Carl Jung: It is not the purpose of a psychological typology to classify human beings into categories—this in itself

Carl Jung: It is not the purpose of a psychological typology to classify human beings into categories—this in itself would be pretty pointless. (

It is not the purpose of a psychological typology to classify human beings into categories—this in itself would be pretty pointless.

Its purpose is rather to provide a critical psychology which will make a methodical investigation and presenta- tion of the empirical material possible.

First and foremost, it is a critical tool for the research worker, who needs definite points of view and guide- lines if he is to reduce the
chaotic profusion of individual experiences to any kind of order.

In this respect we could compare typology to a trigonometric net or, better still, to a crystallographic axial sys- tem.

Secondly, a typology is a great help in understanding the wide variations that occur among individuals, and it also furnishes a
clue to the fundamental differences in the psychological theories now current.

Last but not least, it is an essential means for determining the “personal equation” of the practicing psycholo- gist, who, armed with an exact knowledge of his differentiated and inferior functions, can avoid many serious blunders in dealing with his patients. Carl Jung, CW 6, Para 986