Vincent Leonard V.

Alhambra
ABC 201

THE CONCEPT OF NATURAL PERSONALITY PARALLELISM

Vincent Leonard V. Alhambra
Concept Developer

SHORT BACKGROUNDER ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vincent Leonard V. Alhambra is a student leader in the Lyceum of the Philippines University -
Cavite. During his junior high years, Alhambra was challenged to leadership roles that required
high decision-making skills. In his venture to becoming a quality student leader, Alhambra
reckoned that he must make choices wherein tall orders and pipe dreams come almost
nonexistent. His leading positions as the class president, editor-in-chief of The Seventh Sense,
and vice president of the Malikhaing Kamay and Psych Lab organizations were carried out
remarkably. Currently, he is the lead writer in Galing LNC and Alpas Entertainment.

THE CONCEPT: INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION

The Concept of Natural Personality Parallelism by Vincent Alhambra deals with balancing
natural human tendencies and cognitive responses and using their central stability in making
real-life decisions. This concept was inspired by the famed Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®
(MBTI®), a psychological questionnaire by the Myers-Briggs Foundation that allows people to
assess their dominating personalities on different scales (i.e., mind, energy, nature, tactics, and
identity).

Under the Concept of Natural Personality Parallelism, specific natural human cognitive
responses—objectivity (logic) and subjectivity (emotions)—must be balanced upon making
decisions. While this concept understands that there is bound to be a dominating hold in each
individual (i.e., some may lean more on their emotions when faced with a decision-inducing
situation, while some may dwell on rationality), Alhambra argues that one can only choose a
sound decision if both logic and emotions come into parallel weight.

Naturally, reasoning and emotions can coexist but would frequently coincide. However, this
concept suggests that an individual can make them work together, despite its bifurcation.
According to a similar argument in a Quora forum, emotion and logic should not be mutually
exclusive; together, they perform best. Alhambra’s philosophy states that emotion and
subjectivity keep the psyche’s instinctive scale in check while logic and objectivity balance out
the spontaneous outbursts of emotions.

For example, when students choose their respective academic fields, they have two variables to
consider: social and emotional incentives. Social incentives are where our logical/objective
thinking is employed. We think of logistics critical for our ideal living, such as financial
recompenses. However, emotional incentives are variables sought out by our feelings/subjective
cognitions. Such questions as “will this course make me happy?” or “will this journey be
rewarding for my emotions?” are thought of in this scenario. When push comes to shove, we will
conclude with an ultimatum from these variables, which will then direct us to a path that may be
best for us—emotionally and logically.

THE CONCEPT’S VARIABLES

The Concept of Natural Personality Parallelism is a balanced objective-subjective line of action.

This concept requires variables derived from the MBTI® questionnaire’s nature scale (Thinking
[objectivity] [T] vs. Feeling [subjectivity] [F]). Upon making decisions, both of these variables
should be thought of. If one makes a decision solely based on objective cognition, it may come
across as phlegmatic and insensitive to the psyche of those involved. However, decisions may be
illogical and cursory if one concludes with subjectivity as the guiding apprehension.

THE CONCEPT’S HISTORY AND INFLUENCES

The MBTI® questionnaire runs on different scales (I. Mind [Introvert (I) vs. Extrovert (E)], II.
Energy [Observant (S) vs. Intuitive (N)]. III. Nature [Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)], IV. Tactics
[Judging (J) vs. Prospecting (P)], and V. Identity [Assertive (-A) vs. Turbulent (-T)]).

According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®), one of the scales of human
personality is of natural essence (see III). This said nature of human personalities determines
how we make decisions and choices. The scale above is divided into two (2) different spectrums:
the thinking (T) trait and the feeling (F) trait. It goes with the question: what takes control more
in deciding, your head (T) or your heart (F)? However, in this concept, Alhambra suggests that
our head and heart can work together if they were to be rightfully balanced.

Upon answering his first MBTI® questionnaire on 16personalities.com, Alhambra got a result
that he was an ENTJ—a “commander” (Extrovert, iNtuitive, Thinking, and Judging). However,
he wasn’t mainly sold on the result because his nature scale indicated that he was 50% Thinking
and 50% Feeling. At first, it felt like he had broken the system by choosing answers that ended
on a 50:50 ratio. He decided to try another MBTI® questionnaire on a different website. On this
second try, he has gotten the ENFJ personality—the “protagonist” (Extrovert, iNtuitive, Feeling,
and Judging). However, data showed that his answers prompted 52% Thinking and 48% Feeling;
it was not precisely a 50:50 ratio, but it could be passed at such given its close aggregate. Upon
seeing the results, Alhambra developed the idea that throughout his life, emotions and logic
mutually come into play in his decision-making-inducing situations. He then realized that his
concept works best if one imagines that reason and emotion are perfectly stabilized on a
balancing scale. While he acknowledges that one cannot perfectly balance the two variables
described above, they must still be equally and mutually considered if one wishes to make a
sound decision.