Evolution of the Jung's Typology and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - White Paper

©2013 Anne Dranitsaris, PhD., & Heather Dranitsaris-Hilliard Striving Styles® Personality System

www.StrivingStyles.com

Striving Styles®

Personality

System

The Next Evolution of Jung’s

Typology and the Myers-

Briggs Type Indicator®

More than 100 years from the inception of Jung’s Psychological

Type Theory and 70 years after the release of the Myers-Briggs

Type Indicator, the Striving Styles Personality System is the

next step in this evolutionary process. It is a complete

assessment and development system that is based in the

neurobiology of personality development. It incorporates the

pioneering work of experts in brain functioning and

development as well as emotional intelligence.

Like Myers & Briggs, another mother and daughter team, Anne

Dranitsaris, Ph.D. and Heather Dranitsaris-Hilliard, have

created the Striving Styles to show people the true mechanics

of their minds, so they can direct how it functions and how they

feel -- as Jung intended with his work!

The SSPS®: An Evolution of Jung’s Psychological Type and the MBTI

©2013 Anne Dranitsaris, PhD. & Heather Dranitsaris-Hilliard Page 2 of 14 Striving Styles® Personality System | www.StrivingStyles.com

Jung theorized that

there are four

principal psychological

functions by which we

experience the world:

sensation, intuition,

feeling, and thinking.

One of these four

functions is dominant

and we use it most of

the time. It is used in

either an inwardly or

outwardly fashion.

This paper discusses the Striving Styles® Personality System as the

third step in the evolution of psychological type theory and its many

applications. It builds on Jung’s theory as well as the pioneering work of

Myers, Briggs and all of the practitioners that have contributed to the body

of knowledge surrounding the MBTI®. In addition, it integrates the work of

top theorists of the 20th and 21st centuries, on psychological development

and emotional intelligence, as well as recent findings from neuroscience. It

shows how psychological functions are embedded in our physiology and

linked to our emotions. Most importantly, it gives people the wisdom and

power they need to self-actualize by re-patterning their brains.

The Theory: Jung’s Psychological

Type Theory

Psychological type is a theory of personality developed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl

Jung to explain the innate differences in the behaviors, choices and forms of

expression in healthy people. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Jung not only

investigated psychological disorders or mental illness, but attempted to determine

the basis for healthy psychological order in the human psyche. Jung inferred that

people operate from different psychological frameworks and orientations, which

are identifiable through observation and that we have physiological, inborn

preferences for processing our experiences and interacting with the world.

Jung opened new ways of thinking about people and

the behaviors with which people would respond in

normal circumstances. He described behavioral

predictability and provided a way to make reasonable

assessments about people’s differences in ideas,

responses, and behaviors. He theorized that we have

four different “functions” in our consciousness, and

that the four functions are on two polar scales; two

functions for “perceiving” (or gathering information),

and two functions for “judging” (or making decisions).

Jung also believed that individuals have a preference

for using one of the functions on each of the scales, and

that it seemed like one of these two functions will be



The Myers-Briggs Type

Indicator is a

psychometric

questionnaire

designed to measure

inborn, psychological

preferences in how

people gather

information & make

decisions, inferred

from Jung’s typology

theory.

favored the most. He also theorized that people used these functions in either an

extraverted or outwardly-directed fashion, or an introverted or inwardly directed

fashion. He referred to the directional aspect as “attitudes in consciousness.”

Based on this model, Jung defined eight different functional patterns of

behavior, or “types” with predictable patterns of behavior.

Jung described the behaviors and motivations of these eight different functions in

his book, Psychological Types (1921), through characterizations of people who

habitually prefer one pattern over another – his “eight types.” Jung's theory of

psychological types attempts to categorize people in terms of their primary modes

of psychological/mental functioning, assuming that we all have different functions

and attitudes of consciousness.

The Assessment: Myers-Briggs Type

Indicator

The MBTI was the first effective tool for sorting the eight Jungian functions into

the most to least favorite. It was created by Isabel Briggs-Myers and her mother,

Katherine Briggs in the early 1940s to make Jung’s theory useful for a more

mainstream audience.

The original focus of the assessment was careers, as Briggs tried to help

people select occupations that were best suited to their personality types

during and following WWII. She believed this would help them lead

healthier, happier lives.

Myers and Briggs created the MBTI based on four

dichotomous scales, adding two new scales -

Extroversion/Introversion and Judging/Perceiving - to

Jung’s original two function scales (judging functions:

Thinking and Feeling, and perceiving functions:

Intuition and Sensing) to make their psychometric

instrument work.

As well, they replaced psychological type with

personality type to make it palatable to people of that

time. The MBTI soon found its place in organizations,

because unlike Jung’s theory, it did not discuss emotions

or mental dysfunctions, or use other psychological

words that would cause it to be rejected.



In the MBTI language, there are four dichotomous scales rather than the two

that Jung identified. This differed from Jung’s language, which identified the

attitude the function operated in, and the mental process of the function.

While Jung identified 8 psychological types, the MBTI identifies 16 personality types.

Myers and Briggs, the authors of the test, was determined to make

Jung’s Psychological Type theory useable in daily life. To do this, they

departed from Jung in some significant ways. Jung’s Theory

incorporated the notion of development and individuation, however, the

MBTI did not. It is solely a psychometric instrument.

The body of research and writing that gives credibility to the MBTI is

based on the ongoing contributions of psychologists, consultants,

coaches, trainers and facilitators who have integrated it into training

and development programs, counseling, career counseling, leadership,

team and employee development, culture, etc. The success of the

application of the results of the MBTI is dependent upon their programs.

Adapting Jung’s Theory & the MBTI to

Advances in Neuroscience

Jung believed we have four mental functions in consciousness, meaning that our

brain has four distinct areas in which these functions are located. During Jung’s

lifetime, his theory was impossible to prove, as the technological advances that

allow us to look at the brain to see how it lights up when the functions are used

simply did not exist. However, we now have this information available to us and

pioneers like Katherine Benziger, Arlene Taylor and others have endeavored to

connect Jung’s functions with brain functions.

As the SSPS incorporates the neuroscience of personality and brain

development, it allows us to leverage what we have learned through the

MBTI. As a result, we can now enhance our ability to understand and

help others achieve their potential.

Jung did not have access to brain specialization research, as it had not yet taken

place during his lifetime. As a result, he compared the four functions as being:



“…somewhat like the four points of the compass; they are just as arbitrary and just as

indispensable. Nothing prevents our shifting the cardinal points as many degrees as

we like in one direction or the other, or giving them different names….”

(C.G. Jung, Psychological Types)

The work that has been done by people such as Roger Sperry and Ned Hermann

show us that the brain has two hemispheres with two areas of specialization on

each hemisphere. This results in four quadrants. Rather than the points on the

compass, we have the four quadrants of the

brain, each with their own role to play in our

personality and in consciousness. While Jung

believed they were opposite – and they can

appear that way – each specialized function

is necessary for us to achieve our potential

as human beings.

As we now have learned, our brain is

neurally wired to use one brain function

over the others. The functions are also wired

to communicate with each other over time.

The functions are a physiological reality, and

studies by Dr. Arlene Taylor have supported Jung’s hypothesis that we can

experience energy depletion and fatigue when we use our other mental functions

for too long. Jung went so far as to say that it could be psychologically detrimental

to our well being when our environment does not support us in the use of our

dominant function; he called this “falsification of type.”

Now that we have embraced the developments in brain specialization

and dominance and incorporated them into the SSPS, people are now

able to gain more insight into how their brains work and take charge of

their own development.

Finally, everyone dedicated to using Jung’s Psychological Type theory, the

MBTI and other Jungian sorters can integrate the advantages of brain

science and neuroplasticity. With the SSPS, personality type becomes

something that everyone must know about, not just a fun activity, or

something comparable to astrology.



Jung’s intention was to help people by recognizing the complexity of

human psychology. Through the Striving Styles, we hope to facilitate

Jung’s Theory of Psychological Type to meet its own potential by

illuminating the dynamic nature of the mind and consciousness.

Incorporating advances in neuroscience and brain development and

linking back to Jung’s theory of mental functions, the Striving Styles

provides a complete understanding of the mechanics of the mind and

how the brain is organized for each of the eight psychological types or

Striving Styles.

The SSPS allows us to go beyond sorting Jung’s functions with an

assessment tool as it is a comprehensive assessment and development

system, with a Roadmap for Development that provides a step-by-step

approach for achieving potential by integrating the four functions of the

brain based on the specific needs of each Striving Style.

SSPS: Time for an Evolution!

It’s time for us to build on the knowledge base of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

and to show people the true mechanics of their minds, so they can direct how it

functions and how they feel -- as Jung intended with his work. If we understand

the brain, particularly our own brain, we can direct and influence how it functions

and how we feel.

The Striving Styles brings Jung's eight psychological types to life, connecting each

type to the psychological need that must be met to ensure the well-being and

growth of the individual. Each of the eight Striving Styles has its own unique

qualities based on the quadrant of the brain it resides in. These qualities are

obvious to others, in the way they behave, communicate and relate. The distinct

talents, abilities and behaviors of each of the Striving Styles ensure that they get

their predominant need met.

The SSPS is based on the assertion that each of us is born with a

predominant need and pattern of energy (Striving Style) that determines

how we will behave in order to get that need met.



With this neuro-psychological framework, practitioners quickly get to the heart of

what is driving client behavior so they can expedite their development and

behavioral change. Understanding the function of the part of the brain that each

Style originates from, and what its predominant need is, enables us to identify how

clients will behave at their most confident and when they feel threatened. It also

shows which situations will satisfy the Style’s need and which will thwart it.

Unlike the MBTI, the Striving Styles isn’t just about sorting preferences and giving

you a four letter code. It is a user-friendly system, taking Jung’s functions and

evolving them into characters that are so simple that even children can identify

and use them.

“Our ten year old grand-daughter / niece, a Socializer Striving

Style, knows that if she isn’t connected to friends or spends too

much time on her own, she becomes manipulative in order to get

attention. She can see that when she is only focused on her need to

connect with others, that other areas of her life suffer. She could

not understand the Jungian language of extraverted feeling or

introverted intuition – in our experience, neither do most people.

The most exciting thing about the SSPS is that it is easy to get to

know, easy to understand, and easy to apply.” – Anne & Heather



Each of us has four quadrants in our brain that are meant to work in an

integrated fashion. We call it your ‘Striving Style Squad’.

Neuroscience has shown that when this integration does not happen, we become

rigid and inflexible in thought and action. It also shows that it leads to physical and

mental illness, including dementia (Alzheimer’s). The SSPS teaches how to use all

four functions of the brain in a step-by-step approach to development leading to a

healthy brain and self-actualizing human being.

Getting to know each of the Striving Styles goes hand in hand with getting to know

your brain. This makes it easy for clients to recognize what quadrant of the brain

they are acting from and to be able to shift. They learn what makes them tick,

including information on the part of the brain where their Predominant Style is

located, and what types of activities it is therefore oriented toward. It helps them

understand their relationship style, which includes aspects of their

communication style, and their social and emotional orientation.

Most importantly, it teaches them about their need satisfiers, which includes the

“must have” activities that satisfy their predominant need, how they are likely to

behave if they are self-protective and how they behave if they are self-actualizing.



With the SSPS, we can go below the surface, to get in and talk about

emotions and defensive behavior. SSPS Practitioner training teaches

those skilled with using the MBTI the mechanics of the mind, how the

brain works and how behavior is a result of an attempt to satisfy

psychological needs.

It’s exciting to think that those who are working with the development of

personality can now increase their awareness of the brain, personality

development, defenses and emotions through the Striving Styles.

The Need for a Neuro-Psychological

Approach

We now know so much about the brain and emotional maturation. Most working

with human development have fallen behind neuroscience and psychology in

terms of the approaches being used to help people develop. Jung’s theory of

psychological type is still as relevant as ever as it can now be connected to brain

lateralization theory and brain physiology. When integrated with an

understanding of psychological need and brain development, it gives us the key to

expediting development and unlocking human potential.

The Striving Styles Personality System is the first, comprehensive, neuro-

psychological framework for learning how a person’s cognitive functions are

organized in their brain and which of the functions is hard wired from birth to be

used to meet the psychological needs of the self. It shows how behavior is used to

get the need of the function met.

The SSPS is a way of understanding the more dynamic and interpersonal

aspects of an individual’s personality and how their needs and emotions

cause shifts in behavior.

The Striving Styles is a complete development system that that incorporates Jung’s

Psychological Type Theory, Emotional and Social Intelligence, Needs Theory,

Mindfulness and the latest advances in brain development and neuroplasticity as

it relates to emotional development. It provides people with a structured and

systematic approach to developing the quadrants of the brain and the integration

of the functions – just as Jung intended.



Using recent findings in how the human brain develops during the lifespan, it

shows the stages of development of our three brains based on Roger Sperry’s

Triune Brain Theory (instinctual, emotional and rational) and how failures in

childhood nurturing and

environmental factors can lead

to maladaptive patterns of

behavior in adulthood. It states

that these maladaptive patterns

of behavior are emotionally

driven and get in the way of

brain development and

achieving one’s potential.

It promotes the premise that

automatic maladaptive patterns of behavior that get the predominant need met

and ensure psychological survival will get in the way of development. It states that

these maladaptive behavioral patterns can be changed and new neural pathways

in the brain can be laid as a result of choosing different behaviors and having

different experiences.

In other words, by understanding the psychological need that must be

met, individuals can consciously seek to meet their predominant need in

their work, relationships and leisure activities. This increases self-

awareness and self-mastery, putting people in the “driver’s seat” in their

lives and helping them actively develop their true potential, rather than

simply surviving.

Not Just an Assessment

\

We know that assessment is only the first step. The SSPS provides

individuals with a step-by-step guide for developing their brain, their

personality and their potential.

Development of the personality and changing behavior is possible but it’s not as

easy as swallowing a pill or having an “A-ha” moment. Our brains are capable of

changing from emotionally-driven automatic behaviors, to creating new patterns

of behavior and new pathways in the brain. Rather than just a list of tips and



things to do, the SSPS Developmental Framework focuses on brain development

and emotional maturation.

Building on the work of pioneers in emotional and social intelligence such as

Daniel Goleman and Daniel Siegel, the Developmental Framework teaches

individuals how they grow and mature emotionally. It includes five essential

building blocks needed for people to become who they are meant to be, based on

their own innate brain organization. Each of the building blocks helps them to:

work through barriers to growth; mature their emotions, and change reactive

habits of mind. The Framework provides individuals and practitioners alike with

all the tools needed for emotional and relational development.

The SSPS’ comprehensive Roadmap for

Development lets individuals chart a course for their

own development by helping them first to

understand how their brain is organized and what

part of their brain they need to develop. It also shows

how unmet needs cause shifts in behavior that get in

the way of achieving a person’s goals and, most

importantly, what they can do about it.

As a complete system for development, the SSPS

uniquely offers practitioners a clear path for

facilitating client development based on brain

organization. It allows practitioners to generate a

roadmap for their clients' growth based on

understanding the more dynamic aspects of their

brain, emotions, behavior, and personality. It

provides them with the activities and experiences

necessary in order for their client to repattern their

brain for sustained behavioral change.



The Striving Styles Personality System was developed by Toronto-based

clinical psychotherapist, corporate therapist and author, Anne

Dranitsaris, PhD, and her business partner, Heather Dranitsaris-

Hilliard, a sought-after speaker and expert in organizational

development and behavioral change.

Like Myers and Briggs, Anne and Heather are also a mother and

daughter team who have more than 50 years of combined experience

helping clients to develop to their full potential and working with leaders

in organizations to alleviate dysfunctions and bring about behavioral

change.

They bring a unique perspective to the nature vs. nurture debate. At

birth, Heather was given up for adoption by Anne. They reunited 27

years later to find they were both working to help people to achieve their

potential – just in different forums. They started their first business

three years later and have been working together ever since.

Creators of the SSPS

Having spent many years using the MBTI in our work with individuals as well as

organizations, we knew first hand its limitations. We started using other

assessments in combination with the MBTI as part of our development programs

aimed at creating significant behavioral change. We found ourselves building

customized reports for clients to help them to really understand the drivers of

their behavior and the self-protective strategies being used as a result of their

needs and emotions. For many, this was cost prohibitive, leaving them without the

tools they needed to break patterns of behavior that were getting in the way.

In 2007, our belief in the need for something

that would help people to really understand

why they behave the way they do led us to

create an assessment and development

system of our own with the same type of

substantial reports we had been customizing

for our clients. We had conducted an

exhaustive search and could not find an

assessment or approach that was inclusive

of a developmental framework or that would truly shed light on what was behind



the behavior which was seemingly counter to what was in a person's best

interests. We wanted something that would be useful for our clients in a range of

applications, as well as for ourselves, in our own lives, as well as for our children.

We wanted a system that considered the full human experience —

emotions, behavior and personality – and showed people how to develop.

Using the most up-to-date research on how different parts of the brain function

and the role of emotions in learning and development, we combined this

information with Psychological Type, Needs and Brain Dominance theories, and

Mindfulness – amongst others - to create the Striving Styles Personality System, or

SSPS. After using the system successfully in our consulting business and personal

lives, we decided to bring the Striving Styles to a wider human development

practitioner market as well as to the general public.

The Striving Styles brings Jung's eight psychological types

to life, connecting each Style to the psychological need that

must be met. With this neuro-psychological framework, you

quickly get to the heart of what is driving behavior so you

can expedite development. The Striving Styles Personality

System provides individuals and practitioners alike with a

way to easily understand and leverage brain functioning.

It provides people with the specific tools to re-cast

their motivations and re-pattern their brains, and to consciously influence

how they behave in order to live happy, successful and fulfilled lives.

“We are excited to bring the SSPS to the market and to continue to use Jung’s

psychological types, as well as enhance the use of the MBTI. There are so many out

there who could benefit personally and professionally. It is our deepest hope that the

Striving Styles Personality System will fill the void, helping people to stop adapting

and begin to pursue their own path to becoming who they are meant to be.”

- Anne & Heather -

Learn more about the Striving Styles and how to put this powerful neuro-

psychological framework for development and achieving potential to work for

you or your clients. Build on your knowledge of personality type, and enhance

your ability to develop others by becoming a Striving Styles Qualified

Practitioner. Leverage our consulting expertise for your organization.



MBTI®, Myers-Briggs, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the MBTI® logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of the MBTI Trust, Inc., in the United States and other countries, and are used under license.

Striving Styles®, SSPS, Who Are You Meant to Be? and the SSPS logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sage, Kahuna Enterprises Inc. in Canada, the United States and other countries.

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Evolution of the Jung's Typology and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - White Paper