ABSTRACT
Our psychological type plays a huge part in our satisfaction (or lack thereof) regarding experiences of work; also in our changing attitudes to work across the lifespan. This chapter explains the basics and evolution of CG Jung’s theory of psychological type, which forms the basis of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a widely used personality instrument in vocational counselling. Four dimensions or dichotomies of psychological type are outlined: Energy/Attitude (Extraversion or Introversion); Perceiving function (Sensation or Intuition); Judging function (Thinking or Feeling) and Orientation or attitude to the outer world (Judging or Perceiving). Extensive data exists linking psychological type with career-suitability. Typology also helps us understand individual differences; the ideological differences between Jung and Freud may be attributed to their psychological type preferences. Approaches to career development and vocational guidance tend to reflect Western culture’s bias towards Extraversion, Thinking and Sensation over Introversion, Feeling and Intuition. Individuals with a psychological preference for Intuition will readily grasp and feel validated by depth psychology’s symbolic approach to vocation and calling, which values the unconscious and imaginative potential. Nevertheless, an approach to vocational guidance and career development using metaphor and symbol may be helpful for people of every psychological type.
