Striving Styles Personality System - Training Industry · Striving Styles® Personality System www ... neurobiology of personality development. ... Briggs and all of the practitioners

©2013AnneDranitsaris,PhD.,&HeatherDranitsaris‐HilliardStrivingStyles®PersonalitySystem

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Striving Styles® Personality System The Next Evolution of Jung’s Typology and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®

Morethan100yearsfromtheinceptionofJung’sPsychologicalTypeTheoryand70yearsafterthereleaseoftheMyers‐BriggsTypeIndicator,theStrivingStylesPersonalitySystemisthenextstepinthisevolutionaryprocess.Itisacompleteassessmentanddevelopmentsystemthatisbasedintheneurobiologyofpersonalitydevelopment.Itincorporatesthepioneeringworkofexpertsinbrainfunctioninganddevelopmentaswellasemotionalintelligence.

LikeMyers&Briggs,anothermotheranddaughterteam,AnneDranitsaris,Ph.D.andHeatherDranitsaris‐Hilliard,havecreatedtheStrivingStylestoshowpeoplethetruemechanicsoftheirminds,sotheycandirecthowitfunctionsandhowtheyfeel‐‐asJungintendedwithhiswork!

SSPS™: An Evolution of Jung’s Psychological Type and the MBTI

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Jung theorized that there are four principal psychological

functions by which we experience the world: sensation, intuition, feeling, and thinking.

One of these four functions is dominant. most of the time and

used in either an inwardly or outwardly fashion.

This paper discusses the Striving Styles® Personality System as the third step in the evolution of psychological type theory and its many applications. It builds on Jung’s theory as well as the pioneering work of Myers, Briggs and all of the practitioners that have contributed to the body of knowledge surrounding the MBTI®. In addition, it integrates the work of top theorists of the 20th and 21st centuries, on psychological development and emotional intelligence, as well as recent findings from neuroscience. It shows how psychological functions are embedded in our physiology and linked to our emotions. Most importantly, it gives people the wisdom and power they need to self-actualize by re-patterning their brains.

The Theory: Jung’s Psychological Type Theory

PsychologicaltypeisatheoryofpersonalitydevelopedbySwisspsychiatristCarlJungtoexplaintheinnatedifferencesinthebehaviors,choicesandformsofexpressioninhealthypeople.Unlikemanyofhiscontemporaries,Jungnotonlyinvestigatedpsychologicaldisordersormentalillness,butattemptedtodeterminethebasisforhealthypsychologicalorderinthehumanpsyche.Junginferredthatpeopleoperatefromdifferentpsychologicalframeworksandorientations,whichareidentifiablethroughobservationandthatwehavephysiological,inbornpreferencesforprocessingourexperiencesandinteractingwiththeworld.

Jungopenednewwaysofthinkingaboutpeopleandthebehaviorswithwhichpeoplewouldrespondinnormalcircumstances.Hedescribedbehavioralpredictabilityandprovidedawaytomakereasonableassessmentsaboutpeople’sdifferencesinideas,responses,andbehaviors.Hetheorizedthatwehavefourdifferent“functions”inourconsciousness,andthatthefourfunctionsareontwo

polarscales;twofunctionsfor“perceiving”(orgatheringinformation),andtwofunctionsfor“judging”(ormakingdecisions).

Jungalsobelievedthatindividualshaveapreferenceforusingoneofthefunctionsoneachofthescales,andthatitseemedlikeoneofthesetwofunctionswillbefavoredthemost.Healsotheorizedthatpeopleusedthesefunctionsineitheranextravertedoroutwardly‐directedfashion,oranintrovertedorinwardlydirectedfashion.He


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The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a psychometric questionnaire designed to measure inborn, psychological preferences in how people gather information & make decisions, inferred from Jung’s typology theory.

referredtothedirectionalaspectas“attitudesinconsciousness.”Basedonthismodel,Jungdefinedeightdifferentfunctionalpatternsofbehavior,or“types”withpredictablepatternsofbehavior.

Jungdescribedthebehaviorsandmotivationsoftheseeightdifferentfunctionsinhisbook,PsychologicalTypes(1921),throughcharacterizationsofpeoplewhohabituallypreferonepatternoveranother–his“eighttypes.”Jung'stheoryofpsychologicaltypesattemptstocategorizepeopleintermsoftheirprimarymodesofpsychological/mentalfunctioning,assumingthatweallhavedifferentfunctionsandattitudesofconsciousness.

The Assessment: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

TheMBTIwasthefirsteffectivetoolforsortingtheeightJungianfunctionsintothemosttoleastfavorite.ItwascreatedbyIsabelBriggs‐Myersandhermother,KatherineBriggsintheearly1940stomakeJung’stheoryusefulforamoremainstreamaudience.

Theoriginalfocusoftheassessmentwascareers,asBriggstriedtohelppeopleselectoccupationsthatwerebestsuitedtotheirpersonalitytypesduringandfollowingWWII.Shebelievedthiswouldhelpthemleadhealthier,happierlives.

MyersandBriggscreatedtheMBTIbasedonfourdichotomousscales,addingtwonewscales‐Extroversion/IntroversionandJudging/Perceiving‐toJung’soriginaltwofunctionscales(judgingfunctions:ThinkingandFeeling,andperceivingfunctions:IntuitionandSensing)tomaketheirpsychometricinstrumentwork.

Aswell,theyreplacedpsychologicaltypewithpersonalitytypetomakeitpalatabletopeopleofthattime.TheMBTIsoonfounditsplaceinorganizations,becauseunlikeJung’stheory,itdidnotdiscussemotionsormentaldysfunctions,oruseotherpsychologicalwordsthatwouldcauseittoberejected.

IntheMBTIlanguage,therearefourdichotomousscalesratherthanthetwothatJungidentified.ThisdifferedfromJung’slanguage,whichidentifiedtheattitudethefunctionoperatedin,andthementalprocessofthefunction.WhileJungidentified8psychologicaltypes,theMBTIidentifies16personalitytypes.



Myers and Briggs, the authors of the test, was determined to make Jung’s Psychological Type theory useable in daily life. To do this, they departed from Jung in some significant ways. Jung’s Theory incorporated the notion of development and individuation, however, the MBTI did not. It is solely a psychometric instrument.

The body of research and writing that gives credibility to the MBTI is based on the ongoing contributions of psychologists, consultants, coaches, trainers and facilitators who have integrated it into training and development programs, counseling, career counseling, leadership, team and employee development, culture, etc. The success of the application of the results of the MBTI is dependent upon their programs.

Adapting Jung’s Theory & the MBTI to Advances in Neuroscience

Jungbelievedwehavefourmentalfunctionsinconsciousness,meaningthatourbrainhasfourdistinctareasinwhichthesefunctionsarelocated.DuringJung’slifetime,histheorywasimpossibletoprove,asthetechnologicaladvancesthatallowustolookatthebraintoseehowitlightsupwhenthefunctionsareusedsimplydidnotexist.However,wenowhavethisinformationavailabletousandpioneerslikeKatherineBenziger,ArleneTaylorandothershaveendeavoredtoconnectJung’sfunctionswithbrainfunctions.

AstheSSPSincorporatestheneuroscienceofpersonalityandbraindevelopment,itallowsustoleveragewhatwehavelearnedthroughtheMBTI.Asaresult,wecannowenhanceourabilitytounderstandandhelpothersachievetheirpotential.

Jungdidnothaveaccesstobrainspecializationresearch,asithadnotyettakenplaceduringhislifetime.Asaresult,hecomparedthefourfunctionsasbeing:

“…somewhatlikethefourpointsofthecompass;theyarejustasarbitraryandjustasindispensable.Nothingpreventsourshiftingthecardinalpointsasmanydegreesas

welikeinonedirectionortheother,orgivingthemdifferentnames….”(C.G. Jung, Psychological Types)



TheworkthathasbeendonebypeoplesuchasRogerSperryandNedHermannshowusthatthebrainhastwohemisphereswithtwoareasofspecializationoneachhemisphere.Thisresultsinfourquadrants.Ratherthanthepointsonthecompass,wehavethefourquadrantsofthebrain,eachwiththeirownroletoplayinourpersonalityandinconsciousness.WhileJungbelievedtheywereopposite–andtheycanappearthatway–eachspecializedfunctionisnecessaryforustoachieveourpotentialashumanbeings.

Aswenowhavelearned,ourbrainisneurallywiredtouseonebrainfunctionovertheothers.Thefunctionsarealsowiredtocommunicatewitheachotherovertime.Thefunctionsareaphysiologicalreality,andstudiesbyDr.ArleneTaylorhavesupportedJung’shypothesisthatwecanexperienceenergydepletionandfatiguewhenweuseourothermentalfunctionsfortoolong.Jungwentsofarastosaythatitcouldbepsychologicallydetrimentaltoourwellbeingwhenourenvironmentdoesnotsupportusintheuseofourdominantfunction;hecalledthis“falsificationoftype.”

NowthatwehaveembracedthedevelopmentsinbrainspecializationanddominanceandincorporatedthemintotheSSPS,peoplearenowabletogainmoreinsightintohowtheirbrainsworkandtakechargeoftheirowndevelopment.

Finally,everyonededicatedtousingJung’sPsychologicalTypetheory,theMBTIandotherJungiansorterscanintegratetheadvantagesofbrainscienceandneuroplasticity.WiththeSSPS,personalitytypebecomessomethingthateveryonemustknowabout,notjustafunactivity,orsomethingcomparabletoastrology.



Jung’s intention was to help people by recognizing the complexity of human psychology. Through the Striving Styles, we hope to facilitate Jung’s Theory of Psychological Type to meet its own potential by illuminating the dynamic nature of the mind and consciousness.

Incorporating advances in neuroscience and brain development and linking back to Jung’s theory of mental functions, the Striving Styles provides a complete understanding of the mechanics of the mind and how the brain is organized for each of the eight psychological types or Striving Styles.

TheSSPSallowsustogo beyond sorting Jung’s functions with an assessment tool as it is a comprehensive assessment and development system, with a Roadmap for Development that provides a step-by-step approach for achieving potential by integrating the four functions of the brain based on the specific needs of each Striving Style.

SSPS: Time for an Evolution!

It’stimeforustobuildontheknowledgebaseoftheMyers‐BriggsTypeIndicatorandtoshowpeoplethetruemechanicsoftheirminds,sotheycandirecthowitfunctionsandhowtheyfeel‐‐asJungintendedwithhiswork.Ifweunderstandthebrain,particularlyourownbrain,wecandirectandinfluencehowitfunctionsandhowwefeel.

TheStrivingStylesbringsJung'seightpsychologicaltypestolife,connectingeachtypetothepsychologicalneedthatmustbemettoensurethewell‐beingandgrowthoftheindividual.EachoftheeightStrivingStyleshasitsownuniquequalitiesbasedonthequadrantofthebrainitresidesin.Thesequalitiesareobvioustoothers,inthewaytheybehave,communicateandrelate.Thedistincttalents,abilitiesandbehaviorsofeachoftheStrivingStylesensurethattheygettheirpredominantneedmet.

TheSSPSisbasedontheassertionthateachofusisbornwithapredominantneedandpatternofenergy(StrivingStyle)thatdetermineshowwewillbehaveinordertogetthatneedmet.



Withthisneuro‐psychologicalframework,practitionersquicklygettotheheartofwhatisdrivingclientbehaviorsotheycanexpeditetheirdevelopmentandbehavioralchange.UnderstandingthefunctionofthepartofthebrainthateachStyleoriginatesfrom,andwhatitspredominantneedis,enablesustoidentifyhowclientswillbehaveattheirmostconfidentandwhentheyfeelthreatened.ItalsoshowswhichsituationswillsatisfytheStyle’sneedandwhichwillthwartit.

UnliketheMBTI,theStrivingStylesisn’tjustaboutsortingpreferencesandgivingyouafourlettercode.Itisauser‐friendlysystem,takingJung’sfunctionsandevolvingthemintocharactersthataresosimplethatevenchildrencanidentifyandusethem.

“Our ten year old grand-daughter / niece, a Socializer Striving Style, knows that if she isn’t connected to friends or spends too much time on her own, she becomes manipulative in order to get attention. She can see that when she is only focused on her need to connect with others, that other areas of her life suffer. She could not understand the Jungian language of extraverted feeling or introverted intuition – in our experience, neither do most people. The most exciting thing about the SSPS is that it is easy to get to know, easy to understand, and easy to apply.” – Anne & Heather



Eachofushasfourquadrantsinourbrainthataremeanttoworkinanintegratedfashion.Wecallityour‘StrivingStyleSquad’.

Neurosciencehasshownthatwhenthisintegrationdoesnothappen,webecomerigidandinflexibleinthoughtandaction.Italsoshowsthatitleadstophysicalandmentalillness,includingdementia(Alzheimer’s).TheSSPSteacheshowtouseallfourfunctionsofthebraininastep‐by‐stepapproachtodevelopmentleadingtoahealthybrainandself‐actualizinghumanbeing.

GettingtoknoweachoftheStrivingStylesgoeshandinhandwithgettingtoknowyourbrain.Thismakesiteasyforclientstorecognizewhatquadrantofthebraintheyareactingfromandtobeabletoshift.Theylearnwhatmakesthemtick,includinginformationonthepartofthebrainwheretheirPredominantStyleislocated,andwhattypesofactivitiesitisthereforeorientedtoward.Ithelpsthemunderstandtheirrelationshipstyle,whichincludesaspectsoftheircommunicationstyle,andtheirsocialandemotionalorientation.

Mostimportantly,itteachesthemabouttheirneedsatisfiers,whichincludesthe“musthave”activitiesthatsatisfytheirpredominantneed,howtheyarelikelytobehaveiftheyareself‐protectiveandhowtheybehaveiftheyareself‐actualizing.



With the SSPS, we can go below the surface, to get in and talk about emotions and defensive behavior. SSPS Practitioner training teaches those skilled with using the MBTI the mechanics of the mind, how the brain works and how behavior is a result of an attempt to satisfy psychological needs.

It’s exciting to think that those who are working with the development of personality can now increase their awareness of the brain, personality development, defenses and emotions through the Striving Styles.

The Need for a Neuro-Psychological Approach

Wenowknowsomuchaboutthebrainandemotionalmaturation.Mostworkingwithhumandevelopmenthavefallenbehindneuroscienceandpsychologyintermsoftheapproachesbeingusedtohelppeopledevelop.Jung’stheoryofpsychologicaltypeisstillasrelevantaseverasitcannowbeconnectedtobrainlateralizationtheoryandbrainphysiology.Whenintegratedwithanunderstandingofpsychologicalneedandbraindevelopment,itgivesusthekeytoexpeditingdevelopmentandunlockinghumanpotential.

TheStrivingStylesPersonalitySystemisthefirst,comprehensive,neuro‐psychologicalframeworkforlearninghowaperson’scognitivefunctionsareorganizedintheirbrainandwhichofthefunctionsishardwiredfrombirthtobeusedtomeetthepsychologicalneedsoftheself.Itshowshowbehaviorisusedtogettheneedofthefunctionmet.

TheSSPSisawayofunderstandingthemoredynamicandinterpersonalaspectsofanindividual’spersonalityandhowtheirneedsandemotionscauseshiftsinbehavior.

TheStrivingStylesisacompletedevelopmentsystemthatthatincorporatesJung’sPsychologicalTypeTheory,EmotionalandSocialIntelligence,NeedsTheory,Mindfulnessandthelatestadvancesinbraindevelopmentandneuroplasticityasitrelatestoemotionaldevelopment.Itprovidespeoplewithastructuredandsystematicapproachtodevelopingthequadrantsofthebrainandtheintegrationofthefunctions–justasJungintended.



Usingrecentfindingsinhowthehumanbraindevelopsduringthelifespan,itshowsthestagesofdevelopmentofourthreebrainsbasedonRogerSperry’sTriuneBrainTheory(instinctual,emotionalandrational)andhowfailuresinchildhoodnurturingandenvironmentalfactorscanleadtomaladaptivepatternsofbehaviorinadulthood.Itstatesthatthesemaladaptivepatternsofbehaviorareemotionallydrivenandgetinthewayofbraindevelopmentandachievingone’spotential.

Itpromotesthepremisethatautomaticmaladaptivepatternsofbehaviorthatgetthepredominantneedmetandensurepsychologicalsurvivalwillgetinthewayofdevelopment.Itstatesthatthesemaladaptivebehavioralpatternscanbechangedandnewneuralpathwaysinthebraincanbelaidasaresultofchoosingdifferentbehaviorsandhavingdifferentexperiences.

Inotherwords,byunderstandingthepsychologicalneedthatmustbemet,individualscanconsciouslyseektomeettheirpredominantneedintheirwork,relationshipsandleisureactivities.Thisincreasesself‐awarenessandself‐mastery,puttingpeopleinthe“driver’sseat”intheirlivesandhelpingthemactivelydeveloptheirtruepotential,ratherthansimplysurviving.

Not Just an Assessment ‐ACompleteSystemforDevelopment

TheSSPSisathree‐partdevelopmentalsystemthatincludesacomprehensiveframeworkfordevelopment.Itconsistsofthefollowingcomponents:

Anassessmentforidentifyinghowthebrainisorganizedbasedonafourquadrantmodel;thepredominantneed;frequencyofuseofeachofthefunctions;theequivalentJungiancognitivefunctions.

ADevelopmentalFrameworkthatfocusesonstrategiescenteredonbraindevelopmentandemotionalmaturation,and;



ARoadmapforDevelopmentthatidentifiesthespecificstepstotaketochangebehaviorandre‐patternthebrain.

Weknowthatassessmentisonlythefirststep.TheSSPSprovidesindividualswithastep‐by‐stepguidefordevelopingtheirbrain,theirpersonalityandtheirpotential.

Developmentofthepersonalityandchangingbehaviorispossiblebutit’snotaseasyasswallowingapillorhavingan“A‐ha”moment.Ourbrainsarecapableofchangingfromemotionally‐drivenautomaticbehaviors,tocreatingnewpatternsofbehaviorandnewpathwaysinthebrain.Ratherthanjustalistoftipsandthingstodo,theSSPSDevelopmentalFrameworkfocusesonbraindevelopmentandemotionalmaturation.

BuildingontheworkofpioneersinemotionalandsocialintelligencesuchasDanielGolemanandDanielSiegel,theDevelopmentalFrameworkteachesindividualshowtheygrowandmatureemotionally.Itincludesfiveessentialbuildingblocksneededforpeopletobecomewhotheyaremeanttobe,basedontheirowninnatebrainorganization.Eachofthebuildingblockshelpsthemto:workthroughbarrierstogrowth;maturetheiremotions,andchangereactivehabitsofmind.TheFrameworkprovidesindividualsandpractitionersalikewithallthetoolsneededforemotionalandrelationaldevelopment.

TheSSPS’comprehensiveRoadmapforDevelopmentletsindividualschartacoursefortheirowndevelopmentbyhelpingthemfirsttounderstandhowtheirbrainisorganizedandwhatpartoftheirbraintheyneedtodevelop.Italsoshowshowunmetneedscauseshiftsinbehaviorthatgetinthewayofachievingaperson’sgoalsand,mostimportantly,whattheycandoaboutit.

Asacompletesystemfordevelopment,theSSPSuniquelyofferspractitionersaclearpathforfacilitatingclientdevelopmentbasedonbrainorganization.Itallowspractitionerstogeneratearoadmapfortheirclients'growthbasedonunderstandingthemoredynamicaspectsoftheirbrain,emotions,behavior,andpersonality.Itprovidesthemwiththeactivitiesandexperiencesnecessaryinorderfortheirclienttorepatterntheirbrainforsustainedbehavioralchange.



The Striving Styles Personality System was developed by Toronto-based clinical psychotherapist, corporate therapist and author, Anne Dranitsaris, PhD, and her business partner, Heather Dranitsaris-Hilliard, a sought-after speaker and expert in organizational development and behavioral change.

Like Myers and Briggs, Anne and Heather are also a mother and daughter team who have more than 50 years of combined experience helping clients to develop to their full potential and working with leaders in organizations to alleviate dysfunctions and bring about behavioral change.

They bring a unique perspective to the nature vs. nurture debate. At birth, Heather was given up for adoption by Anne. They reunited 27 years later to find they were both working to help people to achieve their potential – just in different forums. They started their first business three years later and have been working together ever since.

Creators of the SSPS

HavingspentmanyyearsusingtheMBTIinourworkwithindividualsaswellasorganizations,weknewfirsthanditslimitations.WestartedusingotherassessmentsincombinationwiththeMBTIaspartofourdevelopmentprogramsaimedatcreatingsignificantbehavioralchange.Wefoundourselvesbuildingcustomizedreportsforclientstohelpthemtoreallyunderstandthedriversoftheirbehaviorandtheself‐protectivestrategiesbeingusedasaresultoftheirneedsandemotions.Formany,thiswascostprohibitive,leavingthemwithoutthetoolstheyneededtobreakpatternsofbehaviorthatweregettingintheway.

In2007,ourbeliefintheneedforsomethingthatwouldhelppeopletoreallyunderstandwhytheybehavethewaytheydoledustocreateanassessmentanddevelopmentsystemofourownwiththesametypeofsubstantialreportswehadbeencustomizingforourclients.Wehadconductedanexhaustivesearchandcouldnotfindanassessmentorapproachthatwasinclusiveofadevelopmentalframeworkorthatwouldtrulyshedlightonwhatwasbehind



thebehaviorwhichwasseeminglycountertowhatwasinaperson'sbestinterests.Wewantedsomethingthatwouldbeusefulforourclientsinarangeofapplications,aswellasforourselves,inourownlives,aswellasforourchildren.

Wewantedasystemthatconsideredthefullhumanexperience—emotions,behaviorandpersonality–andshowedpeoplehowtodevelop.

Usingthemostup‐to‐dateresearchonhowdifferentpartsofthebrainfunctionandtheroleofemotionsinlearninganddevelopment,wecombinedthisinformationwithPsychologicalType,NeedsandBrainDominancetheories,andMindfulness–amongstothers‐tocreatetheStrivingStylesPersonalitySystem,orSSPS.Afterusingthesystemsuccessfullyinourconsultingbusinessandpersonallives,wedecidedtobringtheStrivingStylestoawiderhumandevelopmentpractitionermarketaswellastothegeneralpublic.

TheStrivingStylesbringsJung'seightpsychologicaltypestolife,connectingeachStyletothepsychologicalneedthatmustbemet.Withthisneuro‐psychologicalframework,youquicklygettotheheartofwhatisdrivingbehaviorsoyoucanexpeditedevelopment.TheStrivingStylesPersonalitySystemprovidesindividualsandpractitionersalikewithawaytoeasilyunderstandandleveragebrainfunctioning.

Itprovidespeoplewiththespecifictoolstore‐casttheirmotivationsandre‐patterntheirbrains,andtoconsciouslyinfluencehowtheybehaveinordertolivehappy,successfulandfulfilledlives.

“We are excited to bring the SSPS to the market and to continue to use Jung’s psychological types, as well as enhance the use of the MBTI. There are so many out there who could benefit personally and professionally. It is our deepest hope that the Striving Styles Personality System will fill the void, helping people to stop adapting and begin to pursue their own path to becoming who they are meant to be.”

- Anne & Heather -

Learn more about the Striving Styles and how to put this powerful neuro-psychological framework for development and achieving potential to work for you or your clients. Build on your knowledge of personality type, and enhance your ability to develop others by becoming a Striving Styles Qualified Practitioner. Leverage our consulting expertise for your organization.



MBTI®,Myers‐Briggs,Myers‐BriggsTypeIndicatorandtheMBTI®logoaretrademarksorregisteredtrademarksoftheMBTITrust,Inc.,intheUnitedStatesandothercountries,andareusedunderlicense.

StrivingStyles,SSPS,WhoAreYouMeanttoBe?aretrademarksorregisteredtrademarksofSage,KahunaEnterprisesInc.inCanada,theUnitedStatesandothercountries.

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Striving Styles Personality System - Training Industry · Striving Styles® Personality System www ... neurobiology of personality development. ... Briggs and all of the practitioners