Jungian Psychology – Page 5 – Write with Personality

Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual,
you have an obligation to be one.—Eleanor Roosevelt

Can knowledge of personality type help you as a writer?

If you’re an INFJ, the writing strategies you learned in school likely worked well for you. INFJs take to writing naturally. They enjoy working alone, reflecting on ideas, and expressing their vision. But the thought of using an outline may leave you feeling straitjacketed. INFJ writers organize their ideas internally, according to their own creative process. To feel comfortable, they need freedom to explore their insights and work through complex problems.

The INFJ personality type is one of 16 identified by Isabel Myers and her mother, Katharine Briggs. Myers and Briggs are the original authors of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a popular psychometric instrument used to determine how people prefer to gather information and make decisions. The initials INFJ stand for the following: Continue reading “The INFJ Writing Personality: Eloquent Vision” →

Lately I’ve come across discussions about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) on the social networking sites I visit. I don’t know whether writers are more attracted to personality type theory than the general population is—but writers may have more to gain. Creative writers can use personality typologies in creating characters; technical writers in audience analysis; and freelance writers in conducting interviews.

I see the concept of personality type through a writer’s lens. I’ve read extensively on the topic to learn how it can help me in my work. My interest is humanistic, not scientific. While it’s important to understand the science behind the MBTI (both the strengths and the substantial gaps), I don’t allow science to limit my understanding. My skepticism is tempered by my knowledge of social science and the humanities. And by taking this broader view, I’ve learned a secret that the MBTI gurus probably won’t tell you. Continue reading “The Truth about the Myers-Briggs Personality Types” →