JPT Vol69 0109
JPT Vol69 0109
JPT Vol69 0109
“
The author asserts that type dynamics is a conceptually tangled con-
struct with little empirical support, is the source of many problems, and
should be discarded.
James H. Reynierse
Reynierse Associates
ABSTRACT
”
The Case Against Type Dynamics
The type dynamics model of psychological type was dynamics is Jungian. The empirical record is inconsis-
examined and criticized from several perspectives. tent with type dynamics and often contradicts it in
Problem areas include the following: Type dynamics ways that are fatal for the construct. Type dynamics—
has persistent logical problems and is fundamentally in any form—does not organize the data in an orderly
based on a series of category mistakes; it provides, at fashion that corresponds with the facts, because type
best, a limited and incomplete account of type-related dynamics is a conceptually compromised construct that
phenomena; epistemologically, type dynamics is not lacks coherence. Preference multidimensionality was
based on efficacy or the preponderance of the evidence presented as a theoretical alternative to type dynamics
but is strictly a method that assigns individuals to type that organizes the relevant data in an orderly fashion
dynamics groups or categories while offering little that corresponds with the facts. Orderliness occurs when
explanatory power; type dynamics is thoroughly con- research untangles the confounding that is natural to
founded with its Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) type dynamics and when we recognize that E–I points
content or composition; type dynamics relies on anec- to E–I and J–P points to J–P—not to E–I.
dotal evidence, fails most efficacy tests, and does not Note: For the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) instrument, the eight preference categories
are the following: Extraversion (E) versus Introversion (I), Sensing (S) versus Intuition (N), Thinking
fit the empirical facts; and finally, it is doubtful if type (T) versus Feeling (F), Judging (J) versus Perceiving (P).
Table 1. The Sixteen Types and Their Straightforward MBTI® and Dynamical Interpretative Meanings.
Straightforward
MBTI® Type Interpretation Dynamical Interpretation
presented, in a logically illegitimate fashion. The Lowen then concluded that “this is an absolutely
operations or rules for establishing type dynamics cate- fundamental aspect of the dichotomous model”
gories are of a different sort and violate the operations (p. 49). Lowen’s argument, like Ryle’s (1949), is con-
used to validate and document the straightforward cerned with the unambiguous identification of cate-
MBTI preference type relationships. Type dynamics gories and the logical necessity of separating different
is thus fundamentally flawed, because it confiscated categories, i.e., identifying their operational differences.
the facts from a legitimate set of categories and then With the commitment to arrange and interpret
inappropriately applied these facts to another set of the MBTI preferences according to the operations of
categories where they do not belong (Ryle). type dynamics and the “pointer variable” role of J–P,
The logical problems of the J–P preference pair type theory makes additional category mistakes. The
were identified previously by Lowen (1982), who noted attitudes, E and I, and the functions, S, N, T, and F, are
that the “P versus J preference required different inter- category mistakes whenever their operations and inter-
pretations for extraverts and introverts” (p. 49). pretations depart from the straightforward, independ-
Similarly, Lowen rejected Myers’ use of J–P as not being ent nature of the individual preference pairs. In this
a true dichotomy because a sense, the MBTI preferences and types, arranged
“true dichotomy must be equivalent to a symmetrical according to type dynamics and given the dynamical
partition into two subsets in such a way that neither interpretation identified in columns three and four of
subset contains a pair of elements with opposite TABLE 1, are fundamentally category mistakes.
attributes. P versus J (as used by Myers) violates this That type dynamics has persistent logical problems
rule, because, for example, IN is the exact opposite of and is fundamentally based on a series of category
ES (as S is the opposite of N, and I the opposite of E) mistakes has serious consequences for type theory.
and yet both are contained in P. Therefore P versus J First, preoccupation with type dynamics not only
is not a dichotomy” (p. 49). emphasizes erroneous type categories but also diverts
attention from additional, legitimate type categories.
Table 3. MBTI® Preference Multidimensionality Content for Three Illustrative Lexical Descriptors With
Their Significant r-values and Difference Scores (d.s.).
Preference
Descriptor Relationship E–I S–N T–F J–P
r d.s. r d.s. r d.s. r d.s.
expands the number of type forms to 72 potential Pair tions expressed in the preferred attitude, whereas others
categories (TABLE 2), and an almost limitless variation are expressed in the less preferred attitude? Have longitu-
within each category. Many of these type relationships dinal studies demonstrated the lifespan and type devel-
have been confirmed empirically (Reynierse & Harker) opment sequences predicted by type dynamics? The
but are denied by type dynamics. problem is that type dynamics does not deal with facts,
because type dynamics lacks an empirical foundation.
TYPE DYNAMICS IS STRICTLY A METHOD The statements of Jung noted earlier reflect Jung’s
What exactly do we know when type theory invokes clinical experience and are untested observations—not
type dynamics either descriptively or as an explanation? evidence. Rigorous, systematic studies are necessary to
What is the scientific basis of type dynamics and the test the efficacy of these statements and validate them.
extent to which type dynamics includes an established Hypotheses regarding these statements as generalized
body of knowledge that describes causal and lawful for type dynamics need to be clearly stated so that they
relationships (e.g., Bunge, 1963; Casti, 1990)? Or from are testable and refutable.
an epistemological perspective, to what extent are the As noted earlier, when Myers (1962) introduced
“truths” asserted by type dynamics supported by the her ideas about the dynamics of type, she provided
preponderance of the evidence, or, alternatively, reflect no evidence for this dynamical interpretation. Later
mere opinion, i.e., they are asserted but without a basis descriptions of type dynamics included a “known set of
in evidence or reason (e.g., Adler, 1981, 1985; Russell, phenomena” that were fundamental and distinctive to
1912/1968)? Does our knowledge of type dynamics type theory but also were not supported by research
meet the exacting standard of certitude and immutabil- evidence. Grant et al. (1983) introduced a model of type
ity of the truth, or must these criteria be relaxed because dynamics as part of a theory of type development in
there is an element of doubt and evidence is lacking which both the dominant and tertiary functions occur
(Adler)? Alternatively, our supposed knowledge about in the preferred attitude and the auxiliary and inferior
type dynamics may in fact be contradicted by the functions in the less preferred attitude. Although it was
facts and evidence, casting doubt on our “knowledge,” noted, “admittedly it calls for further testing by experi-
falsifying it, and requiring that we revise our theory ence” (p. 3), this was not accompanied by any cited
(Popper, 1934/1959). research, and in the intervening 25 years this deficiency,
What are the facts and how do they fit the type to my knowledge, was never corrected. Brownsword
dynamics conceptual framework? Have type researchers (1987, 1988) elaborated on Grant’s approach to type
reliably demonstrated a hierarchical arrangement of the dynamics and provided a general framework for con-
dominant, auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior functions? Does ceptualizing type dynamics within the framework of
the evidence support the “pointer variable” role of J–P in the MBTI measure. But like Grant, he assumed that the
which the J–P preference pair identifies how someone legitimacy of type dynamics was self-evident and pro-
prefers to deal with the outer world, i.e., which functions vided no independent, objective evidence for its efficacy.
are extraverted? Is there evidence to support the type The second edition of the MBTI Manual (Myers
dynamics rules about the expression of the functions in & McCaulley, 1985) developed type dynamics more
the extraverted or introverted attitudes? Are some func- fully and provided an alternative view to Grant and
“
dominant and auxiliary as predicted That type dynamics failed, one with a questionable inter-
by type dynamics. There is a funda- pretation, and one where contradic-
mental baseline problem for these
has persistent logical tory evidence was offered as support.
comparisons, however, as Thorne and problems and is Type theory’s claim that type dynam-
Gough’s observers did not find much fundamentally based ics is superior to the static model
similarity anywhere, even within the on a series of category and the straightforward contribution
same types—a result that might be of the individual preferences rests on
expected, as observers made ratings mistakes has serious this ephemeral empirical foundation.
using a rich and diverse pool of 300 consequences for Finally, Lawrence and Martin
adjectives.2 type theory. (2001) presented five rules for what
”
Third, the original research based they call the “classic” way to identify
on national sample data, although type dynamics, an approach that par-
presented in a cursory fashion and for alleled the methods of Brownsword,
a very limited set of dependent variables, provided Quenk, and the MBTI Manual. To their credit, they
some, albeit limited, support for type dynamics. addressed the issue of validity but accepted uncritically
Dominant extraverted thinking (DET) was greater the evidence for type dynamics presented in the MBTI
than auxiliary extraverted thinking (AET) for both Manual and did not present any new supporting
health and friendships dependent variables and domi- evidence.
nant extraverted feeling (DEF) was greater than auxil- The absence of any demonstrable empirical rela-
iary extraverted feeling (AEF) for a social dependent tionships is a serious deficiency of type dynamics.
variable (MBTI Manual Table 9.21, p. 203). At the same Although type dynamics is often invoked as both a pre-
time, there were also significant reversals that are dictor and explanation of human behavior, these roles
incompatible with a type dynamics interpretation and are unjustified because an established set of empirical
contradict it. Auxiliary introverted sensing (AIS) was observations does not exist for type dynamics. We must
greater than dominant introverted sensing (DIS) for an first have an established body of facts or knowledge that
accomplishment-dependent variable and auxiliary can then be organized—by the theory—in a meaning-
introverted intuition (AIN) was greater than dominant ful manner. Laws explain sets of empirical observations,
introverted intuition (DIN) for a home-and-family- whereas a theory explains a set of laws (Casti, 1990).
dependent variable (MBTI Manual Table 9.22, p. 204). Established facts are a necessary condition for explana-
Support then was about as frequent as disconfirmation tion (Bunge, 1963; Casti). From this perspective, type
and not particularly compelling. dynamics provides neither knowledge nor truth and
Fourth, the discussion of type dynamics intro- represents, at best, mere opinion. From this perspec-
duced very restrictive conditions for evaluating the effi- tive, type dynamics does not qualify as theory and
cacy of type dynamics, e.g., requiring first a significant explains nothing.
effect for the E–I x J–P interaction term, an effect that What then does type dynamics accomplish?
occurred rarely for the national sample data and in The rules or operations of type dynamics have been
other investigations (Reynierse & Harker, 2001). Such described in detail and identified earlier in this paper.
restrictive methodological requirements do not corre- There are three operationally distinct approaches to
spond with the generality and ubiquity of type dynam- type dynamics that determine how type dynamics
ics applications—applications in which type dynamics groups are formed or identified. Reynierse and Harker
Table 4. The Dominant, Auxiliary, Tertiary, and Inferior Types According to the Grant-Brownsword
Model of Type Dynamics.
Jungian Expressed
Function MBTI Type Type Dynamics Category Jungian Attitude
Table 5. Summary of Major Empirical Type Dynamics Results Reported by Reynierse and Harker
(2008a, 2008b)3.
1. The hierarchical nature of type dynamics predicts that the dominant > auxiliary > tertiary > inferior, but this effect never occurred
for the Grant-Brownsword model and occurred only once for the Manual model.
2. The preference pairs hypothesis predicts that the dominant = auxiliary > tertiary = inferior, and this effect occurred 106 times for
the Grant-Brownsword model and 99 times for the Manual model. These effects are due strictly to the functional preferences, S,
N, T, or F.
3. Partial support for type dynamics, e.g., dominant > auxiliary only or tertiary > inferior only, occurred 47 times for the Grant-
Brownsword model and 45 times for the Manual model.
4. Reversals to type dynamics’ predictions, e.g., auxiliary > dominant, inferior > tertiary, tertiary > dominant, etc., occurred 54 times
for the Grant-Brownsword model and 50 times for the Manual model.These reversals contradict type dynamics.
5. There was no indication of hierarchy for the eight Beebe model positions.
6. Control conditions emphasizing the preference pairs hypothesis produced dominant = auxiliary > tertiary = inferior 58 times.
7. Control conditions produced effects that were due strictly to the MBTI E–I preference pair, effects demonstrated both directly and
indirectly in Reynierse and Harker (2008a, 2008b).
8. Preference multidimensionality ordinal relationships in which the Both condition was followed by the Primary, Secondary, and
Neither conditions in fixed, sequential order occurred in every case (Reynierse & Harker, 2008a, 2008b), first for 57 items (Study
5) and later for 45 items (Study 6). There were no reversals, and no effects were contradictory.
“
(e.g., E), where only a function is
ence is relative and described as a Although type dynamics shared (e.g., T), and where neither the
primary or secondary relationship. relevant attitude nor function is shared
Quantitative differences determine
is often invoked as (e.g., I and F are shared but not E and
the relative contribution of the pref- both a predictor and T).
erences and contribute to unique explanation of human Content conditions are ordered
typological effects. The relative contri- behavior, these roles to include the additive effects of the
bution of the individual preferences relevant preferences and necessarily
varies depending on the specific situa- are unjustified because vary depending on which preferences
tional and contextual conditions. an established set of are primary and secondary. Thus, for
Fifth, the preference pairs empirical observations the ET item “Persuasive” in which E is
hypothesis is a special case of prefer- primary and T secondary, the specific
does not exist for
ence multidimensionality. More gener- order of analysis and effect includes
ally, the preference pairs effect occurs type dynamics. first the Both preferences group
”
when only one relevant preference (including ESTJ, ENTJ, ESTP, and
makes a meaningful contribution— ENTP); next, the Primary preference
i.e., effects are one-dimensional rather than multidimen- only group (ESFP, ENFP, ESFJ, and ENFJ); then the
sional. Secondary preference only group (ISTP, INTP, ISTJ, and
Sixth, although the simplest form of preference INTJ); and last, the Neither preference group (ISFJ,
multidimensionality includes two relevant preferences, INFJ, ISFP, and INFP). Compare with TABLE 4 for type
more complex cases include three or even four relevant dynamics order effects. The MBTI content that affects
preferences. Complexity is further enriched by the dif- these orders varies depending on which preferences are
ferent orders that are free to occur as well as the relative primary or secondary and this can be illustrated by con-
quantitative contribution, i.e., amount, of each prefer- trasting the ET item “Persuasive” in which E is primary
ence. In this sense type and trait constructs can coexist and T secondary, with the TE item “Dominant” in which
and codetermine personality effects and relationships. T is now primary and E is secondary. For the TE item
Preference multidimensionality refers to the MBTI “Dominant,” the Both preferences group remains the
content or composition of variables. For example, the same (including ESTJ, ENTJ, ESTP, and ENTP); now
three descriptors identified in TABLE 3 have explicit the Primary preference only group is based on T content
MBTI content and relatedness identified by significant (ISTP, INTP, ISTJ, and INTJ); and the Secondary only
correlation coefficients and difference scores with the E, group is based on E content (ESFP, ENFP, ESFJ, and
S, and T preferences for the items “Persuasive” and ENFJ); and last, the Neither preference group remains
“Assertive,” and with the E and T preferences for the the same (ISFJ, INFJ, ISFP, and INFP). In general, for
item “Dominant.” These three descriptors illustrate how these examples full preference multidimensionality
preference multidimensionality predicts different order occurs in which Both > Primary > Secondary > Neither.
effects based strictly on their MBTI content or composi- For items such as “Assertive,” in which E and T are
tion, order effects that are different from the orders pre- approximately equivalent, however, the primary-
dicted by type dynamics. Here discussion is limited to secondary relationship is not meaningful. Accordingly, in
“
main function is made easier because It is also clear that the overwhelming
emphasis on type dynamics is more
of thinking’s similar attitude (extro- The question that
version)” (p. 32). By contrast, the ephemeral than substantive and
remains is this: promotes the status quo in lieu of
inferior is always opposite to the
dominant according to Meier, as “the
Are these type advancing understanding. Collectively,
attitude and function type are cou- dynamics categories the activities that promote type
dynamics exert considerable influence
pled together in relation to the oppo- meaningful?
”
site type, with the results that the to accept type theory as originally
latter is inferior both with respect to stated.
attitude and function” (p. 20). From the time that a new type
What is significant about this is that the results practitioner is first exposed to the MBTI measure and offi-
reported by Reynierse and Harker (2008a, 2008b) for cial MBTI type training, type dynamics is presented as
preference multidimensionality are consistent with the something “more than” and “superior” to the eight pref-
Jungian interpretation that identifies function and atti- erences. We are reminded that type dynamics is the core
tude differences between the first (dominant) and of the typology (Lawrence & Martin, 2001; Pearman,
fourth (inferior) positions, e.g., EN versus the opposite 1992; Quenk, 1993), whereas interpretations based on
IS, but do not postulate attitude differences between the individual preferences are superficial and simplistic
the dominant and auxiliary, e.g., the dominant EN and (Berens, 1999; McCaulley, 2001; Pearman, 2001;
auxiliary ET (or EF) both occur in the E attitude. Quenk, 1992; Thompson, 1998).
Further, there is parallel representation in preference The perceived and proclaimed superiority of type
multidimensionality between Reynierse and Harker’s dynamics over the contributions of the individual pref-
“Both” condition (e.g., EN) and their “Neither” condi- erences is pervasive. Recall that the claimed superiority
tion (e.g., IS) with Meier’s (1977/1995) interpretation of type dynamics occurs in an empirical context, where
of type opposites. In this sense, the preference multi- the evidence for the preferences is overwhelming and
dimensionality research of Reynierse and Harker is well documented. By contrast, type dynamics’ support-
entirely consistent with Jung and supports the funda- ers provide no evidence for the validity of type dynam-
mental type concept of complementary opposites. ics, and the documented supporting evidence for type
Jung proposed eight function types, or more dynamics, e.g., the MBTI Manual (Myers et al., 1998),
correctly considering current knowledge, eight prefer- is weak at best, despite its positive interpretation.
ence multidimensional function types—four extraverted Considering the weak empirical record, in which valid-
function types (ES, EN, ET, and EF) and four intro- ity is in doubt and there is considerable evidence against
verted function types (IS, IN, IT, and IF). Jung was it, one might expect that type spokespersons would
mostly right, and he can be excused for being incom- be cautious when making claims about type dynamics.
plete and not recognizing the contribution of the FFM Yet these type authorities are certain rather than
dimension of Conscientiousness and the MBTI equiva- cautious and make forceful claims. They repeatedly crit-
lent of J–P. Jung’s function types include the straight- icize “newcomers to type” who don’t understand type
forward contribution of the functions and attitudes dynamics but rely instead on adding together the eight
without the necessity of the convoluted role of type preferences (e.g., Quenk, 1992, 1993; Thompson,
dynamics. 1996, 1998) or have a surface rather than dynamic
understanding of type (Pearman, 1999, 2001).
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C O N TA C T
James H. Reynierse, Ph.D.
320 Angus Road
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Phone: 757.547.2416
Email: jreynierse@cox.net
This Journal is being made available through the collaborative efforts of Dr. Tom Carskadon, Editor of the Journal of Psychological Type, and
the Center for Applications of Psychological Type, Inc., CAPT, worldwide publisher. Dr. B. Michael Thorne serves as Executive Editor of the
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Journal of Psychological Type is a trademark or registered trademark of Thomas G. Carskadon in the United States and other countries.
CAPT is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the meaningful application and ethical use of psychological type as measured through the
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