Define "Kindred Spirit"

[Apollonian]

This question came up in conversation today:
What is the meaning of the phrase "kindred spirit" ?

I thought this would be relevant to typology. Is a 'kindred spirit' someone of similar type or dual type? Is it someone who thinks alike but shares different activities, or is it someone who may think differently but has shared the same experiences?

I'd venture to guess that it would be a long the lines of thinking and believing the same things in roughly the same way.

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, "What! You too? I thought I was the only one!"” - C. S. Lewis

Thoughts?

[Joy]

Quadras come to mind.

[UDP]

ANy terms is based on the context of how it is used, especially in conversation. The definition for what you meant when you heard or said "kindered spirit" is really subjectively inside you. COMN 103 says: "Meanings are in people, not words"




Seriously, though, I've nothing to say, especially about this subject.

[Apollonian]

Quadras come to mind.

What about them?

[Ms. Kensington]

actually when i read your post i thought of my INFj friend (I am INTj). I think it speaks to someone feeling as if they have the same outlook on life without needing to think exactly the same. There has to be understanding on some issues, but i'm unsure how many issues one has to understand in order to feel like you are kindred.

I think I would say I'd define it as handling situations or seeing situations in the same way. I would say this is not the same as someone who makes you feel comfortable or who has the same values. I dont think i share many values with my INFj friend for example. you have to feel like the other person understands why you behaved in a certain way, and might do that herself in a similar situation. I at least do not find that with people who don't have the same functions in their conscious block.

My INFp friend has called me a kindred spirit on many occaisions, but I don't feel that way about her. I do really like/love her though and appreciate her.

on the other hand, i have an ENFp friend who has Ne in her conscious block like me, but I dont feel we are kindred either. I feel we just get along and i love her to death.

[tcaudilllg]

A kindred spirit is someone who alternates between their dominant functions in phase with your own alternation. (for example, Se vs Fi, Ne vs Ti, etc) When the rationalizing function is faced with irrational data, there will be a conflict unless adaptation is made by at least one party. Because phase adaptation is impossible (because the dominant function phase is controlled by unconscious adaptation mechanisms) then some parties are destined to be mutual adversaries, and other allies/kindred spirits.

So to say, function phase is the source of ideological splits.

[Apollonian]

So, if we can say that "kindred" is tied to functional analysis, then who would be the "kindred" of the INTj's? INTp?

Personally, I doubt it is simply about functions, and the definition of "kindred" may vary from person to person (however this is a survey thread as applied to socionics, not a discussion of etymology/semantics).