Decisions, decisions… we make them all day, every day. Did you ever notice that we can often tell as much about a person by the way she makes decisions than by what she decides? According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, we all fall into one of two camps: Thinking (T) types make decisions based on objective facts, logic, and reason, while Feeling (F) types are guided more by personal concerns, values, and relationships.
Thinking people make decisions with their heads, not their hearts. Relying heavily on logic elementary principles, Thinkers like to weigh pros and cons without allowing personal issues to influence the decision making process.
Thinking types prefer fact-based, objective instruction with clear course objectives.
- Seek out logical reasons to engage in learning
- Be diplomatic with teachers and peers so as to avoid misunderstandings
- Before you challenge an idea, be sure to consider all possibilities
Feeling people tend to prioritize values and relationships over cold logic. Conflict makes them nervous, as they seek harmony in most situations. Often, the key to engaging this type lies in how material is taught rather than what the subject matter is.
Feeling types prefer to learn what matters to them personally, usually in groups.
- Seek out or create opportunities to learn in groups
- Look for how new material is relevant to your personal needs and goals
- Do not discredit objective logic when evaluating information
The Thinking/Feeling 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