Have you thought about what type you are?

You always like to know all the weekend activities before you decide which party you want to attend. Your motto is options, options, options. For your roommate, small is always better. She prefers to hang out with close friends-- forget the big party with strangers. Then there is John, from political science class. Logic is his midille name. He loves to argue in class, but he is very impatient when other classmates are emotional or long-winded. Give him the facts, strictly the facts! Reality is less important to neighbor Beth, who always dreams big. You can count on her to see the possibilities in any situation.

By now, you have probably figured out your friends, neighbors, class mates, and even family members may differ in how they make decisions, how they see the world, what they value and how they reenergize. Carl Jung's psychological theories provide the foundation for an interesting system that can be used to understand some of those differences. Isabel Myers and Katherine Briggs developed a personality type which are extensions of Jung's theory.

So which type are you? Here are some clues for figures out your type.

(Do not expect to know for sure!)

When faced with making decisions, do you tend to want to keep gathering information (perceiving) or do you want to make a decision fairly soon (judging)? How do you prefer to take in information? Do you tend to trust your senses (i.e. touch, smell, sight, hearing and taste) the most (sense) or do you prefer to use intuition, hunches or gut feelings (intuition)? How about making decisions? Would you rather decide things impersonally, based on analysis and principle (thinking)ordo you tend to place premium on harmony and emphasize values and the

by Mary Anne McNallyLacour counseling service

impact on people (feeling) when making a judgment? Finally, where do you go to get energy? Are you recharged when you go to a large party and meet a room full of potential new friends (extrovert) or would you prefer to refuel by reading a book, writing in a journal or talking indepth with a close friend (introvert)?

If you could answer the four questions above, you have the foundation for figuring out which of the 16 types best fits you. The types are formed by different combinations of the above preferences. For example, one type is ENFJ, which stands for extrovert, intuition, feeling and judging type. The first letter in your type always indicates either a preference for introversion (I) or extroversion (E). The second letter marks which way your prefer to take in information (i.e. sensing, S, or intuition, N) and the third indicates how you prefer to make judgments (i.e. thinking, T, or feeling, F). The final letter relates to your preference for either gathering information (i.e. perceiving, P) or making a decision (i.e. judging, J). There are 16 possible combinations, thus 16 personality types.

All 16 types have their own gifts and strengths. Leaming to appreciate and maximize your own style can be a fun and exciting process. You may have grown up in a home or in a culture that does not appreciate the value of your strengths. In that case, it is up to you to research the benefits of your preferences and celebrate them! The other side of this challenge is learning to appreciate the gifts of those who are different than you. When conilicts arise between roommates or co-workers, it is possible that style or outlook differences a re at work. Coming to appreciate the strengths of people who are different from you can go along way toward diffusing tension.

In groups, the presence of people with different personality types helps tasks get accomplished. The perceiving type is great at making sure many sides of the problems are explored and many solutions are considered but the judging type helps move the group toward making a decision. The thinking type adds analytical focus and feeling type helps keep the group cohesive. If you are interested in learning more about the Myers-Briggs 'Iype Indicator and personality,types, you can read about it in books like: "Gifts Differing" by Isabel Myers. The Counseling Service also offers programs on the MBTI. To schedule one simply call 902-8561.

Loquitur is established as a forum for student expression and as a voice in the uninhibited, robust, free and open discussion of issues.