STYLE—SENSER,
INTUITOR,
THINKER, FEELER?
Individuals differ in the way they interact with others and the way they gather and
evaluate information for problem solving and decision making. Four psychological
functions identifi ed by Carl Jung are related to this process: sensation, intuition,
thin
king, and feeling. 2
Before you read further, complete the problem-solving diagnostic questionnaire
(Part A) and then check the scoring key that appears in Part B. 3 It has no right or
wrong answers; just read each item carefully and then give your answer.
Part A: Questionnaire
to Determine
Your Style
Indicate your responses to the following questionnaire on a separate sheet of paper.
None of these items has right or wrong responses.
I. Write down the number and letter of the response that comes closest to how you
usually feel or act.
1. I am more careful about
a. People’s feelings.
b. Their rights.
2. I usually get along better with
a. Imaginative people.
b. Realistic people.
3. It is a higher compliment to be called
a. A person of real feeling.
b. A consistently reasonable person.
4. In doing something with many people, it appeals more to me
a. To do it in the accepted way.
b. To invent a way of my own.
5. I get more annoyed at
a. Fancy theories.
b. People who do not like theories.
6. It is higher praise to call someone
a. A person of vision.
b. A person of common sense.
7. I more often let
a. My heart rule my head.
b. My head rule my heart.
8. I think it is a worse fault
a. To s
how too much warmth.
b. To be unsympathetic.
9. If I were a teacher, I would rather teach
a. Courses involving theory.
b. Fact courses.
II. Write down the letters of the words in the following pairs that appeal to you more.
10. a.
compassion b. foresight
11. a. justice b. mercy
12. a. production b. design
13. a. gentle b. fi rm
14. a. uncritical b. critical
15. a. literal b. fi gurative
16. a. imaginative b. matter of fact
According to Jung, only one of the four functions—sensation, intuition, thinking,
or feeling—is dominant in an individual. However, the dominant function is usually
backed up by one of the functions from the other set of paired opposites. Part C
shows the four problem-solving styles that result from these matchups.
Part B: Scoring Key to
Determine Your Style
The following scales indicate the psychological functions related to each item. Use
the point-value columns to arrive at your score for each function. For example, if you
answered a to the fi rst question, your Ia response in the feeling column is worth
0 points when you add up the point-value column. Instructions for classifying your
scores follow the scales.
Classifying
Total Scores
■ Write intuition if your intuition score is equal to or greater than your sensation
score.
■ Write sensation if your sensation score is greater than your intuition score.
■ Write feeling if your feeling score is greater than your thinking score.
■ Write thinking if your thinking score is greater than your feeling score.
Sensation
Point
Value Intuition
Point
Value Thinking
Point
Value Feeling
Point
Value
2b____ 1 2a____ 2 1b____ 1 1a____ 0
4a____ 1 4b____ 1 3b____ 2 3a____ 1
5a____ 1 5b____ 1 7b____ 1 7a____ 1
6b____ 1 6a____ 0 8a____ 0 8b____ 1
9b____ 2 9a____ 2 10b____ 2 10a____ 1
12a____ 1 12b____ 0 11a____ 2 11b____ 1
15a____ 1 15b____ 1 13b____ 1 13a____ 1
16b____ 2 16a____ 0 14b____ 0 14a____ 1
Maximum
Point
Value: (10) (7) (9) (7)
Part C: The Four
Problem-Solving Styles
and Their Tendencies
Personal Style Action Tendencies
Sensation–thinking Emphasizes details, facts, certainty
Is decisive, applied thinker
Focuses on short-term, realistic goals
Develops rules and regulations for judging performance
Intuitive–thinking Shows concern for current, real-life human problems
Is creative, progressive, perceptive thinker
Emphasizes detailed facts about people rather than tasks
Focuses on structuring organizations for the benefi t of people
Sensation–feeling Prefers dealing with theoretical or technical problems
Is pragmatic, analytical, methodical, and conscientious
Focuses on possibilities by using interpersonal analysis
Is able to consider a number of options and problems simultaneously
Intuitive–feeling Avoids specifi cs
Is charismatic, participative, people oriented, and helpful
Focuses on general views, broad themes, and feelings
Decentralizes decision making; develops few rules and regulations
According to Jung, gathering information and evaluating information are separate
activities. People gather information by either sensation or intuition but not by both
simultaneously. People using sensation would rather work with known facts and
hard data and prefer routine and order while gathering information. People using
intuition would rather look for possibilities than work with facts and prefer solving
new problems and using abstract concepts.
Information evaluation involves making judgments about the information a person
has gathered. People evaluate information by thinking or feeling. These represent
the extremes in orientation. Thinking individuals base their judgments on impersonal
analysis, using reason and logic rather than personal values or emotional aspects of
the situation. Feeling individuals base their judgments more on personal feelings,
such as harmony, and tend to make decisions that result in approval from others.
Questions
1. Look back at your scores. What is your personal problem-solving style? Read
the action tendencies. Do they fi t?
2. Studies show that the sensation–thinking (ST) combination characterizes many
managers in Western industrialized societies. Do you think the ST style is the
best fi t for most jobs in today’s society?
3. Also see Exhibit 5.8: Guidelines to Identifying Personality Style. Compare
yourself and others you know to the guidelines. Do you fi nd a match between
you and the individual style? What about your roommate, spouse, parents, or
siblings?
4. How can you use this information to improve your communication ability?
Michelle_Michy
20171020021958563_565.docx
