Personality seems like a rather… personal attribute that we may only share with certain people, offering others only a facade or idealized self. And we may think we succeed in hiding our true selves from the masses, but we reveal ourselves through our deeds. “You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do,” as far as C.G. Jung was concerned. That’s why the last Myers-Briggs Type Indicator focused on how we act in relation to the outside world. Judging (J) types seek order in all things while Perceiving (P) types prefer spontaneity and flexibility.
Judging people should not be considered judgmental (though they may be sometimes) but rather judicious or sensible. Not comfortable with pushing deadlines, Judging types prefer work before play and schedule accordingly. Having a feeling of closure puts Judging types most at ease.
Judging types prefer clearly defined tasks with specific timelines and deadlines.
- Clarify expectations from teachers and avoid over-scheduling
- Be willing to adapt to new expectations and changing learning environments
- Don’t rush through your work
Perceiving people appear spontaneous, flexible, and open to whatever may arise. Chafing under strict schedules, they often work in bursts of energy rather than sustained effort and find needed motivation in impending deadlines.
Perceiving prefer flexible scheduling and the opportunity to explore different possibilities.
- Be mindful of deadlines and develop time-management skills
- If you are stuck in a structured environment, try to negotiate some flexibility
- Define what you are working towards and keep it in the forefront of your mind
The Judging/Perceiving axis is just one of the 4 dichotomies explored by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Each one gives us valuable information about how a student might best study, learn, and succeed in educational settings. Combine all 4 in one personality type, and you’ll have a powerful road map to academic success!
(And if you or your teen want to master a ton of essential vocabulary words while learning about Myers-Briggs personality types, you definitely want the Roots2Words: Personalities and Perspective Words program.)
Mike Bergin