Four Temperament Types – Sensate Perceiving (SP)

The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Temperament Indicator is to help you better understand yourself and others. Your temperament influences your life, including mental processing, communication, decision-making, mate selection, as well as other areas.

The results of the Myers-Briggs Temperament Indicator classify you into one of 16 temperament types. But it’s easier to remember your basic temperament: either INtuitive Thinkers (NTs); INtuitive Feelers (NFs); Sensate Judging (SJs); or Sensate Perceiving (SPs).

Overview
The primary drive of SPs is action and above all they value adventure. SPs are both risk-takers and rebels. Metaphorically, they enjoy seeing how close they can come to the edge without falling off. They also are willing to bend the rules if they’re convinced it’s the best way to accomplish a goal.

Strengths
SPs would rather be doing something – anything – rather than waiting around for something to happen. Life is never boring around SPs; rather, their lives are filled with fun, daring, and calculated risks. SPs love using tools to build, maintain, and repair anything. They are very knowledgeable and skillful in mechanical areas.

Weaknesses
Sometimes SPs put a priority on tasks over people; consequently, their relationships may suffer. SPs are impulsive, and sometimes act too quickly for their own good. They tend to believe they know the best way to accomplish a task. If people in authority disagree, SPs find a way to do things their own way anyways. They subscribe to the old adage, “Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”

Example
The Apostle Peter is a great example of an SP. As a fisherman, Peter worked with his hands and was familiar with the tools of his trade. He even used tools unfamiliar to him, such as wielding a sword in the Garden of Gethsemane – and cutting off a servant’s ear!

To say the least, Peter was impulsive – sometimes to his own detriment. When Jesus walked on the water during a storm, it’s Peter who volunteered to walk on the water. And he did, too, until he took his eyes off of Jesus.

Right after Peter confessed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Apostle took it upon himself to advise Jesus not to go to Jerusalem because of the danger. This time Jesus reprimanded Peter for allowing himself to be used by Satan to thwart God’s plan.

Peter was willing to risk going into Herod’s courtyard during Jesus’ trial. Unfortunately, he also had boasted that he would never desert Jesus in his hour of need. When Peter denied Christ three times, the Apostle left the courtyard crying gut-wrenching tears.

Careers
SPs excel in careers that are hands-on and involve the use of tools. They also are drawn to careers with an element of risk. Many SPs work as carpenters, police officers, firefighters, mechanics, or airline pilots, and many other careers.

Myers-Briggs is a valuable tool for understanding who we are and why we do the things we do. If you want more information, I suggest that you buy the book Please Understand Me II by David Keirsey.

© 2012 Designed to Serve®