lordjeebus

I agree with most of what you said but not on these two points.

I don't have a copy of "Personality Types," but I have read Anthony Stevens' (a Jungian psychiatrist) "Jung: A Very Short Introduction"* book. In his summary of "Psychological Types" by Jung, he states that "All typological possibilities are theoretically available to the Self, but it is useful to be able to establish those co-ordinates that one is using to chart one's course through life. Jung accepted that this course is never intractably fixed; it may at any time be subject to alteration." He also states that "Jung argued that one's type was as much determined by genetic as by environmental factors," implying that who we present to the world comes from more than just what is within us.

I think Jung thought that the various parts of Myers-Briggs personality were functions available for anyone to use. People tend to use some functions more than others, but that does not mean that they cannot develop their underused functions during adulthood. Considering that Jung's individuation process involves dissolution of the persona, it is strange to argue that one cannot change it.

Unconsciously, I would agree that the Self varies from person to person, is stable, and is not effected by one's environment.

Great topic! I also enjoy Jung's ideas.

*I should add that Oxford's VSI series is of high quality and is great for getting a comprehensive overview of all sorts of complex fields of knowledge.