#1 MBTI

key terms: cognitive functions ; feeling/thinking/intuition/sensing ; extroverted/introverted ; judging/perception ; dominant/auxiliary/tertiary/inferior functions

I. Basic Information

a. Introduction

b. Perceiving vs. Judging

c. Introverted vs. Extroverted

d. Determining function order

e. Keirsey Temperaments

f. Letter Dichotomies

II. Resources

a. Descriptions of the 16 types

b. Cognitive Functions

c. Books

I. Basic Information

a. Introduction

MBTI is a typing characterization that explores how your brain processes information through cognitive functions. The order of the functions determines your cognitive stack, which translates into a four-letter combination. It sounds complicated, but it’s learnable with practice. The purpose of MBTI is to identify your strengths and weaknesses, so you can focus on becoming a more balanced individual.

MBTI describes how one makes judgements and decisions (Fi/Fe/Ti/Te) and how one perceives the world and processes information (Si/Se/Ni/Ne).

MBTI is not about behavior. It is about cognitive preferences; that is, how someone processes information and makes decisions, and whether the locus of those cognitive functions are internal or external. For the Enneagram, one's motivations will drive behavior just as one's cognitive preferences will drive behavior - but the system is not about behavior.

Thinking (how you judge situations logically)

Feeling (how you judge situations ethically)

Sensing (how you interact with the sensory world)

Intuition (how you visualize the future and interact with ideas)

Sakinorva - Full Context on the Cognitive Functions:

b. Perceiving vs Judging

- Perceiving functions, which are Sensing and Intuition, are mainly about the unfiltered experience of something.

- Whereas Judging functions, which are Feeling and Thinking, are mainly about the categorization of something.

c. Introverted vs Extroverted

- The introverted functions start from an internal and subjective angle, tied to the individual.

- The extroverted functions start from an external and objective angle, removed from the individual.

Everyone uses objective (free of bias) and subjective (biased) functions. Your objective functions keep you on track while your subjective functions have the potential to derail you.

- These are the objective functions: These facts-based functions can be argued when differences of opinion arise, because none of them are personalized emotions or perceptions. These functions see what is actually there, which is why they are “accurate” in their assessment and predictions.

- These are the subjective functions: These are based on personalized perceptions, which means they can’t be argued with over differences of opinion, because they aren’t the facts. These functions interpret reality based on personal factors rather than what really happened or what is actually there. They can be totally irrational but are always paired with a reality-based function. Problems arise when a subjective function overrules an objective function (how you feel causes you to ignore the factual evidence or environment).

d. Determining Function order

1) Dominant, 2) Auxiliary, 3) Tertiary, 4) Inferior

Where a function in the stack determines how easily you are able to use it well (without exhausting yourself) and how successful you are at that function. There are two kinds of functions: introverted and extroverted. You have four of each, which alternate in strength, to provide you with a full functional stack. If you have an extroverted function, it has an introverted counterpart to balance it out. We call these a “cognitive axis.” The one that comes first (your “dominant function”) is easier for you to use than the last function in your stack, which we call the “inferior” function. The inferior function is often a source of anxiety, stress, embarrassment or neglect in your life, that place where you feel you should be more adept at using it, but you are not, so you either use it aggressively or you will avoid using it if you can.

The dominant function is what you use every day; it is second nature to you. The auxiliary (second) function is something else you do well, but it soon tires you. The tertiary (third) function, you use sometimes but it can be stressful to linger too long in it. The inferior function (fourth) nags at you to be better at it, but you often use it poorly and are emotionally reactive / defensive when people point out flaws related to it (for an inferior Te, accuse you of being disorganized, wasting time, or not finishing projects on time).