The Perceiving Function and Human Values

 
Perceiving and Human Values

Distinctions First:

Briggs and Myers believed that Jung implied a fourth set of opposites, so they added it to their interpretion of Jung’s type theory. Judging and Perceiving deal with how we relate to the world around us. They describe an attitude toward the external world and define how we orient ourselves to that world.

Perceiving wants to understand the world, not judge it. It wants to be free to move with whatever comes up. Perceiving wants to collect information and to explore options. Perceiving wants to interact with the extraverted environment in a flexible, spontaneous and adaptable way.

We operate out of a Perceiving attitude when we:

• explore alternatives;
• ask others for infomation;
• postpone a decision to find out what other options are available;
• react spontaneously to new information;
• act comfortably without a plan or schedule;

 

Coda:
There are two pulls within us as decision making people. One is orderly and finalized; the other, as we said earlier, is open ended and flexible. We all have these two pulls within. When we want things settled, we feel the need to make and follow plans. There are also times when we want to go with the flow of things; when we want to wait to decide until we have more information. There are times when we want to explore options. There are times when we want to judge things, and there are times when we want to understand things.

When we are drawn towards Perceiving as a way of dealing with the external world, our natural impulse is to want to postpone decisions, to explore options. We like to find out about things—its often fun to learn something new. We don’t usually have a strong need to do something with the information we collect. We’ve had a good day when we have been busy all day and have reacted effectively to whatever has come up. We become tentative when sharing judgements—we have to be ready to change them when new information comes to hand.

Characteristics associated with people who prefer Perceiving:

• Spontaneous
• Flexible
• Casual
• Open ended
• Adapt, change course
• Like things loose and open to change
• Feel energised by last-minute pressures

Perceiving and Human Values

People who prefer to use their Perceiving process in the outer world like to live in a flexible, spontaneous way, seeking to experience and understand life, rather than control it. Detailed plans and final decisions feel confining to them; they prefer to stay open to new information and last-minute options. They are energised by their resourcefulness in adapting to the demands of the moment.

When Perceiving types are in a leadership role or managing – or parenting – they can be unsettling to judging types who seek a firm decision, a plan, a starting and finishing point for the activity at hand. Judging types, when they respond to Perceiving types, may express frustration, anger and/or a lack of confidence. Perceiving types have an additional task when attending to those under their guidance and leadership: to go the extra mile crossing all the t’s and dotting the i. On the other hand, Perceiving types can bring significant self-awareness, freedom and understanding to those judging types who cannot see options or anything beyond their current problem or predicament.

Perceiving types appreciate the input of others and accept options and opportunities with generosity giving all input a kind of equality and full appreciation. Tolerance for change and harmony accompany the way they create outcomes in the external world. They can have patience, optimism and calm in changing circumstances. Their openness to change and opportunities gives consideration and cooperation toward those they are engaged with. Quest for Knowledge, curiosity, creativity and simplicity mark their relationship to Truth.