While I recognize ever more the limitations of the MBTI matrix as a description for real individuals - so much individualizing information is necessarily unaccounted for and it seems clear to me that we have "ranges" and tendencies (based on strength of each variable) rather than ironclad types, though it makes it harder to predict others - the INTP in me relishes the relationships that can be inferred within the context of the matrix. Really, just because the functions change with combinations of attributes does not mean people can't exhibit more than one combination on different occassions. We are complex beings.

An idea of which I am particularly fond is that if Keirsey temperaments may be understood as intelligence orientations, a pattern of sub-orientations appears to emerge within each temperament.

keirsey.com/matrix.html
keirsey.com/personality/nt.html
keirsey.com/personality/nf.html
keirsey.com/personality/sp.html
keirsey.com/personality/sj.html

It's important to realize that the temperaments are based on the generalization of tendencies toward "abstractness" versus "concreteness" or intuitive versus sensorial direction of attention and communication (N/S) and cooperative versus utilitarian implementation of goals (NF, SJ v. NT, SP).


From there, an area of skill or intelligence is defined (reasonably well, I think) in the following categories:

Guardians: Logistical Provision (Concrete-Cooperative)
Artisans: Tactical Variation (Concrete-Utilitarian)
Idealists: Diplomatic Integration (Abstract-Cooperative)
Rationals: Strategic Analysis (Abstract-Utilitarian)

These categories are further divided by T/F for Sensorial Temperaments and P/J for Intuitives into (introverts and extroverts are in the same categories):

Guardians: T-Administrators, F-Conservators
Artisans: T-Operators, F-Entertainers
Idealists: P-Advocates, J-Mentors
Rationals: P-Engineers, J-Coordinators

Now - I find colors to be helpful in the next step. These are somewhat arbitrary - as are the type names, but they are the way I learned them. I will subdivide the types in each temperament into subtemperament based on skill or intelligence attributes. Remember that I'm only hypothesizing each particularly type is a __(blank)__ type of _(insert Temperament)_ intelligence/skill.

* Guardians ("Gold") - seeks DUTY/Security
Supervisor ESTJ (Orange-Gold, or Tactical V. of Logistic P.)
Inspector ISTJ (Green-Gold, or Strategic A. of Logistic P.)
Provider ESFJ (Blue-Gold, or Diplomatic I. of Logistic P.)
Protector ISFJ (Gold-Gold, or Logistic P. of Logistic P.)

* Artisans ("Orange") seeks FREEDOM/Sensation
Promoter ESTP (Orange-Orange, or Tactical V. of Tactical V.)
Crafter ISTP (Green-Orange, or Strategic A. of Tactical V.)
Performer ESFP (Gold-Orange, or Logistic P. of Tactical V.)
Composer ISFP (Blue-Orange, or Diplomatic I. of Tactical V.)

* Idealists ("Blue") seeks HARMONY/Identity
Teacher ENFJ (Gold-Blue, or Logistic P. of Diplomatic I.)
Counselor INFJ (Green-Blue, or Strategic A. of Diplomatic I.)
Champion ENFP (Orange-Blue, or Tactical V. of Strategic I.)
Healer INFP (Blue-Blue, or Diplomatic I. of Diplomatic I.)

* Rationals ("Green") seeks EXCELLENCE/Knowledge
Fieldmarshal ENTJ (Blue-Green, or Diplomatic I. of Strategic A.)
Mastermind INTJ (Gold-Green, or Logistic P. of Strategic A.)
Inventor ENTP (Green-Green, or Strategic A. of Strategic A.)
Architect INTP (Orange-Green, or Tactical V. of Strategic A.)


The reiterative ones iNFp, iSfJ, eStP, and eNTp I think of as hypertemperaments. The hardest ones for me to distinguish were INTP and ENTP - I couldn't tell for a while which would be Orange-Green and which Green-Green, until I looked at what the temperaments sought and realised the compensatory narscisism associated with an extreme ENTP ("look how many books I wrote!") is really a breakneck striving for excellence, while the schiziod hermitude of an extreme INTP is really a desire for freedom (from people, distractions, even outcomes or uses of information) in the quest for a "universal" mastery (ok, really just familiarity) of knowledge or systems.

INTJs are truly strange brew, as are any of the types whose subtemperaments have the exact opposite attributes (N/S, C,U)as those of their main temperaments. I see some of the promient INTJs as laying the intellectual foundations for the kind of excellence they admire, and some as driving through a development that was extremely important to them. Honestly, I only have had strong INTJ tendencies in two projects during my lifetime as-of-yet (the complete revision of a dysfunctional Student Government into an inclusive and project-oriented Student Leadership Council and the development of a MetaBrain Growth Process, which I may prove to be my life's work).

I saw other patterns when I was heavily into this stuff last winter, but none are nearly as interesting. The MBTI system, for all its flaws and limitations, has helped me understand and appreciate different kinds of people.

Feel free to post and reactions or new perspectives on the topic of MBTI systematicity!