Personality Types & Problem-Solving Orientations

Personality Types & Problem-Solving Orientations

People are all different in fundamental ways. Their aptitude and competence to process different information is limited by their personality type. These types are eight in number, such as:

• People can be either Extroverts or Introverts, depending on the direction of their
activity;
• Thinking, Feeling, Sensing, Intuitive, according to their own information pathways;
and
• Judging or Perceiving, depending on the method in which they process received
information.

Researchers like Lawrence, McCaulley and Myers have investigated the relationship
of Karl Jung’s theory of individuals’ preferences and their approach to problem solving
and decision-making. Their findings are summarized below (William G. Huitt – “Problem
solving and Decision Making: Consideration of Individual Differences Using the Myers-
Briggs Type Indicator”):

1. When solving problems, individuals who are introverts will want to take time to
think and clarify their ideas before they begin talking. They will more likely be
concerned with their own understanding of important concepts and ideas.

2. Individuals who are extroverts will want to talk through their ideas in order to clarify
them. They will continually seek feedback from the environment about the viability
of their ideas.

3. Sensing individuals will be more likely to pay attention to facts, details, and reality.
They will also tend to select standard solutions that have worked in the past.

4. Persons with intuition preferences will more likely attend to the meaningfulness of
the facts, the relationships among the facts, and the possibilities of future events
that can be imagined from these facts. They will exhibit a tendency to develop new,
original solutions rather than to use what has worked previously.
5. Individuals with a thinking preference will tend to use logic and analysis during
problem-solving. They are also likely to value objectivity and be impersonal in
drawing conclusions. They want solutions to make sense in terms of the facts,
models, and/or principles under consideration.
6. Individuals with a feeling preference are more likely to consider values and feelings
in the problem-solving process. They will tend to be subjective in their decisionmaking
and to consider how their decisions could affect other people.
7. People, particularly, the ‘judging’ types, are more likely to prefer structure and
organization to the problems itself and will want the problem-solving process to
demonstrate closure.
8. People with a perceiving preference are more likely to prefer flexibility and
adaptability. They will be more concerned that the problem solving process considers
a variety of techniques and provides for unforeseen changes.