Thinking vs. Feeling

The conflict between the brain and the heart is ages old. We all have desires, but we may sometimes question whether or not we really want something. Sometimes it seems as if some aspect of us may be attracted to an object while another part may be repelled. And even things that seem perfectly suited to us logically may turn out to be undesirable. It’s a messy process, sorting through our desires and determining which ones to pursue and which to ignore.

The Ancients

Philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle, and Hume discussed how the dark horse of passion was what motivated a person while the white horse of reason was needed to discern clearly and guide them toward worthwhile goals. Each of us needs both reason and passion in order to be whole. But, though we may switch off frequently,  we can only ride one horse at a time. One horse will inevitably be ridden more than the other, and this is where Thinking and Feeling come in. Are you usually sitting astride the wild black Friesian or the calm ivory Camarillo?

Logical Coherency

Thinkers need things to make sense. If there is any kind of ambiguity or uncertainty, they feel driven to find out more to wipe away the murkiness. They naturally construct models in their heads to explain the world’s operations, though they may not speak of these to others or even closely examine their models themselves. Thinkers need to know where they stand, and they will mark the path as too dangerous to proceed until they have a clear idea of what lies down it. For them, a solid foundation of knowledge and logic must be established before they can move on to other things, like opinions, beliefs, relationships, and general happiness.

Rationality

Thinkers use Rationality to transform the chaos of their world into a manageable space, one with reliability and predictability. They seek knowledge and tools that allow them to have greater control of their environment. Like Mr. Spock, they are frustrated by people and practices that seem illogical. They use logic and reason to govern their lives, avoiding the sticky areas influenced by human emotion. This is, in part, because they don’t trust their own emotions as much as their ability to work through things mentally. At some level, they have determined to protect their feelings through Rationality, believing that the less emotionally daring they are, the less disappointment they will experience.

Clarity of Communication

Thinkers seek to establish relationships where each party knows what to expect and gets what they want. They strive for sound arguments and expect the same of others, becoming impatient with emotional appeals. Thinkers want to be judged by the content of their messages and nothing else, so they seek to remove as much personal bias as they can from what they say. They are good at maintaining pristine records, seeking to keep from coloring accounts with their own beliefs. In distressing situations, even if Thinkers have trouble remaining detached, they are often able to keep a clear head and see past the pain to determine the best course of action and direct others in doing what is necessary.

Directness

Beating around the bush is not the way of the Thinker. To ensure messages have the best chance of being understood, as well as to save time, they are direct and to the point. They are able to cut through other factors to get to the heart of a matter. They are not afraid to express their opinions and expect others to be able to stand up to them if they want to be respected. They are bothered by people who are too timid, but may step forward to defend them. Like the Knights of the Round Table, they aspire to high ideals and prefer to surround themselves with people of high integrity who are courageous and bold.

To the Point

Like the Thinking type described in this post, let me be clear and direct in pointing out the importance of the Trait Spectrum. How can you expect to grow as a person if you don’t take the time to get to know yourself? If you haven’t taken it yet, now’s the time.

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