Understanding the Dynamics of Typical People

Richard Bents, PhD, taught Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota, and was Director of Graduate Education at Hamline University. He is partner of Future Systems Consulting. Richard Bents specializes in leadership development, personal and organizational change and transformation. He is the co-author of several books on personality and learning, and together with Reiner Blank co-author of the first German version of the MBTI. Reiner Blank, PhD, studied theology, psychology and sociology in the USA, Switzerland and Germany. He directed a national institute for church development in Germany. Now, as partner of Future Systems Consulting GmbH, he coaches the implementation of change and transformational processes in corporations internationally. With his focus on ethics and the value added dimensions of trust in organizations, he and Richard Bents focus on the measurability of non-linear factors in organizations. He co-authored several books on change and typology.

Provides a clear understanding of the dynamics of typical people and of psychological type theory, as well as their practical use in real life.Understanding the Dynamics of Typical People is a humorous, and at the same time clear, systematic, and well-founded introduction to C.J. Jung's Type Theory. Written in an easy-to-understand conversational style, with examples, stories, vignettes, caricatures, and cartoons, the book will help you identify patterns that exist among people, patterns that make us "typical" while preserving each person's individuality. You will find yourself on these pages, as well as your friends, family, colleagues, and co-workers - and the clearer understanding of psychological type and dynamics gained from the book will signpost paths for continued growth and maturation. Examples of the practical applications of type theory at work and in other areas of life are provided throughout the book, as are references for further reading and investigation. Stress is a part of all of our lives that impacts on personality, and so in addition to the four well-known dimensions of psychological type - energy, perceiving, judging, lifestyle - the authors also look at stress and how the "typical" reactions to stress depend upon our personality preferences. Learn, for example, why during times of stress some people seem to fully ignore the details while others are most absorbed in them. This easy-to-read and humorous book provides a clear understanding of the dynamics of typical people and of psychological type theory, as well as their practical use in real life.

1 Introduction1.1 Human Typology1.2 "Typical..."1.3 What This Book Is All About1.4 Bridging the Gap - From Empirical Observations to Typology2 Beginnings3 Type Theory3.1 Introduction to Type Theory3.2 Typical Objections to Type3.3 Assumptions of Type Theory3.4 Determining Type3.5 The Four Basic Scales4 Basic Functions and Attitudes4.1 Perceiving Functions: Sensing and Intuition4.2 Judging Functions: Thinking and Feeling4.3 Attitude Toward Outer or Inner World: Extraversion (E) and Introversion (I)4.4 Lifestyle (Attitude Toward Outside World): Judging and Perceiving4.5 Validation5 Type Dynamics5.1 Dominant Function for Extraverted Types (E)5.2 Dominant Function for Introverted Types (I)5.3 Tertiary and Inferior Function5.4 Summary - Dynamics of Type6 Description of the Individual Types6.1 Short Descriptions6.2 Description of the 16 Types7 Stress7.1 Definition of Stress7.2 Controlled Stress7.3 Uncontrolled Stress7.4 Summary7.5 Stress by Type8 Practical Application8.1 Leadership8.2 Communication8.3 Learning8.4 Teamwork9 Summary10 References