Fascinating: Ambivalence, shades of Grey, and Decisiveness

kennyc · 10-01-2010, 08:32 PM

Why So Many People Can't Make Decisions

Seeing the world as black and white, in which choices seem clear, or shades of gray can affect people's path in life, from jobs and relationships to which political candidate they vote for, researchers say. People who often have conflicting feelings about situations—the shades-of-gray thinkers—have more of what psychologists call ambivalence, while those who tend toward unequivocal views have less ambivalence.....

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...704692936.html

pholy · 10-01-2010, 10:36 PM

Carl Jung did a lot of work on personality types, and the dichotomy between Judgers and Perceivers was one of the four dimensions he used. He never made them hard-and-fast categories, nevertheless the Meyers-Briggs Personality Types was developed following his insights. Judgers tend to quick decisions, and may even be uncomfortable with ambiguity. Perceivers tend to the opposite, wanting to know everything before deciding, in the worst cases. In more average cases, they recognize that perfect knowledge is impossible, and get on with life anyway. It's not that we can't make decisions, it's just that we don't (want to) make them as fast as the Judgers want us to.

GraceKrispy · 10-01-2010, 11:21 PM

I'm ambivalent about that article.

ardeegee · 10-02-2010, 12:42 AM

This came out last year (I have it, but have never gotten around to reading it, so no vouching for it.)

http://www.amazon.com/How-We-Decide-.../dp/0618620117

nohmi2 · 10-02-2010, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pholy

Carl Jung did a lot of work on personality types, and the dichotomy between Judgers and Perceivers was one of the four dimensions he used. He never made them hard-and-fast categories, nevertheless the Meyers-Briggs Personality Types was developed following his insights. Judgers tend to quick decisions, and may even be uncomfortable with ambiguity. Perceivers tend to the opposite, wanting to know everything before deciding, in the worst cases. In more average cases, they recognize that perfect knowledge is impossible, and get on with life anyway. It's not that we can't make decisions, it's just that we don't (want to) make them as fast as the Judgers want us to.

Going on that description; I am a Perceiver.

Cheers

kennyc · 10-02-2010, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraceKrispy

I'm ambivalent about that article.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardeegee

This came out last year (I have it, but have never gotten around to reading it, so no vouching for it.)

http://www.amazon.com/How-We-Decide-.../dp/0618620117

I remember seeing that and almost buying it....thanks for the reminder...

kennyc · 10-02-2010, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nohmi2

Going on that description; I am a Perceiver.

Cheers

Per M/B I'm an INTJ (or almost an INFJ)....

nohmi2 · 10-02-2010, 07:43 AM

I believe that a crises can bring out a strength and quick thinking in us that we did not even realize we had.

FizzyWater · 10-02-2010, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Per M/B I'm an INTJ (or almost an INFJ)....

Me too! (At least, I was when I was younger and more idealistic - I wonder if I took it again how I'd measure up)...

kennyc · 10-02-2010, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Me too! (At least, I was when I was younger and more idealistic - I wonder if I took it again how I'd measure up)...

Well, they claim it doesn't change and that has been true in my experience. I've taking a couple of different versions of the test at different times and got almost identical results.

Fledchen · 10-03-2010, 09:11 AM

I must be weird. I'm pretty harshly judgmental of what actions or beliefs I believe are wrong, but generally uncertain of what is or would be the right thing in that situation. It's not a pleasant state to be in, but cognitive dissonance is rarely a desirable state.

10-01-2010, 08:32 PM	#1
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Fascinating: Ambivalence, shades of Grey, and Decisiveness Why So Many People Can't Make Decisions Seeing the world as black and white, in which choices seem clear, or shades of gray can affect people's path in life, from jobs and relationships to which political candidate they vote for, researchers say. People who often have conflicting feelings about situations—the shades-of-gray thinkers—have more of what psychologists call ambivalence, while those who tend toward unequivocal views have less ambivalence..... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...704692936.html

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10-01-2010, 10:36 PM	#2
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	Carl Jung did a lot of work on personality types, and the dichotomy between Judgers and Perceivers was one of the four dimensions he used. He never made them hard-and-fast categories, nevertheless the Meyers-Briggs Personality Types was developed following his insights. Judgers tend to quick decisions, and may even be uncomfortable with ambiguity. Perceivers tend to the opposite, wanting to know everything before deciding, in the worst cases. In more average cases, they recognize that perfect knowledge is impossible, and get on with life anyway. It's not that we can't make decisions, it's just that we don't (want to) make them as fast as the Judgers want us to.

10-01-2010, 11:21 PM	#3
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	I'm ambivalent about that article.

10-02-2010, 12:42 AM	#4
ardeegee Maratus speciosus butt Posts: 3,292 Karma: 1162698 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	This came out last year (I have it, but have never gotten around to reading it, so no vouching for it.) http://www.amazon.com/How-We-Decide-.../dp/0618620117

10-02-2010, 07:43 AM	#8
nohmi2 Pensively observing. Posts: 1,758 Karma: 12675456 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Varied.	I believe that a crises can bring out a strength and quick thinking in us that we did not even realize we had.

10-03-2010, 09:11 AM	#11
Fledchen Guru Posts: 663 Karma: 84658 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Minnesota, USA Device: PB360+, Sony950, VR Stream, iPod Touch, iPad	I must be weird. I'm pretty harshly judgmental of what actions or beliefs I believe are wrong, but generally uncertain of what is or would be the right thing in that situation. It's not a pleasant state to be in, but cognitive dissonance is rarely a desirable state.