The Principles of Cognitive Function Theory @mbti-notes

Guide Contents:

I. What Is Type?

- Cognition vs Behavior

- Personality is Interactive

- Personality is Not a “Box”

- Personality Evolves

II. The Functional Stack

- The Four Cognitive Processes

- Introverted vs Extraverted Cognitive Functions

- Ordering the Cognitive Functions

- Translating MBTI Code

- Confusions & Controversies

III. The Primary Cognitive Functions

1. The Role of the Dominant Function

- Dominant Si/Ni, Se/Ne, Ti/Fi, Te/Fe

- Considerations for Dominant Assessment

2. The Role of the Inferior Function

- Inferior Si/Ni, Se/Ne, Ti/Fi, Te/Fe

- Considerations for Inferior Assessment

3. The Role of the Auxiliary Function

- Auxiliary Si/Ni, Se/Ne, Ti/Fi, Te/Fe

- Considerations for Auxiliary Assessment

4. The Role of the Tertiary Function

- Tertiary Si/Ni, Se/Ne, Ti/Fi, Te/Fe

- Considerations for Tertiary Assessment

IV. Function Dynamics

- Perceiving Conflicts (Si & Ne, Ni & Se)

- Judging Conflicts (Ti & Fe, Fi & Te)

- Considerations for Type Assessment

V. Bring It All Together

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PART I: WHAT IS TYPE?



Interest in personality theory often stems from curiosity about individual differences among people, especially when those differences produce misunderstanding or conflict. There are many personality theories out there, and they differ in terms of: 1) how they conceptualize and systematize individual differences, 2) how they explain the existence of those differences and/or their origin, and 3) what the differences mean and what to do about them.

Many people are introduced to type theory through online quizzes and short type descriptions, however, these only scratch the surface of what type is about. Some people understand the 16 types through memorizing labels or stereotypes that fail to honor the true diversity and subtleties of each type. If you want to understand type and yourself beyond oversimplified labels, crude stereotypes, or generic average descriptions, it is necessary to learn some key principles of type theory.

Type theory, broadly speaking, includes several different interpretations of Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types, of which the MBTI system is but one well-known school of thought - others include Keirsey’s Temperaments, Socionics, Beebe’s Eight-Function Model. The ideas presented in this guide are an attempt to synthesize the best aspects of several models while still adhering to the key principles of analytical psychology. Theory is only as good as how well it can match up to empirical fact, and this guide has been painstakingly revised and refined many times in accordance with real experiences and feedback from individuals of each type. Although lay people might find it difficult to learn theory, I believe it is worth the effort, because type theory has shown great promise in helping people make sense of themselves and others, even aiding with resolving some long running psychological issues.

While Carl Jung wrote about psychological types, his main focus was not personality per se but actually psychoanalysis and the relationship between therapist and client. He was largely concerned with understanding the therapeutic relationship and how to best help people heal their psychological problems. Therefore, it is difficult to fully understand his ideas about personality without knowing the broader context of his way of doing therapy, which is often referred to as analytical psychology (sometimes classified as belonging to the psychodynamic or psychoanalytic school that was founded by Sigmund Freud). Jung and an entire generation of subsequent disciples/critics were instrumental in developing many of the ideas that we now take for granted about psychology, particularly about the unconscious mind. Generally speaking, analytical psychology seeks to understand individuals and how they psychologically develop and mature, heavily emphasizing the role that the unconscious mind plays in influencing our thoughts, emotions, and behavior.

Before getting into the details of each personality type, it is important to first understand the basis of type and what it is.

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Cognition versus Behavior

Type theory conceptualizes personality as a set of cognitive preferences, and people are sorted into different personality categories according to their natural preferences. The categories are not hierarchical (i.e. no type is better than the others); they are all considered equal in that each personality type has its own set of strengths and weaknesses and its own unique role to play in the world. In order to understand what type is, the first concept to learn is the difference between cognition and behavior.

cognition : the perceptual and evaluative mental processes that one uses to make sense of the world and navigate it successfully

: the perceptual and evaluative mental processes that one uses to make sense of the world and navigate it successfully behavior: characteristics, traits, or actions that are often easily observable and/or measurable

A person’s type is best identified through cognition as opposed to their manifested behaviors. Too often, people only look at behavior. For example, both ESFPs and ESFJs tend to be energetic and friendly people. However, the cognitive process that gives rise to the “friendliness” trait and subsequent “friendly” behaviors is different for the two types (Fi vs Fe). Therefore, if you were to try to type someone based only on the observable trait of “friendliness” without knowing why or how that trait arose, it becomes all too easy to mistype or confuse the two types.

Without cognition, you wouldn’t have ideas, thoughts, or feelings, and your behaviors wouldn’t have much meaning because you would be ruled only by your autonomous “animal” brain that is geared for physical survival. It is through cognition that we develop a sense of self, make meaning out of life’s events, evaluate situations and make decisions, and visualize what is in store for us in the future - cognition is what makes us human. This implies that cognitive processes can go awry because some people do not develop a strong sense of self, some people have difficulty finding meaning in life, some people make bad judgments and decisions, and some people cannot envision their future self very well.

The challenge of type theory is not only to categorize people according to their similarities and differences but also to make sense of those differences, especially when they stem from cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, there is an underlying developmental aspect that is baked into Jung’s conception of personality.

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Personality is Interactive



Since type theory conceptualizes personality primarily as one’s cognitive processes, personality is understood as dynamic. Your mind is constantly interacting with the world and trying to make sense of environmental stimuli - you act upon the world and the world acts upon you - which means that a good theory of personality must take into account not just individual traits but also how those traits interact with the larger world in which a person lives.

While cognition and behavior are interdependent, they don’t have a one-to-one relationship, i.e., thinking something does not automatically lead to doing something. Your personality cannot predict all of your behavior because there are factors aside from personality that also influence you (such as: situational stress, socioeconomic pressure, mental illness, etc), but personality does go a long way to explain why you made the choices you made.

Humans are complex. We presumably have free will, so you can make a conscious choice to override your cognitive preferences whenever you deem it necessary. For example, even though you possess the cognitive preference for introversion, which predicts that much of your behavior will be related to exercising introversion, you also understand that some situations call for extraverted behavior. Therefore, you know to set aside your introversion under certain circumstances. This produces a temporary mismatch of personality and behavior, but it does not cancel out your true personality, i.e., an introvert who learns to ACT extraverted will never BE a true extravert since the cognitive preference for introversion can’t be negated. Type theory differs somewhat from other personality theories because it takes complex patterns of cognition as most primary for defining a person.

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Personality is Not a “Box”

Type should not be conceptualized as a “box” that restricts or limits how a person should live their life. Personality type is often mingled with other concepts that should be treated separately.

Type should not be conflated with intelligence, though the two interact with each other. Intelligence refers to learning ability. While type is likely to influence the kinds of things you get INTERESTED in, type itself does not guarantee that you will end up being GOOD AT those things. To be good at something requires intelligence, but also things like aptitude, skill, passion, practice, hard work, education, access to good learning resources, etc. Not every individual ends up liking things or being good at things that you would expect for their type. Remember that learning is heavily influenced by one’s social environment and life experiences. Type should not place an unnecessary limit on your interests, hobbies, or career choice.

Type should not be conflated with emotional stability. Emotional stability refers to one’s ability to manage emotional life. While your type influences how willing you are to take into account feelings and emotions when decision making, type does not determine whether you will be an emotionally well-adjusted person. To be an emotionally intelligent person requires learning, experience, and practice - it coincides with psychological maturation. Anyone can learn to have better emotional management skills as long as they value having such knowledge and set out to master it.

Type should not be conflated with stereotypical behavioral traits. One reason people mistype is because of common stereotypes that make people believe they can’t be a certain type if they don’t behave a certain way. For example, there is a stereotype that ESTPs are all good at sports, so a clumsy ESTP with two left feet might have difficulty typing themselves when they don’t realize that the stereotype is not the true definition of ESTP. Many generic type descriptions assign certain behavioral traits to each type in order to speed up and simplify type assessment, but they unfortunately easily morph into stereotypes that people rely on to understand themselves/others. Stereotypes can be harmful if they prey on your insecurities, if they offer you a false sense of validation, or if you use them to pigeonhole others unfairly. On the surface, stereotypes might seem positive because people want to feel validated and labels are an easy device for communicating about yourself to others, however, simplistic labels and stereotypes can lock you into perceiving yourself and others in a very narrow and rigid way, cutting off the potential for growth or deeper understanding.

Type should not be conflated with sameness. Don’t assume that everyone of the same type is the same. Everyone has their own unique history and life circumstances to deal with, so every individual is a unique example of their type. Think of it this way: All humans have a face but no two faces are exactly the same, even identical twins diverge as their physical bodies respond differently to the wear and tear of living different lives. Some faces look similar, some look more unique than others, some look more extreme than others. It’s not very useful to describe someone simply as having a face, which is basically what you do when you stereotype because, by this crude measure, all humans are the same - overgeneralizing erases the diversity and the distinctiveness of the individuals within the group.

Let’s say that you often observe someone to be “reserved”, it is very easy to jump to the conclusion that they are introverted because they display stereotypical introverted behavior. However, there are many possible non-type-related reasons why a person might behave that way, such as: depression, anxiety, a recent tragedy, past learning or upbringing, cultural influences, etc. In other words, the person might indeed be introverted but you can’t be certain until you accurately contextualize their behavior by examining their unique individual circumstances. When trying to type yourself or other people, you are likely to make mistakes if you rely on stereotypes or simply take behaviors at face value; you should instead try to grasp the individual’s cognitive processes that produced those behaviors, which is a much more difficult task.

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Personality Evolves

Type theory conceptualizes personality as an integral part of a person’s process of psychological growth. Your type never changes but type expression evolves over time as you slowly learn to harness the “missing” parts of your personality. Imagine that personality is like a weighing scale: If you are introverted, then you are likely to develop the strengths and advantages of introversion more naturally, which means that you will spend less time to develop the strengths and advantages of the opposite process of extraversion. This produces an imbalance among these two sides of your personality when you’re young, but as you get older (assuming normal psychological development), you gradually become more conscious of this imbalance and then feel a natural desire to rectify it. This is why someone might type as introverted early in life but then as extraverted later in life, assuming that they only use a simple test to assess themselves. It is likely that the person is indeed introverted but their personality evolved to more fully embrace extraversion. In other words, normal personality development makes people more well-rounded over time (though not everyone develops normally, for a variety of reasons).

However, you cannot embrace the opposite side of your personality to the extent that it becomes the natural or dominant part of your personality, which means that there is some truth in the old adage that people never change. There are indeed limits to personality development because you cannot be all things at once, however, you can learn to harness some of the strengths that were inaccessible to you earlier on in life. Type theory outlines how each personality grows and develops. When you understand the principles of type development, you are able to consciously steer yourself in a more positive direction. When you understand your type’s strengths and weaknesses in greater depth, you have a chance to make the necessary corrections and/or practice the necessary skills to bring better balance to your personality. The challenge of type development is not to become superhuman or godly but to gradually increase self-awareness, which allows you more opportunity for effective self-management. Being more self-aware, you understand yourself and the world more accurately and then make better decisions.

As you read through the guide, you might notice that I often use the words “unconscious” and “conscious” to describe how a person uses their cognitive functions. The mind is complicated and I use these two terms to simplify the concept of self-awareness. Generally speaking, you use a cognitive function unconsciously when: 1) you don’t know or don’t understand why you think or behave a certain way, 2) you are unaware of how exactly a cognitive function is influencing or motivating you, 3) you are unaware that lazy cognitive “shortcuts” are producing inaccurate perception and flawed judgment, 4) you are unaware of the underlying emotional reactivity that distorts your perception and judgment processes. Needless to say, a person who uses their cognitive functions unconsciously most of the time is going to have difficulty assessing their own type due to poor self-awareness and/or distorted self-image.

By contrast, using a function consciously means that you are self-aware and possess an accurate understanding of your intentions and motivations. You also understand how function misuse leads to cognitive biases and distortions and then make an effort to correct any cognitive processes that run amok. In short, understanding your personality type in depth allows you to consciously bring out the positive aspects of your personality by appropriately resolving the negative aspects.

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PART II: THE FUNCTIONAL STACK

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The Four Cognitive Processes

In type theory, a cognitive process refers to a particular method of making sense of the world. There are two kinds of cognitive processes:

1) Perceptual processes gather information about the world. The two perceiving processes are Sensing and Intuition.

2) Judgment processes consolidate and structure information for making judgments and decisions. The two judging processes are Thinking and Feeling.

Perceiving Process Judging Process S

(Sensing) gathers sensory

facts/details T

(Thinking) judgments based on

systematic principles N

(Intuition) gathers abstract

patterns/possibility F

(Feeling) judgments based on

human values

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Introverted vs Extraverted Cognitive Functions

Each cognitive process can be expressed inwardly in an introverted (i) manner or outwardly in an extraverted (e) manner, making 8 possible modes of cognitive functioning.

Cognitive

Process Introverted

Function Extraverted

Function Perceiving

Process S Si (Introverted Sensing)

compares sensory details Se (Extraverted Sensing)

acts on sensory changes N Ni (Introverted Intuition)

interprets speculative ideas Ne (Extraverted Intuition)

actualizes abstract possibilities Judging

Process T Ti (Introverted Thinking)

calculates coherent formulas Te (Extraverted Thinking)

masters structural standards F Fi (Introverted Feeling)

adheres to personal values Fe (Extraverted Feeling)

contributes to social values

Introversion and extraversion are opposing attitudes that describe the flow of mental energy, either inwards or outwards respectively. Everyone possesses introverted and extraverted functions and uses them with varying degrees of success, and they should ideally work well together to help you reconcile your inner experience (the subjective) with the outer world (the objective).

Introverted functions channel mental energy inwards to your subjective experience, compelling you to interpret information through a personal lens and reflect on who you are as an individual apart from the world. Extraverted functions channel mental energy outwards to the objective world, compelling you to respond to external objects and stimuli, to act upon the world and integrate well with your surroundings.

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Ordering the Cognitive Functions

To address common mistyping patterns, this guide groups the cognitive functions along these categories:

Category Functions Purpose Operation Introverted

Perceiving Si or Ni conserve energy

set priorities filter information by its

subjective importance Extraverted

Perceiving Se or Ne receptivity

adaptability openness to interact with

environmental cues Introverted

Judging Ti or Fi individualism

uniqueness create a personalized

judgment system Extraverted

Judging Te or Fe organization

affiliation align with external

standards and values

This implies that when a person uses Si a lot, they can superficially resemble a person who uses Ni a lot, in behavior, because both seek to conserve energy and honor personal priorities (same for the other three categories). However, Sensing and Intuition use different cognitive strategies to achieve those goals, which again emphasizes the point that your type is found in cognition rather than behavior, i.e., the “how” and “why” (the exact method and reason for conserving energy) is more important than the “what” (the simple fact that one does).

Under normal circumstances, whether you are able to use each cognitive function successfully (i.e. to achieve the purpose that they are meant for) is largely determined by the function’s position in your functional stack. Each type is defined by a unique functional stack that orders the cognitive functions according to their degree of dominance in your psychology. From top to bottom, they are called the dominant, auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior functions. However, just because a function is higher in your stack, it does NOT mean that you use it maturely, rather, it only means that you rely more heavily upon it. You have more opportunity to learn how to use a function well the higher up it is, but it is not a given that you will because function development is not always a smooth process for everyone.

The top four primary functions heavily influence your mindset and attitude - they form the core of your personality. The “leftover” functions are commonly referred to as shadow functions.

MBTI Code & Functional Stack MBTI Dom Aux Ter Inf Shadow

ISTJ

ISFJ Si Te

Fe Fi

Ti Ne Se-Ti-Fe-Ni

Se-Fi-Te-Ni INTJ

INFJ Ni Te

Fe Fi

Ti Se Ne-Ti-Fe-Si

Ne-Fi-Te-Si ISTP

INTP Ti Se

Ne Ni

Si Fe Te-Si-Ne-Fi

Te-Ni-Se-Fi ISFP

INFP Fi Se

Ne Ni

Si Te Fe-Si-Ne-Ti

Fe-Ni-Se-Ti ESTP

ESFP Se Ti

Fi Fe

Te Ni Si-Te-Fi-Ne

Si-Fe-Ti-Ne ENTP

ENFP Ne Ti

Fi Fe

Te Si Ni-Te-Fi-Se

Ni-Fe-Ti-Se ESTJ

ENTJ Te Si

Ni Ne

Se Fi Ti-Se-Ni-Fe

Ti-Ne-Si-Fe ESFJ

ENFJ Fe Si

Ni Ne

Se Ti Fi-Se-Ni-Te

Fi-Ne-Si-Te

The job of each cognitive process (SNTF) is to orient you towards a particular aspect of reality, similar to how eyes are for seeing and ears are for hearing, and so on. Everyone uses all four cognitive processes and, when used well together, they should provide a comprehensive understanding of the world. Unfortunately, S/N and T/F are dichotomous processes that operate in opposite directions, therefore, you cannot both Sense and Intuit at exactly the same time, and you cannot both Think and Feel at exactly the same time (similar to how you cannot travel both left and right at exactly the same time). Put another way, you must negate or “shut off” one to perform the other; you can switch back and forth, but you can’t do them at the same time.

As a consequence, Sensing and Intuiting can create conflicting perceptions of the world, and Thinking and Feeling can draw conflicting conclusions about the world. When faced with challenges throughout life, we tend to utilize the perceiving process and the judging process that better serve our needs and desires. Over time, it is normal that one side of each dichotomy becomes better developed while the other side lags in development. This means that your ability to use the non-preferred cognitive processes is somewhat hampered.

In the normal course of development, people come to rely more heavily on one perceptual process (either S or N) and one judgment process (either T or F), and your main preferences are indicated by the top two functions of your stack. The remaining two non-preferred cognitive processes make up the third and fourth positions of the stack. For the dominant and auxiliary functions: 1) one is a perceiving function and the other a judging function, and 2) one is extraverted (e) and the other introverted (i). The dominant and inferior functions are opposite to each other. The auxiliary and tertiary functions are opposite to each other.

Taking a closer look at each functional stack, you begin to see how it affects what you tend to pay attention to and prioritize in life. For example, if your dominant function is an extraverted judging function (Te or Fe), you tend to prioritize your relationship to the external environment and, as a consequence, you naturally place less importance on carving out individuality and uniqueness, because that would remove and separate you from the external environment. If your dominant function is an extraverted perceiving function (Se or Ne), you tend to value being open and flexible in responding to what is happening in the external world and, as a consequence, you naturally place less emphasis on conserving energy and having well-defined personal priorities, because doing so would limit your movements.

It’s not that the lower functions are ignored or never used, they are simply lower on your list of what’s important, which of course influences how you make decisions in life. If you tried to pay attention to and prioritize everything equally, you’d often get overwhelmed and even stuck in contradictions, which wouldn’t be good for your psychological well-being. Analogy: Imagine that you walked into a room and every physical detail hit you equally hard, it would be very difficult to extract the useful information, and your memory would quickly get overloaded. Cognitive functions help you process information more efficiently, but the drawback is that you must neglect, ignore, or overlook some things in the process.

There is continual debate about how much of personality is inborn or when exactly these cognitive preferences arise during childhood development but, so far, science does not have the technological means to answer such questions with certainty. It is my personal opinion after reviewing early development research that personality type is already set at birth. However, analogous to the concept of epigenetics, how a particular individual ends up expressing their personality throughout life is dependent upon how they interact with their environmental challenges, so, once again: Every person is a unique example of their type.

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Translating MBTI Code

Myers and Briggs chose to emphasize the extraversion/introversion (E/I) and judging/perceiving (J/P) aspects of type, so they gave these two concepts their own labels. They believed that refining the theory in this way made it more practical and easy to understand. A person is introverted (I) if their dominant function is introverted (i) OR extraverted (E) if their dominant function is extraverted (e).

The J/P dichotomy points to one’s attitude about the EXTERNAL world, specifically, whether one prefers more or less structure from it, with J wanting more and P wanting less, so the J/P dichotomy is only concerned with the extraverted functions or a person’s relationship to the objective world:

- The P designation refers to types who like openness, so they prefer less external structure in order to remain free to explore options. P refers to types who have an extraverted perceiving function (Se/Ne) as one of their first two functions: 1) Se or Ne will be the dominant function if the person is E or extraverted; 2) Se or Ne will be the auxiliary function if the person is I or introverted.

- The J designation refers to types who like closure and for things to be decided in a timely manner, so they prefer more external structure in order to make life easier to predict and navigate. J refers to types who have an extraverted judging function (Te/Fe) as one of their first two functions: 1) Te or Fe will be the dominant function if the person is E or extraverted; 2) Te or Fe will be the auxiliary function if the person is I or introverted.

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[Regarding theoretical confusions about the functional stack:

While there is agreement that people use all four cognitive processes (SNTF), some theorists argue for a primary functions model (top four functions only), while others argue for a full stack model (all eight possible functions), while some even deny that functions have an i/e orientation. There also continues to be disagreement about the true order of the functional stack, particularly regarding the auxiliary and tertiary functions, with the confusion stemming back to Jung himself (he was not known for writing with clarity).

It is beyond the scope of an introductory guide to dive into theory disputes but I will say the following: 1) I don’t think that a full stack model postulates anything that can’t already be explained by a primary functions model. I am not closed to the idea but, so far, full stack models seem excessively complex, difficult to interpret consistently, difficult to apply effectively in therapeutic situations, and somewhat redundant (I admittedly prefer elegance). I believe that full stack models require further development and critique. 2) Drawing upon my one-on-one experience working with hundreds of individuals and their psychological issues, the conventionally accepted alternating functional stack (eiei/ieie) has proven most useful in correctly diagnosing cognitive development issues as well as prescribing the appropriate remedies.

I recommend conceptualizing the functional stack as the ideal path for achieving individuation over the lifespan, rather than using it merely as a type assessment instrument. Many people suffer from type development issues, which some might want to interpret as the result of expressing functions in the wrong i/e direction. Stunted development doesn’t mean that a person won’t fit a functional stack, it means that expression of their functions is problematic, which can make it more difficult to type accurately in some cases (and why it’s important to clearly distinguish cognition from behavior). However, once their type is correctly identified, the alternating stack is an effective guide for healing their maladaptive tendencies.]

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PART III: THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS

This part explains the eight cognitive functions and how to identify each of their four possible positions in the functional stack. Each section covers one position of the four-function-stack and concludes with notes about common self-typing issues/errors that people often encounter. While it is necessary to discuss the functions separately in order to clarify and distinguish between them, it is important to remember that, in real life, functions are continuously interacting with each other in complex ways. Also, possessing a function does not mean that you know how to use the function well (i.e. psychological development is an important consideration, which is covered in the Type Development Guide).

If assessing your own type, take some online tests to narrow down the field, then examine those functional stacks in depth to see which one fits best. In my opinion, a thorough type analysis should examine all 16 types impartially and narrow them down systematically to the correct type.

To type as accurately as possible, there should be plenty of factual evidence of all four cognitive processes (SNTF) and their exact stack position!



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Section 1: THE DOMINANT FUNCTION

This is Me!

The dominant function is the function one relies on the most. It provides the foundation for one’s sense of identity and helps to define which needs, goals, and desires should be satisfied in order to feel fulfilled. This means that, when a person uses their dominant function well (with good results), they tend to feel as though they are being their best self. This also means that, when a person uses their dominant function poorly (with negative results), they are likely to experience cognitive dissonance, negative emotions, or feel as though something is wrong. People who use their dominant function poorly tend to suffer very low self-awareness in terms of not understanding who they really are or what they really need in life (i.e. shallow and/or distorted self-image).

A quick way to identify the dominant function is to observe how you behave when faced with a non-threatening new situation and/or a mild challenge. These situations disorient you and you tend to reach for the “cognitive tool” that is most comfortable for you in order to reorient yourself. The dominant function is usually the first and most comfortable choice.

Get a good general overview of the eight cognitive functions by reading the descriptions below. The descriptions are simplified in addressing typical examples, but not every individual is a typical example of their type. Functions are complex and multifaceted, manifesting in many different possible ways. Ensure that you have properly understood the concepts of Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, and Feeling before moving forward, otherwise you may get easily confused when learning the advanced function concepts (see the Type Fundamentals Guide).

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A. Introverted Perceiving Functions (Si/Ni): Reflect Then Act



Introverted perceiving functions use foundational knowledge to keep oneself properly oriented in time and space. As you go through life, you accumulate knowledge and experience, which serves to create a personal narrative of where you’ve been, how you got here, and who you will be going forward. Si and Ni dominants rely on that knowledge to establish an internal sense of confidence before they feel comfortable enough to take part in the external world. Therefore, these two dominant functions sometimes manifest similar looking traits/behaviors (such as: reserved, cautious, conscientious), but the underlying cognitive processes for establishing subjective confidence move in opposite directions (S v N). Si, being a sensing function, meticulously records subjective experiences of sensory details. This databank of sensory knowledge is always used as a source of comparison for understanding new sensory details when deciding what to do. Ni, being an intuitive function, creates subjective impressions of how events evolve. Being able to visualize implications helps to fill in blanks and align with future developments.

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Dominant Si (ISTJ & ISFJ):

Si is a perceiving function that relies on sensory details

Si processes concrete details via compare/contrast with past experiences

Si uses familiarity of details to establish a sense of stability in life

in life ISxJs are naturals at handling details and spotting detail discrepancies

Healthy ISxJs are easily content and appreciative of life as it is

Mature ISxJs are known for being dutiful, reliable, and conscientious. They are good at learning and following procedure, often depended upon for their meticulous logistical work. At their best, their detailed expertise allows them to approach every situation the right/proper way.

Immature ISxJs display the negative aspects of Si due to excessive desire for familiarity/comfort. They tend to be old-fashioned, narrow-minded, risk averse, live quiet lives of resignation, or stubbornly rationalize sticking with bad habits/situations.

Signs that someone is NOT Si dominant:

careless with details; dislikes procedure; averse to authority

easily embraces novelty, risk, big ideas, or sudden change

doesn’t value or easily dismisses past learning/experience

often exhibits impractical/unrealistic/speculative attitude

Here are some questions for determining whether Si is present, most of these should apply if the function is dominant (barring grip situations). If only some of them apply or only very infrequently, then the function might be lower in the stack or there could be some minor Sensing overlap with Se. Remember that you are looking for consistent patterns. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Do you feel most at ease when sensory details are to your liking and match your expectations? Flip side: Are you easily thrown by physical discomfort, inconsistent sensory details, or new/unfamiliar environments, especially in situations where you don’t possess any prior knowledge of the “proper” conduct or procedures to follow?

Is it very important to you to proceed carefully or cautiously in new or unfamiliar situations? Do you often rely on well-established, authoritative, or previously learned steps, rules, procedures, or methods? Do you tend to believe that a new/untested approach is too risky?

Are you a creature of habit and find comfort in a relatively set daily routine? Is your initial reaction to having your routine disrupted or being forced to improvise usually negative/resistant?

When feeling low, do you find yourself harping on little details, complaining about how things aren’t as they should be, and/or contrasting the present situation negatively against positive experiences of the past? Is the richness of your life largely defined by detailed memories, and does past precedent significantly influence your worldview and decision-making process?

Do you have a pattern of disliking people who seem: vague, impractical, ungrounded, inconsistent, irresponsible, careless, oblivious, bombastic?

Have you ever gotten feedback about being (and/or feel sensitive to being labeled as): slow, boring, closed-minded, unadventurous, meek, hesitant, persnickety, finicky, a worrywart, inflexible, stringent, overblown/oversensitive about minor physical discomforts?

see also: how dominant Si works & #dominant Si

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Dominant Ni (INTJ & INFJ):

Ni is a perceiving function that relies on abstract connections

Ni speculates about potential and potential implications

Ni uses idealistic impressions or symbolic imagery to set direction

INxJs are naturals at making intuitive connections (subconsciously)

Healthy INxJs are aspirational in wanting a higher purpose

Mature INxJs are known for being insightful, wise, and earnest in their convictions. They are good at envisioning meaningful goals to strive for and dealing with potential complications. At their best, they are focused, ambitious, and disciplined in realizing their ideals.

Immature INxJs display the negative aspects of Ni due to living in mere abstractions of the future. They tend to be overserious, perfectionistic, have difficulty being present, and are quite unrealistic in their beliefs and expectations. (Because Ni operates closest to the unconscious mind, NJs are generally unaware of how they suffer from distorted perception of reality until they learn about Ni in depth.)

Signs that someone is NOT Ni dominant:

not contemplative; doesn’t speculate about how things will go

no sense of aspiration; doesn’t think about calling/purpose/direction

doesn’t require structure; happy to live life by whims/urges

literal; likes handling details; enjoys mundane conversation

Here are some questions for determining whether Ni is present, most of these should apply if the function is dominant (barring grip situations). If only some of them apply or only very infrequently, then the function might be lower in the stack or there could be some minor Intuition overlap with Ne. Remember that you are looking for consistent patterns throughout life. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Do you feel most confident when you possess a strong sense of purpose to guide your longer term direction? Flip side: Do you easily feel adrift or malaise when you have no idea how to proceed in any given situation, due to not grasping “what really matters”?

Is it very important to you to have a trustworthy impression about “the grand scheme of things”? Do you naturally synthesize information to discover overarching ideas, underlying essence, or future implications? Do you have difficulty making decisions without a guiding principle/philosophy in life?

Are you often visualizing what would be the “ideal” state/situation? Do you think it is important to delay gratification to achieve an idealistic goal? Are you prone to perfectionism or controlling tendencies in pursuit of an ideal? Is the quality of your life determined by aspirations and/or symbolic markers of progress?

When feeling low, do you find yourself judging things in life as being shallow, superficial, trivial, insignificant, meaningless, or pointless? Do you suffer when your future seems uncertain, opaque, negative, or coming in below your envisioned expectations?

Do you have a pattern of disliking people who seem: self-limiting, narrow-minded, shallow, short-sighted, brash, fickle?

Have you ever gotten feedback about being (and/or feel sensitive to being labeled as): presumptuous, pompous, pretentious, demanding, hard to please, hard to know, vague, unrealistic, (too) intense, extreme, overserious, overthinking, unfun, humorless?

see also: how dominant Ni works & #dominant Ni

[Jump to The Inferior Function or Inferior Se/Ne]

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B. Extraverted Perceiving Functions (Se/Ne): Never Miss Out!

Extraverted perceiving functions are about being attuned to the environment in order to remain open and adaptable to change. As you go through life, you encounter many new opportunities that, when taken proper advantage of, produce a rich and satisfying experience of life. Se and Ne dominants rely on their natural trust in the world, willing to go wherever the road leads them, though perhaps not putting enough thought into whether they are on the right road. Therefore, these two dominant functions sometimes manifest similar looking traits/behaviors (such as: quick, adventurous, spontaneous), but the underlying cognitive processes for maintaining openness to the world move in opposite directions (S v N). Se, being a sensing function, interacts directly with physical objects and concrete changes. Immediate interaction ensures that no opportunity for enjoying what the world has on offer is ever missed. Ne, being an intuitive function, visualizes what can be. Envisioning broad possibilities and bringing ideas to life ensure continual optimism about engaging with the world.

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Dominant Se (ESTP & ESFP):

Se is a perceiving function that relies on sensory experiences

Se maintains direct relationship to the world via physical sensation

Se uses stimulating experiences to get enjoyment from the world

from the world ESxPs are naturals at spotting opportunities and taking advantage of them

Healthy ESxPs are real, adventurous, adaptable, sensual, entertaining

Mature ESxPs are known for being bold, courageous, and resilient. They believe that actions speak louder than words and are good at leading the charge when the chips are down. At their best, they love a new experience and seek to achieve peak “in the zone” performance, often found doing physically expressive/challenging activities.

Immature ESxPs display the negative aspects of Se due to taking the desire for positive sensation to unhealthy extremes. They tend to be indulgent, impetuous, evasive/negligent, and superficial, lacking the intellectual curiosity that would spur personal growth.

Signs that someone is NOT Se dominant:

dislikes or has poor tolerance for physical/sensory stimulation

often contemplates implications, complications, or deeper meaning

likes/needs rules; naturally respects authority; avoids risky behavior

chases random or impractical ideas; ignores concrete evidence

Here are some questions for determining whether Se is present, most of these should apply if the function is dominant (barring grip situations). If only some of them apply or only very infrequently, then the function might be lower in the stack or there could be some minor Sensing overlap with Si. Remember that you are looking for consistent patterns throughout life. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Do you have high tolerance for excitement and often seek out engaging and stimulating activities? Flip side: Do you easily suffer boredom, restlessness, or fear of missing out when nothing much is happening for you?

Is it very important to you to be quick to do, join, participate, or interact without hesitation? Is having fun or experiencing pleasure your main deciding factor? Does life quickly seem empty when you can’t explore or adventure as you please? Is your initial reaction to restrictions on your movements usually knee-jerk rebellion/defiance?

Are you playful, spontaneous, and free-spirited at heart? Are you very open to new situations and naturally say ‘yes’ to invitations? Do you like not knowing what the future holds so that it remains a surprise?

When feeling low, do you find yourself seeking physical distractions, indulging in sensory pleasures, or purposely creating drama/excitement? Do you naturally express yourself through your physicality? Does sitting still too long to look within start to fill you with low-key dread?

Do you have a pattern of disliking people who seem: “all talk and no action”, half-baked, pretentious, insinuating, circuitous, overcomplicated, navel-gazing, cowardly, timid, conventional, inhibited, uptight?

Have you ever gotten feedback about being (and/or feel sensitive to being labeled as): ostentatious, loud, a showboat, vain, impulsive, aimless, slapdash, flippant, glib, superficial, naive, childish, silly, not to be taken seriously?

see also: how dominant Se works & #dominant Se

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Dominant Ne (ENTP & ENFP):

Ne is a perceiving function that relies on abstract possibilities

Ne generates ideas about what things can be, then transforms them

Ne uses novel ideas to promote a sense of hope and optimism

ENxPs are naturals at using unconventional ideas/approaches

Healthy ENxPs are open, encouraging, experimental, innovative

Mature ENxPs are known for being a positive force for change. They are trendsetters, catalysts, and agents of progress. At their best, they love a new idea and seek out the best ideas for moving forward, often inspiring people to make the world around them a better place.

Immature ENxPs display the negative aspects of Ne due to excessive desire for hopefulness. They tend to be scattered and unpredictable, avoid facing the negative, choose the wrong path and miscalculate outcomes, or get taken by impractical ideas that lead to failure despite good intentions.

Signs that someone is NOT Ne dominant:

rarely has any new ideas; refuses to entertain new possibilities

enjoys routine life, repetitive practice, and logistical planning

must think through every little contingency before taking action

unwillingness to dream big; no knack for big-picture thinking

Here are some questions for determining whether Ne is present, most of these should apply if the function is dominant (barring grip situations). If only some of them apply or only very infrequently, then the function might be lower in the stack or there could be some minor Intuition overlap with Ni. Remember that you are looking for consistent patterns throughout life. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Do you feel that your mind is always full of very diverse ideas, hopes, aspirations, dreams, or fantasies that you believe would be interesting to pursue? Flip side: Do you easily suffer frustration or disappointment when your ideas are dismissed or unable to be fully realized?

Is it very important to you to be open-minded and resourceful? Do you enjoy coming up with new ideas, trends, or solutions? Do you tend to believe that old ideas/methods are stale or ineffective, often eager to try out new ones?

Are you a hopeful, optimistic, and encouraging person at heart? Do you quickly perk up upon hearing an interesting possibility? Are you a natural brainstormer and love bouncing/developing ideas with people?

When feeling low, do you find yourself trying to fight off haunting feelings of hopelessness or pessimism? Does feeling stuck in life (i.e. little possibility for change) seem quite dire to you?

Do you have a pattern of disliking people who seem: unimaginative, foolhardy, conventional, traditional, nitpicky, rigid, slow, too literal, closed-minded, pessimistic (wet blanket)?

Have you ever gotten feedback about being (and/or feel sensitive to being labeled as): impractical, lacking common sense, careless, clumsy, scattered, inconsistent, unreliable, unpredictable, irresponsible, frivolous, manipulative (in getting other people to work out the details or clean up your messes)?

see also: how dominant Ne works & #dominant Ne

[Jump to The Inferior Function or Inferior Si/Ni]

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C. Introverted Judging Functions (Ti/Fi): I’ll be the Judge of That

Introverted judging functions are about self-sufficient judgment and personalized decision making. As you go through life, you encounter many crossroads and it might be difficult to make decisions when faced with noisy/conflicting information. Ti and Fi dominants implicitly believe that the person who knows what’s best for oneself is oneself. Therefore, these two dominant functions sometimes manifest similar looking traits/behaviors (such as: straight-forward, opinionated, unconventional), but the underlying cognitive processes for personalized judgment move in opposite directions (T v F). Ti, being a thinking function, prizes independent capability. Being self-sufficient in relying only on your own wits and skills means that you can always be confident in any situation. Fi, being a feeling function, prizes congruency of feelings and values. Using your personal identity as the starting point for every judgment and decision ensures proper care of the self in every situation.

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Dominant Ti (ISTP & INTP):

Ti is a judging function that relies on a personal framework of knowledge

Ti uses factual knowledge and skill to prevent/avoid/solve problems

Ti uses mastery over oneself to achieve a state of self-sufficiency

IxTPs are naturals at impartial assessment of facts and problems

Healthy IxTPs are calm, capable, able to change as facts change

Mature IxTPs are known for being masters of their chosen craft. They are relied upon for knowledge, expertise, and troubleshooting. At their best, they dissect and analyze situations with impressive confidence, precision, and accuracy, easily coming up with elegant solutions to problems.

Immature IxTPs display the negative aspects of Ti due to overly reductive logic and excessively critical judgment, carelessly ignoring any information that doesn’t “make sense” to them. They tend to be loners, arrogant, dismissive, or inhospitable/irresponsible in their dealings with people.

Signs that someone is NOT Ti dominant:

isn’t aware of or doesn’t care about logical fallacies/contradictions

afraid/wary of criticism; doesn’t like to be challenged on the facts

relies heavily on routine, order, structure, or organizing to function

easily confused; often suffers from conflicted feelings/emotions

Here are some questions for determining whether Ti is present, most of these should apply if the function is dominant (barring grip situations). If only some of them apply or only very infrequently, then the function might be lower in the stack or there could be some minor Thinking overlap with Te. Remember that you are looking for consistent patterns throughout life. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Do you automatically figure out the mechanics/mechanisms of how things work and thereby easily troubleshoot problems with skill, precision, and accuracy? Flip side: Do you tend to feel at a distinct disadvantage in situations that seem to defy easy formulaic explanation/solutions?

Is it very important to you to be capable of taking care of yourself, handling problems confidently on your own, only answering to yourself? Do you aim to keep your life as simple, neat, and self-directed as possible? Is your initial reaction to “complications” usually confusion and curiosity?

Are you a straightforward person who states the facts, needs time for private interests/learning, and stays out of situations that don’t involve you? Do you have difficulty understanding why people get worked up about things that seem inconsequential to you?

When feeling low, do you find yourself stuck on a very particular problem or feeling bored due to lack of stimulating activity? Do you find that mastering a new skill (to solve the problem) and/or setting a personal challenge to overcome easily reinvigorates you?

Do you have a pattern of disliking people who seem: hasty, indiscreet, meddlesome, pushy, dogmatic, ideological, overemotional, irrational, manipulative, unwilling to face up to mistakes or admit errors?

Have you ever gotten feedback about being (and/or feel sensitive to being labeled as): lazy, indifferent, oblivious, asocial, inexpressive, emotionally void/distant/unavailable, inappropriate, obnoxious, awkward, selfish, arrogant, inconsiderate?

see also: how dominant Ti works & #dominant Ti

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Dominant Fi (ISFP & INFP):

Fi is a judging function that relies on personal feelings of congruency

Fi uses feelings to derive value judgments about good/bad

Fi uses feelings of integrity to encourage honorable character

IxFPs are naturals at honest self-appraisal, authentic self-expression

Healthy IxFPs are gentle, passionate, loyal, empathetic

Mature IxFPs are known for caring very deeply, so their actions always align with their values. They appreciate individual uniqueness, advocate for moral causes, and defend the vulnerable. At their best, they keep people in touch with their humanity and encourage unconditional self-acceptance.

Immature IxFPs display the negative aspects of Fi due to being easily misled/blinded by their feelings, perhaps unable to relate to things outside of their personal experience. They tend to be moody, alienating, and even self-righteous, treating their feelings as fact and unaware of their own biases.

Signs that someone is NOT Fi dominant:

weak identity; fuzzy moral judgment; few strong personal preferences

easily puts personal values aside; able to function well even if unhappy

afraid/wary of intense feelings; often defers to/relies on others’ opinions

poor emotional awareness; believes feelings are biased/unreliable

Here are some questions for determining whether Fi is present, most of these should apply if the function is dominant (barring grip situations). If only some of them apply or only very infrequently, then the function might be lower in the stack or there could be some minor Feeling overlap with Fe. Remember that you are looking for consistent patterns throughout life. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Do your feelings strongly inform your approach to life, including your general attitude (positivity/negativity), your preferences (likes/dislikes/opinions), and decision making process? Flip side: Is it exceedingly difficult for you to do something when it goes against how you feel and/or what you believe is right?

Is it very important to you to express yourself and your feelings authentically? Do you easily become disengaged and/or dysfunctional in environments that do not allow for any personal expression/validation? Is your initial judgment of impersonal environments usually that they are “soulless”, which perhaps fuels a strong desire to express yourself creatively?

Are you always in touch with your feelings and perhaps even encourage others to be? Do you tend to believe that there is something “not right” about people who appear to lack feeling (because you link feeling to empathy)?

When feeling low, do you find your natural self-acceptance sliding away as you turn into your own worst critic? Do you need a lot of time alone to hold and nurse your feelings before you are able to do anything else?

Do you have a pattern of disliking people who seem: conforming, by-the-book, inauthentic, insincere, nosy, intrusive, domineering, disrespectful, unfeeling, impersonal, amoral?

Have you ever gotten feedback about being (and/or feel sensitive to being labeled as): self-absorbed, self-righteous, moralizing, (over)sensitive, fragile, passive, weak, unconfident, flighty, uncommunicative, hard to connect with, hard to reason with?

see also: how dominant Fi works & #dominant Fi

[Jump to The Inferior Function or Inferior Te/Fe]

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D. Extraverted Judging Functions (Te/Fe): The Way of the World

Extraverted judging functions are about managing the external environment. As you go through life, your personal performance does not amount to much when it doesn’t meet any objective measurement of success. Te and Fe dominants ensure that they feel a sense of accomplishment through abiding by objective or collectively agreed upon standards. Therefore, these two dominant functions sometimes manifest similar looking traits/behaviors (such as: organizing, managing, leading), but the underlying cognitive processes that are used to manage well move in opposite directions (T v F). Te, being a thinking function, uses structural standards to achieve efficient results. If the rules of the system say that this is the fastest way to the goal, then that should be the path you take to achieving it masterfully. Fe, being a feeling function, uses social norms to achieve a feeling of connection and contribution. If you have something positive to contribute to others, you should do so for the sake of earning trust, respect, and appreciation.

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Dominant Te (ESTJ & ENTJ):

Te is a judging function that relies on knowledge of external systems

Te uses empirical data to make economical and effective decisions

Te uses order and organization skill to achieve efficient behavior

ExTJs are naturals at identifying problems, quickly removing obstacles

Healthy ExTJs are tough, assertive, easily attain competency standards

Mature ExTJs are known for their leadership and management skills, often serving as well-respected role models. They are always streamlining plans and increasing productivity. At their best, they never shy away from difficult decisions, take full responsibility for their choices, and handle impressively heavy workloads.

Immature ExTJs display the negative aspects of Te due to overemphasis on “getting results”, believing that the end justifies the means and failing to see that the process of getting there is equally if not more important. They tend to be overconfident, controlling, judgmental, too proud to admit to weakness/failure, or impatiently use shortcuts that end up self-sabotaging.

Signs that someone is NOT Te dominant:

passive; not a natural doer, leader, strategist, organizer, planner

often exhibits convoluted or indecisive speech/thinking/behavior

hesitant or slow to judge, conclude, solve, or finish (tasks)

often feels torn about whether stating the facts might hurt people

Here are some questions for determining whether Te is present, most of these should apply if the function is dominant (barring grip situations). If only some of them apply or only very infrequently, then the function might be lower in the stack or there could be some minor Thinking overlap with Ti. Remember that you are looking for consistent patterns throughout life. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Do you highly prize efficiency and goal-setting in your approach to everything in life? Flip side: Does it really bother you when problems remain unresolved or nobody steps up to properly take charge of problems?

Is it very important to you to have the power to change what doesn’t work, correct what’s going wrong, resolve problems quickly and cleanly, and avert potential disasters? Do you always aim to keep things running as smoothly as possible and rarely meet a problem you can’t fix? Do you thrive in challenging/competitive social environments that test your mettle?

Are you tough-minded in confronting challenges and often advise others about how to “work smart” or make sensible decisions? Do you have difficulty understanding why people make what seem to be irrational/unproductive decisions?

When feeling low, do you find your sense of power slipping away as your emotions start to get the better of you? Do you find that pushing yourself to get up and organize, lead, strategize, or problem-solve naturally makes you feel better and gets you back on track?

Do you have a pattern of disliking people who seem: lazy, slow, indecisive, wishy-washy, unproductive, incompetent, self-indulgent, self-pitying, weak, fragile, soft, oversensitive, melodramatic, sentimental?

Have you ever gotten feedback about being (and/or feel sensitive to being labeled as): prideful, stubborn, unfeeling, unsympathetic, judgmental, blunt, hasty, abrupt, aggressive, domineering, overconfident, hypocritical, hypercritical, a bad listener?

see also: how dominant Te works & #dominant Te

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Dominant Fe (ESFJ / ENFJ):

Fe is a judging function that relies on feelings of harmony with the world

Fe uses feelings of dis/harmony to derive value judgments about un/acceptable behavior

Fe uses emotional connection to feel part of something larger than oneself

than oneself ExFJs are naturals at knowing how people feel and understanding emotional motivations

Healthy ExFJs are kind, comforting, nurturing, supportive of people

Mature ExFJs are known for their ability to unite people. They are usually found addressing interpersonal conflict through dialogue and compromise, preferring to get everyone on the same page to achieve win-win scenarios. At their best, they are compassionate, forgiving, have great negotiation skills, and always try to bring out the good in themselves and others.

Immature ExFJs display the negative aspects of Fe due to getting too emotionally invested and not drawing appropriate boundaries, quite prone to confusion whenever feeling in conflict with others. They tend to be needlessly self-sacrificial, display oversensitivity to slights, suffer chronic problems with shame and/or guilt, or get overemotional about relationship problems.

Signs that someone is NOT Fe dominant:

no awareness of others’ feelings, social mores, or social problems

natural loner; neglects to consider/include loved ones in decisions

transactional attitude; only values people for their usefulness

doesn’t think twice about putting own needs and desires first

Here are some questions for determining whether Fe is present, most of these should apply if the function is dominant (barring grip situations). If only some of them apply or only very infrequently, then the function might be lower in the stack or there could be some minor Feeling overlap with Fi. Remember that you are looking for consistent patterns throughout life. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Do you feel most comfortable when everyone is getting along well, treated fairly, and emotionally supportive of each other? Flip side: Do you easily become dysfunctional in unsupportive social environments that create negative feelings like shame, guilt, social pressure, dissent, disagreement, negativity, indifference, ruthlessness?

Is it very important to you to feel a sense of emotional connection to others? Do you hope that every important relationship involves care, acceptance, and connection, which facilitates intimacy over time?

Are you an amiable and considerate person, naturally mirroring people’s emotions so that you are both on the same page and they feel acknowledged and included? Do you prefer diplomacy and compromise for healing conflict? Is your initial judgment of “disagreeable” people usually that there is something wrong with them (e.g. bad moral character)?

When feeling low, do you find yourself craving social connection (due to loneliness/disconnection) and/or social affirmation (due to feeling inadequate/rejected)? Do you tend to feel selfish/guilty/ashamed to ask for care even though you quickly feel better upon receiving it?

Do you have a pattern of disliking people who seem: selfish, self-absorbed, negative, aloof, unfeeling, inconsiderate, antisocial, ungrateful, harsh, critical, judgmental, condescending, arrogant, dismissive?

Have you ever gotten feedback about being (and/or feel sensitive to being labeled as): nosy, meddlesome, self-dramatizing, melodramatic, irrational, attention-seeking, goody-goody, posing (to impress others), inauthentic, insecure, jealous, guarded, people pleasing, a pushover/doormat, conforming, prone to “mindreading” or speaking for others?

see also: how dominant Fe works & #dominant Fe

[Jump to The Inferior Function or Inferior Ti/Fi]

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E. Considerations for Dominant Function Assessment

Cognitive function theory provides a structural framework for making sense of your mental activities. It’s normal for beginners to feel overwhelmed by the details because there are so many types to learn about. Depending on your level of self-awareness, your mental activities might seem messy and hard to sort through. Remember that the purpose of learning type theory is to get to know yourself better, such that you become more conscious of how you use your cognitive functions. Think of yourself as a puzzle, and learning type theory helps you assemble the pieces of self-understanding. Even when you aren’t able to pinpoint your exact type right away, many people have reported that the process of learning about type differences and reflecting upon themselves has helped them grow. Gaining self-insight requires introspection and tackling difficult questions about your identity - it’s not always an easy process, but it is usually a rewarding one.

Generally speaking, introverted functions tend to be more difficult to identify because they point inward and operate somewhat under the radar, whereas extraverted functions are easier to identify because they are more likely to manifest in observable behavior. Therefore, some introverts might notice their extraverted auxiliary function more readily. Because the dominant function is your automatic way of approaching things, the habitual nature of it might mean that you take it for granted, so you may not be aware of it until you learn about what it does. Additionally, people tend to be more aware of their judgment processes (T/F) than their perception processes (S/N), probably because judgment seems more visible.

Many people mistype because their self-image doesn’t match up with reality. This is especially the case for NFs. It isn’t enough to ask yourself which cognitive functions you “identify” with, as you might simply be focused on the personality type that you aspire/hope to be rather than what you really are. Therefore, it is important to weigh the factual evidence of the functions impartially, which is why I always encourage people to provide concrete examples of their function use in daily life.

Generally speaking, a function is higher in your stack (dominant or auxiliary) when:

it has a strong influence upon your conscious thought patterns

it guides you along and sets the general criteria for life fulfillment

you instinctively understand what it’s about and what using it entails

using it with good results significantly raises confidence and self-esteem

there is substantial evidence of its expression in daily decision making

Generally speaking, a function is lower in your stack (tertiary or inferior) when:

its sphere of influence is not something you often think/care about

its guidance and criteria for life fulfillment do not ultimately satisfy you

you CAN’T use it as well or as naturally as people who are dominant

it is used merely as a defense mechanism to protect the self-image

there is substantial evidence that it only activates in times of stress/turmoil

It is theoretically possible to use any of the eight function approaches depending on the circumstances, behaviorally speaking, but what you are looking for is your overarching cognitive motivation. Who are you really? What really motivates your behavior? What is the most important thing to your personality? Avoid cherry-picking evidence of behaviors that everyone displays at some point in their life. Some people mistype because they only use superficial details/stereotypes that don’t really capture the essence of a function. While superficial details might be little clues, they are not sufficient in themselves for proving the existence of a function, for example:

Si is not the same as a good memory

Ni is not the same as a long term goal

Ti is not the same as analyzing things

Fi is not the same as being emotional

Se is not the same as physical ability

Ne is not the same as being creative

Te is not the same as being organized

Fe is not the same as being sociable

Remember that personality is defined by enduring patterns: the more persistent and consistent the cognitive-behavioral pattern, the more important it will be for figuring out your type. Be sure to reflect on and respond to ALL of the points provided above for each of the functions. It’s easy to see little bits and pieces of your behavior here and there in every function; it’s harder to identify habitual cognitive patterns that you’ve been taking for granted your entire life.

When you’ve identified a consistent behavioral pattern/trait/problem in yourself, always go one step deeper by asking yourself WHY you display it or what motivates you to behave that way. By discovering the underlying motivation, you will get much closer to identifying the correct cognitive function behind the behavior. Here are some common examples:

Let’s say that you’re a positive person, so nothing gets you down. WHY? What’s behind your positivity?

You feel secure in life and it grants you confidence? (Si)

You have purpose and feel hopeful about the future? (Ni)

You believe that life is full of excitement and fun? (Se)

You envision many good possibilities for an interesting life? (Ne)

You are confident that you’ll figure it out, whatever it is? (Ti)

You know who you are, what you want, and your value? (Fi)

You believe in your ability to get the results you want? (Te)

You know that you have something positive to contribute? (Fe)

Let’s say that you’re very lazy, so you can’t accomplish much. WHY? What’s behind your laziness?

You don’t like venturing beyond your comfort zones? (Si)

You can’t find any meaningful purpose for yourself? (Ni)

You only want to have fun and to heck with all else? (Se)

You are too easily distracted by time-wasting pursuits? (Ne)

You don’t think it really benefits you to do it? (Ti)

You just never feel like doing it? (Fi)

You are perfectly fine with the status quo? (Te)

You won’t get praised or admired for doing it? (Fe)

Let’s say that you’ve never had a real friend. WHY? What’s behind your isolation?

You find it nerve-wracking to meet new people? (Si)

You are unable to get out of your own head? (Ni)

You believe people just bring you down? (Se)

You believe people just hold you back? (Ne)

You don’t see the point of friendship? (Ti)

You don’t believe anyone will appreciate you? (Fi)

You believe everyone is only for themselves? (Te)

You want to avoid feeling shamed/judged? (Fe)

Personality traits aren’t as simple as they first seem. As the above examples illustrate, different types might express the same trait but for very different cognitive reasons. Cognitive function theory helps you discover how your traits arise… as long as you are able to be honest about what’s really happening. Most people don’t know themselves very well, so they’re unaware of their underlying needs and motivations. In addition to reflecting on yourself, it might help to get some objective input from those who know you well.

People don’t only use one function, so identifying the dominant function isn’t enough to be certain about your type (i.e. so far, you only have 1 piece of the 4-piece puzzle). My type assessment method requires building a holistic picture of the personality by gathering evidence of the entire functional stack - it aims for certainty. The dominant function section might give you a good idea of which four functions are in your stack, but not necessarily the exact order of them. If you are able to narrow down the dominant to 1-2 possibilities, the next step is to use the corresponding inferior function as further corroborative evidence.

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Section 2: THE INFERIOR FUNCTION

Who is This?!

The inferior function is the opposite psychological force to the dominant function, therefore, the two functions pull you in opposite directions, creating conflict. If the dominant function represents the “light” part of your personality or who you should be when at your best, then the inferior function is the “dark” aspect of your personality that you don’t understand very well, the part of yourself that you probably would rather not acknowledge.

In order to reduce tension between these two opposing forces, it is normal that psychological development requires you to “choose” one function over the other, thus granting the dominant function greater power and influence over your cognitive mindset. The dominant function gains in strength as you come to rely more heavily on it, while development of the inferior function is ignored as its activities remain confined in the unconscious mind. Therefore, most people are largely unaware of inferior function activities under normal circumstances (unless they have specifically learned about it).

The lower a function’s position in your stack, the less conscious you are of its existence, and thus the less conscious control you are able to exert over its activities. The inferior function still contributes something to your worldview, but it does so in a contrarian way, i.e., in the things that you disown, disavow, or define as unimportant. Applying the concept that “every action has an equal and opposite reaction”, the force with which you unconsciously repress inferior function activities is the force with which the inferior function “claps back” at you in your emotionally low periods or your moments of weakness.

Unconscious activity (which includes deep-seated negative emotions, fears, pain, compulsions, defenses, insecurities), by definition, is kept out of your everyday awareness, for good reason. However, when you are fatigued or experiencing intense stress, your mental energy reserves get depleted quite easily and this opens up space for your unconscious activity to assert itself and wreak havoc. When you no longer have the energy to keep the dominant function healthy and in control of your executive mind, the inferior function exploits the opening to rise up and drive your behavior from a dark place, which is commonly referred to as “being in the grip of the inferior function” (a term coined by Naomi Quenk).

The label “inferior” is misleading because it implies that the function is “weak”. In fact, the inferior function has the potential to influence you as much as the dominant function, it simply does so underhandedly, from the depths of the unconscious mind. Because the function lacks proper attention and development, it is more likely to manifest in negative, irrational, immature, childish, defensive, dysfunctional, or even destructive behavior - it is used to voice your unconscious activity. Being in the grip of the inferior function makes a person act seemingly OUT OF CHARACTER. Once the grip episode/period is over, you might even wonder what came over you and why you behaved so weirdly/badly.

The inferior function is easiest to spot during stressful periods because of being accompanied by uncomfortable emotions and unfortunate consequences. The subjective experience of being in the grip is sometimes described as: going crazy, running on autopilot, being your worst self, succumbing to your dark side, primitive or animal behavior, survival mode, feeling out of control, being taken over by mysterious forces, having no idea about your motivations.

Of course, people who live a “bubble” or privileged life of very low stress levels rarely get a chance to observe this darker side of themselves as they are shielded from major challenges. The inferior function is very valuable to personal development because it informs you about where your weaknesses lie and, hence, reveals opportunities for growth and improvement. Ignoring the inferior function isn’t good for your long term well-being.

While the inferior function can manifest in many different ways in response to your unique environmental pressures, looking for negative patterns of inferior grip mentality is usually the fastest way to identify the function. A grip state is usually “episodic”, i.e., a temporary and maladaptive reaction to short-term environmental stress. However, some people suffer serious personality development problems and might spend prolonged periods under the spell of inferior grip mentality (like months or years). Inferior grip is a very unstable psychological state, so it is unusual to see very chronic cases, and they usually involve mental health factors. Such individuals are very likely to mistype because the personality seems “upside down” (i.e. function order superficially appears reversed). You can usually spot these mistypes from the fact that the person isn’t able to manifest any enduring positive cognitive-behavioral patterns of the supposed “upside down” type.

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A. Introverted Perceiving Functions (Si/Ni): Spiraling Inward

Recall that Ne and Se dominants are characterized by:

a trusting attitude and openness to the world

strong need for stimulating activity

a tendency to chase interesting opportunities

If these dominant behaviors are taken too far to the point of creating an extreme dominant-inferior imbalance in the mind, one becomes more susceptible to suffering inferior grip states. A person might also be prone to inferior grip when the environment devalues the strengths of their dominant function and pushes them to use the inferior function in unnatural ways. The first symptom of inferior grip is (inexplicable) loss of healthy dominant function behavior, e.g.:

distrustful attitude and increasingly closed to the world

unable to enjoy otherwise interesting/pleasurable activities

loss of interest in or blindness to new opportunities

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Inferior Si (ENTP & ENFP):

Recall that the Si function is about grounding oneself in concrete reality through attentiveness to details, incremental action, and exercising appropriate caution. Ignoring this function for too long means that immature Ne doms often suffer from: lack of focus, carelessness in learning and decision making, unstable lifestyle, poor attention to physical health and practical matters. When these personality flaws are left unresolved and produce increasingly serious life problems/failures, unconscious inferior Si forces grow louder and more threatening over time.

In periods of Si grip, Ne doms are likely to become troubled, demoralized, or uptight, e.g.: they may feel like they have nothing to show for themselves and get depressed; they may feel as though the past has doomed their future; they may become irrationally fearful of loss or illness. Generally speaking, their tendency to believe that the rules of the world do not apply to them makes them too impatient to methodically build detailed knowledge like the best Si dominants, therefore, their unconscious attempts to use Si to compensate for Ne extremes do not tend to turn out well, especially when under stress.

Remember that inferior grip tendencies are often unconscious behaviors, so it might be useful to get objective feedback from others about how you behave whenever you “aren’t yourself”. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Loss of normal and healthy dominant Ne functioning:

I feel as though I have lost my spark/optimism.

I am unable to imagine any good possibilities.

I see no path forward and withdraw to reflect on why.

Examples of out of character Si grip tendencies:

I am alone, isolated, misunderstood, underappreciated.

I can’t help feeling anxious, apprehensive, irritable.

I am more compulsive, pedantic, nitpicky about little details.

I obsess about one issue that makes me feel hapless/hopeless.

I ruminate about a past event/mistake/regret (and fear repeating it).

I suddenly feel unmoored/uprooted and fear losing what little I have.

I get sick easily when stressed and irrationally fear illness/disease.

I believe it’s impossible to do all the things I dream of doing.

I feel as though time passing or unresolved issues hang over me.

see also: how inferior Si works in depth / #inferior Si / #Si grip

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Inferior Ni (ESTP & ESFP):

Recall that the Ni function is about accurate interpretation of meaning and implications. Ignoring this function for too long means that immature Se doms often suffer from: aimlessness, recklessness, superficial thinking, lack of intellectual curiosity, unfulfilled potential. When these personality flaws are left unresolved and produce increasingly serious life problems/failures, unconscious inferior Ni forces grow louder and more threatening over time.

In periods of Ni grip, Se doms are likely to become gloomy, sluggish, or disconnected, e.g.: they may find it difficult to enjoy the things that usually engage their attention; they may suffer from paranoid or grandiose expectations; they may feel as though the world is empty and then search desperately for some kind of “spiritual meaning”. Generally speaking, they are too impatient to intricately synthesize contradictory information into an accurate vision of the future like the best Ni dominants, therefore, their unconscious attempts to use Ni to compensate for Se extremes do not tend to turn out well, especially when under stress.

Remember that inferior grip tendencies are often unconscious behaviors, so it might be useful to get objective feedback from others about how you behave whenever you “aren’t yourself”. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Loss of normal and healthy dominant Se functioning:

I feel as though life is too serious/tedious, like an uphill battle.

I am unable to feel engaged or enjoy the things I usually enjoy.

I recklessly/greedily lap up new experiences in attempts to feel good.

Examples of out of character Ni grip tendencies:

I am alone, removed, closed, trapped in myself.

I can’t help feeling gloomy, small, unassured.

I am more intolerant, doubtful, distrustful about everything.

I panic about being doomed in some imagined future scenario.

I am paranoid about ulterior motives (e.g. being taken advantage of).

I suddenly feel as though I’m missing something important in life.

I look for (mystical) “signs” to confirm my suspicions/insecurities.

I am plagued by vivid disturbing images, even fear going insane.

I seek higher purpose/meaning, easily sliding into delusions of grandeur.

see also: how inferior Ni works in depth / #inferior Ni / #Ni grip

[Jump to The Auxiliary Function or Auxiliary Ti/Fi]

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B. Extraverted Perceiving Functions (Se/Ne): Lost in Chaos

Recall that Ni and Si dominants are characterized by:

reservedness and cautious approach to the world

strong need to conserve energy

a tendency to believe in their personal narrative

If these dominant behaviors are taken too far to the point of creating an extreme dominant-inferior imbalance in the mind, one becomes more susceptible to suffering inferior grip states. A person might also be prone to inferior grip when the environment devalues the strengths of their dominant function and pushes them to use the inferior function in unnatural ways. The first symptom of inferior grip is (inexplicable) loss of healthy dominant function behavior, e.g.:

irrational/unreflective about consequences

wasting energy or spending it unwisely

worldview restricted and confined by personal narrative

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Inferior Se (INTJ & INFJ):

Recall that the Se function is about engaging with the world and taking advantage of opportunities to experience happiness and enjoyment. Ignoring this function for too long means that immature Ni doms often suffer from: disconnection from reality, feelings of being left behind or that life has passed them by, inability to feel joy because of only focusing on what is lacking/missing, inability to access good opportunities for growth. When these personality flaws are left unresolved and produce increasingly serious life problems/failures, unconscious inferior Se forces grow louder and more threatening over time.

In periods of Se grip, Ni dominants are likely to become overreactive, hasty, or short-sighted, e.g.: they may have difficulty responding well to unexpected changes (and then lash out), they may become too demanding or controlling about insignificant details, they may indulge extreme or hedonistic behavior (rationalizing whatever they want to do in the moment but then regretting their ill-thought-out decisions later on). Generally speaking, their distorted perception of events prevents them from adjusting quickly and objectively to the plain facts of the world like the best Se dominants, therefore, their unconscious attempts to use Se to compensate for Ni extremes do not tend to turn out well, especially when under stress.

Remember that inferior grip tendencies are often unconscious behaviors, so it might be useful to get objective feedback from others about how you behave whenever you “aren’t yourself”. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Loss of normal and healthy dominant Ni functioning:

I feel as though my mind is murky and opaque.

I cannot find meaningful direction or purpose.

Every day feels empty but I don’t know what to do.

Examples of out of character Se grip tendencies:

I am easily thwarted, provoked, disturbed (so I avoid).

I can’t help feeling impatient, implacable, or nonexistent.

I am more unfocused, clumsy, accident/error prone.

I am quite bothered by sensory/aesthetic “imperfections” or changes.

I exert physical forms of control (e.g. clean, organize, exercise, etc).

I restlessly seek “facts” to justify my impulsive/extreme behavior.

I seek out excitement but always end up apathetic/dissatisfied.

I overindulge unhealthy sensory pleasures (to address inner emptiness).

I often regret wasting too much time (obsessing) on trivial things.

see also: how inferior Se works in depth / #inferior Se / #Se grip

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Inferior Ne (ISTJ & ISFJ):

Recall that the Ne function is about exercising openness and imagination to promote inspiration and hope for the future. Ignoring this function for too long means that immature Si doms often suffer from: stagnation, closed-mindedness, pessimism, excessive fear of change. When these personality flaws are left unresolved and produce increasingly serious life problems/failures, unconscious inferior Ne forces grow louder and more threatening over time.

In periods of Ne grip, Si doms are likely to become unpredictable, erratic, or chaotic, e.g.: they may act out of insecurity due to catastrophizing about “potential disasters”, they may make silly decisions or chase foolish ventures that upend life for little to no real gain, they may stop caring that their behavior is inconsistent or irresponsible. Generally speaking, they are too constrained by fear of loss to resourcefully visualize positive possibilities and work past negative ones like the best Ne dominants, therefore, their unconscious attempts to use Ne to compensate for Si extremes do not tend to turn out well, especially when under stress.

Remember that inferior grip tendencies are often unconscious behaviors, so it might be useful to get objective feedback from others about how you behave whenever you “aren’t yourself”. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Loss of normal and healthy dominant Si functioning:

I feel nagging discomfort because life seems lacking.

I am unable to focus and do things as carefully as I’d like.

I am frightened by thoughts of unpredictable change.

Examples of out of character Ne grip tendencies:

I am easily moody, restless, bored, on edge.

I can’t help feeling insecure, troubled, impaired.

I am more careless, irresponsible, erratic.

I lose social inhibition and say/do damaging things.

I imagine all manner of things that could possibly go wrong.

I am paralyzed/anxious when I think about the future.

I am easily taken by new/outlandish ideas (to address discontent).

I experience fits of hopefulness that quickly get dashed by reality.

I fantasize/desire something but can’t find the right way to obtain it.

see also: how inferior Ne works in depth / #inferior Ne / #Ne grip

[Jump to The Auxiliary Function or Auxiliary Te/Fe]

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C. Introverted Judging Functions (Ti/Fi): Disconnected from Self



Recall that Fe and Te dominants are characterized by:

respect for objective measurements of success

strong need to change/manage undesirable aspects of the world

a tendency to chase after extrinsic rewards/benefits

If these dominant behaviors are taken too far to the point of creating an extreme dominant-inferior imbalance in the mind, one becomes more susceptible to suffering inferior grip states. A person might also be prone to inferior grip when the environment devalues the strengths of their dominant function and pushes them to use the inferior function in unnatural ways. The first symptom of inferior grip is (inexplicable) loss of healthy dominant function behavior, e.g.:

ignoring objective standards and/or refusing feedback

loss of will/ability to change or manage problematic situations

feeling dissatisfied even upon achieving extrinsic rewards/benefits

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Inferior Ti (ESFJ & ENFJ):

Recall that the Ti function is about impersonal judgment and skilled decision making. Ignoring this function for too long means that immature Fe doms often suffer from: flawed reasoning, emotionally biased/confused judgment, a tendency to meddle or create drama, oversensitivity to criticism, lack of self-confidence, overdependence on social support or approval. When these personality flaws are left unresolved and produce increasingly serious life problems/failures, unconscious inferior Ti forces grow louder and more threatening over time.

In periods of Ti grip, Fe doms are likely to become confused, critical, or resentful, e.g.: they may get stuck thinking/obsessing in circles when lacking self-confidence; they may be quick to blame or criticize people and worsen the conflict; they may ruminate resentfully about whatever/whomever they judge as “unacceptable”. Generally speaking, they are too emotionally invested to evaluate problems impartially and come up with reasonable and coherent strategies/solutions like the best Ti dominants, therefore, their unconscious attempts to use Ti to compensate for Fe extremes do not tend to turn out well, especially when under stress.

Remember that inferior grip tendencies are often unconscious behaviors, so it might be useful to get objective feedback from others about how you behave whenever you “aren’t yourself”. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Loss of normal and healthy dominant Fe functioning:

I feel disappointed or pessimistic about people/love/humanity.

I am unable to sympathize or connect with people.

I don’t have energy to care for myself, let alone relationships.

Examples of out of character Ti grip tendencies:

I am lonely, disconnected, cornered, maltreated.

I can’t help feeling doubtful, skeptical, confused.

I am more critical, suspicious, dismissive.

I ruminate and create “logical backstories” to explain negative behavior.

I have many “reasons” to blame, dump on, manipulate, or guilt people.

I go on obsessive “quests for truth” to solve a problem or prove something.

I feel completely rational yet others say I am very irrational.

I am plagued by underlying feelings of disharmony, inadequacy, alienation.

see also: how inferior Ti works in depth / #inferior Ti / #Ti grip

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Inferior Fi (ESTJ & ENTJ):

Recall that the Fi function is about establishing honor and integrity through maintaining complete congruency between one’s feelings and values. Ignoring this function for too long means that immature Te doms often suffer from: unsatisfying/unfulfilling goals, destructive categorical black/white judgment, hypocritical or incongruous behavior, amoral/insensitive approach to problem solving, devaluing/denigrating emotional life and authentic self-expression, arrogance and aggression, a controlling/critical attitude that creates more problems than it solves. When these personality flaws are left unresolved and produce increasingly serious life problems/failures, unconscious inferior Fi forces grow louder and more threatening over time.

In periods of Fi grip, Te doms are likely to become passive, overemotional, or irrationally self-pitying, e.g.: they may retreat from challenges or ignore their responsibilities, they may feel horrible about hurting loved ones, they may develop a victim mentality and behave as though under constant threat of persecution. Generally speaking, they are too impatient and uncompromising to accept mistakes and then fail to work sensitively around human limitations like the best Fi dominants, therefore, their unconscious attempts to use Fi to compensate for Te extremes do not tend to turn out well, especially when under stress.

Remember that inferior grip tendencies are often unconscious behaviors, so it might be useful to get objective feedback from others about how you behave whenever you “aren’t yourself”. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Loss of normal and healthy dominant Te functioning:

I feel as though my confidence has disappeared.

I am unable to complete tasks and goals efficiently.

I am at a loss about how to solve important problems.

Examples of out of character Fi grip tendencies:

I am tired, fed up, unmotivated, unappreciated.

I can’t help feeling melancholy, reproached, rebuked.

I am more withdrawn, passive, helpless, submissive.

I don’t realize how much I sulk, complain, whine.

I am strangely hypersensitive to “unfair” treatment.

I believe I am righteous in my vengeful/vindictive thoughts.

I suddenly realize and regret my hurtful/insensitive behavior.

I hide away to avoid public emotional displays/breakdowns.

I pity myself and make excuses instead of taking charge.

see also: how inferior Fi works in depth / #inferior Fi / #Fi grip

[Jump to The Auxiliary Function or Auxiliary Si/Ni]

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D. Extraverted Judging Functions (Te/Fe): Out of Touch With the World



Recall that Fi and Ti dominants are characterized by:

respect for individuality and individualism

strong need to honor personal needs/preferences

a tendency to overlook/ignore external influences

If these dominant behaviors are taken too far to the point of creating an extreme dominant-inferior imbalance in the mind, one becomes more susceptible to suffering inferior grip states. A person might also be prone to inferior grip when the environment devalues the strengths of their dominant function and pushes them to use the inferior function in unnatural ways. The first symptom of inferior grip is (inexplicable) loss of healthy dominant function behavior, e.g.:

irrational craving for external rewards/validation

trading personal well-being for superficial gains

feeling pressured by external evaluations

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Inferior Te (ISFP & INFP):

Recall that Te is about using structured and efficient strategizing to gain power and advantage in the world. Ignoring this function for too long means that immature Fi doms often suffer from: bad judgment, poor self-esteem and low self-confidence, difficulty with structure and goal achievement, lack of worldly ambition, oversensitivity to hardship, helplessness in or avoidance of challenging situations. When these personality flaws are left unresolved and produce increasingly serious life problems/failures, unconscious inferior Te forces grow louder and more threatening over time.

In periods of Te grip, Fi doms are likely to become cold, testy, or controlling, e.g.: they may often lash out at whatever they dislike, they may get unreasonably vindictive when they feel wronged, they may aggressively try to correct whatever problems ail them only to quickly burn out each time. Generally speaking, their lack of an objective and structured approach to planning and problem solving means that they aren’t able to willfully/efficiently tackle difficult decision making like the best Te dominants, therefore, their unconscious attempts to use Te to compensate for Fi extremes do not tend to turn out well, especially when under stress.

Remember that inferior grip tendencies are often unconscious behaviors, so it might be useful to get objective feedback from others about how you behave whenever you “aren’t yourself”. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Loss of normal and healthy dominant Fi functioning:

I feel as though who I am is a liability.

I am unable to see any of my positive qualities.

I am too weak/negative to get my life together.

Examples of out of character Te grip tendencies:

I am blunt, aggressive, belligerent.

I can’t help feeling cold, angry, disapproving.

I am more inclined to blame, disparage, reproach myself.

I am ready to pick a fight about anything I find disagreeable.

I have an overpowering urge to “correct” everything that’s “wrong”.

I hate being a failure but don’t see how I can be otherwise.

I make many misguided/failed attempts to get my life together.

Even if I manage to make plans, I can’t follow through reliably.

I dislike/despise “problems” everywhere but see no feasible solutions.

see also: how inferior Te works in depth / #inferior Te / #Te grip

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Inferior Fe (ISTP & INTP):

Recall that Fe is about creating a positive social support system that opens one up to receiving love and expressing generosity. Ignoring this function for too long means that immature Ti doms often suffer from: stunted emotional development, lack of empathy or inability to understand people, antagonistic/antisocial behavior, misanthropy or cynicism, selfish or stingy mindset, very shallow or unhealthy relationships. When these personality flaws are left unresolved and produce increasingly serious life problems/failures, unconscious inferior Fe forces grow louder and more threatening over time.

In periods of Fe grip, Ti doms are likely to become inept, frustrated, or volatile, e.g.: they may misfire badly when problem solving due to horribly misjudging people or misinterpreting social situations, they may often feel misunderstood or irrationally oppressed by non-existent/imagined social obligations, they may act out angrily to exert their independence when their (excessive desire for) personal space is violated. Generally speaking, their easy distance from emotional bonds leads to a failure to implement the graceful, selfless, and positive relating behaviors of the best Fe dominants, therefore, their unconscious attempts to use Fe to compensate for Ti extremes do not tend to turn out well, especially when under stress.

Remember that inferior grip tendencies are often unconscious behaviors, so it might be useful to get objective feedback from others about how you behave whenever you “aren’t yourself”. If writing a self-description for me to examine, provide representative examples from your life of the following:

Loss of normal and healthy dominant Ti functioning:

I feel strangely confused or can’t think straight.

I am unable to make sense of the problem(s) facing me.

I don’t know why I am doing the negative/obnoxious things I do.

Examples of out of character Fe grip tendencies:

I am uncool, awkward, unconfident, “not myself”.

I can’t help feeling strangely guilty, ashamed, unsure, inadequate.
