A pair of Yielding/Obstinate type traits is defined by filling the Tracking/Insulating function blocks with rational (Fi, Fe, Ti, Te) information aspects. Thus, yielding types have tracking Fi-Te and insulating Fe-Ti aspects, while obstinate types have tracking Fe-Ti and insulating Fi-Te aspects.
As mentioned in the previous article, Tracking/Insulating properties divides our functions into communicative and isolated. Combined with complementary pairs of rational aspects, these properties provide two priorities in information perception, determining how types communicate with the world: yielding – using information about our values and ways to achieve them, while obstinate – using information about our behavior and the patterns that determine it.
Thus, in interacting with the world, yielding types compare their values with those of others, seeking points of intersection on which to build their model of behavior: either by adapting to the views of others or by imposing their own. In contrast, obstinate types pay attention to the behavior of other people: here they can either help others adapt to another’s etiquette, find the right words or reactions, or criticize them for their incorrect actions, wishing to return the person to accepted norms.
It is worth noting that these terms themselves are not entirely accurate: it is rather our tracking functions that are obstinate, while our insulating functions are yielding. That is, we all exhibit both yielding and obstinate behaviors, but simply in relation to different types of information. Therefore, we always recommend using terminology that denotes function properties in combination with aspects, rather than using type trait names like “this person has a tracking Fi” instead of “this person is yielding type.”
When determining these traits, it is recommended to pay attention to the sense of security that we experience when we are around someone – it is important that they match those of two interacting people. If they don’t, we will always feel that the other person is overly demanding of things that are not as significant as we think they are, and vice versa – indifferent to what is important for our own comfort.
Yielding types include Don Quixote, Dumas, Zhukov, Yesenin, Jack London, Dreiser, Stierlitz and Dostoyevsky.
Obstinate types include Hugo, Robespierre, Hamlet, Gorky, Napoleon, Balzac, Huxley and Gabin.