Listening Critique 2

COMM 470

Due Date: April 25, 2006

Grade: 30 points

The Listening Critique assignments are short papers designed to have you share what you have learned about listening this semester. Here are general guidelines for the Listening Critiques:

· Write a short, 3-5 page critique addressing the items or answering the questions/issues below (A “page” is defined as 1” margins all around, a 12-point, non-proportional spaced font such as Arial or Times New Roman, with everything double-spaced except the single-spaced references.)

· Use APA Style formatting, headers (one level is sufficient in short papers), in-text citations and references at the end. Use a cover page for all identifying information and separate page for the references.

Listening Critique 2 - Questions / Issues

The 2-letter Keirsey temperaments are an easy-to-remember, and therefore an easy-to-use, structure for thinking about the Myers-Briggs (MBTI) types in everyday life. (See below for a summary of the four types.)

Write a brief summary about each of the four temperaments (NP, NT, SJ, SP) by focusing on a person you know who you believe to be that particular type. Please do not spend time repeating the generic traits of each temperament – discuss the person, and use specific examples of how specific behaviors you have witnessed are in line (or not in line) with their (Keirsey) temperament.

Rules and recommendations for choosing people to represent the four temperaments:

• One of your subjects will be you (whatever your type/temperament)
• Make at least one of the people you write about a 470 teammate (you don’t have to guess about your teammates’ temperament – you can ask them or read their WebCT entries on the topic)
• For the two remaining temperaments, choose two people you’ve known most of your life (parents, siblings) or who you know very well (a close friend, roommate, or another teammate). Choose them based on the remaining temperaments – it’s OK if you don’t know their temperament for sure. Choose them because you suspect they are the particular temperament about which you are writing.

Keep in mind that you should be writing with a focus on:

• The people you chose to represent each temperament – where they fit it and where they don’t
• Examples of how the person’s career, lifestyle, hobbies, interaction style, and general behaviors reflect the temperament about which you are writing (the four headers in your paper will be the temperaments, but get right to the people issues – don’t spend a lot of time describing the temperaments generically)
• Differences, quirks, unexplained tendencies, or seemingly strange approaches or attitudes you’ve observed in the past that now make sense within the framework of temperament
• Where appropriate, behavioral examples of exceptions to the general pattern of a person’s temperament, or where temperament simply doesn’t fit the person you are discussing.

Appendix A

Brief Overview of the Four (Keirsey / MBTI) Temperaments

David Keirsey (Keirsey & Bates, 1978) is generally credited with simplifying the interpretation of the Myers-Briggs (MBTI) and providing an easy-to-remember, and therefore an easy-to-use, structure for thinking about psychological types in everyday life. These are the 2-letter temperaments, which provide the widest behavioral predictions with a simplified structure. As with the MBTI, no one is ‘all’ any one temperament. We each have preferences, yet exhibit a certain amount of the non-preferred approaches, too.

You have a detailed outline of the four temperaments in the Temperaments Workbook you were given yesterday in class. Here’s a brief summary of the four temperaments.

NF Temperament (MBTI types ENFJ, INFJ, ENFP, INFP)

The NF temperament is found, statistically, in about 12% of the population.

• NFs focus on people and relationships and see the ‘personal’ in their dealings and decisions
• NFs have empathy, concern for people, and are supportive of others
• NFs tend to inject ‘themselves’ into every situation, so are often perceived to be too egocentric
• The NF Quest is identity
• The NF Style is catalyst
• The NF Achilles Heel is guilt

NT Temperament (MBTI types ENTJ, INTJ, ENTP, INTP)

The NF temperament is found, statistically, in about 12% of the population.

• NTs are conceptualizers, they are intellectually curious, and prefer ‘objective’ perceptions
• NTs will argue the other side just to ensure a good debate
• NTs tend to have an answer for everything, so are often perceived to be arrogant
• The NT Quest is competency
• The NT Style is visionary
• The NT Achilles Heel is incompetence
• (Let me remind you that my temperament is NT.)

SJ Temperament (MBTI types ESTJ, ISTJ, ESFJ, ISFJ)

The SJ temperament is found, statistically, in about 38% of the population.

• SJs focus on procedures and rules, and prefer stability and structure
• SJs are generally loyal to the system in place, so resist change and support traditions
• SJs tend to follow rules and procedures, so are often perceived as too compliant or rigid
• The SJ Quest is belonging to meaningful organizations
• The SJ Style is stabilizer or traditionalist
• The SJ Achilles Heel is disarray or disorganization

SP Temperament (MBTI types ESTP, ISTP, ESFP, ISFP)

The SP temperament is found, statistically, in about 38% of the population.

• SPs focus on the now – the present moment – and want to DO something
• SPs favor action, are good in crises, are free spirits, and don‘t worry about what happened yesterday
• SPs tend to inject ‘themselves’ into every situation, so are often perceived to be impulsive or rash
• The SP Quest is action
• The SP Style is trouble shooter or negotiator
• The SP Achilles Heel is routine or inactivity

Again, keep in mind that these “temperaments,” like the MBTI, IQ tests, personality profiles, and the listening advice I’ve given you this semester are not “the truth.” They are useful structures that can be used as tools to help you become a better observer of human behavior and ultimately, a better listener.