Five Preference Lenses
Your four-letter type is one of 16 MBTI types. When these 16 combinations of preferences are arranged in a type table, similarities and differences in behavior and personality can be more easily identified.
Understanding the structure of the type table can help you see the connections between the preferences and the four-letter types. Here is an outline of the logical basis of its structure, which will help you better understand your type as it relates to the types of others on your team.
Understanding the structure of the type table can help you see the connections between the preferences and the four-letter types. Here is an outline of the logical basis of its structure, which will help you better understand your type as it relates to the types of others on your team.
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- Extraversion (E) and Introversion (I)
- Sensing (S) and Intuition (N)
- Thinking (T) and Feeling (F)
- Judging (J) and Perceiving (P)
The organization of the type table is such that each type shares three preferences (and three letters) with adjacent types. Therefore, as you move from one column or row to the next, only a single preference (letter) changes. Note that the TJ types have been placed in the four corners, maintaining the boundaries of the table. This mirrors the TJ desire to keep things firmly in order.
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- The Processes Lens
- The Orientations Lens
- The Quadrants Lens
- The “Activity Patterns” Lens
- The Dynamics Lens
Order of the Mental Processes for Each Type
Select a type:
ISTJ
- Sensing
- Thinking
- Feeling
- Intuition
ISFJ
- Sensing
- Feeling
- Thinking
- Intuition
INFJ
- Intuition
- Feeling
- Thinking
- Sensing
INTJ
- Intuition
- Thinking
- Feeling
- Sensing
ISTP
- Thinking
- Sensing
- Intuition
- Feeling
ISFP
- Feeling
- Sensing
- Intuition
- Thinking
INFP
- Feeling
- Intuition
- Sensing
- Thinking
INTP
- Thinking
- Intuition
- Sensing
- Feeling
ESTP
- Sensing
- Thinking
- Feeling
- Intuition
ESFP
- Sensing
- Feeling
- Thinking
- Intuition
ENFP
- Intuition
- Feeling
- Thinking
- Sensing
ENTP
- Intuition
- Thinking
- Feeling
- Sensing
ESTJ
- Thinking
- Sensing
- Intuition
- Feeling
ESFJ
- Feeling
- Sensing
- Intuition
- Thinking
ENFJ
- Feeling
- Intuition
- Sensing
- Thinking
ENTJ
- Thinking
- Intuition
- Sensing
- Feeling
Extraversion–Introversion
The bottom two rows of the type table are reserved for types with a preference for Extraversion. The top two rows are reserved for types with a preference for Introversion. The idea behind this arrangement is that the Introverted types, because of their tendency toward reflection, may appear to have their head up in the clouds. Extraverted types on the other hand tend to be active, with their feet down on the ground.
Sensing–Intuition
In the left two columns of the table we find types with a preference for Sensing, and in the right two columns we find types with a preference for Intuition. The arrangement reflects their order in the S–N preference pair, with Sensing on the left and Intuition on the right.
Thinking–Feeling
The outer columns of the type table contain types with a preference for Thinking. The inner columns contain types with a preference for Feeling. This arrangement is designed to reflect the typical desire for affiliation of Feeling types by placing them next to each other in the heart of the table.
Judging–Perceiving
The top and bottom rows are made up of types with a preference for Judging. The middle rows are made up of types with a preference for Perceiving. In this arrangement, the more decisive Judging types form the roof and the foundation of the type table—in other words, they hold the structure together and contain the more flexible Perceiving types.
The Processes Lens
The processes, or mental processes, are represented by the four columns of the type table: ST, SF, NF, and NT. They correspond to a combination of a preferred way of taking in information (S or N) and a preferred way of making decisions and coming to conclusions (T or F).
- Practical, matter-of-fact types
- Sympathetic, friendly types
- Enthusiastic, insightful types
- Logical, ingenious types
- Practical, matter-of-fact types
- Sympathetic, friendly types
- Enthusiastic, insightful types
- Logical, ingenious types
The Orientations Lens
The groupings within the orientations lens are represented by the four rows of the type table: IJ, IP, EP, and EJ. They correspond to a combination of two orientations—a preferred way to direct and receive energy (E or I) and a preferred way to approach the outside world (J or P).
- Autonomous, resolute types
- Autonomous, flexible types
- Connected, flexible types
- Connected, resolute types
- Autonomous, resolute types
- Autonomous, flexible types
- Connected, flexible types
- Connected, resolute types
The Quadrants Lens
The quadrants are found at the four corners of the type table: IS, IN, ES, and EN. They correspond to a combination of a preferred orientation (E or I) and a preferred way of taking in information (S or N).
- Reflective, practical types
- Reflective, imaginative types
- Energetic, practical types
- Energetic, imaginative types
- Reflective, practical types
- Reflective, imaginative types
- Energetic, practical types
- Energetic, imaginative types
The “Activity Patterns” Lens Grouping of Preferences
Another set of two-letter combinations that are commonly used is SJ, SP, NF, and NT. The SJs are found in the two leftmost cells of the top row and the two leftmost cells of the bottom row of the type table. The SPs are found in the two leftmost cells of the second and third rows. The NFs and the NTs are found in the third and fourth columns, respectively.
- Responsible, loyal types
- Clever, responsive types
- Imaginative, friendly types
- Rational, inventive types
- Responsible, loyal types
- Clever, responsive types
- Imaginative, friendly types
- Rational, inventive types
The Dynamics Lens
Particularly important to the concept of personality type is the notion that four of the preferences—S, N, T, and F, known as the mental processes—exist in a dynamic relationship. For each type, one of these processes will be developed earliest and may be used more than the others. This favorite, lead process, also known as the dominant function, generally indicates how you contribute to the world.
If your favorite process is one that involves taking in information (S or N), then your second process, also known as the auxiliary function, will be one that involves deciding and coming to conclusions (T or F). If your favorite process is one that involves deciding and coming to conclusions (T or F), then your second process will be one that involves taking in information (S or N). This second process provides balance—making effective decisions requires taking in information effectively, and vice versa.
The third and fourth processes develop later. As with the first and second processes, they balance each other: one will involve taking in information; the other will involve deciding and coming to conclusions. The fourth process, also known as the inferior function, is generally a person’s least developed process—the area most likely to be overlooked and thus the most vulnerable. Use the “Order of Processes” grid as a quick guide.
The groupings within the dynamics lens are defined in terms of the favorite process—S, N, T, or F. One way to determine the dynamics of type is to apply the “1-2 rule”: in the first row of the type table, the process used to take in information—either Sensing or Intuition, depending on type—will be the favorite process; in the second row of the type table, the process used in making decisions and coming to conclusions—either Thinking or Feeling, depending on type—will be the favorite process. In other words, “Row one, first middle letter; row two, second middle letter.” In the third row, the first middle letter represents the favorite process; in the fourth row, the second middle letter represents the favorite process.
If your favorite process is one that involves taking in information (S or N), then your second process, also known as the auxiliary function, will be one that involves deciding and coming to conclusions (T or F). If your favorite process is one that involves deciding and coming to conclusions, (T or F), then your second process will be one that involves taking in information (S or N). This second process provides balance—making effective decisions requires taking in information effectively, and vice versa.
The third and fourth processes develop later. As with the first and second processes, they balance each other: one will involve taking in information; the other will involve deciding and coming to conclusions. The fourth process, also known as the inferior function, is generally a person’s least developed process—the area most likely to be overlooked and thus the most vulnerable. Use the “Order of Processes” grid as a quick guide.
The groupings within the dynamics lens are defined in terms of the favorite process—S, N, T, or F. One way to determine the dynamics of type is to apply the “1-2 rule”: in the first row of the type table, the process used to take in information—either Sensing or Intuition, depending on type—will be the favorite process; in the second row of the type table, the process used in making decisions and coming to conclusions—either Thinking or Feeling, depending on type—will be the favorite process. In other words, “Row one, first middle letter; row two, second middle letter.” In the third row, the first middle letter represents the favorite process; in the fourth row, the second middle letter represents the favorite process.