Reflecting On Our Personality Type Interview Series | Podcast 0433

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  Tessa 2022-05-18

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  I am really enjoying these interviews. It would be a great addition to interview the opposite gender for some of these.
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  Julia - ISTP 2022-05-07

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  Si is a super tough function for me. It is sixth function for me so that makes sense and I can definitely see the crone/witch/grumpy old person ‘you kids get off my lawn’ architypal energy with it that Antonia and Joel have talked about in a past episode about the shadow functions.

  It does make it tough to do many of the reflect on the past to make sense of things or see how far you have come exercises…especially if the goal is to get a positive take on something. If there is a way to circumvent it using Se/Ni that would be awesome though I haven’t really found a good equivalent probably due to what you are explaining. I have also found that I have huge resistance to Si specific tools like journaling. It is really frustrating how many personal growth/self help things seem to think people like and benefit from journaling. Probably many do but for me it is always the point I drop that thing or skip that part of the exercise. Any ideas for other activities that might fill that niche or other ways to ease into making peace with Si?
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    Julia 2022-05-07

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    That last post was supposed to show up as a response to Taylor’s comment. Not sure what I missed to get it to appear as a reply.
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  Julia - ISTP 2022-05-06

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  Super excited to hear about your intent to provide more sensor content in the future. I do find the intuitive stuff interesting and very useful understanding the workings of my Ni ten year old better and perhaps it really has been a better learning experience to have to pull the sensor tidbits out more indirectly, but I have long hoped you might do an ISTP workshop and/or mentor group.

  Interestingly, while the ISTP interview was a good one, I actually identified with it less than a lot of the others where I was trying to mine individual function, polarities or shadow function info out of to understand them better. The ISTP interview was still very interesting to see the scope of ways the same type could present in different ways than my experiences though so still quite useful, but would love to see a group/venue to discuss it more.
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  Carol 2022-05-05

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  Thanks a lot for the series (haven’t gone through all of them yet) and this episode. I really enjoy listening to you and being open and sometimes blunt about things. This is very refreshing and … healing in a way.

  Regarding your listing of the perceiving functions / polarities in relation to time, I was wondering where or how Ni-Se reflect on / learn from the past. Could you give me a pointer? Or have you addressed this earlier?

  Kind regards and best wishes,
  Carol
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    Taylor 2022-05-05

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    I’d argue all 16 types use Si to reflect on the past, even if the function is lower in one’s stack, it doesn’t mean you can never access it. It just means it is less prevalent/strong/clear/frequent/trusted.

    But in terms of Ni/Se time vs Ne/Si time–

    The metaphor I’d use to describe how Ni/Se views time as opposed to Ne/Si is: seasons vs calendar dates. Seasons are circular, calendar dates however, only happen once.

    Ni/Se looks at time as a whole and sees the moment now as the part of a cycle of ebb and flow, growth and decline, a passing of seasons. I view my past mistakes through that lens as well–I understand things I have done as being part of a grander scheme of growth (The Graves Model is a good example of how Ni/Se would view time).

    Ne/Si I think, looks at time more like calendar dates, that is, life is a collection of specific, temporal memories and details that in their summation, add up to your unique story.
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  Ashley [INTJ] 2022-05-04

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  Long time lurker here, thought to comment.
  Interestingly enough, it was precisely because the whole podcast series was about the lived experiences of the 16 types and not a generalized description that had me tuning in to listen.
  I find the general memes, while entertaining, not very useful. The generalized stereotypes, while sometimes useful, also not helpful. People can often express themselves in very different ways than the accepted “norm” of their types and as someone who is a hobbyist at best with the MBTI type system to try to understand people people better; the lived experiences of how people assess their own thoughts and verbalize them was so very much appreciated. It is so much more insightful to hear from people who understand themselves to hear about how their brains work.
  This series really helped me out in clicking a number of pieces together to better understand my brother, who is quite different from the rest of the family and we couldn’t really figure out why. We are all introverts, intuitives and judgers, but my brother? He has an emotion/people connecting and charismatic component that our mom, dad and I don’t have, and that was the question. How precisely, was his cognition different? We all generally comprehend the world the same way, but he had a very different method of interacting. The INFJ episode really clicked for putting the puzzle pieces together for me in regards to my brother. In fact, the interviewee sounded like a more mature version of my brother.
  Each episode was a learning experience, some more so than others for various reasons. Some, were more understandable than others. The others were an “Ohhh, so *that’s* why I don’t understand people like you”. Turns out they use functions that are not anywhere close to the INTJ stack, and thus don’t make sense to me. But they make sense to themselves, so, that was helpful in how to start to understand/accommodate them better in the real world when I come across them.
  I also used this series as a contrast/compare to how my own cognition. Did I use those functions? What did I do differently? Mistyping is a thing, so, was I? This question arose because I am working in the horse industry, have since I started riding over a decade ago. It is very sensory based, both introverted and extroverted due to how the horses’ own brains work and dealing with that. I also have ADHD leanings, thus physical activity is a must. The phrases “busy hands, idle mind”, “proactively lazy” and “just being efficient” often come up and while I work, cleaning paddocks and the like, the mind can wander while the hands are engaging in a physically demanding, yet detail oriented job. . .that also doesn’t have a lot of contact with people.
  To no surprise of my own, the INTJ podcast was the most resonating (particularly the part about having a job that had busy hands and an idle mind). I’d had much the same struggles as the interviewee, but much earlier in life when I was a preteen or so, but figured it out before the teen years really hit. I had a healthier outlook from my parents that being weird was fine, that it was a variant of normal. . .Whatever normal was. As a result it was saddening to hear of the more negative story from the interviewee.

  Either way, thanks for the series! It was quite insightful and helpful!
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  Eric 2022-05-03

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  Great ep & series! I wrote a lot (lol still reeling from the inferior-Fe grip “bragging” revelation, getting all self-conscious about it now but it’s all good)-

  7:23 – Stuart Kauffman’s idea of the “adjacent possible” rings in my head here.
  (great quick intro: https://jonathanbecher.com/2021/08/08/exploring-the-adjacent-possible/ )

  The problem with introducing vastly novel ideas is folks won’t really get it until it’s within the grasp of their “adjacent possible”, hence why we need to earn it. I think this is a good way to approach/understand the problem. It’s a journey for many folks, like seeing a small group of folks at the top of a mountain and acknowledging that…. we all have a lot of hiking ahead to get there. It’s good for the masses if those of you early-adopters, trailblazers are able to construct a bridge across the obnoxious ravine you had to rappel & rock-climb to pass, but that only addresses a piece of the journey. At some point, we have to hike the trails ourself.

  9:00 – Omg so much this, I started exploring type circa 2004, and it was through the online forums I really cut my “teeth” on the functions but it was still an infantile concept without the “nuance” I’ve seen in your Emotional Survival series for instance. Even Lenore Thomson’s book, it was so “structural” and theoretical to me, not as much “real talk” as I’m seeing with your material.

  As a followup to this, I suspect having similar real-talk around Beebe’s shadow archetypes – Opposite/Senex (Witch)/Trickster/Demon – will be a game-changer for many people, but that’s a murky & sensitive topic and I can only imagine the level of care required to approach it. Beebe’s book is awesome but there isn’t an exhaustive list of what types “look like” in these shadows, beyond the handful of examples he provides.

  28:00 – The radio signal tuning analogy is so close to the concept of “dog whistling,” which I think (despite the bad vibe from the term & historical use of it) is also a good analogy for how a lot of cultural communication works.

  31:00 – I have been holding an idea in my head that there might be an extra attribute for the 8 functions: Whether the function is being used “positively” or “hygienically” to further our lives, others and the evolution of the world in general, or whether it’s being used “negatively” or “dirty” to control, to take & defend oneself for selfish intention. I feel this “negative” use of the functions is a concept being danced around in the Emotional Survival series (and expressedly named in the self-care by the hygiene analogy). The tertiary loop & inferior grip showcases ways we use these functions “dirty” until we shine light on the fact they can be used in better ways.
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  Trevor (INTJ) 2022-05-03

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  This was a great wrap-up to the series.

  I found it helpful in listening to interviews of all types. Gaining that perspective of the different flavors of each type and seeing how people can differ from their stereotypes.

  It was especially helpful the INTJ interview (Mike) in my own personal growth. I’ve also listened to other INTJ podcasts and I have gone through the INTx program as well. You do represent a few flavors of INTJ well. So it’s helpful in developing as an INTJ.

  I also wanted to comment on your mentioning about life circumstances can impact how you look and act compared to your personality type. I grew up in a family where alcoholism and a high amount of dysfunction were present. Quick side note, I have done counseling and sought support for these issues. I’m still getting healthy function patterns that are opposed to what I learned growing up. I’m unlearning some things. People would describe me as sensitive and maybe look at me as INFJ.

  I’ve actually always tested out as an NT type. And there was some jumping around mainly with ENTJ. However, when I learned about cognitive functions and what really came the most naturally I saw Perspectives and Effectiveness. Effectiveness was easier to identify starting to show up in my teens and developing more in my 20s. But once I understood Perspectives more, I could see it showing up a lot younger in my life and I’m there almost always.

  I believe I developed some Fe, Harmony, as a survival mechanism growing up. It was a necessary survival tool. And on a social occasion, I can say it’s very awkward for me as a middle-aged man to use it.

  Your example hit home for me and I thought I’m probably not the only sensitive NT out there.

  Again, thank you for the series and everything you put out for products. I hope in the next couple of years to take the Profiler Training course. I think it would be a great tool to understand more where people are coming from and how to engage with them.

  Honestly, I was a little nervous about submitting this post. I’m hoping someone reads it and finds it helpful.
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    Antonia Dodge 2022-05-03

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    Thank you for sharing – I definitely think your comment and experience is valuable.

    -A-
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  Kimberly Norris 2022-05-03

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  This was so helpful. I’ve really been struggling lately with the idea that Te might be my driver function but as an INTP it’s not even in my stack. None of the types with extroverted thinking drivers felt right. When Antonia said that you can develop functions because the world rewards you for them, a light bulb went on. My own brain rewards me for accuracy but the world rewards my effectiveness.
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  Rebecca Mielke 2022-05-02

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  This episode was gold!

  I really enjoyed your interview series. The one for my type (ENFJ) proved to be more applicable than I would have ever expected, as my husband became ill after I first listened and he subsequently died 💔😭

  In reflecting on the series, the conversation around the drive to steward a function was super enlightening as to what is going on with me right now. For me, the weight of other people’s emotional needs can’t be turned off. Reflexively I had assumed I needed more people around, but I need to make sure I get enough time away from that. And don’t even get me started about the thoughtless things people say! 🤬

  I also really appreciated Antonia’s verbal thumbnails of the functions as energies AND Joel’s nod to why I have always felt uncomfortable with talking on the phone 😇
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    Antonia Dodge 2022-05-03

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    Our sincere condolences for your loss.

    -A-
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      Rebecca Mielke 2022-05-06

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      Thank you. When I get my situation sorted, I am really hoping to go through your profiler training and be able to meet you all in person!
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    Bridgette [ENFJ] 2022-05-03

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    Hello Rebecca, I wish with all my heart to say a great many things…but an understanding that nothing I say can make it better is seizing up my fingertips. I’ll just put this out there because it was a resource, a tiny instrument of light in a time otherwise shrouded in suffocating darkness… the audio book “It’s OK That You’re Not Ok” by Megan Devine. If the fact that I even mentioned a book title is irritating in any way, please feel free to ignore me. I hope our paths cross at a live event or something, somewhere in the future.
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      Rebecca Mielke 2022-05-06

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      Thank you, Bridgette! I will get that audiobook and start listening to it right away. I also hope we have the chance to connect in person someday 😎

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