Extraverted Thinkers are concerned with factual data in the world around them. Unlike any other type, they understand facts in a truly objective sense—what they see is what they get. They subsume themself to the objective reality around them, and funnel all incoming information into this reality to reach an intellectual conclusion.
Because the ET has such a solid, objective grasp on reality, they believe whole-heartedly in their conclusions, not only for themselves, but for the whole world, or at least the world around them. Their superior understanding will brook no opposition. ETs are leaders—they rarely follow. They are the corporate executives, the drill sergeants, the chairs of the boards, the heads of families. Their tactical planning abilities surpass any other type, and they know it.
The ET's self-confidence is in many ways appealing, but it can also be repressive to others. Their total reliance on their own intellectual conclusions about the world forms a code of behavior to which they adhere immaculately, and they expect the same from those around them. They cannot tolerate exceptions—to do so would be akin to calling an orange an apple, or a truth a lie.
Clearly, this propensity of the Extraverted Thinker to demand total capitulation to their way of thinking might be useful in corporate leadership, but can cause problems in relationships. In purely social or work relationships, the ET will often choose to avoid conflict by keeping things fun and light-hearted, but in personal relationships, they will fight hard for what they believe to be right, and those close to them must be prepared for some conflict. They must be prepared for the ET's attempt to squash the opposition, and either bow down or put up their dukes. To avoid a partnership that has a great imbalance of power, the Extraverted Thinker should take care to choose a partner that shares their social values, rather than one who will capitulate to the ET, perhaps resentfully.
More than other types, the Extraverted Thinker has a hard time understanding other people's ideas that are radically different from their own. With a good auxiliary information-gathering function, they can be brought around to accepting the idea that other people think differently, but they will in all likelihood still believe in the superiority of their own way of thinking. Only some real work at growth will get them out of that tendency, but the ET is least likely of the types to see their life view as a weakness.
Extraverted Thinkers seek life-long partnerships, and will want to be the leader in the relationship. They're often nostalgic, and have long-term friendships that remind them of the past. ETs can be a lot of fun, and very funny, with a joke always up their sleeve, but they are at heart quite serious people.
Jung's Extraverted Thinking type was divided into two MBTI types by Isabel Briggs Myers:
ESTJ - the Guardian, and ENFJ - the Executive.
Check out the other Jungian types
