Sarah Palin; Trojan Horse?

Here's an amusing article. I especially enjoyed it because it includes a phony and bogus personality profile, purportedly based on Jungian personality theory, as measured by the Myers, Briggs Type Indicator(MBTI), a psychological inventory which I am trained, approved and qualified to administer and interpret. I have used it in my consulting practice for almost twenty years.

Though it's a tongue in cheek assessment of Palin it appears to attempt a plausible interpretation of her ESFJ type, one of sixteen types into which the MBTI sorts an inventory of personality preferences, as measured by responses to about one hundred questions.

The piece has at least two fallacies, which I strongly suspect are known to the writer. One, he labels Palin an ESFJ, an Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging type, by observing her behavior, not actual responses to the MBTI. But it's a tongue in cheek evaluation, not meant to be a serious, scientific interpretation. Second, the behavior of Palin as an ESFJ type as described by the writer is quite negative, unattractive and problematic, not the behavior of an ESFJ at his or her best.

Clearly the writer, a Salon.com advice columnist, is making a biased judgment. An authentic personality profile of an ESFJ as measured by responses to the MBTI emphasizes positive behaviors associated with that type.

For example, I have a good friend, the pastor of the church I attend, who is an ESFJ, as actually measured by her responses to the MBTI and her agreement that it is an accurate assessment of her preferences. When she is at her best, she is outgoing, down to earth and practical, warm and positive in her relationships and uses her judgment and organizational skills for the benefit of those on her staff, in her congregation and in the community at large.

Had the writer actually meant his interpretation to be taken seriously he would likely be castigated by people knowledgable about the MBTI, and ridiculed as a Charlatan.

But he's having fun ridiculing Palin. Nobody deserves it more.

Leanderthal, Lighthouse Keeper