Intuitive sensation types (Myers-Briggs type indicator): the "Apollonian temperament"

It is fascinating to learn about your personality type. I found out that it is a Myers-Briggs (MBTI) “NF” type indicator (Intuitive feel type) and reading about it is very enlightening. But, I am also very cautious with the phenomenon of the ‘horoscope’ that occurs by which almost everything we read we can identify psychologically.

The four key generic types of MBTI are represented by the mythical Greek gods: Apollo, Dionysus, Prometheus, and his brother Epimetheus.[1]> It is generally accepted that Apollo (NF) represents the spirit; Dionisio (SP, Perceive-Perceive) represents joy or liberation; Prometheus (NT, Intuitive thinking) represents science; and Epimetheus (SJ, Detect-judge) represents duty (or diligence). Apollo (spirit) opposes Prometheus (science) and Dionysus (joy) opposes Epimetheus (duty).

NFs make up about 12 percent of the population. If you are the type of person who is endlessly searching for yourself, chances are you strongly identify with the Apollonian temperament (NF). This person has the goal of becoming.

Put more accurately, this is an excerpt from Please, understand me on the Apollonian temperament:

“How can you achieve a goal when that goal is I have a goal? The “truer” self of the NF is the self in search of itself, or in other words, its purpose in life is to have a purpose in life. Always becoming himself, the NF can never really be the same. “[2] (Italics in the original).

It is quite a paradoxical life for the NF in their quest to become themselves, which never ends. It can be frustrating or comforting; relief can only come in acceptance of this “never complete / work in progress” nature. Spiritually, psychologically and physically, the NF wanders through life and time in search of improvement and is never truly happy without “the search.”

Activity without sense in any role in life[3] because NF is useless and frustrating. They need to derive meaning from themselves and from others.

Having integrity means unity for the National Federation and this is being genuine, authentic and in good faith.

Everything has meaning to NFs and they are extremely sensitive to “subtleties in gestures and metaphorical behavior” that are not always “visible” to others.[4]

Some of the most creative people come from the NF strain, including creative writers and artists, while NFs also account for a large percentage of those entering psychology and counseling ministry, teaching, and careers. “Passing on ideas and attitudes tends to attract NFs.”[5]

NFs are also natural leaders, as they enjoy actualizing potential in others and in themselves. His hunger for meaning is not focused on things, but people, and not in abstractions but relationsand finally not in action but Interaction.[6]

NFs invest heavily in their relationships and in a meaningful cause, but remaining deeply united requires re-attaining long-term meaning. Even more specifically, the NF works hard and towards perfection in its work.

Yet paradoxically, once the job is done, no matter how perfect the result, “it never seems to measure up to the magnificence of its conception.” It is also interesting that NFs seem “unable or unwilling to limit a commitment they make to a production, once they get involved. At that point, they can be unreasonably demanding of both themselves and those around them.”[7]

One thing we can say in the general discussion of personality types and preferences is that there are so many different ways of looking at life and in this we can see why there is so much conflict in communication. We can’t expect to see things consistently and accurately from other people’s points of view, but we can try.

In this type of study we can appreciate both our mutual differences and our similarities. And the fact that people think and feel differently does not make them wrong. Personality types explain a lot in the realm of human behavior and interaction.

Copyright © 2009, SJ Wickham. All rights reserved throughout the world.

FINAL NOTES:

[1] David Kiersey and Marilyn Bates, Please understand me: types of character and temperament (Del Mar, California: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company / Gnosology Books Ltd, 1984), p. 29.

[2] Kiersey and Bates, ibid, p. 58.

[3] Roles include (but are not limited to) worker, friend, lover, parent, husband / wife, leader, member, son / daughter, etc.

[4] Kiersey and Bates, ibid, p. 60.

[5] Kiersey and Bates, ibid, p. 62.

[6] Kiersey and Bates, ibid, p. 66.

[7] Kiersey and Bates, ibid, p. Sixty-five.