Type Insights
insights into psychological type models

 

Attacking Other Types

There are lots of type-alike groups on the internet that function as “support groups” for the various type patterns defined by the MBTI, each of them with a four-letter code such as ESTJ or INFP.

My husband and I are members of some of these various cyber groups, and he recently brought it to my attention that on one of these groups he is a member of, two people of a completely different type pattern joined the list and began deliberately insulting the people of that type pattern, and itemizing for those listmembers what was “wrong” with their type.

It seems like these invaders missed the whole point of what type is about. Sheesh!

Rather than fault-finding and blaming, type theory was always meant to create appreciation and honor diversity. It’s frequently employed to stimulate empathy. It’s designed to be a way of creating space around being together — not providing a new weapon for blaming and cutting others down.

Something I find especially fascinating about that act of hostility (beyond its brazen audacity and bullying behavior), is that the two types which are now at war are referred to by one type expert as “opposing personalities,” and by another type expert as being “attitude-antagonistic” to one another. Thus, a battle of archetypal proportions has been launched, which can never be won nor lost, because the heroes and villains are occupying the psyches of the two types that are at odds.

Below is a conversation and freewheeling psychological analysis I had with my husband about this incident:

The quote I share in the video is this: “Judging others is a way of avoiding a confrontation with our own shadow.” –David Richo

The resource I refer to in the video is this one: The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz It’s not a type-related book per se, but its message is helpful and germane nonetheless. The specific agreement I referred to is “Don’t Take Anything Personally.”

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