, are very into helping, like fighting cancer, or saving the environment. Scientists are concerned with problems like the climate and asteroids, also examine weird stuff like aliens, often studying supernatural phenomena like astral projection. Science, like the Idealists, can be considered weird, often exploring beyond the boundaries of the normal, which some call “the spiritual”. Physics is actually mostly about the study of invisible forces, which evidences this “spiritual” quality. Fields like quantum mechanics are very weird, studying how thoughts affect reality. The first square is weird. The race associated with the first square is Asian, and Asians are associated with being good scientists.
*Square two: Religion. Religion, like the Guardian is concerned with homeostasis, maintaining the status quo, and protecting order and stability. Religions provide laws and ways of living designed to create harmony. Religions are about belief, faith, behavior, and belonging (Quadrant 2). Religions often separate people along ethnic lines. For instance, in Europe different ethnic groups adopted different religions; northern Germany adopted protestantism, while southern Germany adopted catholicism. It can be argued that this separation was due to ethnic differences. In Asia different ethnic groups adopted alternate forms of Buddhism. In Arab lands different ethnic groups adopted alternate forms of Islam. So belonging is very tied into religion.
Religions tend to be very concerned with behavior--distinguishing right from wrong. Like the Guardian, religions are concerned with morality and maintaining order, a fundamental characteristic of the second square. Religion and art are often considered to be completely separate, however, being in the first two squares they form a duality, remaining interconnected. Science has always informed religion, and religion has always informed science. The big bang theory was proposed by a priest. Mendel, who discovered punnet square genetics, was a monk. Science also tries to explain religion. Scientists studying ancient astronaut possibilities try to explain the Bible and other holy texts as products of alien visitations to earth. The second square race is White, and Whites are most associated with religion. Even most Muslims are White, even the one's that say they are Arabs, because Arabs are White genetically, although it can be argued that they are brown and some more than others.
*Square three: Art. Art corresponds to the Artisan; it is about thinking, emotion, doing, and dreaming (Quadrant 3). Art includes painting, music, dance, and literature. Van Goh declared that he painted his dreams. Artists often claim that they express their emotions through their art. Music has been described as emotion in sound form. Art makes people think. It can be destructive by causing people to question their assumptions and the status quo, as it deals with subjects such as race and religion. The third square has the nature of being destructive. Like the Artisan, it can generate great discomfort; it can “show off” and engage in “having fun”. Art is at its best when spontaneous. Art can be used to support the status quo, but more often it shakes up the status quo. The third square race is Black, and Blacks are most associated with art.
*Square four: Philosophy. Philosophy keeps company with the Rational. The fourth square always engulfs the previous three squares; there is a philosophy of science, a philosophy of religion, and a philosophy of art. Philosophy is contemplation, passion, flowing, and knowing (Quadrant 4). Philosophy is the love of knowledge. Knowledge is the understanding of what exists beyond simple sensation and perception, preferring instead a very deep understanding. Philosophy deals with the study of knowledge, the study of being, and the study of concepts that are beyond the reach of rational comprehension. The fourth square is associated with the transrational. Philosophy is viewed as not belonging with the other three fields of inquiry; the fourth is always different. Philosophers, like Rationals, are seen as having their heads in the clouds. Philosophy is interested in contemplating trans-rational qualities and realities, like the Good, Beauty, Truth, Love, and God. The fourth square race is Brown, and Brown people are most associated with philosophy.
It can be argued that there is a fifth field of inquiry history. But many say that history is a science. Science is the first square so it is the light. History would be the true light, so it is like a science, but also it is not in that it is not very empirical. History instead is shaped greatly by philosophy. Again, the fourth square, philosophy, points to the fifth, history.
The Fields of Inquiry
Science
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Art
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Religion
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Philosophy
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CHAPTER 11: The Four Primary Fields of Science.
Science is the first square field of inquiry. Because it is the first square, I will analyze science first. The primary fields of science include physics (square one), chemistry (square two), biology (square three), and psychology (square four).
*Square one: Physics. Physics fits with the Idealist in square one. Like the Idealist physics inquires into the supernatural and the superrational, even irrational exploring the invisible forces such as gravity, the strong and weak forces, and electromagnetism. While Idealists are into the law and following orders, physics is very lawful. Idealists are very smart, often considered weird. The first square has the quality of being weird. Physics seeks to explain weird phenomena, and is a very difficult discipline to master. These characteristics are found in Wilbur's mind quadrant. With quantum mechanics, science is a lot about sensation and perception, in that sensation and perception effect particles. Sensation and perception are the first quadrant.
*Square two: Chemistry. Chemistry can be placed in the second square with the Guardian. Chemistry is considered to be less difficult than physics, and thought to be easier to master. Chemistry is about relationships and reactions between particulars. Similarly Guardians are very involved in family and relationships. Both are concerned with orderliness, and closely follow laws. This characteristic corresponds to Wilbur's culture quadrant. The second square is always associated with relationships.
*Square three: Biology. Biology and the Artisan belong in the third square. The third square is always the most physical, and focuses on doing. Biology is about the physical organisms that move and act. Biology is not considered to be as difficult, requiring less intelligence than do the first two fields. This corresponds to Wilbur's body quadrant. The third square is always related to the physical.
*Square four: Psychology. Psychology, the fourth square, does not seem to belong with the other three sciences. But it does encompass them, which is the nature of the fourth square. Psychology is the Rational, and is concerned with contemplation and knowledge. Psychology studies the brain and mind. Like the Rational it is very concerned with the mental, thereby corresponding to Wilbur's social/society quadrant. Psychology studies social interaction. It is important to note that physicists think that the mind actually may manifest physical reality, as do quantum physicists. As such psychology is essential to an understanding the physical nature of reality. Understanding psychology may lead to a better understanding of reality. Psychology is also influenced by chemistry; medical research suggests that the brain is influenced by neurotransmitters, which are chemicals in the brain, and hormones, which are chemicals in the body. Biologists need to understand psychology because the brain and the mind control organisms. The fourth square always encompasses the previous squares while transcending them.
*Square five: Sociology. There may be a fifth field, the science of sociology. The fourth always incorporates the previous three, while pointing to what follows. Psychology encompasses physics, chemistry, and biology, and it points to sociology, which is the study of psychology in groups.
The Fields of Science
Physics
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Psychology
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Sociology
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