Update 1.26 — Perceiving and Judging — what exactly are they?

In the previous update 1.25, I was writing about two adaptive-defensive mechanisms. That is, about Introversion and Extraversion. I also created new condensed definitions for these mechanisms. Next, I put these definitions on the Mandala of characters.

I thought to myself that it would also be worth to create short definitions for two other mechanisms, namely for “Perceiving” and “Judging”. “Perceiving” is located in the bottom left corner of the Mandala of Characters. While “Judging”, we can find in the top right corner of the Mandala.

Looking at the Mandala, we can see that Perceiving and Judging are a pair of opposites. I put this pair of opposites on the Mandala during its creation. It means when I was combining the Ancient System, Enneagram, and Jung’s “Psychological Types”. I wrote about it in the chapter—“Judging and Finding (Perceiving)”.

As for the term “Perceiving”, I did not use it from the beginning. Earlier I used the term “finding”. I think “finding” also suits the behavior of the types that we can find in this area of the Mandala. Anyway, “Perceiving” fits these types too. It means, “Perceiving” fits the Dry Earth and Dry Fire.

Later, I found out that the pair of opposites, “Perceiving—Judging”, had been discovered a long time ago.

The pair of opposites, “Judging and Perceiving”, came from the Myers-Briggs typology. This typology is best-known thanks to the abbreviation MBTI®, that is, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®. This typology is based on Jung’s “Psychological Types”. The Myers-Briggs typology created Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers. The first publications about this personality system were published in the 1940s.

The pair of opposites, „Judging and Perceiving”, is complementary to the pair of opposites “Introversion and Extraversion”. “Introversion and Extraversion” Jung distinguished in his “Psychological types”.

Let me remind you that Jung distinguished:

• four basic psychological functions (or function-types):
  — Thinking and Feeling, and
  — Intuition and Sensation.
• two adaptive-defensive mechanism (or general attitudes, or modes of psychic reactions):
  — Introversion and Extraversion.

In the Myers-Briggs typology, to the pair “Introversion—Extraversion” has been added the pair “Perceiving—Judging”.

However, differently from Jung, the Myers-Briggs typology does not distinguish:
— basic psychological functions (or function-types), and
— adaptive-defensive mechanisms (or general attitudes, or modes of psychic reactions).

Instead, the Myers-Briggs typology, in general, says about eight preferences (or four dichotomies, that is, four pair of opposite preferences). It means:

1. First dichotomy (or pair of opposite preferences).
   Applies to the pair of preferences Introversion—Extraversion.
   This dichotomy is about where we get energy, whether from Introversion or from Extraversion?
   Introversion draws energy from the inner world.
   Extraversion draws energy from the outer world.


2. Second dichotomy (or pair of opposite preferences).
   Applies to the pair of preferences Intuition—Sensation (or Sensing),
   This dichotomy tells us what the source of information is?
   Intuition draws information by analyzing and perceiving patterns and diagrams (or schemes, charts, outlines, etc).
   Sensation draws information from facts and details.


3. Third dichotomy (or pair of opposite preferences).
   Applies to the pair of preferences Perceiving-Judging.
   This dichotomy talks about how life is organized (or how our lifestyle looks like)? Perceiving is a lifestyle that is flexible, spontaneous, occasional, etc.
   Judging is a lifestyle that is systematic, planned, methodical, arranged, etc.


4. Fourth dichotomy (or pair of opposite preferences).
   Applies to the pair of preferences Thinking—Feeling.
   This dichotomy tells us how decisions are made?
   While Thinking, decisions are made based on logical and objective considerations.
   During Feeling, decisions are made based on personal values.

The descriptions of the above dichotomies and preferences are, of course, very brief. So, please treat them only as an introduction to the descriptions of dichotomies and preferences in the Myers-Briggs typology.

Then, in the Myers-Briggs typology, Jung’s basic functions and adaptive-defensive mechanisms have been replaced by preferences.

As I mentioned above, the Mandala of Characters is based on the Ancient System, Enneagram, and Jung’s “Psychological Types”. In turn, the Myers-Briggs typology is a fascinating complement to the Mandala. Myers-Briggs typology creates a new area for various considerations and associations that can help analyze individual types of characters. About the Myers-Briggs have been written many books and articles. So, it is a valuable source of knowledge about personalities.

The diagram below shows the Myers-Briggs typology, which I matched to the Mandala of Characters.

Now we can see where is each preference, and where is located each Myers-Briggs type.

Let us return to the creation of short definitions of Perceiving and Judging. I will do similarly like in the previous update, where I created short definitions of Introversion and Extraversion.

My proposals for short definitions of Judging and Perceiving are as follows:

(process, act—planning and organization—
—JUDGING)

(action, movement—find and deal—
—PERCEIVING)

Why I did it in this way?

I explain one by one.

Process (regarding Judging).

The word “process” quite clearly refers to Judging. But at the same time, “process” refers to something that is stretched in time, to something that relates to development, some activities which follow some patterns.

I think it is worth here to look in a dictionary and consider the meaning of the word "process". It is because the particular meanings of the word "process" can say more about what is going on in this place of the Mandala.

I think that the above definitions we can supplement with the help of the words that are synonyms and related words of the word “process”. There are several meaning groups here:

To present synonyms and related words of the word “process”, I used the Polish dictionary in this update. I think in principle there is not a too big difference between Polish and English synonyms and related words. Besides, during my translation from Polish to English, more and more, I appreciate watching what in these two languages is familiar and different (or unusual). Also, as I said before, languages are a huge source of psychological knowledge.

Act (concerning Judging)

I put the word “act” next to the word “process”, because together they complement each other. The word “process” underlines some mechanism of action that is consistent, systematic, methodical, cyclic, serial, etc. I think it is important if we remind ourselves that in the Mandala of Characters — Introversion, Extraversion, Perceiving, and Judging are:
— adaptive-defensive mechanisms (or general attitudes, or modes of psychic reactions),
— which are not character or personality traits.

Although we can get used to these mechanisms and use them often. However, then these will not be traits, but something that we got used to. Or something that we have become accustomed to. So, these are habits, manners, customs, ways of being, specific style, etc.

As the saying goes—the habit is the second nature of man. I think there is a lot of the right in this saying.

But, what is the first nature of man?

If we associate the above saying with the Jung’s division into functions and mechanisms, then in a sense we can say that:

• “The first nature” of man are the basic functions (function types). That is:
  — Thinking,
  — Feeling,
  — Intuition and
  — Sensation.
• “The second nature of man” are the adaptive-defensive mechanisms (or general attitudes, or modes of psychic reactions), which include:
  — Introversion (from Jung’s typology),
  — Extraversion (from Jung’s typology),
  — Perceiving (from Myers-Briggs typology) and
  — Judging (from Myers-Briggs typology).

As I mentioned above, in the Mandala of Characters:
— “Perceiving” and “Judging” I took from the Myers-Briggs typology. (Myers-Briggs is based on Jung’s typology.
— “Introversion” and “Extraversion” I took directly from Jung’s typology.

Let us return to Judging, which is one of the four adaptive-defensive mechanisms(or general attitudes, or modes of psychic reactions).

When we look at Judging in this way, that it is not the personality trait, but it is the adaptive-defensive mechanism. Then, this outlook is not so simple. From this point of view, Judging is becoming a more complex process. A process, which takes place over time and space. A process that:

• has either: — a specific purpose,
  — or it is a purpose in itself,
  
• it must be both:
  — effective,
  — and impressive,
• it can bring both:
  — possible consequences and after-effect (or “side effect”),
  — or some expected results;
• etc.

What do I actually mean here?

I mean to capture come general mechanisms (attitudes, patterns, schemes, etc.), or the essence of what Judging is?

I think if I add the word “act” to the word “process”, it will be more clear what is the meaning of “Judging”? It means it will be easier for us to capture what the types from this place of the Mandala of Characters are tending to follow. That is, types: Moist Air and Wet Water.

Then, let us look at the word “act”.

I think a useful addition to the above definitions will also be synonyms and related words of the word “act”.

So, the words “act” and “process” have many meanings and can be used in many contexts. I purposely use such ambiguous words, because I want to show how broad the concept of “Judging” is.

Above, I said that “Judging” is a process that has either a specific purpose or it is a purpose in itself. Or it is both effective and impressive. If we develop this thought using the word “act”, I think, we can say that:
— Judging is the “process” leading to the creation of some “act”, or
— Judging is the “act” of creation, which is the “process”.

Maybe it is a little complicated. So, it seems to me that we can simply say—if we do something, we can be judged for it. Judged by others, or by ourselves, or by others and ourselves. Simultaneously with the process of doing something is going the process (or act) of Judging. It is because, it is hard not to judge what we are doing. For example, we evaluate if something we do:
— is good enough, correct …,
— is in accordance with standards, laws, principles …,
— will it be strong enough, durable …,
— will be nice, impressive, effective …,
— will be accepted by others …,
— will be appreciated, liked, loved …,
— will it have good grades, reviews, marks …,
— etc.

Summarizing the above, it turns out that “Judging” is really a very broad concept, (or mechanism, attitude and reaction) regarding this, what we do.

Action (regarding Perceiving)

The word “action” refers to Perceiving. Perceiving is on the other side of the Mandala of Characters in relation to Judging.

I would also like to point out that on the Mandala of Characters, in the set of phrased and concepts:
— where is “Judging” there is also — “time and space”, and
— where is “Perceiving” there is also — “here and now”.

The word “action” is, therefore, the opposition of the words “process” and “act”, which I described above. The words “process” and “act” are related to time and space. The word “action” relates to “here and now”, or it is more focused on the present moment, or on a short time. “Action” can, therefore, relate to some action that lasts a very short time, such as a few seconds. But “action” can also apply to a task that lasts a long time. For example, several months or even years. Often the word “action” is associated with filming, where the word “action” is used as a starting moment of the filming of a scene. In general, however, the action of making a movie can take many months or years.

The other types of actions can be, for example:
— military action;
— rescue action,
— life-saving action;
— engineering actions (for example, digging tunnels, building bridges);
— actions requiring work or survival in difficult conditions;
— etc.

Further actions can be tourist trips, events, gatherings, concerts, exhibitions, performances, fairs, promotional campaigns, sales, etc.

So, various types of actions may relate to many areas of our life. For example, art, religion, engineering, science, medicine, etc.

Thus, many actions need focusing on “here and now”. Regardless of whether:
— does this “here and now” takes a few seconds, minutes or hours,
— or does this “here and now” takes some days, months, or even years.

“Here and now” is, therefore, a kind of attitude or adaptive-defensive mechanism—as it follows from Jung’s thoughts. “Here and now” is also associated with “Perceiving”, as we can see on the Mandala of Characters.

So, the word “action” seems the right candidate for better defining what lies behind the concept of “Perceiving”.

Besides, I think it is worth to look at the definitions of the word “action”, which can help us get to know better the “Perceiving” and “here and now”.

I think there are also interesting synonyms and related words to the word “action”.

So, I think the word “action” gives a good insight into what the character types from this part Mandala of Characters are guided by?

Movement (regarding Perceiving)

I put the word “movement” next to the word “action”, because these two words complement each other. Thus, we are dealing with a “movement” that involves some “action”.

All in all, the words “action” and “movement” are leading us to “Perception”. “Perception”, that is, one of the adaptive-defensive mechanisms (or general attitude or modes of psychic reactions).

The very word “movement” is even more ambiguous than the word “action” mentioned above. I think then that together these words can lead to many associations. Associations, which we can connect with this area of the Mandala of Characters. And further, they are telling us what drives the types of characters that we can find here. That is Dry Fire and Dry Earth.

In that case, similarly, as I did it above, now I will present definitions and synonyms of the word “movement”.

Below I show also synonyms and related words of “movement”.

“Planning and organization” and “find and deal” (regarding Judging and Perceiving).

I decided to create the phrases:
— “planning and organization”,
— and “find and deal”,
to complement the phrases that I add in previous update 1.25. Those phrases were:
— “protection and promotion”, which describe the Introverted mechanism, and
— “risk and opportunity”, which describe the Extraverted mechanism.

As I mentioned above, in this update, I deal with the following adaptive-defensive mechanisms:
— Judging — to which applies the phrase — “planning and organization”,
— Perceiving — to which applies the phrase — “find and deal”.

Why do these phrases, in my opinion, match Judging and Perceiving mechanisms?

1. First, in my opinion, these mechanisms match the types of characters that we can find in these parts of the Mandala of Characters. It means:
   • “Planning and organization”— match the types which are in the area of Judging, that is:
     — Moist Air, and
     — Wet Water.
     These types have a great tendency to plan and organize. Lack of planning and organization is also a significant reason for them to be irritated and dissatisfied with themselves and others.
   • “Find and deal” — match the types which we can find in the area of Perceiving, that is:
     — Dry Fire, and
     — Dry Earth.
     These types have a great tendency to finding and dealing. Lack of opportunities to find and deal is also a significant reason for them to complaining, resentment, grieving, discontent, etc., towards themselves and others.


2. Secondly, Judging and Perceiving are a logical whole with the other two adaptive-defensive mechanisms. That is, Introversion and Extraversion. I think, thank the diagram that I present below, it will be easier to grasp this logical whole.

Above are four rectangles with phrases that apply to adaptive-defensive mechanisms. That is, Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, and Judging. These rectangles I tilted and positioned so that they correspond to the Mandala of Characters. It means Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, and Judging are located in the same places as in the Mandala.

In turn, the arrows show that we can move from one rectangle to another. It means particular adaptive-defensive mechanisms are interconnected.

The links between the particular adaptive-defensive mechanisms are fascinating because they are at the same time:
— related to each other,
— they are very different,
— and they are opposed (that is, there are two pairs of opposites).

In the previous update, I used an example of a situation when we have to survive in very difficult conditions. For instance, after a plane crash in a remote area. Then we have two options:

1. Settle somehow in remain part of the aircraft fuselage and wait for help. (That is, an Introverted mechanism, which is associated with “protection and promotion”).
2. Take a dangerous journey and seek rescue ourselves. (That is, Extraverted mechanism, which involves “risk and opportunity”).

However, as we can see in the above diagram, between Extraverted and Introverted mechanisms, there are two more mechanisms, namely, Perceiving and Judging:

1. Between Introversion and Extraversion, there is the Perceiving mechanism.
   Then, if we move from Introverted mechanism towards Extraverted mechanism (or vice versa), we can count on this, that we will “find and deal” with something. Thanks to this “finding and dealing”, we will discover the way to survive.
2. Also, between Introversion and Extraversion, there is Judging mechanism.
   Then, if we move from the Introverted mechanism towards the Extraverted mechanism (or vice versa), we can “plan and organize” something to achieve the goal.

Besides, analogously like between Introversion and Extraversion, we can move between:

• Judging (that is, among others, “planning and organization”),
• to Perceiving (that is, among others, “find and deal”).

This movement is actually a dilemma. Let me remind you that the dilemma was also the choice between Introverted and Extraverted mechanism, which I described in the previous update 1.25.

The dilemma between Judging and Perceiving depends on choosing between two mechanisms. Mechanisms, which regard our specific attitudes to problems, tasks, challenges, matters, etc. Or our attitudes to life in general. It means:

• On the one hand, we can adopt Judging mechanism, among others, based on “planning and organization”.
• On the other hand, we can adopt Perceiving mechanism, among others, based on “finding and dealing”.

Both these styles (or methods) of acting are effective. And in life, we are often forced to use one or another method depends on the circumstances we are dealing with.

I think this dilemma often occurs in various problems, in which we ask ourselves two questions:

1. What experience do we have with something?
2. And how can we something do, manage, fix, sort out, etc.?

According to the second question in the Polish language, there is an interesting word, “załatwić”. This word encompasses words like: do, manage, fix sort out, get someone or something, hurt somebody, etc. So, the word “załatwić” in Polish is very ambiguous. Especially for the older generation who lived during the communist era, and then in the difficult times of transformation from communism to democracy. Often it was difficult “załatwić” something, and people who were able to do this were very respected, or others were jealous of their skills.

“Załatwić” is, therefore, a very broad concept and applies to all kinds of matters and problems. And both when we want to do something good or something bad. For example:

• do we want to help someone or use someone;
• do we want to give something to someone, or to cheat, rob, trick … somebody;
• do we want to do something for ourselves or for someone else;
• do we want to do something good or bad;
• whether we want to act for the benefit of the environment or its damage;
• whether we want to build something or destroy something;
• do we want to unite or divide;
• do we want to strengthen or weaken;
• etc.

Interestingly, in Poland, nowadays the word “załatwić” is used less than before. So, maybe this word (or very broad concepts like this) suits more difficult times.

OK, I cannot use here the Polish word. Then, let us come back to English.

When appears a problem, matter, task, etc., at the same time, also appears the questions—how to manage it? How to do (fix, sort out ...) something to get the result we want?

And here, we have two main methods, namely, to use either Perceiving or Judging.

Judging is characterized by, among others, planning and organization. That is, to do something, we try to think everything through and organize it as best as possible.

In turn, when we use Perceiving, we do not plan and organize too much. Or even we plan and organize nothing. Instead, we make a preliminary assumption, what are we aiming for? It means:

• We are waiting for advantage, chance, opportunity, bargain, good deal, etc., which we can take.
• We try to find a detail, difference, advantage, etc. that will help to get the things done in the best possible way for us. So, we are trying to see something that:
  — can give us a successful solution,
  — give an advantage over others,
  — find the best way to do something,
  — find some unique chance to benefit,
  — etc.

Thus, with this approach (which is Perceiving):
— we wait patiently until the end,
— we do not hurry,
— we keep all options open,
— we do not close matters completely,
— we are ready to modify or change the plan,
— etc.

And all of these, we are doing to take advantage as soon as it appears.

So, adaptive-defensive mechanisms, which are Perceiving and Judging, are such ways of dealing with matters and problems that can be symbolically compared to hunting.

In the case of the Perceiving mechanism, firstly, we need to find the right place where we can lie in wait for some prey. Next, we need to wait for the right moment, and depending on what we hunt, we need:
— to take an effective shot, or
— carry out pursuit of prey, or
— carry out an attack on prey, or
— use other methods to hunt for prey successfully.

In turn, the Judging mechanism also has its own hunting methods. However, these methods will be based on planning and organization. Such planning and organization should help solve, for example, the following problems:
— how to trap prey,
— how to set a trap for the prey,
— how to predict where to set the trap,
— how to prepare a suitable trap, to be effective,
— etc.

I think that the principle—“think, plan, and do” can also describe the mechanism of Judging. This principle uses the future and the past. It means it is necessary to draw on the experience gained in the past. And thanks to this knowledge of the past, it is easier to predict what will happen in the future.

In turn, the Perceiving mechanism is more focused on the present moment. That is, on “here and now”. We have to focus very much on what is happening “here and now”. Focus on “here and now” for this:
— that nothing important and relevant escape our attention,
— not to lose the advantage, which appeared and nobody knows when it will happen again,
— not to lose the chances that arise around,
— etc.

We can ask here, when to use the Perceiving mechanism and when to use the Judging mechanism?

I think we can generally say that Perceiving is suitable in situations where it is difficult to predict something. And when we can predict, plan, and organize something, we can use Judging.

I also think that Perceiving and Judging most briefly, we can summarize as:

• Perceiving requires—analysis,
• and Judging requires—synthesis.

For Perceiving, we need to be ready to do analysis whenever the situation or environment changes.

While Judging, we need somehow put everything together. We need to think everything over. We need to properly synthesize many factors that occur at a given time and given environment. We need the right synthesis to plan and organize everything properly.

Judging and Perceiving are, in short, methods of solving problems or dealing with matters. As it is going in life, once there is a situation when Judging will be more useful, and another time more effective will be Perceiving. There are also situations when it is worth using the Perceiving and Judging at the same time.

Besides, each type of character has a greater or lesser tendency to use the Judging or Perceiving mechanism.

The types that consciously most willingly use the Perceiving mechanism are:

• Dry Fire, and
• Dry Earth.

In turn, the Judging mechanism consciously most willingly use types:

• Moist Air, and
• Wet Water.

So, in this update (1.26), I have created definitions for adaptive-defensive mechanisms (or general attitudes, or modes of psychic reactions) which are:
— Perceiving, and
— Judging.

These definitions looks as follows:

(process, act—planning and organization—
—JUDGING)

(action, movement—find and deal—
—PERCEIVING)

In the previous update (1.25), I dealt with the definitions of the other two mechanisms, that is:
— Introversion, and
— Extraversion

I hope that thanks to these condensed definitions, which I place on the Mandala of Characters, it will be easier to understand what adaptive-defensive mechanisms are? And what relationships are between them?.

All in all, after these updates, the general diagram of the Mandala of Characters will look as follows.

On the above diagram, on the frames surrounding the Mandala, over the adaptive-defensive mechanisms. That is, over:
— Introversion,
— Extraversion,
— Perceiving
— and Judging),

we can find definitions of these mechanisms.

References: