Hermione, kindness/insensitivity

[bbennett320178]

No: HPFGUIDX 36060

Serenadust wrote:

> > Her insensitivity to others can
> >be breathtaking at times. Remember her response to the death of
> >Lavenders rabbit? She consistently favors being right over being
> > kind.

You're talking about personality type, Serena. Hermione can 
be kind to others, as Amy pointed out, but when her sense of Right is 
challenged, proving her point becomes her main goal - not being 
sensitive to others. Myers Brigg (and Keirsey/Jung) categorize people 
into Thinkers and Feelers. Thinkers are primarily interested in what 
is Just, a concept they determine through the use of impersonal logic 
(facts they can determine that are dependent of 
personal 'interference'). Feelers are primarily 
concerned with what is Fair, which is determined through their 
relationships with people and the use of personal logic. The House 
Elf situation is a good example - Hermione's primary interest in this 
situation is seeing Justice served and the House Elves liberated, 
which her impersonal logic tells her is the way things should be - 
she has little interest in relating to the House Elves on a personal 
level once she finds out they are wary of her plans, and does not let 
their personal feelings sway her. This is very Thinker behavior (I 
think Harry is a Thinker as well).

This of course doesn't mean a Feeler would decide the House Elf 
situation was A-OK once they talked to the Elves (a Feeler would 
proceed with plans on a more personal level, taking the Elves 
feelings into account), or that Thinkers are somehow naturally rude - 
it's just a difference in how people think. 

This has been discussed some over on the OT thread; Keirsey's website 
has more on the T/F difference (http://keirsey.com/pumII/tf.html).

B