The Feeling Function and Human Values

 
Feeling and Human Values

Clarifying Options:

How we make decisions is based on the information we take in. We have preferences for deciding: one by logical analysis and another by way of our values, and the impact any decision making will have on other people.

This can be difficult to grasp, for part of the problem is Jung’s choice of words. Thinking to most of us suggests reasoning; feeling suggests emotions.

Jung meant something quite different. He recognized that human beings have the capacity to make decisions based on reason. He believed that he could identify two quite dissimilar decision processes. One—feeling—is based on personal values. Feeling is a person-centered, value-based way of forming conclusions. It is a process that, as Jung said, “arranges things according to their value”. This leads to a conclusion to which this sentence can be added: “It matters, and that’s all I need to know.”

We use a feeling process (for decisions) when we:

• decide that our friends are more important than the reputation of a University and use that criteria to decide which University we will go to;
• stay within the speed limit on the street and highway because we care more about not getting a speeding ticket;
• decide not to tell someone we don’t like what they are doing because what matters more to us is to avoid upsetting them;
• decide not to buy a car on account of its colour scheme, inside and out;
• vote in an election on the basis of liking the party or liking the candidate;

 
The common thread in each of the above examples is the weighing of values. The key question in all of these examples is “Which value should guide the decision-making process?”

Coda:
People who prefer to use “feeling” in decision making prefer seeing things in personal and subjective terms. So they are sensitive to their own and other’s feelings. They may, in fact, miss some of the impersonal content of a situation or a discussion because they have focussed strongly on the impact a decision has on themselves, and on other people.

Characteristics associated with people who prefer Feeling:

• Empathetic
• Guided by personal values
• Assess the impact of decisions on people
• Strive for harmony and positive interactions
• Compassionate
• May appear to be “tender-hearted”
• Fair—want everyone treated as an individual

The Feeling Function and Human Values

People who prefer to use Feeling in decision making like to consider what is important to them and to others involved. They mentally place themselves into the situationm, to identify with everyone so they can make decisions based on their values about honouring people. They are energised by appreciating and supporting others and look for qualities to praise. Their goal is to create harmony and treat each person as a unique individual.

Feeling types attend to welfare: the welfare of a person, their needs, their capacity, their benefit. They look to the outcome of events seeking harmony and what is fair for all. Feeling types will communicate their decisions – particularly to their children – on what is fair for them and for everyone else. Feeling types will not give in to selfish demands nor spoil children. They will explain their values in a very clear manner.

Some people point to Feeling types and accuse them of namby-pamby attitudes. Attitudes are built on beliefs, actions and personal values. These take precedence over hijacking, ghosting and dog-whistling others. They know the inner hurts of abuse, peer pressure, discrimination, cancel culture and lack of trust. Integrity to Feeling types is like the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto your own self.