Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung proposed a theory of psychological types that explains how people perceive the world and make decisions. His theory is based on two fundamental components: attitudes and functions.
1. The Two Attitudes (Orientations of Energy):
Jung identified two primary ways in which people direct their psychic energy:
Extroversion (E): An outward turning of energy. Extroverts are oriented towards the external world of people, objects, and activities. They are energized by social interaction.
Introversion (I): An inward turning of energy. Introverts are oriented towards their inner world of thoughts, feelings, and ideas. They are energized by solitude and reflection.
2. The Four Functions (Ways of Perceiving and Judging):
Jung described four basic psychological functions, which are divided into two pairs of opposites:
The Perceiving Functions (how we take in information):
Sensing (S): Focuses on information that is real and tangible, gathered through the five senses. It is concerned with the "here and now."
Intuition (N): Focuses on patterns, possibilities, and meanings beyond the information from the senses. It is concerned with the future and the abstract.
The Judging Functions (how we make decisions):
Thinking (T): Makes decisions based on logic, objective analysis, and impersonal criteria.
Feeling (F): Makes decisions based on personal values, empathy, and the impact on others.
According to Jung, each individual has a dominant attitude and a dominant function, which combine to form a distinct personality type (e.g., an "Introverted Thinker"). His work formed the basis for the popular Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).