| The theory presents two types of cognitive processes, judgement and perception. Perception processes want to generate information, or they may gather it. The two processes are Sensing and Intuition. Judgement processes want to structure information to suit the person's desired utility. They're Thinking and Feeling. Notice how the terminology used in the description matches that particular terminology found in Myers-Briggs theory. |
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In the typology theory, this Judgement/Perception dichotomy is amplied with the concept of Introversion and Extroversion. Each of the mechanisms (Sensing, Intuition, Feeling and Thinking) has two distinct functions
that are different depending on their side. We will have eight functions then. (The table is a slightly modified version of the one found in mbti notes, credit goes to them for the original layout) Each of the 16 types is written by starting from an XXXX. The fixed order for the function stack depends on the origin of the first function. Remember the Introverted/Extraverted dichotomy? It can be used to describe the stack. As in the Myers-Briggs theory, eight types are extraverted and eight types are introverted. If the type is extraverted, the order of the functions will be Xe-Xi-Xe-Xi. If the type is introverted, the order will be reversed (Xi-Xe-Xi-Xe). This, of course, implies that in different types, the same function will be either absent from the stack or in a different position. But let's discover more about the functions. The four functions that are in the stack get a different name depending on their position. The first function is called the dominant. It's the function that has the upper hand in terms of influence. However, it's not necessarily the most apparent nor the most stable and mature. That being said, having a high degree of influence means that this function is often 'brought up' in thoughts and theories, and this could potentially add accuracy. The second function is called the auxiliary. It has a huge impact on the "execution" of the way of thinking and it's typically the one that can be spotted by looking at a person's outer manifestations of thought. In terms of strength, it's typically almost as strong as the dominant, although more visible and potentially less accurate. Lower functions, such as the tertiary and the inferior, are used less consciously and are typically underdeveloped due to lack of usage and stability. The inferior, however, has an impact in how the dominant makes decisions and gets data. In the modern typology community, it is widely accepted that the inferior function is part of the dominant function's structure, being the opposite in terms of dichotomy (S/N-T/F). If Fe is your dominant, Ti will be your inferior. See the types page for every stack. |
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Let's summarize every function to see what they're supposed to do. I don't intend to copy what the original source (Carl Jung) says about the functions, but will instead provide an extract of the descriptions with a grounded approach,
to avoid saying anything too specific or anything useless about the functions. By remembering that functions don't find their root in the person's behavior, one has understood the basic principle that guides their description.
Another thing to note is that functions are used in pairs most of the time, or even in bigger combinations. The individual description has the sole purpose of informing about the single function's capabilities, not about its usage.
By referring to the function as a separate entity from the user, I don't mean to do it literally. It just allows me to explain a function's job better. Sensing - Extraverted Sensing This function wants to engage in the environment without having to create mental frameworks to adapt to it. This function helps with situations that require a certain degree of mental sharpness, or simply situations that need to be changed quickly. To understand it better, it's the ability to gather information from the outside world without any type of processing. This information can be used later as a base for other mental operations (thanks to the other functions). The higher Se (Extraverted Sensing) is in the stack, the faster it'll be in gathering this informations. Se's constructs are made of what can be directly observed in reality (that door is half closed, that bottle is green). In learning, high Se users value experience and immediate knowledge to apply their ideas as soon as they can. As any extraverted function, Se is meant to be used to act in the external environment, and not in the person's thoughts, even if it can be part of them. Sensing - Introverted Sensing Wrongly associated with memory, this function's aim is to build subjective impressions about something that could happen in the future, based on the current situation. High Si users are able to create frameworks that can pop up when a different situation appears. At its core, Si wants to be absolutely sure of this statement: "if this happens, that will definitely happen". Low Si users have a lot of possibilities in their minds, but fail to think about where they can happen. High Si users aren't typically drowning in new ideas, but they know that when the initial situation is triggered, what they have in mind will happen. And if it doesn't happen, Si users will be inevitably stressed, as they'd lose certainty about some things. iNtuition - Extraverted Intuition This function allows to create multiple contexts in which an idea could fit. The starting point remains the same, high Ne users rely on their Si to provide them with the ideas they need, then they switch the context in which those ideas are put. An interesting example, that may seem dumb but synthesizes the function very well, is memes. This is because memes are literally one of Ne's most clever purposes. While Ne can look like multiple ideas, what Ne users do is catch old situations and put them into new contexts. This ability is particularly useful when the Ne user is constantly stimulated, because the constant research for old situations to apply is what Ne strives to do the most. iNtuition - Introverted Intuition Do you often find yourself theorizing about what is absolutely clear, under your eyes? If the answer is yes, you're most likely a Ni user. This function's aim is to discover possible meanings behind what's already tangible in the eyes of the user. In the mind of a high Ni user, something that has a clear meaning isn't always clear. A small example of Ni is seeing someone's object in their house and immediately thinking that this person has a relation with it (seeing a football jersey and thinking that this person is/was a footballer or a fanatical supporter). The variety and complexity of these theories may vary depending on the Ni user's maturity, age and culture. Thinking - Extraverted Thinking Every extraverted function has an underlying desire to connect with others' ideas, and Te is no exception. This function wants to create objective methods to solve problems of any kind. The keyword here is 'flexibility' because things need to be applied everywhere they can, and they have to work everytime. Te is often associated with an absolutistic mindset that may or may not be there. Typically rational, high Te users want to help others and solve problems as much as they can. Their approach, however, won't rely on common ground on emotions, but on concrete ideas that work and will always work. High Te users usually have a plan for every move, even when a plan is not necessary. Te wants to discover what really works, and discard what doesn't. Thinking - Introverted Thinking While Te wants to find the correct system to solve problems, Ti wants to create that system. Innovation and discovery are two keywords of Ti. Through logical analysis, Ti users are able to create standardized formulas without having to rely on external observations too much. Ti is the perfect example of why functions need to be paired. The description of the function alone lets out that this function needs to cooperate with the other in the user's stack to be useful and create systems. In the types page, you can see how Ti is used among the types that wield it in their stack. A real life example of (unhealthy) Ti could be any kind of social group that bases their beliefs on internal logic. Conspiracy groups are a good example, but also niche psychology communities such as MBTI enthusiasts could be assimilated to a collective usage of Ti, at least to assemble the concepts and create new theories about the main one. Feeling - Extraverted Feeling Fe's main purpose is to catch what the people around the user are feeling, to adapt to their feelings and tune in with the group or with a single person. High Fe users are typically able to connect with other people's feelings without problems, and they seek to unite with feelings of others. Most of the time, if a Fe user cannot 'click' with someone, they'll be frustrated. This tendency to bring people together may bring power and fame to the Fe user. They're typically very empathetic and easy to approach, with a tendency to 'blend in' until something strong catches their attention and they feel like putting up their ideas on the table. Feeling - Introverted Feeling This function's role is to create personalized moral standards in the user. This tendency may make it seem like high Fi users are absolutists and see things as morally good or bad, while it's actually the opposite, as higher Fi will set standards for themselves, and high Fi users won't criticize other people's standards as much as high Te/Ti users. There's a tendency to be compliant in terms of how others can see these morals, a sort of tolerance that isn't allowed in the person that wields Fi. The user is the real controlled entity by this function, and has to be rigid in their moral standards. Fi's openness to morality is, more often than not, a way to conform with a function that doesn't normally allow it too much. |