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Sensing: Psst… there she is.
Feeling: Gha! I wanna to talk to her! Can I -
Intuition: [Walloping Feeling] How many times do I have to tell you, IT WON'T WORK!!!
Thinking: [To himself] Children....
One aspect of MBTI theory is the Hierarchy of Functions which states what we use more often (Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, and Feeling) and if we express them or not (Extraversion and Introversion). There has been some complaints about this theory, like what if someone is an "X", that is being 50/50 on a certain dimension, or if the accepted hierarchy for a personality type doesn't match with a certain individual. For me though, an INTP, they match me perfectly: Dominate Introverted Thinking, Hello, Auxiliary Extraverted Intuition, How do you do, Tertiary Introverted Sensing, [Sensing waves], and Inferior Extraverted Feeling, Hi!!!
As an INTP, I do analyze myself thoroughly. I am also satirical and don't mind poking fun at my persona. So I decided to relate my personality to my hierarchy to explain how a person can have personal conflicts with his own self.
Usually I suppress my emotions. I might express joy, an emotion that is "safe" to express, but I try to hide all other emotions. When I am sad, I usually run for the hills. I also try to suppress anger other than trying to make a reasonable argument. Love on the other hand… hee-hee, Shut up… is another matter entirely. As always, I analyze it and even wrote an essay on it for my website. I am going to use one event from that essay, "On Love And Relationships", when "M", as I choose to call her, slapped me on the shoulder and said "Were still friends!" and how my functions handled it.
Including Feeling? Well, Brian's purpose requires it.
Actually, I want Feeling to go first. [Thinking and Intuition looks at each other with concern while Feeling jumps at this rare event.]
Oh goodie! First of all, M is beautiful… Sensing, she is beautiful, right? Hmm-hmm …okay, and when I learn that her boyfriend blew up I felt so-o-o-o sorry for her! I wanted to help her, but Intuition got in the way. For good reason! Shut up. Thankfully, Brian did let me express myself when he got home, but it was by himself in his room! Alone! With Thinking analyzing me like I was a fiend from outer space or something! Only after THREE weeks did he open up, in a letter of all things, with Thinking kicking me every time I express myself "too much". I don't feel respected….
Sensing, you're next.
Well, she does look attractive. Who cares? If you can't stand being with the person, it doesn't matter what she looks like! Uh, I didn't like reading that one phrase, which Brian hates to bring up, from her last e-mail. That hurts! We STILL need to find a rational explanation for it. I can't help. She now avoids Brian like… [Throws hands up in the air] this is something more suited for counseling! What about that NF Brian knows, the one from his college that is a fan of the MBTI also! [Wallups Feeling] Shut up, let Sensing speak. Uh, [pause], oh, and she hit me.
That will come later. Anyway, I'm next. Of course, YOU will know that! I was telling Brian all throughout that quarter when he was pursuing her as a friend that a relationship with her WON'T WORK, even if she was available at that time. I can't explain it, I just know. [Sensing has a quizzical look on his face.] After she and her boyfried broke-up that period of time, Thinking wanted proof due to Feelings nagging… Hey! ... and so all four of us actually helped out with writing that personal letter.
May I ask why you prevented me form helping her? How often do you help someone like that? Never! Precisely. You're inexperienced! But how can I if you prevent me? You may WHEN Brian finds the right person… maybe an NF like Keirsy suggests. But the only woman he is interested in right now is his e-pal from… That is outside the scope of this essay. Besides, Brian just likes her for intellectual discussion and friendship. Well, the point is she is another NT. You forget. This "M" took the MBTI and is an EStJ. Sure, the T function is weak, but what about communication problems S and N types have? I don't feel respected [Walks away in disgust].
Sorry Thinking for the delay, it is your turn. All I was doing is trying to figure out her personality, what here interests are, and her opinion of Brian. After her boyfriend left her due to that argument they had, I carefully considered when it was appropriate to write that letter.
Okay, now I want you to go, step by step, what happened during that one event I knew, without a doubt, she was incompatible.
I saw her first.
Settle this conflict, PLEASE!
I made Brian ask her about that letter he wrote, AGAIN.
Are you sure she is an Extrovert?
According to the test she took and she talked freely before.
Quiet! We need to hear her response.
I felt something hit my shoulder
Teasing… she is teasing!!!
I hear "We are still friends!"
Yippee!!!
And… AND…
I see her leaving.
NO-O-O-O!!! [ Brian feels a pang of great sorrow ]
Predictable. [ Brian experience uncertainty ]
Oh since when did you care… come on… follow her!!! [ Brian nearly gets up ]
[Slams Feeling back down] First we must analyze this before YOU act. [ Brian stops getting up and sits back down ]
My gut said it wouldn't work.
But if we don't and NOW…
[Place hand over Feeling's mouth] Please! I need to think this through!!!
And so I put my head on the table and placed my arms over my head. I let out a deep sigh and wanted to go to sleep.
Brian Ogan
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