dragonflymage:
If You’re Confused About Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type, Read This: An Intro To Cognitive Functions
Here is an overview of the eight cognitive functions:
Perceptive Functions:
Extroverted Intuition (Ne):
Extroverted intuition generates new possibilities, synthesizes
abstract ideas and picks up on connections in the external environment.
Extroverted intuition is capable of entertaining multiple contradictory
ideas simultaneously as it sees almost every side to every situation. It
is predominantly a future-oriented function that examines all the
possibilities of what could happen next.
People who lead with extroverted intuition are usually excitable,
entrepreneurial and highly creative. They intrinsically enjoy debating
ideas, exploring various interests and they view almost everything in
life as a challenge. They are constantly thinking about what to do or
experience next, but have a difficult time sticking with just one idea
or plan long-term.
Introverted Intuition (Ni):
Introverted intuition forms a framework of how the world works based
on thorough, abstract analysis of past and current events. It aims to
identify the ‘essence’ of ideas, theories, people and situations in
order to fit them into a larger schema. Introverted intuition is a
forward thinking function that seeks to identify the optimal or most
likely outcome of future events.
People who lead with introverted intuition are usually intense,
focused and highly perceptive of inconsistencies that arise in their
external environment. They enjoy riddles, puzzles and wordplay. They
often experience ‘hunches’ or ‘aha’ moments that they may identify as
epiphanies. Their intense foresight is a product of their
future-oriented introverted intuition subtly pairing with their inferior
extroverted sensing.
Extroverted Sensing (Se):
Extroverted sensing is focused on taking in the world as it exists in
the present moment. It is highly in tune with the sights, smells,
sounds and general physical stimulus that surrounds it. Extroverted
sensing lives and thrives in the moment, more so than any other
function.
People who lead with extroverted sensing are often naturally
athletic, highly impulsive and enjoy ever-changing stimuli. They place a
high value on aesthetics and lust after the ‘finer things in life.’
Extroverted sensors usually aren’t interested in over-analyzing a
situation – they simply see what they want and they go for it. These
types tend to exude a natural sense of confidence, as they are usually
quite sure of who they are and what they want.
Introverted Sensing (Si):
Introverted sensing is a detail-oriented, information storage
function. It takes note of facts, events and occurrences exactly as they
happen and categorizes them, somewhat like an internal filing system.
This is a past-oriented function that dwells predominantly on what has
been and it often gives way to nostalgia.
People who lead with introverted sensing are organized and
structured, as they believe in being prepared for any potential mishap.
They hold tradition in high esteem and believe that the tried and true
method is always the best way of getting things done. Introverted
sensors believe that the future will repeat the past, more so than any
other type.
Judging/Decision-Making Functions:
Introverted Feeling (Fi):
Introverted feeling is the in-depth analysis of emotional processes
and morality. It seeks to break down emotions to their core and
understand them as wholly as possible. It also develops a strong
internal system of right and wrong, which the Fi user employs to make
decisions. Introverted feeling searches for the deeper meaning behind
absolutely everything. Introverted feelers are highly aware of and in
touch with their own emotions, and when they put themselves in the shoes
of others, they can often feel their pain or joy on a personal level.
People who lead with introverted feeling are compassionate,
analytical and often highly concerned with moral issues. They are
usually highly creative or artistic, and may feel as though nobody else
truly understands who they are deep down. Because their feelings are
introverted, Fi-dominant types aren’t always comfortable expressing how
they feel outwardly. They have a rich inner world that they want to
guard and yet they often secretly wish that others were capable of
tapping into it.
Extroverted Feeling (Fe):
Extroverted feeling is highly concerned with maintaining social norms
and keeping the peace. It is a decision-making function that strives to
do what is best for the group and picks up naturally on the emotions of
others. It is a mirroring function that may cause the user to have
trouble deciphering their own feelings without the input of others.
Extroverted feeling requires social interaction to stay fulfilled, more
so than any other function.
People who lead with extroverted feeling are highly reactive to the
feelings of others. They seek out social interaction relentlessly, as
they feel the happiest and most alive when they are in the company of
loved ones. They seek to maintain harmony and keep the peace at all
costs – they cannot fully enjoy themselves unless the people around them
are healthy, happy and comfortable.
Extroverted Thinking (Te):
Extroverted thinking seeks to impose order on the external
environment as efficiently and logically as possible. It values
productivity above all else and is a results-based, action-oriented
function. Extroverted thinking naturally implements concrete plans for
accomplishing goals and is quick to make decisions.
People who lead with extroverted thinking are frank, decisive and
highly productive in every capacity. They are natural leaders in the
workplace as they are quick to take charge and impose order. Dominant
extroverted thinkers may come across as bossy or opinionated to those
who lack the function, but in reality they are simply pointing out what
they believe to be the most efficient course of action for everyone
involved.
Introverted Thinking (Ti):
Introverted thinking is an information-gathering function that seeks
to form a framework for how the world works on a concrete, tangible
level. It is adept at understanding systems and naturally notices
inconsistencies within them. Introverted thinking seeks a thorough
understanding of how things work – it wants to deconstruct things to
look at the individual parts and see how things function as a whole.
People who lead with introverted thinking are logical, systematic and
objective to a fault. They enjoy finding ‘short-cuts’ that increase
efficiency within a given system. Ti-dominants are often heavily
introverted, as they take a great deal of time to understand how things
work before they feel comfortable sharing or acting on their knowledge.
How do I know what order I use my functions in?
It can be confusing trying to figure this out. We’re often more aware of
our second function than our first, as we are somewhat removed from our
second function and can see it more objectively.
Think of it like this: You are in a swimming pool and your first (or
“dominant”) function is the water. It’s everywhere. It’s what you do
without thinking about it. It’s your natural first impulse to every
situation – it comes to you so naturally that you may not even notice
yourself using it.
Your second function (known as your auxiliary function) is like the
ladder, or the waterslide. To an extent, you can choose to use it or not
use it. You are very aware of its presence. You can’t make it go away,
but you can temporarily ignore it. You have to swim through the water to
get there.
Your third and fourth functions (Or your “tertiary” and “inferior”
functions) are less accessible to you, as you may not fully develop them
until you are nearing middle age. When you’re younger, your third and
fourth functions are primarily called upon when you are under stress. If
you started drowning in the water, your tertiary and inferior functions
would be the life raft that you cling to. Eventually, you can integrate
them to become pool toys that you use on a regular basis. Once you’ve
done this, you will finally have a well-balanced, relaxing pool
experience. We can also refer to this as type actualization.
The breakdown of functions and the order in which they’re used is as follows for each type:
ENFP: Ne – Fi – Te – Si
INFP: Fi – Ne – Si – Te
INFJ: Ni – Fe – Ti – Se
ENFJ: Fe – Ni – Se – Ti
ISTJ: Si – Te – Fi – Ne
ESTJ: Te – Si – Ne – Fi
ISTP: Ti – Se – Ni – Fe
ESTP: Se – Ti – Fe – Ni
INTJ: Ni – Te – Fi – Se
INTP: Ti – Ne – Si – Fe
ENTJ: Te – Ni – Se – Fi
ENTP: Ne – Ti – Fe – Si
ISFJ: Si – Fe – Ti – Ne
ISFP: Fi – Se – Ni – Te
ESFJ: Fe – Si – Ne – Ti
ESFP: Se – Fi – Te – Ni
Any type can, theoretically, access any of the eight cognitive
functions, but tapping into a function that is not part of your type’s
stacking will be an incredibly exhausting experience.
Why is it important to know about functions?
Understanding cognitive functions is imperative to understanding
type. The four-letter dichotomies cannot possibly explain the complexity
of our personalities – we are all thinkers, feelers, sensors and
intuitives in various situations. The cognitive functions allow us to
understand when we use each function and how it impacts our
decision-making process.
Cognitive functions also help us to distinguish between types with
clarity. No more thinking you’re an ENFP/J! Now you know that ENFPs and
ENFJs actually share zero cognitive functions. If you’re an ENFP who
employs a great deal of structure into your life, it simply means you’ve
developed your extroverted thinking function effectively.
Lastly, having a thorough understanding of cognitive functions helps
us understand how type can develop without actually changing
(theoretically type does not/cannot change throughout a lifetime). An
INFP may begin developing their extroverted thinking in their thirties
or forties but that does not mean they are now an INTP! It simply means
they are becoming a more well-rounded version of their own type.