What we’re about
Hello, and welcome to our page! We are a collection of curious folks who enjoy lively intellectual discussion on topics like psychology, personality, self-improvement, the nature of reality, current events, epistemology, and the impacts of AI/technology. We have a particular emphasis on two ways of making sense of personality differences: Jungian Cognitive Function Theory (most people have heard of its offspring, the MBTI) and The Enneagram Theory of Personality. These two theories are the things that originally brought the group together, but each meeting usually covers a range of topics.
Understood and applied properly, personality theory does not put us in boxes, but instead gives us insight into the box we are already in, unlocking the lid and allowing us to climb out of the box if we wish. It allows us to more accurately understand the inner lives of other people, which are otherwise often obscured by the assumptions and projections we place onto them. For this reason, personality theory can be an extremely powerful tool for improving your relationships, understanding yourself, and making better decisions.
Cognitive Function Theory addresses what types of information we are receptive to, and how we filter and process that information. Enneagram Theory on the other hand addresses emotional pathos and fixations of the ego. If your personality is a sandwich, your Cognitive Function Theory type is one filling, your Enneagram type another. Other layers include your culture, life history, genetics, autism, trauma, learned behaviors, etc. To use a different metaphor, each aspect of your personality is a tinted lens that stacks with the others, and the world you see is the result of looking through all of them at once.
Most of the regular attendees of this group have a fairly deep understanding of one or both of these systems, so if you are new to personality theory we highly recommend looking over at least 2 of the following resources in advance:
Beginner’s guide to Cognitive Function Theory/MBTI (7 minute read):
https://www.truity.com/blog/beginners-guide-understanding-mbti-cognitive-functions
Free online Cognitive Function Theory/MBTI Test:
(NOTE!!! Take all personality test results with a huge grain of salt! Many group members repeatedly get inaccurate results on tests, which are subject to interference by culture, life experience, levels of self-awareness, and fluctuating moods. The only truly accurate way to determine your type is through knowledge of the system and deep self-analysis. That being said, many people find their test results to be an interesting and fun entrypoint.)
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
Beginner’s Guide to the Enneagram:
https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/how-the-enneagram-system-works/
Free online Enneagram Test:
(NOTE!!! Tests are unreliable. See disclaimer above.)
https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test
Thank you and we look forward to hearing your take!
—---------------------------------------------
More in-depth resources for those who want to deeply understand the systems:
Cognitive Function Theory/MBTI:
(Video playlist) Most clear, concise, accurate explanation of the system and functions:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6rzdODmcL67yYuPIQI1nY_ct1P2TDUyv&si=ZzBPm1XPzwEreWvT
(Video playlist) Deep dives into each type:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6rzdODmcL641s7WiVwaAAMlTrwnI1bCA&si=5ZEXTFHe8XQIPvxG
(Website) Understanding your “functional stack”.
https://mbti-notes.tumblr.com/theory#part1
(Book) Analyzing evidence for functions in neural connections via EEG:
https://www.amazon.com/Neuroscience-Personality-Brain-Insights-People/dp/0979868475
The Enneagram:
(Book) Best practical explanation of the Enneagram (also a self-help workbook):
https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Enneagram-Psychological-Spiritual-Personality/dp/0553378201
(Website) Best Enneagram type descriptions:
(Ignore the weird website: the content itself is top quality.)
https://oceanmoonshine9.wordpress.com/
(Website) Website of enneagram experts, contains lots of good information.
https://cpenneagram.com/
