Jungian Types of Personality
Carl Jung was a psychologist who came up with the famous theory of personality. According to it, firstly, people are divided into two categories depending on their attitudes (whether they are extroverted or introverted). Then, they are considered according to the functions. In his book, Jung says that the attitude is not enough since “there are no Introverts and Extraverts pure and simple, but only Introverted and Extraverted function-types” (Carl Jung & Psychological Types, n.d., par. 14).
Two core functions are discussed in the theory. Those are perceiving and judging. Perception, in its turn, can be sensing if an individual perceives the world relying on the basic five senses and intuitive when the same is done “beyond sensory data” (Carl Jung & Psychological Types, n.d., par. 8). Judgment can also be of two types – thinking and feeling – depending on how a person evaluates perceived information. With this in mind, Jung created his functions-in-attitude: four functions and two attitudes when combined create eight different types of personality that form the backbone of Jung’s theory of psychological type. So, there are sensing, intuition, thinking, and feeling, each of which can be either extroverted and introverted.
The best way to understand those types is to apply each to yourself. You are going to a party and imagine how that party will look – that is a manifestation of introverted intuition. You come to the party and actually see how it looks, what meals and drinks are served – that is extroverted sensing. If some meal or drink at that party reminds you of another party from your past – that is introverted sensing.
The MBTI Assessment in Relation to Jung’s Theory of Personality Development
Since all of us experience every function-in-attitude from time to time, it is not so easy to determine your own type of personality being guided only by this theory. Fortunately, there is another way to do that. The MBTI instrument is a tool, which is based on Jung’s theory and with the help of a series of questions can make a conclusion about a personality type the respondent has. The MBTI assessment gives each person four different indexes, depending on what qualities he or she has. The indexes are the following: E or I (Extroverted or Introverted), S or N (Sensing or Intuition), T or F (Thinking or Feeling), J or P (Judgment or Perception) (About the MBTI Instrument, 2015). Therefore, there are sixteen possible combinations, each of which defines its own personality type.
My Future Implementation of the Theory
I am convinced that the MBTI assessment (as well as Jung’s theory as such) helps to understand people better. Due to them, it is possible to reveal a lot of personal information, which will be impossible to get in other ways. As a counselor, I will have to do that in order to draw conclusions about people’s words and actions and be able to help them with advice. The MBTI tool is simple in use and insightful at the same time. It is reliable and valid since it has been tested and researched many times. Finally, it takes only 5-7 minutes to do the assessment and receive the results. So, it is easy and effective, and I will definitely use it while working with my clients, probably from the very start of cooperation.
Adler’s Techniques: A Treatment Plan for a Child
Adler truly believed that “a misbehaving child is a discouraged child” (Adlerian Psychology / Psychotherapy, 2015, par. 4). That is why the treatment plan should be aimed to encourage a child, make him believe in himself, help him develop adequacy, respect, and optimism, make him feel acceptance and his own significance.
For that purpose, we have to get through every stage of Adlerian therapy. The first one is Engagement; I will have to build a trusting therapeutic relationship and make a child rely on me. The second is Assessment; that is when I will first try to find out the child’s feelings, motives, and personal history with family and friends. Since Adler believed that the birth chart had a great influence, I would need to find out whether my client is an only child or not. A child born in a large family usually acts differently than the only kid does. It even matters if a girl has been raised with sisters or brothers and vice versa (Stein, n.d.).
The third stage of personal development is Insight, and I will need to help a child to develop a new way of thinking about the current situation. Finally, with the last stage, called Reorientation, he will be encouraged to take particular actions reinforcing that new thinking.
To achieve these results and move from one stage to another, I will implement several strategies. The first one, which I consider appropriate in this case, is role-playing (Stein & Edwards, n.d.). It will help a child to replay controversial situations and see those from different perspectives. The second tactic I will use is Socratic questioning (Stein & Edwards, n.d.). It will help me to get information at every stage of the intervention and encourage a child to overcome his complexes, feelings of insecurity, etc. The MBTI assessment can also be used.
Conclusion
To conclude, both Jung’s theory and the MBTI assessment are effective when talking about the personality types and the ways to identify those. While Jung’s approach is only a theory, the MBTI instrument allows us to implement it in practice, which gives an invaluable advantage. In addition, Adler’s techniques are useful since they help to solve the problems of misbehavior (as a prime example) by improving the general condition of the child.
References
About the MBTI Instrument. (2015). Web.
Adlerian Psychology / Psychotherapy. (2015). Web.
Carl Jung & Psychological Types. (n.d.). Web.
Stein, H. T. (n.d.). Adlerian Overview of Birth Order Characteristics. Web.
Stein, H.T., & Edwards, M. E. (n.d.). Classical Adlerian Theory & Practice. Web.