How Can You Tell If You’re a Judging or Perceiving Personality Type?

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Having trouble identifying if you are a “Judging” or “Perceiving” type on a personality test? For many people, the distinction between the “J” and “P” can be a bit tricky. This article will take a deeper looking and help you understand: are you a judging or perceiving personality type?

Let’s start with the stereotypes. Why not?

In general, “Judgers” are organized, punctual, use planners effectively, more “Type A,” and have their lives together.

Perceivers are easygoing, flexible, adaptable to change, and more “Type B.”

Judgers have neat workstations, color-coded schedules, and a classic wardrobe. Perceivers nonchalantly throw stuff everywhere, show up late, and can barely remember what they had for last night’s dinner. Right?

Turns out, there’s more to the bigger personality type picture when we contrast Judgers (J) and Perceivers (P), especially when their respective functional stacks come into play. It’s more of a guideline rather than a cut-and-dried dichotomy of two extremes.

Each type has specific needs and stressors that differentiate them, some more subtle than others. It all boils down to the cognitive functions of each personality type.

So, how can you tell if you’re a judging or perceiving personality type? Let’s explore and take a closer look.

What Contrasts Judging vs. Perceiving?

The last letter in our 4-letter personality type is either J or P (e.g. XXXJ or XXXP). This really represents how we choose to feel towards our external world.

A Judger can enjoy planned spontaneity and a Perceiver can find to-do lists and planners extremely helpful. But those are not their default preferences.

Judgers like to make more concrete decisions whereas Perceivers prefer to keep their options open.

A judger might say:

Once I’ve planned this, it’s set in stone.

A perceiver might say:

I have a rough idea of what I’d like to do, but I’ll change things if more information comes along.

When it comes to making a decision, Judgers feel stressed when they have trouble narrowing down their options and feel stuck in “limbo” with their next steps. Perceivers feel stressed when they’re forced (either internally or externally) to decide quickly, without considering all of the alternatives.

Judgers want to know exactly how a project or event will unfold: all of the details, timings, schedules, transportation, pricing, and guests. Perceivers are more lax and let things go with the flow.

Considering Jung’s Cognitive Functions

To understand how Judgers and Perceivers differ, we need to understand how the 8 Jungian cognitive functions work in tandem with behaviors and attitudes:

  • Extraverted Sensing (Se)
  • Introverted Sensing (Si)
  • Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
  • Introverted Intuition (Ni)
  • Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
  • Introverted Feeling (Fi)
  • Extraverted Thinking (Te)
  • Introverted Thinking (Ti)

Lookalike Personality Pairs: How To Tell Them Apart

Let’s look at the differences for eight (8) similar personality type pairs:

Judging Careers vs. Perceiving Careers

There are certainly careers that are more well-suited for Judgers (e.g. lawyer, doctor, teacher), and others that are a closer fit for Perceivers (artist, entrepreneur, travel guide). With this said, it certainly does not mean a Judger can’t excel in a Perceiver career, or visa versa. Its possible, by on average certain modes of operation do some easier to each personality type grouping compared to the other.

Here at The Career Project, we have an accessible (and free!) treasure trove of career guides that will help you decide your course to what best fits your unique talents and personality.

Not sure which personality type you are? Start by taking a free personality assessment. The take a look at our career guides and filter by your personality type – and together we can kickstart your career journey!

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