David French | 17/06/2013 9:09:57 AM

This article was originally published as 'Feelings' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 15/6/2013.

CIPL's chairman is an expert regarding the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and my association with him has led to a heightened interest in aspects of psychological type. While Extroversion and Introversion are traits commonly discussed, it’s Thinking vs. Feeling that I want to explore here.

Facts and logic matter to thinking types and being one, I place them above my own feelings and the feelings of others when I make decisions. Of course I care about how others' feel, but if a decision has to be made, I'll base it on what I think will lead to the best outcome. Feeling types, in contrast, act in accordance with their own feelings, not really caring whether they are underpinned by fact.

The tension between thinking and feeling is perhaps one of the most interesting conundrums of our time. In the West, did the fall of the Howard, Blair and Bush Governments signal the rise of feeling over thinking? These Governments sought a pragmatic middle ground in issues of economics and its corollary, social welfare. Despite presiding over a massive increase in living standards, they were swept aside because of a "feeling" that they were somehow not looking after, or listening to "the people".

The rise of feelings as a "legitimate" decision tool is evident everywhere. Last weekend, a slowcoach passenger at Brisbane airport security turned to me and said "you can blame George Bush for this delay". Funny; wasn't it the Taliban that crashed the planes into the World Trade Centre?

Lamenting the troubles of the Catholic church, an associate says that moving paedophiles around within an institution is no different to changing the portfolios of incompetent (Labor) politicians and public servants. Really?

Large electricity generators are lobbying for concessions on the basis that power produced by base-load stations is subsidising users of solar. Actually, base-load generation is not nearly as cheap as is commonly portrayed, and the $1.4 million investment in solar has saved at least $5 billion otherwise required for a new 600MW base load station.

The era of feelings is dangerous. It might be fine to have an opinion, but sharing it entails a responsibility to check the facts. The Ku Klux Clan has feelings, but lift the hood and what's there? When feelings subsume common-sense and hurt others, it's time to shut them down with extreme prejudice.

Download Stephen Moss' MTBI app at http://jungiantypologyapp.com/

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