Creation history

2.2. – Carl Gustav Jung—psychological types.

One of the most interesting graphical presentations of Jung’s theory is, for example, the following scheme, called “Compass of the Psyche”.

In the above diagram, we can see the four psychological functions that Jung distinguished. Psychological functions are also called psychical or mental functions.

Simply speaking, psychological functions are ways of functioning or ways of acting. Ways of acting that we follow in our life.

Jung in his works gave many definitions of psychological functions. I like the definitions used in the diagram above. These are probably the shortest and simplest definitions from those given by Jung. Here they are:

• S—Sensing—tells you that something exists.
• T—Thinking—tells you what it is.
• F—Feeling—tells you whether it’s agreeable or not.
• N—iNtuition—Tells you whence it comes and where it goes.

Intuition is marked with the letter “N”. This may seem illogical, as the remaining there groups are marked with the first letters from the names (T—Thinking, S—Sensing, F—Feeling). Intuition takes its mark from the second letter (i.e., N—Intuition) because the letter “I” has been used to mark—Introversion). Besides, it is also used the letter “E” to mark—Extraversion. About Extraversion and Introversion, I will be writing in a moment.

Jung himself did not use these marks. They were introduced by American continuators the work on Jung’s psychological types. They are Katherine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers.

In each of us, one way of acting (i.e., one psychological function), have a bigger influence than the others. So, for example, if we prefer to be guided by Intuition, then the other functions (Sensation, Thinking, and Feeling) have a smaller impact on us. In a sense, we can say that one function as a manager for other three functions.

In addition to psychological functions, Jung also distinguished to general attitudes. These are:

• Extraversion
• and Introversion.

I think that general attitude we can define as:

Extraversion it is the directing of our psychic energy to the so-called the outside world. In other words, when we aim for something (or we want to do something), we try to use the outside world for that.

Introversion whereas it is directing our psychic energy to the so-called the inside world. In other words, when we aim for something (or we want to do something), we try to use the inside world for that.

In short:

General attitudes distinguished by Jung are:
Extraversion—the outside world
Introversion—the inside world

Well, what does it mean?

Extraversion and introversion are, according to Jung—general attitudes. And now we have big problem, because the phrase “general attitude” is very wide. So wide that it took me a few years to get to the point where I started to understand what is going on here? It means it was like that. At first, I thought that I understand this topic. But after few years I realized that I am just starting to discover it.

So, at the moment, I will not try to explain what exactly are the general attitudes and the mentioned above psychological functions. Dear Reader, please focus for the moment only on the fact that extraversion refers to the outside world, and introversion to the inside world.

In that case, dear Reader, please do not worry when you do not understand something yet. I think that the description of my path in discovering the mysteries of personality will be a big help for you in understanding these secrets.

Returning to general attitudes, we can also say that:

1. Each of us has both attitudes. It means Extravert and Introvert attitude.
2. Extrovert and Introvert attitude occur in three possible categories:
• The advantage of Extraversion over Introversion—then our general attitude is Extravert.
• The advantage of Introversion over Extraversion—then our general attitude is Introvert.
• The balance between Extraversion and Introversion or similar levels of the one and the other general attitude (so-called—Ambiversion). Then our general attitude is Ambivert.

In each of the above cases, it is also important that the level of Extraversion and Introversion is not always the same. Depending on the situation in which we find ourselves, resources of Extraversion or Introversion are “exhausting” or “charging”.

Then, for example, a person who has the advantage of Extraversion can burn out their Extraverted resources (e.g., a work). And then for some time may have in his behavior the advantage of Introversion (e.g., after returning home from work).

The relationship between Extraversion and Introversion we can find for example at these websites:
https://steve.myers.co/extravert-and-introvert-conflict/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRgqLA37-0U

On these pages, Steve Myers, among other things, uses comparisons to rechargeable batteries. Figuratively speaking, we have Extraverted and Introverted batteries, which, depending on the situation, charge or discharge.

When we are Extraverts, we have larger and the more efficient Extravert batteries. These Extravert batteries have more energy, and we are using them more often.

Similarly, when we are Introverts, we have larger and more efficient Introvert batteries. And these Introvert batteries have more energy, and we are using them more often.

So, for example, if the Extravert person has unleaded his Extravert batteries, then he will draw energy from his Introvert batteries. In the meantime, his Extraverted batteries will charge. When they charge enough, the Extravert person will connect with them again.

By analogy, the same situation will also be for Introverts.

The above analogy, with charging and discharging batteries also applies to Ambiverts. It means it applies to people whose Extraverted and Introverted batteries are equal or almost equal.

As I mentioned above Extraversion and Introversion are very complex concepts. They go beyond the above descriptions and definitions. Therefore, we can treat them as an introduction to this topic.

Now then, let’s continue creating our Mandala of Characters.

The above diagram called “Compass of the Psyche” gives me a good idea of what and where can be located. So this diagram was helpful in matching Jung’s typology to the Ancient System. I recall here that I made the Ancient System the basis of the Mandala of Characters. But I was looking further and besides diagram “Compass of the Psyche” I found two others figures.

The first of them is the Jung’s artistic work, which he carved for his 75th birthday. It is a kind of mandala made in stone. Jung wanted in this symbolic way to present his knowledge and thoughts.

Below is an illustration from Jung’s book “Wspomnienia, sny, myśli” (in English “Memories, Dreams, Reflections”), published by WROTA, 1999. We can see on this illustration Jung at work and his carved stone mandala.

In addition to the above illustration from Jung’s book, I also place the illustration from the cover of the book “The Stone Speaks” by Maud Oakes (published by Chiron Publications). In this illustration, we can see the Jung’s mandala in close-up.

Similar to Jung’s stone mandala is diagram created by Steve Myers. He is the creator of the system called Management Team Roles Indicator (MTR-i™). This system is a development of another typology based on Jung’s theories called Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®). Below I show a figure of the Management Team Roles Indicator.

In this diagram, we can find two-letter markings. These letter abbreviations mark eight types of the MTR-i™ typology. And they have these meanings:

• Se—Sensing Extravert—Sculptor,
• Si—Sensing Introvert—Curator,
• Te—Thinking Extravert—Conductor,
• Ti—Thinking Introvert—Scientist,
• Fe—Feeling Extravert—Coach,
• Fi—Feeling Introvert—Crusader,
• Ne—Intuitive Extravert—Explorer.
• Ni—Intuitive Introvert—Innovator.

In the above MTR-i diagram, we can also find 16 four letters markings, such as ENTJ, INTP, ISTP, etc. These four letter abbreviations come from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®). MBTI® is currently one of the most popular ways of identifying personalities.

The schematic presentation of MBTI® typology usually looks similar to the figure below.

The above scheme of MBTI® is popular and advanced. But for me is not easy to understand and is not intuitive. So I will not use it in the form as above. I will discuss the MBTI® in the next chapters. I will present there another more accessible form of MBTI® scheme.

Now then I will use for our considerations the MTR-i™ and Jung’s stone mandala.

And I think I can present Jung’s psychological types as shown in the diagram below.

Jung distinguished eight psychological types. These are:

1. Extraverted Intuitive Type.
2. Introverted Intuitive Type.
3. Extraverted Thinking Type.
4. Introverted Thinking Type.
5. Extraverted Feeling Type.
6. Introverted Feeling Type.
7. Extraverted Sensation Type.
8. Introverted Sensation Type.

In the above diagram, the types are arranged on two wide rings—external and internal. The outer ring contains Extroverted types. The inner ring contains Introverted types. This arrangement express that the Extraverted types are more directed toward “outside”. Whereas Introverted types are more directed towards “inside”.

The above diagram of the Jung’s psychological types I modified to match it to the Ancient System.

In the diagram above, I reverse Sensation and Intuition in comparison to the diagrams “Compass of the Psyche” and MTR-i™. So, swapped them I places. Intuition is at the top instead of at the bottom. The sensation is at the bottom instead of the top.

Some Extraverted and Introverted types are also in different places.

Where the particular Extraverted and Introverted types should be located, I found out by:

• analyzing Enneagram,
• analyzing the Ancient System,
• and by my observations of the behavior of particular types in various life situations.

About arranging Extroverted and Introverted types, I will be writing many times in this work yet. So, dear Reader, this subject will become more and more clear for you.

Now let’s move on to the next typology that creates the Mandala of Characters, which is the Enneagram.