I *completely* appreciate what you are saying, and I can understand the grounds for your suspicions. They are valid grounds!

Allow me to clarify:

In no way am I suggesting one should *not* do self-study — what I am suggesting is that self-study on its own is simply inadequate. Just as I would in no way want to visit a doctor who is merely self-taught and has never touched an actual patient, likewise psychological type does not reveal itself to one merely by reading books or websites.

I am currently developing ways around that using online video (as above); nevertheless, the only way to increase our psychological literacy is by interacting with real-life examples of the 16 type patterns and learning firsthand what they are like through face-to-face experience. And this is best accomplished through the framework of a live type workshop, where we are able to discuss differences and put some “form” around them. Each of us needs to develop our own psychological “encyclopedia” for the types that we may reliably reference, or we are subject to delusions (typically manifesting through our egos).

Dr. Linda Berens has told me on numerous occasions that the most valuable aspect of her type training under the tutelage of Dr. David Keirsey was when she got to meet and interview representatives of each of the 16 types. It provided her with reference points she still relies on some thirty years later.

I daresay it is fair to suggest that if Dr. Berens found this sort of learning the most valuable, then it stands to reason that following in those footsteps would increase our own competence.

One of the many ways this is becoming truer for me everyday is how often I am encountering mis-typed people in my practice. In particular I am encountering many ENFPs and ENFJs who have mistaken themselves for INFJs. When I remarked about this recently to a fellow type practitioner, she replied, “there’s a big difference between those types!” — as if to say, “how could anybody make such an obvious mistake as that?”

I agree entirely! It confirms my belief that if you don’t experience the patterns in person and make yourself available to feedback about your own patterns from those with greater experience, you can fool yourself until the end of time that you prefer a pattern you don’t. A live workshop demands one get crystal cleear about differences, and “take ownership” of their pattern.

Maybe it’s like singing — some people flatter themselves that they are great singers, but how many submit themselves to working with an actual voice teacher who can tell them precisely what their skill levels are, and where they aren’t cutting it? If someone is serious about [say] opera and wants to pursue it, a voice teacher is a necessary investment, even if they are merely indulging in a hobby.

So yay to self-study! — let’s have more of that — AND let us not kid ourselves that we can identify and grasp type differences without encountering other people, other types, in a live setting, and experiencing for ourselves firsthand exactly where and how we are different. Type is simply another abstract theory — a nice idea on paper — until one interacts with it in real life.

Thank you for your insightful comments and challenge — I appreciate your raising this matter.

I am very interested in type theory and have been studying it for several years. As much as I value your work (I love infj.com) I am a little disappointed that you seem to be promoting live workshops over self-teaching. I realize you probably come across a lot of self-taught people who are misinformed about type or make frequent errors with type. I feel like I should speak up for the ones that might not be misinformed and ask if you believe that it is possible for someone self-taught to understand type theory to the same degree as someone more formally trained. After all if I am not mistaken Jung developed his theory through study and reflection. Shouldn’t it be just as valid to study type the same way it was founded!? I thought the issue with Eric was interesting because I didn’t think he was devaluing live workshops by valuing being self-taught. I guess the big question is can someone self-taught be competent with type theory without attending live workshops or having formal training. If there are competent self-taught type theorists and enthusiasts it might be difficult to convey over the Internet. I am no expert but in my humble opinion if Eric has preferences for intj that would make competence an extremely high value. My guess is that he may have inadvertently stepped on your toes while trying to demonstrate his level of competence and experience with type. I am not devaluing live workshops and I would love to attend one someday but I felt it was necessary to stick up for self-teaching. You may have already guessed my preferences are likely for infj. I do think my infj nerve was hit. I don’t want to leave you with a bad feeling though I still think your work is great but I wanted to speak up on behalf of people who study type on their own.

Rosalee

Best regards,
Charles [INFJ]