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Character Typing Methodology Guide

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
50 views4 pages

Character Typing Methodology Guide

Uploaded by

Moon5627
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Character Typing Guide

Rule 1: Assume the character is a sensor.

New typists are too quick to label characters as intuitive. An intuitive character will
stand out because they are motivated by hunches – they know things, or connect
things the other characters do not or find of little interest. Unless this defines their
personality in an identifiable way, assume them a sensor.

Rule 2: Form a decent argument with “proof” based on an


understanding of the functions.

If you find yourself grasping at straws or being overly vague to explain their functional
stack, either a) you have the wrong type, b) you do not know the axis very well, or c)
the character is poorly written.

Rule 3: Do what works for you.

Some people type based on the big picture (this character acts most like an ____, so
they are one); some type based on details (careful assessment of the character,
gathering facts); some type based on a combination of both, or use a conclusion and
work backward to find the evidence. If you cannot figure out a character, it may be
you are holding too tightly to an assumption; throw out that type and consider
another one.

Rule 4: Be patient.

Typing takes practice. Learning and deepening your understanding as you type will
show you the mistakes you make and give you additional information and clarity
about the functions. Avoid forming ‘dislikes’ for certain types and assume no
character shares your type unless you can see clear evidence of how they ‘fail’ in the
same cognitive ways you do. Let go of biases, expectations, and learn to identify,
appreciate and admire each type for its strengths.

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Cognitive Shortcuts List:
NJ: High Introverted Intuition (Ni) / Low Extroverted Sensing (Se): Big
picture thinking, reflects on meaning and implications, singular conclusions, personal
vision, firm on their perceptions, long term plans, strategy, flexible but decisive. Bad
at improvising, often miscalculates, over-indulges, unaware of environment.

SP: High Extroverted Sensing (Se) / Low Introverted Intuition (Ni): Quick
to react or instigate action or to respond to novelty or change, opportunism, in the
moment, quick action, sensory confidence, risk-taking, hands-on, makes things
happen, impulsive and not often careful. Fears impending doom, fails to plan ahead,
misreads situations, fixation on a single goal.

NP: High Extroverted Intuition (Ne) / Low Introverted Sensing (Si): Big
picture thinking, good at improvising or changing their mind, loves wit or puns,
inappropriate humor, optimistic dreamer, new patterns, following new thoughts.
Physical detachment, underestimates projects, nitpicks about change, fails to be
realistic.

SJ: High Introverted Sensing (Si) / Low Extroverted Intuition (Ne):


Grounded, detailed, good with routine, sticks with what they know and cherish,
observant, aware of physical needs, careful decision making, prefers sensory comfort,
details, precision, personal experience, trust in past [Link] of
consequences, unable to sort possibilities carefully, doesn’t see or give much thought
to what’s going on beneath the surface, gives in to irrationality, becomes impulsive
under stress.

FJ: High Extroverted Feeling (Fe) / Low Introverted Thinking (Ti):


Emotionally persuasive, maintains good relationships, smooths out discord, uses
collective values to connect with others, good people skills, prone to sharing feelings,
focus on social appropriateness, projects ‘false’ moods, need to be liked. Disconnects
from others, indulges critical or mean judgments, forms rigid logical conclusions,
becomes frustrated by problems and fixated on “why is this happening?”

TP: High Introverted Thinking (Ti) / Low Extroverted Feeling (Ti):


Detached and analytical, systematizes information to understand how to problem-

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solve or prevent/avoid problems, swift action, learning as they go, investigative,
critical, curious how it works, consistent internal logic, desires understanding.
Sometimes loses their temper, impatient with people and their feelings, unsure of
their own emotions, disregards emotional ‘data,’ low-order emotional manipulation,
annoyed by feelings.

TJ: High Extroverted Thinking (Te) / Low Introverted Feeling (Fi): Sees a
problem and wants to resolve it efficiently, offers useful factual information but
frustrated by incompetence, immediate observable logic, financially driven, organized
and efficient, detached from problems, reliance on facts. Situational empathy, strong
emphasis on personal responsibility, repressed feelings, discounts their own or others’
feelings.

FP: High Introverted Feeling (Fi) / Low Introverted Thinking (Te): Reflects
on their feelings, acts in accordance to their moral instincts, seeks to alleviate
suffering, sensitive, empathetic, honorable, strong moral judgments, need to be true
to self, internalized emotions, must do what is ‘right,’ emphasis on fairness. Can be a
dictator under stress, struggles to rationalize or form factual arguments, blunt and
authoritative, acts on feelings, refuses to make detached decisions.

Enneagram Typing
Anger / Gut Center (how I handle my anger):

1: repressed, buttoned up, right / wrong, morals, rigid.

9: easygoing, peaceful, complacent, passive, calm.

8: aggressive, assertive, controlling, confrontational.

Image / Heart Center (how others see me):

2: helpful, a rescuer, of service to others, moves ‘toward’ them.

3: focus on success, ambition, competitive, workaholic.

4: moody, self-pity, self-indulgence, morose, romantic, moves ‘away’ from others.

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Logic / Head Center (how I avoid my fears):

5: intense, cerebral, book knowledge, detachment, dismisses feelings, objectivity.

6: anxious, loyal, worries, self-reliant, suspicious, humorous (cp6: attacks, assertive,


may look like an 8 but will back down under pressure / is fearful).

7: optimistic, playful, busy, seeks pleasure, impulsive, witty.

The character likely displays two strong Enneagram types; when you have narrowed it
down to two, ask yourself how they react under stress and what seems to govern them
most to determine their core. (For example, Rodney McKay from Stargate Atlantis is
a 3-6 combo; he is paranoid, insecure, angry, and defensive under pressure like a 6,
but most of the time is arrogant, ambitious, assumes he is a genius, and wants praise,
ergo a 3.)

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Common questions

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Cognitive shortcuts, such as high Introverted Intuition versus high Extroverted Sensing, help differentiate personality types by highlighting predominant cognitive processes. These shortcuts have implications for character development as they anchor behaviors, like NJ's strategic thinking with Incitered Intuition or SP's impulsive actions from Extroverted Sensing. Ensuring these cognitive traits are consistent and pronounced aids in creating believable and well-rounded characters .

Typing characters with strong moral judgments who struggle with rational arguments involves discerning between emotional depth and logical analysis. Characters high in Introverted Feeling (Fi) prioritize moral instincts and empathetic behavior, leading to internalized emotional complexity. The challenge lies in identifying how their strong conscientious stance impacts decision rationalization and whether their emotional adherence skews toward personal integrity rather than practical efficiency .

Characters with high Introverted Thinking manage problem-solving with detachment and analytical precision, using consistent internal logic to understand systems. However, their low Extroverted Feeling can result in a lack of patience with others’ emotions and discomfort with emotional data. This combination often leads to efficient problem resolution yet difficulty in sustaining empathetic human interactions, creating potential challenges in collaborative environments .

Patience is crucial for improving character typing skills as it allows individuals to practice and deepen their understanding over time. It helps typists avoid forming premature dislikes for certain types and broadens their ability to appreciate each type's strengths. Being patient also reduces biases and expectations that can cloud judgment, leading to more accurate and unbiased typing .

Understanding cognitive functions allows for accurate character typing as it differentiates between intuitive and sensor characters. Intuitive characters are defined by their motivation through hunches and unique connections, while sensors rely on sensory information. Without clear indication of intuition, characters should be assumed as sensors. This framework prevents incorrect typing based on vague or skewed interpretations of character attributes .

A person with an SJ cognitive structure might struggle with sorting possibilities because they have high Introverted Sensing (Si) and low Extroverted Intuition (Ne), leading them to focus on routine, detailed, and past-precedent-based decisions. This emphasis on precision and personal experience makes them less adept at considering alternative possibilities or unseen factors, potentially resulting in stress-induced impulsive behaviors and a resistance to change .

A disconnect from others affects a character with high Extroverted Feeling and low Introverted Thinking by causing frustration and a tendency toward critical judgments. Even though these characters are adept at maintaining relationships and smoothing out discord, their lack of internal logical processing leads them to rely on collective values and outward emotions, potentially creating internal disharmony and a preoccupation with understanding why issues arise in social contexts .

To avoid biases and assumptions in character typing, one should embrace flexibility and consider various typing methods such as big picture, detail-oriented, or a combination. It's important to remain open to discarding initial assumptions if characters don't fit expected types, and instead analyze evidence about their cognitive functions. Staying patient, recognizing biases, and appreciating unique character strengths are vital to accurate typing .

The Enneagram system enhances understanding of a character's stress responses by identifying how different Enneagram types react under pressure. For instance, a character with a 3-6 combo may exhibit paranoia and defensiveness like a 6 when stressed, highlighting insecurity, yet normally display ambition and a need for praise akin to a 3. This dual-type approach provides insight into underlying motivations and behavioral shifts under stress .

An individual's tendency to act on moral instincts rather than detached decisions can be linked to high Introverted Feeling (Fi) and low Introverted Thinking (Te) in their cognitive function stack. This means they prioritize their feelings and moral instincts, being sensitive and empathetic, yet struggle with rationalization or forming detached, factual arguments. Such characters act on what they feel is 'right' rather than on objective reasoning .

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