Personality Type and the Male Experience of Identity in Midlife: Implications for Counselling and Psychotherapy

A better understanding of the role of personality type on the male experience of midlife is thought to be of value when providing counselling and psychotherapy support to men, but to date there are few available resources in this area. Based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, the pilot study compa...

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Main Authors: Rob Brandenburg, Kurt Lushington
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia 2014-07-01
Series:Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.71135
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author Rob Brandenburg
Kurt Lushington
author_facet Rob Brandenburg
Kurt Lushington
author_sort Rob Brandenburg
collection DOAJ
description A better understanding of the role of personality type on the male experience of midlife is thought to be of value when providing counselling and psychotherapy support to men, but to date there are few available resources in this area. Based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, the pilot study compared ten males aged 40-55 years with a preference for Intuitive-Feeling with ten with a Sensing-Thinking preference. The majority of both personality types reported a smooth transition into midlife with several gains including increased life mastery, greater self-awareness and enhanced intimacy in relationships. However, men in the Sensing-Thinking group compared with those in the Intuitive-Feeling group were more likely to have experienced an existential crisis, viewed their self/masculine identity primarily in terms of career/work and were less likely to have experienced increased intimacy with their spouse or partner in midlife. The tentative findings of this pilot study suggest that personality may influence the male experience of midlife.
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spelling doaj-art-c471376714db448cb3a5cc5f71ca6f712025-08-20T02:01:25ZengPsychotherapy and Counselling Federation of AustraliaPsychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia2201-70892014-07-012110.59158/001c.71135Personality Type and the Male Experience of Identity in Midlife: Implications for Counselling and PsychotherapyRob BrandenburgKurt LushingtonA better understanding of the role of personality type on the male experience of midlife is thought to be of value when providing counselling and psychotherapy support to men, but to date there are few available resources in this area. Based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, the pilot study compared ten males aged 40-55 years with a preference for Intuitive-Feeling with ten with a Sensing-Thinking preference. The majority of both personality types reported a smooth transition into midlife with several gains including increased life mastery, greater self-awareness and enhanced intimacy in relationships. However, men in the Sensing-Thinking group compared with those in the Intuitive-Feeling group were more likely to have experienced an existential crisis, viewed their self/masculine identity primarily in terms of career/work and were less likely to have experienced increased intimacy with their spouse or partner in midlife. The tentative findings of this pilot study suggest that personality may influence the male experience of midlife.https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.71135
spellingShingle Rob Brandenburg
Kurt Lushington
Personality Type and the Male Experience of Identity in Midlife: Implications for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia
title Personality Type and the Male Experience of Identity in Midlife: Implications for Counselling and Psychotherapy
title_full Personality Type and the Male Experience of Identity in Midlife: Implications for Counselling and Psychotherapy
title_fullStr Personality Type and the Male Experience of Identity in Midlife: Implications for Counselling and Psychotherapy
title_full_unstemmed Personality Type and the Male Experience of Identity in Midlife: Implications for Counselling and Psychotherapy
title_short Personality Type and the Male Experience of Identity in Midlife: Implications for Counselling and Psychotherapy
title_sort personality type and the male experience of identity in midlife implications for counselling and psychotherapy
url https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.71135
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