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contrast, the group's Feelers were characteristically willing to make an exception to the rules—even
the group's INFJ Counselor Troi. INFJs are even more rule conscious than either ISTJs or INTJs,
but they're quite happy to make an exception for sympathetic victims who might be hurt by a strict
interpretation of the law.
There were two surprise votes. First, the group's ETJ doctor sided strongly with the Feelers and
upheld the validity of emotions in decision-making. (A good example, perhaps, of occupational
conditioning.) The other exception was that Riker (ESTP) came out in favor the abiding by the
Prime Directive, essentially arguing that it wasn't any of their business to decide who lives or dies.
I have no type-based explanation for this ESTP's anomalous behavior, especially since Riker is the
crewmember who most closely resembles the ETP captain Kirk of the Original Series. Kirk, of
course, viewed the Prime Directive as an optional guideline that could be cunningly justified away
with lawyer-like gyrations, or totally disregarded if necessary.
Picard would have none of that. When Data suggested that Sarjenka's call could be viewed as a
request for help and thus an invitation for interference, Picard replied, "Sophistry." In typical INTJ
style, he focused not on the characteristics of the particular case at hand, but on the broader context
of the circumstances in which it would be acceptable to violate the Prime Directive. Note how he
changes the debate from a discussion of a single example into a discussion about a principle
intended to govern all future examples:
Picard: So we make an exception in the deaths of millions.
Pulaski: Yes.
Picard: And is it the same situation if it's an epidemic, and not a geological calamity?
Pulaski: Absolutely.
Picard: How about a war? If generations of conflict is killing millions, do we interfere? Ah, well, now
we're all a little less secure in our moral certitude. And what if it's not just killings. If an oppressive
government is enslaving millions? You see, the Prime Directive has many different functions, not the
least of which is to protect us. To prevent us from allowing our emotions to overwhelm our judgment.
In the end, Picard was not swayed by the arguments of his officers; he decided to obey the Prime
Directive despite the dramatic nature of the case in question. 173 Or at least, he tried. When he
ordered Data to sever communications with the planet, he ended up overhearing a pathetic plea
from Sarjenka. There was just no resisting the frightened little girl, and Picard allowed emotions to
overwhelm his judgment. Reluctantly he ended up violating the Prime Directive in increasingly
dramatic ways throughout the episode, just as he had predicted. (Well, we've all got a little Feeler
in us, right?) On an amusing side note, most of the subsequent violations were initiated by Data,
who seems to share Kirk's view of the Prime Directive. It's hard to get obedient androids these
days.
One final observation is that Picard could and did quote regulations. At one point, Dr. Pulaski,
frustrated with Picard's refusal to agree to a risky request, burst out, "You don't have to quote the
rulebook!" People can sometimes be frustrated by the INTJ's tendency to follow principles or rules
without exceptions.
Problems
One of the interesting problems of leadership is the Judging/Perceiving question—under which
circumstances is each preference better? Generally speaking, I think that Judging is the better style
when a situation is predictable and certain, whereas Perceiving is the better style when a situation is
173 As a rule-breaking INTP, I was yelling at the TV in my head at this point.