Completing the questionnaire:
The Inventory items are arranged in pairs (a and b). Each statement of the pairing represents a preference you may or may not hold.
Rate your preference for each statement by giving it a score of 0 to 5 (0 meaning you really feel negatively about it or strongly about the other member of the pair, 5 meaning you strongly prefer it or do not prefer the other member of the pair).
The scores for a and b must add up to 5 (0 and 5, 1 and 4, or 2 and 3).
Do not use fractions such as 2 ½.
For example:
I prefer
1a. 4 to speak my mind after I find out what others think.
1b. 1 to speak my mind without consulting others.
DO NOT OVERTHINK YOUR RESPONSES
YOUR FIRST INSTINCT IS USUALLY THE ONE TO GO WITH


Each of us find and create value and meaning in our lives in different ways

Each of us pay attention to different things

Different things are important to us

We are drawn to people who have similar values

It can be difficult to understand and respect these differences

 Shared language unites
 Differences in language can divide
(actual language, accent, dialect, vocabulary)
 Shared language encourages communication and can create understanding
 Different language discourages communication and can create misunderstanding


We ‘process’ i.e. find ways of understanding and giving meaning to experience in different ways

We find it easy to understand people who process in a similar way to us

We find people whose way of processing is different from ours more ‘difficult’

An appreciation of this difference can help us to communicate the core therapeutic conditions in different ways

1.
Being with people OR Being by yourself
2.
The life of your mind OR Physical reality
3.
Reason OR Emotion and Feeling
4.
Organisation OR Spontaneity


Talk through your responses with partner

 Based on theories of Carl Jung
‘We are born with a predisposition for certain preferences”

Identifies our preferences for ways of doing and ways of being in the world
8


There is no right or wrong type, good or bad

Each person, irrespective of type, is unique

Everyone uses each of the preferences to some degree

Using non-preferences takes more energy

‘Type’ Preferences are not about intelligence, abilities, interests, values
9

Extroverted
Preference for source of energy
Introverted
Sensing
Thinking
Judging
Preference for gathering information
Preference for making decisions
Preference for orienting your life
Intuitive
Feeling
Perceiving
10

Extraverted E
Sensing S
Thinking T
Judging J
I Introverted
N Intuitive
F Feeling
P Perceiving
This type is described as ISFJ
There are 16 different ‘types’
11

E XTRAVERSION I NTROVERSION
EXTRAVERSION(E) INTROVERSION(I)
Energised by outer world
Focus on being with people,
Active
Range & breadth of interests
Live it, then understand
Interaction
Outwardly directed
Energised by inner world
Focus on thoughts, concepts
Reflective
Depth of interest
Understand it, then live it
Focus/concentration
Inwardly directed
12

E
XTRAVERSION
Preferences in action

Prefers face to face communication

Responds quickly

Talks things through

Seeks groups of people

Out there with ideas
I
NTROVERSION
Preferences in action

Prefers written communication

Reflects before responding

Thinks things through

Seeks one to one

May need drawing out
“ talk it through”
“think it through”

S
N
Preference for gathering information
SENSING (S)
Facts
Data
Detail
Reality based
Reality, actuality
Here and now
Usefulness
INTUITION (N)
Meanings
Associations
Possibilities
Hunches, speculations
Instinct
Future orientated
Possibilities
14

The detail of the architecture
This would make a great hotel…
15

S
N
Preferences in action
 evidence: facts, details
 practical realistic ideas
 direct experience as anecdote
 step by step approach in conversations
 straightforward ideas
“attention to specifics”
Preferences in action
 global ideas, broad issues
 future possibilities & challenges
 insight, imagination as anecdote

Circuitous approach in
Conversations

Off-beat, novel, and unusual ideas
“the big picture”
18

T
F
Preference for making decisions
THINKING (T)
Analysis
Objective
Reason & Logic
Impersonal
Critique
Reason
Criteria
FEELING (F)
Sympathetic
Subjective
Humanitarian
Personal
Appreciate
Values
Circumstances
19

If you were required to ask someone to leave your presentation group how would you go about making that decision?

T
F
Preferences in action

Logic - if this…then that
 to be brief & concise
 pros & cons of argument
 convinced by reasoning
 presents goals & objectives first
 task first
Preferences in action
 to make personal connections
 to connect with the other person

Focus on impact on people
 convinced by personal authenticity
 presents points of agreement first
 people first
“logical implications”
“impact on people”
21

J
P
Preference for orienting your life
JUDGING (J)
Organised
Settled
Planned
Decisive
Control one’s life
Fixed goals
Systematic
PERCEIVING (P)
Holding
Flexible
Spontaneous
Tentative position
Let life happen
Open to change
Responsive
22

How do you approach assignments?
Is your approach similar or different to other people in your study group?

J
P
Preferences in action

Likes schedules, deadlines
 advance warning of changes

Likes others to follow through
 clear cut decision making processes
 presents results & achievements
 focus on purpose & direction
 meetings to focus on tasks
Preferences in action
 resists schedules, deadlines
 enjoy surprises & change

Likes others to respond to situations

Doesn’t like ‘early closure’
 presents flexible views & options
 focus on autonomy & flexibility
 meetings to focus on process
Plan, goals, closure Flexibility, spontaneity,
24

25

Score your individual Personal Styles Inventory
J
F
S
Group Profile
E v I v v v P
N
T

How does this exercise impact on you understanding

Yourself

Others

Your relationship with others

The group process
Client processes