How does your Myers-Briggs type/Keirsey role variant relate to your natural ability to lucid dream?

**AstralVagabond** · 03-29-2014 05:33 PM

So, I've been thinking.

For the past week, I've had a fascination/mild obsession with Myers-Briggs psychometric type theory. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, I suggest that you just look it up or leave this thread because I don't know if I can find a way to explain it that wouldn't take up waaaaay too much text space.) I've been psychoanalysing everyone I could get my mind on and whom I figured I knew well enough, sorting him/her into one of the 16 personality types.

It seems amazing to me how all these combinations dictate the form of thought the individual is inclined to, the skills he/she has, the form of intelligence in which he/she excels... So, considering that there are some people who are said to just be 'naturals' at lucid dreaming, couldn't that mean that one's talent at this activity, as well, is related to where one ranks in this mental field?

Clear awareness of one's surroundings - paying attention to the details and nuances of the here and now, closely observing everything going on in the external world - is said to be very useful in training the lucid dreaming mind; and I find that it is very closely related to the function of extraverted sensing (Se), which is present mainly in ESTPs, ESFPs, ISTPs and ISFPs. So, from that, can we infer that these four types (especially the former two, for whom Se is the dominant function) are those most naturally skilled at lucid dreaming? Or those who are dominantly Sensing (S) types in general?

But there's more. It is also said that, in lucid dream preparation before going to sleep, one should exercise one's rational mind so that one will be more likely to make sense of things and become lucid within the ensuing dreams. Does this mean that Thinking (T) types, who are more likely to view things from a rational than emotional point of view (which could be easily immersed in and overwhelmed by the given dream situation) are also more likely to be good lucid dreamers? Or people with some form of thinking (not sure if introverted or extraverted would be better) as their dominant/auxiliary functions?

What about Perceiving (P) types, who are better at keeping their minds free of strictly fixed views or self-imposed boundaries? Couldn't they be naturally better at dream control because it'd be easier for them to assume control of a world that doesn't conform to the restrictions of a real one and imagine things that go against their schemas?

Does this mean ESTPs and ISTPs are the natural lucid dreamers? Does extraversion vs. introversion have anything to do with it? Do you agree or disagree with my idea that one's Myers-Briggs psychometric type is intrinsically connected to one's natural lucid dreaming ability or do you think there's no connection? And, if it's the former, do you agree with the conclusions I've reached or think it works in a different way? These are just crazy ideas that I just got and I'm not going to defend them to the ends of the Earth; so please, give me any input you have on this matter!

**Goldenspark** · 03-29-2014 10:29 PM

It's an interesting topic. I do wonder what cross-section of lucid dreamers visit this site. Do the vast majority of LDers not visit online forums? You might get a very skewed statistical response. I suspect that a wide cross-section of psychometric types LD. Dreaming is common to all of us, so being aware in our dreams must also be fairly common. I would have expected to have read it in the dream research literature if there was such a link.

**Voldmer** · 03-29-2014 10:53 PM

I agree that the psychological type must be indicative of lucid dreaming ability and interest. From my perspective, it seems logical that the overwhelming majority of lucid dreamers should be introverted, since lucid dreaming is about an inner world, whereas extroverted people tend to focus on the outer world.

I also think that the intuitives and the sensing will approach lucid dreaming quite differently. Where the sensing will probably primarily view lucid dreaming as recreational, the intuitives will more likely see the dream world as something bigger, and more significant, than merely an unlimited playground.

As for the perceiving, since they are the "go-with-the-flow" type, I think they will be unlikely to take charge and control their dreams; they will more likely enjoy the dream as a passenger on a ride. The opposite type, the judging, will on the other hand probably try to plan ahead and - once lucid - try to follow the plan.

**AnotherDreamer** · 03-30-2014 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by Voldmer

I agree that the psychological type must be indicative of lucid dreaming ability and interest. From my perspective, it seems logical that the overwhelming majority of lucid dreamers should be introverted, since lucid dreaming is about an inner world, whereas extroverted people tend to focus on the outer world.

I also think that the intuitives and the sensing will approach lucid dreaming quite differently. Where the sensing will probably primarily view lucid dreaming as recreational, the intuitives will more likely see the dream world as something bigger, and more significant, than merely an unlimited playground.

As for the perceiving, since they are the "go-with-the-flow" type, I think they will be unlikely to take charge and control their dreams; they will more likely enjoy the dream as a passenger on a ride. The opposite type, the judging, will on the other hand probably try to plan ahead and - once lucid - try to follow the plan.

Interesting, I'm intuitive, introverted, feeling, and judging. So my personal traits agree more with voldmer's hypothesis rather than astralvagabond's

**Nailler** · 03-30-2014 07:41 AM

Interesting stuff, so I did a little reading on the subject. Found this:

"Perhaps the most common misconception about the MBTI is that it shows your aptitude, helping you determine what kinds of things you'd be good at. This is not the case. Myers-Briggs is only about determining your preference, not your ability. There might be things that you're good at that you don't enjoy, and there might be things you enjoy that you're not good at. The MBTI helps your find your comfort zone, the types of activities you'll like and be most content with; not necessarily those at which you'll be especially competent." The Myers-Briggs Personality Test

But wouldn't it also be true that we would likely spend more time on activities we enjoy, and thereby become more skilled in them?

**clayhouse** · 06-06-2014 03:17 PM

Wow...very interesting discussion here. Nailler thank you for finding and sharing that extra information about the Myers Briggs Test. I've always had an interest in what kind of similarities the results actually had to the people. I find it fascinating how some people are exact spot on to their results and others...not even close. But the OP (original poster) took it to a whole new level for me...

**Memm** · 06-06-2014 06:15 PM

I don't really put much stock in type theory since people are inherently very complex, even if it sometimes doesn't seem so on the outside. For example introversion and extroversion have generally been dismissed in favour of ambiversion. I mean sure, people can have "preferences" but it all depends on what day it is, how they're feeling at that moment, what stage of life they are in etc... you simply can't pigeonhole people that easily.

Also I think "natural" lucid dreaming is a bit of a misnomer, these are just people that picked up the right set of skills or mindset for lucidity without noticing at some stage in life. It's similar to how photographic memory doesn't actually exist, if I asked you to memorise 100 digits in 10 minutes right now you would say it's impossible, but you can actually learn to do that in a day when you know how it works!

A few years ago my lucid dreaming was basically naturals and WILDs, as soon as I learnt there was such a thing as lucid dreaming, I just simply started doing it. The reason it was that simple is because back then my dream awareness already happened to be very good just because of the way I looked at the world and spent my time. Since then my circumstances have changed and now even my dream recall isn't quite the same. This I think is an obvious indication that it's not a talent or some special gift, it's just as simple as have a certain disposition and you get lucid dreams. Easy.

The brain can be changed, meditation for example was created as a way to make changes to it. Do the right things in the right way and you get results.

If you want to be a natural lucid dreamer you just need to start acting like one. =]