I refer to this as "conditioned' conventional thinking' which really isn't thinking, but reflexive reacting. A few months ago I saw a brief video that discussed the sensory perceiving personality and the intuitive perceiving personality. About 75% of the population tends to have a sensory perceivering personality. Among other tendencies, 'sensors' tend to trust traditional authority, they tend not to question authority, and they tend not to read between the lines, or the lies. They also tend not to connect the dots, probably because they don't see the dots.
Those who tend to be 'intuitive' comprise about 25% of the population. They question authority, distrust authority, and read between the lies. They tend to connect the dots and see patterns that can be missed when one is focused upon the senses, not a bigger picture.
I will look for it. It was on YouTube. It was almost as though I was led to viewing it. In the past couple of years, I've been intrigued by the Myers-Briggs personality assessment tendencies, and an unassuming female used normal verbiage to explain the various differences between these two personality tendencies.
I posted a column on Substack discussing this in greater detail. I've been working Advance Voting the past two weeks and prior to that, I walked a bit for one of the few politicians I trust, so I haven't been active on Substack, except to post comments on others' columns.
I guess I’d wonder as a conformist how did you fit in? Were you really one or were you just going along to get along? There is a difference. Maybe you didn’t know any better. I was in high school in 1972 when I realized how divergent I was from everyone else. But my attitude was one of who cares? I wasn’t easily swayed by peer pressure. I should say I WASN’T swayed by peer pressure EVER.
I was at a bible camp once. There was a veterinarian there that had some bull balls that he was going to fry and make available to the “men” in the camp. I was lambasted and made fun of and pretty much treated like an outcast because I simply would not eat fried bull balls. I told them as individuals, as they chided me, how about we step outside and put aside where we are and see who comes out on top? My attitude was KMA, I’m not eating bull balls. PERIOD!
While people have tendencies, I believe people can change. First, a person needs to realize he/she needs to change. Also, changing one's focus can lead to change. I've always been a bit of a non-conformist, but being in the 25% group, I would have people te
ll me I couldn't think and believe as I did. I still do.
The difference between "then" and "now" is that I have a better understanding of people's personalities. I understand that many people will never connect the dots; they don't see the dots to connect. They focus upon details; I focus upon viewing issues from above the treeline. We need both types of personalities. I'm amazed that people are gifted with a penchant for details. I was in sales and I had to learn how to overcome my aversion to details. I preferred painting pictures of benefits.
Great article Mark. I noticed this way back in high school in the late 60s. But you have captured it in words so clearly. Thank you for publishing it here.
I refer to this as "conditioned' conventional thinking' which really isn't thinking, but reflexive reacting. A few months ago I saw a brief video that discussed the sensory perceiving personality and the intuitive perceiving personality. About 75% of the population tends to have a sensory perceivering personality. Among other tendencies, 'sensors' tend to trust traditional authority, they tend not to question authority, and they tend not to read between the lines, or the lies. They also tend not to connect the dots, probably because they don't see the dots.
Those who tend to be 'intuitive' comprise about 25% of the population. They question authority, distrust authority, and read between the lies. They tend to connect the dots and see patterns that can be missed when one is focused upon the senses, not a bigger picture.
Do you have a link to that video? Very interesting view and apparently one that makes sense of the mess we are in.
I will look for it. It was on YouTube. It was almost as though I was led to viewing it. In the past couple of years, I've been intrigued by the Myers-Briggs personality assessment tendencies, and an unassuming female used normal verbiage to explain the various differences between these two personality tendencies.
I posted a column on Substack discussing this in greater detail. I've been working Advance Voting the past two weeks and prior to that, I walked a bit for one of the few politicians I trust, so I haven't been active on Substack, except to post comments on others' columns.
Is it possible for a conformist to later in life become and intuitive? Or are we hopelessly locked into position for a lifetime.
I guess I’d wonder as a conformist how did you fit in? Were you really one or were you just going along to get along? There is a difference. Maybe you didn’t know any better. I was in high school in 1972 when I realized how divergent I was from everyone else. But my attitude was one of who cares? I wasn’t easily swayed by peer pressure. I should say I WASN’T swayed by peer pressure EVER.
I was at a bible camp once. There was a veterinarian there that had some bull balls that he was going to fry and make available to the “men” in the camp. I was lambasted and made fun of and pretty much treated like an outcast because I simply would not eat fried bull balls. I told them as individuals, as they chided me, how about we step outside and put aside where we are and see who comes out on top? My attitude was KMA, I’m not eating bull balls. PERIOD!
Marc,
While people have tendencies, I believe people can change. First, a person needs to realize he/she needs to change. Also, changing one's focus can lead to change. I've always been a bit of a non-conformist, but being in the 25% group, I would have people te
ll me I couldn't think and believe as I did. I still do.
The difference between "then" and "now" is that I have a better understanding of people's personalities. I understand that many people will never connect the dots; they don't see the dots to connect. They focus upon details; I focus upon viewing issues from above the treeline. We need both types of personalities. I'm amazed that people are gifted with a penchant for details. I was in sales and I had to learn how to overcome my aversion to details. I preferred painting pictures of benefits.
Great article Mark. I noticed this way back in high school in the late 60s. But you have captured it in words so clearly. Thank you for publishing it here.
I captured Bob's words along with my comments. Thank you for the input.
Far more conformists. The people who lined up for vaccines was proof of how many there are. I will never be one of them.