Who Am I? An overview of the Personality Component of the Mind component - Manomaya Kosha. The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

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1 Who Am I? An overview of the Personality Component of the Mind component - Manomaya Kosha. The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) by Sannyasi Suryamurti As yoga teachers we encounter students whose perception of self is largely limited to the physical body or a dichotomy between the mind and body. Our challenge is to facilitate a deeper understanding of the self. The holistic nature of yoga affects all aspects of the personality, and the koshas provide a model for examining and understanding these different levels. Just as the holistic nature of yoga and the koshas provide a model for examining and understanding the different aspects of the personality, so too modern psychologists have examined the human mind and developed different psychological types. One of these models is called the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and I have found it extremely useful for myself and some of my yoga students. Carl Jung was a psychologist who explored the human mind at the beginning of the twentieth century in Europe and developed Psychological Types. He studied how human beings operated and identified eight different psychological types. Two of his students were Katherine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers who developed The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). This instrument builds on Jung s basic understanding of personality In order to understand how our personality operates, we first need to understand the basic preferences which are the building blocks for the sixteen types which make up personality. The MBTI looks at the four major ways that humans operate in the world, and allows the individual to decide for themselves their type. The MBTI reports some of a persons key Preferences, Tendencies and Characteristics, but not all of them. If you were to write your name with your ordinary writing on a piece of paper, and then write your name with the opposite hand, how would you describe the difference between the two experiences? Did they feel different? Are there differences in the quality of the writing? Sometimes people describe the difference as easy/hard, or comfortable/awkward, natural/unnatural. It can be likened to writing your name with your preferred hand, when you use the other hand, then some effort is made and it often feels awkward. Some will tell you it was a challenge or the different one looks like a child. What it does illustrate is that you could write with the non normal hand if you put some effort into the practice. This describes the psychological type preference, which is identified as type preference. We report feeling comfortable doing an activity a certain way, confident, competent, and we go to great lengths to avoid doing things using our non preferred type. However with practice, we can develop greater confidence and competence in using our non preferred type, but it does take practice and energy. So naturally we go back to our preferred way of being and behaving

2 The MBTI does not measure IQ, normalcy, psychiatric disturbances, maturity, emotions, illness, trauma, affluence, stress, intelligence, or learning. However it is helpful in understanding yourself and other people. But everyone is an individual. YOU decide how accurate it is for you! The MBTI looks at four preference scales: Extraversion or Introversion Sensing or Intuition Thinking or Feeling Judgement or Perception. Extraversion or Introversion (E or I) are complimentary attitudes toward the world. How we are energized. An Extravert s essential stimulation is from the environment the outer world of people and things. An Introvert's essential stimulation is from within the inner world of thoughts and reflections. Both attitudes are used by everyone, but one is usually preferred and better developed. Sensing or Intuition (S or N) are ways of taking in information. The Sensing function takes in information by way of the five senses sight, sound, feel taste and smell. The Intuiting function processes information by way of a sixth sense or hunch. Both are ways of perceiving and taking in information and are used by everyone, but one is usually preferred and better developed. This affects instructions, communication. Thinking and Feeling (T or F) are ways of making Decisions. The Thinking function decides on the basis of logic and objective considerations. The Feeling function decides on the basis of personal, subjective values. Both ways of deciding and evaluating are used by everyone, but one is usually preferred and better developed. Judgment and Perception (J or R) functions are complementary lifestyles. A Judging lifestyle is decisive, planned and orderly. A Perceptive lifestyle is flexible, adaptable and spontaneous. Both attitudes are part of everybody s lifestyle, but one is usually preferred and better developed. This MBTI instrument (wrongly called a test by many), can only be administered by a trained, qualified and accredited person. Even though teachers and psychologists know about the instrument, its use is only permitted after accreditation. The client answers the Instrument questions, and reports their results. These are then verified by discussion with the administrator. Full Test Administration, using accredited forms and booklets and is the subject of workshops taking a minimum of 3 hours. A very detailed breakdown is available for each type, using a computer generated report known as MBTI - 2 -

3 Expanded Interpretive Report, which looks at each preferred function in considerable detail. This in 2008 costs $150 alone. Many teachers and psychologists know about the MBTI, however the old Form G has been superseded and the quick answers have been found to be inaccurate. The new computer generated versions, have taken preference and full accreditation is required before the instrument can be purchased or used. Results are between the Administrator and the client and are totally private. The reported or verified type cannot be identified unless the person self discloses. Outcomes Each type uses specific words which are their way of making sense of their world. When a person understands their interaction with the outer world, then they are free to explore other ways of being and doing things. This enables the individual to grow and make conscious changes. Under pressure and in crisis we always go back home to type. In my private careers practice I use the MBTI to enable clients how to understand what is happening for them, which causes them a problem. We look at career options, stressors, changes imposed upon the work force, and all the issues surrounding the world of work; how to understand their boss, supervisor, partner, and above all themselves. Sometimes companies ask for MBTI administration for a whole department in order to better utilize their personnel, for team building, and some large companies and employment agencies use MBTI as a tool to employ the right person for the job. There are always people who use MBTI for the wrong reason and for fun. People who have completed the instrument several times can beat the system and so we ask people to undertake it as if they were relaxing and being themselves. The instrument is created for validation purposes. Many times it is used incorrectly to box people, put them into categories or make a value judgment about how they are. How does MBTI fit in with Yoga? As Yoga teachers we have all many times observed clients who are always late, always rushing, go into meltdown when class times are changed, and many other different behaviours. When a recent class undertook the MBTI as an afternoon workshop, after repeated requests, all the participants reported it as being very helpful in understanding themselves better. One made a work change within four months after years of repeatedly feeling unable to move. One kept saying My family is always telling me that I don t give enough information and this explains it. Another said she finally understood that she was normal, having for years felt different. Some proudly tell me that the INFP people are only 6% of the population and are therefore special so please treat me as special! One student after taking the MBTI discussed the P function and said but I just can t help being late, that s the way I am! The mind takes a while to adjust to change and we resist. Here in the ashram we observe how visitors attempt to change the system because that is not the way its done, the way we are used to or think it should be done or are very busy telling us why they cannot do something. The challenge for the residents - 3 -

4 is how to adjust adapt and accommodate the different personalities who come and are going through their stuff, triggered by the ashram system anyway. In yoga terms the MBTI allows us a starting point of reference about our interactions with ourselves, and then allows us to explore the dark or shadow side of our personality. For example we say I m not like that, yet we manifest that quality in some way. The majority of people come to class because they are stressed, trying to cope with huge changes, ill health, financial problems, grief, or want to get fit. Only a few report they have always wanted to go yoga. Most know something is wrong but don t know what. Many say their partners or parents should do yoga because it has done so much for them. Once they come and are hooked they stay, even if they go away for a break many times people come back. According to Debroah P. Bloch in Soul Work Questions of Meaning are spiritual questions and Spirituality is the experience of connection to something that transcends our ordinary lives. We may envision this connection to something larger that ourselves or deeper within ourselves, but we know it is beyond the material. It is the story of the truth hidden behind a door. The MBTI firstly looks at preferred type, and then Type Dynamics come into play. According to Naomi L. Quent who wrote In the Grip understanding Type Stress and the Inferior function : A person s dominant function is typically used in the direction of the preferred attitude either extraversion or Introversion. A person s auxiliary function is usually used in the direction of the opposite, non- preferred attitude suppose the dominant is extraverted, the auxiliary is introverted and vice versa. A person s tertiary function may be used in either direction, depending upon circumstances or individual habits. A person s inferior function is typically used in the opposite direction to that of the dominant - if the dominant is introverted, the inferior is extraverted, and vice versa. - Dynamics Table Quent also states that in the hierarchy of energy, the inferior function is last. This has huge implications because it is largely unconscious and we don t direct and control it. Its unconscious energy erupts and takes over our personality when our conscious energy diminishes sufficiently. We often remain unaware of the change in ourselves, until the experience is over. Because the inferior takes the attitude opposite the dominant, the direction of the flow of the psychic energy will also be opposite the energy will be introverted if the person s dominant function is extraverted, and energy will be extraverted if the dominant function is introverted. This has enormous implications for a stressed person who comes out of - 4 -

5 a deep Yoga Nidra and or Meditation who has just accessed their unconscious and does not have the tools to handle what is coming up. Which Yoga practices are best to us? Back in Teacher Training in 1979 we learnt: The wrong practice at the right time no result. The right practice at the wrong time no result. The right practice at the right time results. Witnessing is undoubtedly one of the most important techniques yoga has to offer. The slow drip method, week by week, a phrase at the beginning of the class to keep in the back of the mind. Many different techniques. But most important of all is Who am I? and How do I operate?. If I do not understand myself then how can I possibly understand or assist my students to grow and create their own change. As Yoga teachers we are always working to accept and enlighten our own shadows, and then the light will shine. References Isabel Briggs Myers Introduction to Type ], Australian Psycholigists Press, Victoria 1993 Charles Martin. Looking at Type the Fundamentals CAPT Florida Naomi L. Quent. In the Grip understanding Type Stress and the Inferior function Consulting Psychologists Press. California Debroah P. Bloch & Lee J. Richmond Soul Work Davies-Black Publishing Consulting Psychologists Press. California Mt Martha Holistic Yoga Centre 9 McLeod Road Mt Martha Victoria Australia 3934 ABN Phone/fax + 61 (0) ggordon@bigpond.net.au Suryamurti@satyananda.net - 5 -