Glossary: Tertiary function

Our third strongest function (if the primary is the 1st function and the auxiliary the second). The tertiary function will always be the opposite of the auxiliary ("Co-Pilot") function. This third function is also somewhat accessible to the ego, although generally to a far lesser extent. Just as the second function supports the primary function, the third function is closely associated with the inferior function.

One important thing to note about the tertiary function is that it's always the same attitude as our primary or Driver function (extroverted if the Driver function is extroverted, and vice versa). The third function feels safer than the Co-pilot (which always has the opposite attitude). This is because the auxiliary function is a far more challenging a place to be; extroverts don't want to slow down enough to explore their Co-Pilot, and the need to go out into the world can be nerve-wracking for introverts. This often leads us to go to our tertiary function in a defensive manner when what we really need to do is turn to our Co-Pilot.


The tertiary function as the "defensive position"(1)



(from Personality Hacker)

Personality Hacker calls the tertiary function the "10 Year Old" because it has the maturity level of about a 10 year old child. In other words, it has a certain level of development, and can listen to and assist the Driver but, just as you would never force your 10 year old child to bear your adult burdens, the 10 year old part of you simply cannot handle the complex, sophisticated issues of adult life. The problem is, it's far easier for us to run to our 10 Year Old function when we're hiding from something unpleasant. That's because it's the same attitude as our driver and feels far more comfortable to us than the Co-Pilot, which forces us to go out of our comfort zone.

 

The 10 Year Old often shows up when we're relaxing in a comfortable way; we all naturally turn to it. For example, my 10 Year Old is Memory (introverted sensation). When I relax I love just chilling at home, reading or playing video games. Other examples are watching sports or playing strategy games for Effectiveness (extroverted thinking), or hanging out in a Bed Bath and Beyond for Harmony (extroverted feeling). Think of the kinds of things that 10 year olds with that particular Driver enjoy doing, that's our inner 10 Year Old at play.

 

The problem is that we don't just turn to it to relax and play; we often run to it when there's something we need to pay attention to, or do, that we want to avoid. This is why it's called the defensive position; extroverts go to their 10 Year Old when they're trying to drown out the quiet voice inside of them that's telling them that they're doing something wrong, introverts close their ears when the world is trying to tell them something. Because it's similar to the Driver the 10 Year Old usually agrees with it, fatuously validating the Driver's ideas rather than providing a fresh angle that may point to an actual solution. When the Driver has an agenda - when it's trying to avoid seeing or doing something, especially if that something is in the field of the Co-Pilot - that's when we tend go to the 10 Year Old in a negative way.

 

When this happens, we act out the very worst aspects of our 10 Year Old function. In my case (that of an INTP), I hide out in my home and refuse to go out, fearful and cynical, bitter at the world, losing the thing I value most, my ability to think clearly and understand what is true. A similar thing happens to each type as they hunker down in their 10 Year Old function and refuse to do the things they should do; they end up so warped that even their Driver is affected.

 

The thing to do when we use the 10 Year Old defensively, after first becoming aware of what we're doing, is to calm it down. Just as we'd have to stop what we were doing and care for our 10 year old child if they were distraught, when our inner 10 year old is acting out we need to do the same thing. We need to stop what we're doing, and do something that puts it at ease and makes it feel comfortable. Whatever it is that we do when we're chilling out, do that. Let the 10 Year Old calm down and relax. And when it's finally calmed down, it's time to go to the other adult in the car, the Co-Pilot, and let the grown ups handle the problem... which is as it should be.

 

Once we're no longer using the 10 Year Old function in an inappropriate way it can actually become of great help to us. It brings a third function into the mix, adding it's strengths to the abilities of the Driver and Co-Pilot. In my case, my Memory function brings a desire for structure and order. It's often a bit of a struggle - our inner 10 year old will never have the skill or facility that our adult functions do - but it encourages me to stop for a moment and organize all the amazing and important ideas I discover in a form that others can benefit from. This blog, and this series in particular, are expressions of my 10 Year Old function of Memory. By going to our Co-Pilot first, we create the conditions that allow our 10 Year Old to contribute it's special talents to the entire "family's" well being. 

Links:
"Developing Your 10 Year Old Tertiary Cognitive Function" (Personality Hacker)
"Ways Unhealthy Personality Types Show Up" (Personality Hacker)
"How To Engage 10-Year Old Cognitive Function in Play" (Personality Hacker)
"Personality Development Tools: The Car Model" (Personality Hacker)
"When You ALMOST Know Your Personality Type" (Personality Hacker)


See also:
Primary function
Auxiliary function
Inferior function
Rational function
Irrational function
Psychological functions
Integrating the functions
Meyers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
The 16 “Types” (MBTI)


(1) Antonia Dodge, The Car Model (Personality Hacker)

In a nutshell

Just putting this right here. I was trawling the web for info on narcissism and the MBTI and I came across this little gem, one of the most concise and insightful nutshell descriptions of the 16 "types" I've read. Enjoy!

Let us look at each of these personalities and try to pin-point which one of them possess narcissism.

ENFJ-Headstrong and rationalistic by nature, they are very caring for their peers and often will ignore their own impulses for the greater good. They are also very capable leaders who often lead by example. They can at times develop ego in certain abilities about themselves.

ENFP-They aren’t, they simply aren’t. And also they have very infectious laughs, and can make people smile. (except Jennifer Aniston->she has traits of narcissism )

ENTJ-Mostly seen as natural born leaders, often focus at the big picture. Narcissistic mostly to instill confidence in themselves. Often very ambitious, and like being second to none in their fields. Ferocious and dominating in competitions. They often do realize that they are over-confident, but they prefer to remain so cause it helps them in functioning properly.

ENTP-With Ne as your main function, and Ti as secondary, you will mostly focus on being extravagant and dazzling, but will be overly confident in speech, but not narcissistic.

ESFJ-One of the sweetest people you will ever meet. They tend to be retrospective, decisive and friendly. They might at times say a praise to themselves, but mostly it is because they haven’t been said anything nice to in a really, really, overwhelmingly long time.

ESFP-A big NO will suffice over here. This type is vehemently spontaneous, lives in the present and love being noticed. Despite being talented, they tend to remain engrossed in their present tasks and don’t notice their own pros and cons.

ESTJ-This type likes to keep everything organised and under check. They like indexing everything and are very meticulous in their tasks. They can be snobbish and pushy at a lot of times.

ESTP- Donald Trump, is narcissistic, impulsive and impractical. JFK and Roosevelt were nothing of this sort.

INFJ-Can’t say much about them. Due to their rarity and ability to be like chameleons, they can’t be spotted that easily. (Plus i am one, so introspection into my own type is tedious and nerve-racking since some traits might not overlap with mine, leaving me doubtful and obfuscated) [Note: I'd say no. INFJ's are all about empathy, feeling other people's feelings, whether they want to or not. There's a vanishingly low probability of an INFJ being a narcissist.]

INFP-The emo versions of INTPs. Misunderstood by society, gifted in the area of arts, creative and indecisive. Live most of their lives thinking that they didn’t accomplish anything fruitful. (Thom York has narcissistic traits)

INTJ-Often seen as cold and calculative, but mostly just out of touch with emotions and also extremely secretive. INTJs are often seen as narcissistic and they themselves tend to see themselves in high standings, but its mostly because of their rarity in society and them being highly focused and self-oriented individuals. (Stephen Hawking, Nicola Tesla, etc.)

INTP-Akin to ENTPs, and yet nothing alike from a social standing. This type prefers being in isolation and like to mull over ideas even when a conclusion has been formulated. Ironically, each time they gain confidence about a topic, they end up getting crushed when comparing what all they know vs. what all they don’t know.

ISFJ-This type tends to be stead-fast, conformist and also dedicated. However at the same time, they tend to have a preference of themselves over others. (Not saying they are narcissistic, it’s just that a lot of them hold themselves in high regards)

ISFP-Unless you look at the Entertainment Sector, most of the ISFPs tend to remain under confident about a lot of things, and also tend to be impressed by others around them. They are observant and tenacious.

ISTJ-A type that is this much loaded on integrity possess a very rigid outlook for certain things (mostly stubborn about certain aspects of life). However, once they become uncertain about their previous beliefs, they come up with remarkable and practical ideas.

ISTP-Temperamental, charming, and have a tendency to become unbalanced when caught off-guard, think quick and practical ideas and love being noticed and at the same time remain private, this type isn’t narcissistic; but by Jove if i could create a verb, i would say at times to cocky and talented people that - “Please, don’t be an istp right now”.

- "What personality type is most likely to develop narcissistic personality disorder?",  Kaustubh Joshi (Quora)

Glossary: The 16 “Types” (MBTI)

The post on the MBTI went on too long so I decided to split it into two parts. The first part of this post is a series of short descriptions of the various types, organized by the primary function. The second half are various methods of finding your type: a table and an alphabetical list.

Check the links below to find tests; each of the sites should have their own personality test. Just be sure to answer what you would typically do in a situation, not what you did that one time that you happen to remember. If you find yourself struggling, take the test with someone who knows you well, and remember to take the results with a grain of salt. The best way to really figure out your type is to understand the various functions and attitudes. There's a link at the end of the post for a very helpful podcast from the ever insightful Personality Hackers to help you figure it out.



The 16 Personalities

The first part of this post is a series of descriptions. Here's the format:

[Attitude] [Primary Function]/[Auxiliary Function] (i.e. an ENFP would be "Extroverted Intuitive/Feeling").


Primary function: Sensation

Introverted sensation/thinking: ISTJ (“The Reliable”)

ISTJ’s primary mode of living is focused internally, where they take things in via their five senses in a literal, concrete fashion ("memory;" taking in sensory information and integrating that which is meaningful). Their secondary mode is external, where they deal with things rationally and logically (“effectiveness;” wants to get things done, asks “Does this work?” without regard to personal feelings, concerned with practical application). They're comfortable with solitude and reflection; pay attention to facts and details; and have an awareness of their internal experience. Quiet, serious, earn success by thoroughness and dependability. Practical, matter-of-fact, realistic, and responsible. Decide logically what should be done and work toward it steadily, regardless of distractions. Take pleasure in making everything orderly and organized - their work, their home, their life. Value traditions and loyalty.

One of the most disciplined of the types; long term oriented marathoners; careful, thoughtful, and detail oriented. They tend to look to the past, to see how things were done. This gives them a starting place, a way to “prime the pump” to get started. BUT it takes them a very long time, and a lot of energy, to get started. Need to ration their energy, and to make sure of a thing before they say “yes” to it… they often never feel ready to say “yes”, though. Their main problem is fear of the unknown; they can’t predict what’s going to happen, or be certain that they’re going to be ready for it. They need to remember that trying and failing is better than never doing anything, and done is better than perfect; no one can ever be 100% ready. However, taking some action, even if it means failing, is how you become more ready the next time you try. Becoming acclimated to the kinds of surprises the world can throw at you is the only real way to be truly prepared. To get motivated, they need to tap into their vision of how things should be in the world; they need to get into their Effectiveness driver; things just need to get done so you just have to get into action. Quietly systematic, factual, organized, logical, detailed, conscientious, analytical, responsible, pragmatic, critical, conservative, decisive, stable, concrete, efficient.


Introverted sensation/feeling: ISFJ (“The Preserver”)

ISFJ’s primary mode of living is focused internally, where they takes things in via their five senses in a literal, concrete fashion  ("memory;" taking in sensory information and integrating that which is meaningful). Their secondary mode is external, where they deal with things according to how they feel about them, or how they fit into their personal value system (“harmony;” concerned with meeting the needs of others, connecting with others, asks “What gets everyone’s needs met?”). They're comfortable with solitude and reflection; pay attention to facts and details; and have an awareness of their internal experience. Quiet, friendly, responsible, and conscientious. Committed and steady in meeting their obligations. Thorough, painstaking, and accurate. Loyal, considerate, notice and remember specifics about people who are important to them, concerned with how others feel. Strive to create an orderly and harmonious environment at work and at home.

One of the most disciplined of the types; long term oriented marathoners; careful, thoughtful, and detail oriented. They tend to look to the past, to see how things were done. This gives them a starting place, a way to “prime the pump” to get started. BUT it takes them a very long time, and a lot of energy, to get started. Need to ration their energy, and to make sure of a thing before they say “yes” to it… they often never feel ready to say “yes”, though. Their main problem is fear of the unknown; they can’t predict what’s going to happen, or be certain that they’re going to be ready for it. They need to remember that trying and failing is better than never doing anything, and done is better than perfect; no one can ever be 100% ready. However, taking some action, even if it means failing, is how you become more ready the next time you try. Becoming acclimated to the kinds of surprises the world can throw at you is the only real way to be truly prepared. To get motivated, they need to tap into their vision of how things should be in the world; they need to get into their Harmony driver. Extroverted feeling is responsive to people's needs; sometimes you just have to get into action to meet those needs. Quietly warm, factual, sympathetic, detailed, dependable, organized, thorough, conscientious, systematic, conservative, realistic, caring, practical, stable, helpful.


Extroverted sensation/thinking: ESTP (“The Dynamo”)

ESTP’s primary mode of living is focused externally, where they take things in via their five senses in a literal, concrete fashion (“sensation;” uses sense perceptions to learn what can be proven, then immediately acts). Their secondary mode is internal, where they deal with things rationally and logically (“accuracy;” scans for incongruities, seeks truth without judgment). They focus on the external world; pleasure seeking; take great delight in the outer world. Flexible and tolerant, they take a pragmatic approach focused on immediate results. Theories and conceptual explanations bore them - they want to act energetically to solve the problem. Focus on the here-and-now, spontaneous, enjoy each moment that they can be active with others. Enjoy material comforts and style. Learn best through doing.

One of the most energizing of all the types; can generate vast amounts of energy, and are very motivating to others as well as themselves. Excel at starting great projects, not so great at seeing them through to completion; they’re sprinters, not marathoners. Want to stay physical, stay moving; to get the next sensation “hit”.  This means they often don’t reap the benefits of their great ideas. Need to go to their introverted thinking to stay focused; need to ask “What has meaning to me? What is really, actually important to me?” Once they have the answer, then they can find the project that is in line with their deepest values. But this needs to be done before starting the project. Once they get going, they need to do as much as they can, as fast as they can, to get the project completed before running out of steam. Excitement seeking, active, pragmatic, direct, easygoing, observant, concrete, realistic, adaptable, efficient, analytical, troubleshooter, spontaneous, adventurous, experiential.


Extroverted sensation/feeling: ESFP (“The Performer”)

ESFP’s primary mode of living is focused externally, where they take things in via their five senses in a literal, concrete fashion (“sensation;” uses sense perceptions to learn what can be proven, then immediately acts). Their secondary mode is internal, where they deal with things according to how they feel about them, or how they fit with their personal value system (“authenticity;” concerned with core values and convictions, how events impact them, asks “Does this feel right to me?”). They focus on the external world; pleasure seeking; take great delight in the outer world. Outgoing, friendly, and accepting. Exuberant lovers of life, people, and material comforts. Enjoy working with others to make things happen. Bring common sense and a realistic approach to their work, and make work fun. Flexible and spontaneous, adapt readily to new people and environments. Learn best by trying a new skill with other people.

One of the most energizing of all the types; can generate vast amounts of energy, and are very motivating to others as well as themselves. Excel at starting great projects, not so great at seeing them through to completion; they’re sprinters, not marathoners. Want to stay physical, stay moving; to get the next sensation “hit”.  This means they often don’t reap the benefits of their great ideas. Need to go to their introverted feeling to stay focused; need to ask “What has meaning to me? What is really, actually important to me?” Once they have the answer, then they can find the project that is in line with their deepest values. But this needs to be done before starting the project. Once they get going, they need to do as much as they can, as fast as they can, to get the project completed before running out of steam. Energetic, sociable, practical, friendly, caring, expressive, open, enthusiastic, excitement seeking, spontaneous, resourceful, adaptable, observant, hand-on, generous, fun-loving.


Primary function: Intuition

Introverted intuition/thinking: INTJ (“The Mastermind”)

INTJ’s primary mode of living is focused internally, where they take things in primarily via intuition (“perspectives;” watches their mind form patterns, gets inside the minds of others, and sees implications far into the future). Their secondary mode is external, where they deal with things rationally and logically (“effectiveness;” wants to get things done, asks “Does this work?” without regard to personal feelings, concerned with practical application). Have mental clarity, accurate interpretations of perceptions, and visionary insight. Have original minds and great drive for implementing their ideas and achieving their goals. Quickly see patterns in external events and develop long-range explanatory perspectives. When committed, organize a job and carry it through. Skeptical and independent, have high standards of competence and performance - for themselves and others.

One of the most disciplined of the types; long term oriented marathoners; careful, thoughtful, and detail oriented. They’re able to “look into the future” and project where things are going, enabling them to make wise choices about where to direct their energy. BUT it takes them a very long time, and a lot of energy, to get started. Need to ration their energy, and to make sure of a thing before they say “yes” to it… they often never feel ready to say “yes”, though. They need to remember that trying and failing is better than never doing anything, and done is better than perfect; no one can ever be 100% ready. However, taking some action, even if it means failing, is how you become more ready the next time you try. Becoming acclimated to the kinds of surprises the world can throw at you is the only real way to be truly prepared. To get motivated, they need to tap into their vision of how things should be in the world; they need to get into their Effectiveness driver; things just need to get done so you just have to get into action. Vision oriented, quietly innovative, insightful, conceptual, logical, seeks understanding, critical, decisive, independent, determined, pursues competence and improvement.


Introverted intuition/feeling: INFJ (“The Counselor”)

INFJ’s primary mode of living is focused internally, where they take things in primarily via intuition (“perspectives;” watches their mind form patterns, gets inside the minds of others, and sees implications far into the future). Their secondary mode is external, where they deal with things according to how they feel about them, or how they fit with their personal value system (“harmony;” concerned with meeting the needs of others, connecting with others, asks “What gets everyone’s needs met?”). Have mental clarity, accurate interpretations of perceptions, and visionary insight. Seek meaning and connection in ideas, relationships, and material possessions. Want to understand what motivates people and are insightful about others. Conscientious and committed to their firm values. Develop a clear vision about how best to serve the common good. Organized and decisive in implementing their vision.

One of the most disciplined of the types; long term oriented marathoners; careful, thoughtful, and detail oriented. They’re able to “look into the future” and project where things are going, enabling them to make wise choices about where to direct their energy. BUT it takes them a very long time, and a lot of energy, to get started. Need to ration their energy, and to make sure of a thing before they say “yes” to it… they often never feel ready to say “yes”, though. They need to remember that trying and failing is better than never doing anything, and done is better than perfect; no one can ever be 100% ready. However, taking some action, even if it means failing, is how you become more ready the next time you try. Becoming acclimated to the kinds of surprises the world can throw at you is the only real way to be truly prepared. To get motivated, they need to tap into their vision of how things should be in the world; they need to get into their Harmony driver. Extroverted feeling is responsive to people's needs; sometimes you just have to get into action to meet those needs. Vision and meaning oriented, quietly intense, insightful, creative, sensitive, seeks harmony and growth, serious, loves language and symbols, persevering, inspiring.


Extroverted intuition/thinking: ENTP (“The Visionary”)

ENTP’s primary mode of living is focused externally, where they take things in primarily via their intuition (“exploration;” figures things out and tests in the moment, asks “What If?”, seeks to understand the patterns). Their secondary mode is internal, where they deal with things rationally and logically (“accuracy;” scans for incongruities, seeks truth without judgment). Comfortably inattentive to sensory data; flexible, adaptable, risk-taking; optimistic about the future. Quick, ingenious, stimulating, alert, and outspoken. Resourceful in solving new and challenging problems. Adept at generating conceptual possibilities and then analyzing them strategically. Good at reading other people. Bored by routine, will seldom do the same thing the same way, apt to turn to one new interest after another. One of the most energizing of all the types; can generate vast amounts of energy, and are very motivating to others as well as themselves.

Excel at starting great projects, not so great at seeing them through to completion; they’re sprinters, not marathoners. Lose motivation because they want to move on the next new, fresh, fun thing. This means they often don’t reap the benefits of their great ideas. Need to go to their secondary function, Accuracy, to stay focused; need to ask “What has meaning to me? What is really, actually important to me?” Once they have the answer, then they can find the project that is in line with their deepest values. But this needs to be done before starting the project. Once they get going, they need to do as much as they can, as fast as they can, to get the project completed before running out of steam. Energetic, inventive, enthusiastic, abstract, logical, theoretical, analytical, complex, ingenious, verbal, novelty seeking, change oriented, global, independent, adaptable.


Extroverted intuition/feeling: ENFP (“The Inspirer”)

ENFP’s primary mode of living is focused externally, where they take things in primarily via their intuition (“exploration;” figures things out and tests in the moment, asks “What If?”, seeks to understand the patterns). Their secondary mode is internal, where they deal with things according to how they feel about them, or how they fit in with your personal value system (“authenticity;” concerned with core values and convictions, how events impact them, asks “Does this feel right to me?”). Comfortably inattentive to sensory data; flexible, adaptable, risk-taking; optimistic about the future. Warmly enthusiastic and imaginative. See life as full of possibilities. Make connections between events and information very quickly, and confidently proceed based on the patterns they see. Want a lot of affirmation from others, and readily give appreciation and support. Spontaneous and flexible, often rely on their ability to improvise and their verbal fluency.  One of the most energizing of all the types; can generate vast amounts of energy, and are very motivating to others as well as themselves.

Excel at starting great projects, not so great at seeing them through to completion; they’re sprinters, not marathoners. Lose motivation because they want to move on the next new, fresh, fun thing. This means they often don’t reap the benefits of their great ideas. Need to go to their secondary function, Authenticity, to stay focused; need to ask “What has meaning to me? What is really, actually important to me?” Once they have the answer, then they can find the project that is in line with their deepest values. But this needs to be done before starting the project. Once they get going, they need to do as much as they can, as fast as they can, to get the project completed before running out of steam. Enthusiastic, imaginative, energetic, creative, warm, future-oriented, individualistic, insightful, caring, optimistic, possibility focused, open, novelty seeking, spontaneous, playful.


Primary function: Thinking

Introverted thinking/sensation: ISTP (“The Engineer”)

ISTP’s primary mode of living is focused internally, where they deal with things rationally and logically (“accuracy;” scans for incongruities, seeks truth without judgment). Their secondary mode is external, where they take things in via their five senses in a literal, concrete fashion (“sensation;” uses sense perceptions to learn what can be proven, then immediately acts). Able to dispassionately criticize and logically analyze; concerned with the search for truth and accuracy. Tolerant and flexible, quiet observers until a problem appears, then act quickly to find workable solutions. Analyze what makes things work and readily get through large amounts of data to isolate the core of practical problems. Interested in cause and effect, organize facts using logical principles, value efficiency.

One of the most relentless, motivated, and convicted of all the types; unstoppable when they make up their minds to do something. BUT they need the motivation. It’s like they only have two states; On, and Off. When they’re “on” they’re unstoppable. When they’re “off”, they can’t get anything done. They have a tendency to vegetate in their comfort zone; nothing robs them of motivation faster than that. They need to get out of their comfort zone and into the world; inspiration can only “strike” when you’re out in the world. It may feel good to stay in your comfort zone, but the only way to get into a space where you can make things happen is to force yourself out of there and get into action, get physical. They need to remember how exciting the world is; to get that adrenaline rush, get out there and get in their body. It makes them want to do stuff; makes them say “Look at all the cool things we could do!” Motivation comes from action; never the other way around. Logical, quietly analytical, practical, adaptable, curious, cool, observer, problem-solver, exact, realistic, troubleshooter, hands-on, enjoys variety, adventurous, independent.


Introverted thinking/intuition: INTP (“The Thinker”)

INTP’s primary mode of living is focused internally, where they deal with things rationally and logically (“accuracy;” scans for incongruities, seeks truth without judgment). Their secondary mode is external, where they take things in primarily via their intuition (“exploration;” figures things out and tests in the moment, asks “What If?”, seeks to understand the patterns). Able to dispassionately criticize and logically analyze; concerned with the search for truth and accuracy. Seek to develop logical explanations for everything that interests them. Theoretical and abstract, interested more in ideas than in social interaction. Quiet, contained, flexible, and adaptable. Have unusual ability to focus in depth to solve problems in their area of interest. Skeptical, sometimes critical, always analytical.

One of the most relentless, motivated, and convicted of all the types; unstoppable when they make up their minds to do something. BUT they need the motivation. It’s like they only have two states; On, and Off. When they’re “on” they’re unstoppable. When they’re “off”, they can’t get anything done. They have a tendency to vegetate in their comfort zone; nothing robs them of motivation faster than that. They need to get out of their comfort zone and into the world; inspiration can only “strike” when you’re out in the world. It may feel good to stay in your comfort zone, but the only way to get into a space where you can make things happen is to force yourself out of there and get into the space of experiencing new and exciting things, having great “what if” conversations. It makes them want to do stuff; makes them say “Look at all the cool things we could do!” Motivation comes from action; never the other way around.  Logical, conceptual, analytical, objective, detached, ingenious, complex, intellectually curious, loves ideas, pursues understanding, questioning, adaptable, independent, egalitarian.


Extroverted thinking/sensation: ESTJ (“The Supervisor”)

ESTJ’s primary mode of living is focused externally, where they deal with things rationally and logically (“effectiveness;” wants to get things done, asks “Does this work?” without regard to personal feelings, concerned with practical application). Their secondary mode is internal, where they take things in via their five senses in a literal, concrete fashion  ("memory;" taking in sensory information and integrating that which is meaningful). Competent; decisive; active; focused on truth and accuracy. Practical, realistic, matter-of-fact. Decisive, quickly move to implement decisions. Organize projects and people to get things done, focus on getting results in the most efficient way possible. Take care of routine details. Have a clear set of logical standards, systematically follow them and want others to also. Forceful in implementing their plans.

One of the most naturally industrious types; very motivated to get things done, but needs to make sure that the things getting done are working towards their larger goals. Excel at knowing what needs to be done, how to do it, and how to bring (or drag) others along with them, but need to slow down and check in with others and with their deeper selves; otherwise, their “solutions” often end up creating more problems. They need to be sure they are checking in with their team, and they understand why they’re doing what they’re doing to get full buy-in. Active organizer, logical, assertive, fact minded, decisive, practical, results oriented, analytical, systematic, concrete, critical, responsible, take charge, common sense.


Extroverted thinking/intuition: ENTJ (“The Executive”)

ENTJ’s primary mode of living is focused externally, where they deal with things rationally and logically (“effectiveness;” wants to get things done, asks “Does this work?” without regard to personal feelings, concerned with practical application). Their secondary mode is internal, where they take things in primarily via their intuition  (“perspectives;” watches their mind form patterns, gets inside the minds of others, and sees implications far into the future). Competent; decisive; active; focused on truth and accuracy. Frank, decisive, assume leadership readily. Quickly see illogical and inefficient procedures and policies, develop and implement comprehensive systems to solve organizational problems. Enjoy long-term planning and goal setting. Usually well informed, well read, enjoy expanding their knowledge and passing it on to others. Forceful in presenting their ideas.

One of the most naturally industrious types; very motivated to get things done, but needs to make sure that the things getting done are working towards their larger goals. Excel at knowing what needs to be done, how to do it, and how to bring (or drag) others along with them, but need to slow down and check in with others and with their deeper selves; otherwise, their “solutions” often end up creating more problems. They need to be sure they are checking in with their team, and they understand why they’re doing what they’re doing to get full buy-in. Driven, organizer, planner, vision focused, decisive, initiating, conceptual, strategic, systematic, assertive, critical, logical, organized, pursues improvement and achievement.


Primary function: Feeling

Introverted feeling/sensation: ISFP (“The Artist”)

ISFP’s primary mode of living is focused internally, where they deal with things according to how they feel about them, or how they fit into their value system (“authenticity;” concerned with core values and convictions, how events impact them, asks “Does this feel right to me?”). Their secondary mode is external, where they take things in via their five sense in a literal, concrete fashion (“sensation;” uses sense perceptions to learn what can be proven, then immediately acts). Have inner balance and harmony; nonjudgmental, understanding, and forgiving; affirming of authenticity and individuality, both in themselves and others. Quiet, friendly, sensitive, and kind. Enjoy the present moment, what's going on around them. Like to have their own space and to work within their own time frame. Loyal and committed to their values and to people who are important to them. Dislike disagreements and conflicts, do not force their opinions or values on others.

One of the most relentless, motivated, and convicted of all the types; unstoppable when they make up their minds to do something. BUT they need the motivation. It’s like they only have two states; On, and Off. When they’re “on” they’re unstoppable. When they’re “off”, they can’t get anything done. They have a tendency to vegetate in their comfort zone; nothing robs them of motivation faster than that. They need to get out of their comfort zone and into the world; inspiration can only “strike” when you’re out in the world. It may feel good to stay in your comfort zone, but the only way to get into a space where you can make things happen is to force yourself out of there and get into action, get physical. They need to remember how exciting the world is; to get that adrenaline rush, get out there and get in their body. It makes them want to do stuff; makes them say “Look at all the cool things we could do!” Motivation comes from action; never the other way around. Gentle, quietly caring, compassionate, adaptable, modest, aesthetic, idealistic, observant, loyal, helpful, realistic, patient with details, spontaneous, joy in action.


Introverted feeling/intuition: INFP (“The Healer”)

INFP’s primary mode of living is focused internally, where they deal with things according to how they feel about them, or how they fit into their personal value system (“authenticity;” concerned with core values and convictions, how events impact them, asks “Does this feel right to me?”). Their secondary mode is external, where they take things in primarily via their intuition (“exploration;” figures things out and tests in the moment, asks “What If?”, seeks to understand the patterns). Have inner balance and harmony; nonjudgmental, understanding, and forgiving; affirming of authenticity and individuality, both in themselves and others. Idealistic, loyal to their values and to people who are important to them. Want an external life that is congruent with their values. Curious, quick to see possibilities, can be catalysts for implementing ideas. Seek to understand people and to help them fulfill their potential. Adaptable, flexible, and accepting unless a value is threatened.

One of the most relentless, motivated, and convicted of all the types; unstoppable when they make up their minds to do something. BUT they need the motivation. It’s like they only have two states; On, and Off. When they’re “on” they’re unstoppable. When they’re “off”, they can’t get anything done. They have a tendency to vegetate in their comfort zone; nothing robs them of motivation faster than that. They need to get out of their comfort zone and into the world; inspiration can only “strike” when you’re out in the world. It may feel good to stay in your comfort zone, but the only way to get into a space where you can make things happen is to force yourself out of there and get into the space of experiencing new and exciting things, having great “what if” conversations. It makes them want to do stuff; makes them say “Look at all the cool things we could do!” Motivation comes from action; never the other way around. Deep-felt valuing, quietly caring, compassionate, pursues meaning, harmony, creative, idealistic, empathic helpers, inquisitive, enjoys ideas, language, writing, independent, adaptable.


Extroverted feeling/sensation: ESFJ (“The Caregiver”)

ESFJ’s primary mode of living is focused externally, where they deal with things according to how they feel about them, or how they fit in with their personal value system (“harmony;” concerned with meeting the needs of others, connecting with others, asks “What gets everyone’s needs met?”). Their secondary mode is internal, where they take things in via their five senses in a literal, concrete fashion ("memory;" taking in sensory information and integrating that which is meaningful). Comfortable inattention to logic; sensitive to others' happiness; positive in general, but in particular about human beings. Warmhearted, conscientious, and cooperative. Want harmony in their environment, work with determination to establish it. Like to work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time. Loyal, follow through even in small matters. Notice what others need in their day-by-day lives and try to provide it. Want to be appreciated for who they are and for what they contribute.

One of the most naturally industrious types; very motivated to get things done, but needs to make sure that the things getting done are working towards their larger goals. Excel at knowing what needs to be done, how to do it, and how to bring (or drag) others along with them, but need to slow down and check in with others and with their deeper selves; otherwise, their “solutions” often end up creating more problems. They need to make sure they’re not getting sucked into meeting everyone’s needs; need to slow down and see the larger picture. Actively sociable, warm, harmonizer, caring, enthusiastic, empathic, people-oriented, practical, responsible, concrete, orderly, conscientious, cooperative, appreciative, loyal.


Extroverted feeling/intuition: ENFJ (“The Giver”)

ENFJ’s primary mode of living is focused externally, where they deal with things according to how they feel about them, or how they fit into their personal value system (“harmony;” concerned with meeting the needs of others, connecting with others, asks “What gets everyone’s needs met?”). Their secondary mode is internal, where they take things in primarily via their intuition (“perspectives;” watches their mind form patterns, gets inside the minds of others, and sees implications far into the future). Comfortable inattention to logic; sensitive to others' happiness; positive in general, but in particular about human beings. Warm, empathetic, responsive, and responsible. Highly attuned to the emotions, needs, and motivations of others. Find potential in everyone, want to help others fulfill their potential. May act as catalysts for individual and group growth. Loyal, responsive to praise and criticism. Sociable, facilitate others in a group, and provide inspiring leadership.

One of the most naturally industrious types; very motivated to get things done, but needs to make sure that the things getting done are working towards their larger goals. Excel at knowing what needs to be done, how to do it, and how to bring (or drag) others along with them, but need to slow down and check in with others and with their deeper selves; otherwise, their “solutions” often end up creating more problems. They need to make sure they’re not getting sucked into meeting everyone’s needs; need to slow down and see the larger picture. Actively sociable, enthusiastic, harmonizer, expressive, warm, idealistic, empathic, possibility-oriented, insightful, cooperative, imaginative, conscientious, appreciative, tactful.




Table

 

Note: remember that the MBTI organizes the types by the main extroverted function. For extroverts this is easy; just look for the category of your primary function (feeling and thinking are rational/judging functions; sensation and intuition are irrational/perceiving functions). Introverts are trickier because the main function they extrovert with is their second function; if you’re an introvert, look for the category of your secondary function.

Alphabetical list:

ENFJ: Extroverted feeling/intuition (2% of the population)
ENFP: Extroverted intuition/feeling (7% of the population)
ENTJ: Extroverted thinking/intuition (3% of the population)
ENTP: Extroverted intuition/thinking (4% of the population)
ESFJ: Extroverted feeling/sensation (12% of the population)
ESFP: Extroverted sensation/feeling (6% of the population)
ESTJ: Extroverted thinking/sensation (11% of the population)
ESTP: Extroverted sensation/thinking (6% of the population)
INFJ: Introverted intuition/feeling (1% of the population)
INFP: Introverted feeling/intuition (4% of the population)
INTJ: Introverted intuition/thinking (2% of the population)
INTP: Introverted thinking/intuition (3% of the population)
ISFJ: Introverted sensation/feeling (13% of the population)
ISFP: Introverted feeling/sensation (8% of the population)
ISTJ: Introverted sensation/thinking (13% of the population)
ISTP: Introverted thinking/sensation (5% of the population)



Links:
Podcast: How To Figure Out Your Personality (Personality Hacker)
Article: "How Each Meyers-Briggs Type Reacts to Stress (and How to Help!)" (Personality Junkie)


Resources to further explore your “type”:
Personality Junkie
Personality Hacker
16 Personalities
Truity
Human Metrics
Personality Page


See also:
Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
Nutshell descriptions of the 16 types

The mystery

The reaction I've had from people when exploring their type has been very interesting; they're fascinated but, at the same time, resistant. People want to be understood... buuuuuut they also don't want to be understood. What we want is understanding. What we don't want is to be dismissed: "Ok, I know what you are now. Time to move on." People want to be special, and we are all special. At the same time, we also have a relatively few typical ways of thinking and behaving because there are only so many of perceiving and processing information. All of us - unless we're either unusually highly developed and have gained the ability to use all the functions, or we never developed any of them at all - will, therefore, fall into one or another personality type.

Typology isn't a definition; saying you're this or that type doesn't mean that you're only this or that type and that there's nothing more to you. It's also not a way to gain power over other people; if you're using a typology to bludgeon or accuse another person, or to get a secret window into what makes them tick in order to manipulate them, you're just doing it wrong and stay the fuck away from psychology. What it is is a coordinate that tells you where you are - or, more accurately, where your ego is - in the field of consciousness. The x, y, and z axes (not what you chop wood with but the plural of axis) are perception, judgment, and attitude (sensation/intuition, thinking/feeling, and introversion/extroversion). Our type is simply a dot on that map.

While there are several undeniable dangers and pitfalls to using typologies they are, at the same time, incredibly useful, even comforting. Understanding types helps us understand why we are the way we are, and others are the way they are. People of other types often confuse the hell out of us when they do the mystifying things they do. Knowing their type can help us demystify their behavior. This leads to an even more important benefit to learning typology: compassion. One of the greatest gifts of typology is how it gives us permission to be ourselves... and teaches us to give others permission to do the same. It defuses our relationships by showing us that other people aren't (usually) annoying or hurting us because they're jerks, but this is just who they are.

I'll give you an example. I'm an INTP. A dear friend of mine is a feeling type. I am BAAAAAAD at remembering important days (birthdays and such). My feeling friend, on the other hand, would never even think of not saying something nice on someone's birthday, giving them a call at the very least. It hurt him very much that I often forgot his birthday and he took it as a sign that I simply didn't value him, which couldn't be further from the truth. One year we were talking about this and the conversation was getting pretty heated, when I blurted out "I just don't think that way! I don't even remember my own birthday! How hard do you think it is for me to remember anyone else's??" And he suddenly stopped. He realized that we are so very, very different, and a behavior that would mean one thing from him means a very different thing from someone else (or doesn't mean anything at all). Now, I've also learned that I need to make a little more effort in this area of my life because I actually really do value my feeling friends and relatives but it was something that I had to deliberately and consciously work at, not something that comes naturally to me.

These are the reasons why typology is so powerful as a means of increasing our understanding and our ability to create harmony in our relationships. But simply knowing our type and the types of other people isn't enough. Types aren't static. It takes time to figure out what you are; it's usually not just a matter of taking a 5 minute test and then bam, that's it, you know everything. You may be that lucky but what's more likely is that you're going to get some false answers at first as you grope around in the dark, trying to really understand yourself or the people who are important to you. And beyond that, it doesn't just end when you finally understand what your type is; you need to develop the things you need to develop. Figuring out what your type is is great, but you need to look at it to see what steps you need to take to further develop yourself. Your weaker functions indicate areas of your life that are calling for your love and attention, and to keep growing we have to start working on those parts of ourselves.

And we must never forget that knowing our or others' types doesn't mean that you know ourselves or others at a deep level; that takes time. Many, many years of time. Jung fought hard against our tendency as a society to reduce people to safe, neat, easily digestible statistics, as "nothing but"s; "nothing but" a Latina professional from Chicago, or "nothing but" a person with a certain IQ, or "nothing but" an extrovert. Our ego may have stereotypical ways of behaving, but we each of us has a special, one of a kind uniqueness which comes from the Self. Jungian typology tells us how we take in and process information, and our resulting tendencies. These things are true and they exist, but they are not the entirety of who we are. People resist being typed because they (rightly) resist being put into a box, of having the complexity of their being reduced to a 4 letter (or whatever) stereotype. Yes we do have stereotypical ways of behaving, but this is not the whole of what we are.

Just as the persona (how we represent ourselves to the world) or even our ego (the construct we use to navigate it) are not the entirety of ourselves, neither is our type (the method our ego uses to navigate the world). We are much larger and more complex within our conscious sphere than any label or mask or method. And when we bring in the actual entirety of ourselves - when we bring in our unconscious as well as conscious selves - that largeness and complexity expands far into the realm of deep mystery. Typology is incredibly useful, but we must always take care when using it to use it as a way to further explore that mystery, not demean and diminish it.

Glossary: Meyers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

A personality typing system by Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers based on Jung’s theory of the four functions of the psyche. There are 16 different MBTI types in total based on the following dichotomies: introversion/extroversion, sensation/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving (rational/irrational). From the beginning the MBTI has been especially popular in the world of business; Meyers herself worked with the personnel manager of a major bank who went on to found one of the first consulting firms in the US.

It’s important to remember that one’s “type” is simply one’s preferred method of dealing with the world; this is a type indicator, not some destiny determined by the stars. It only suggests a type. We should be careful to avoid labeling ourselves or others. Jung developed his typology as a way to organize our thinking while exploring the infinite complexity of human psychology; labeling people, even with Jungian concepts, makes that impossible as it reduces that complexity to a single four letter caricature. Even if we get our “type” right, we need to remember that it’s a preference, not a result. And it’s a preference which should, ideally, change throughout one’s life as one proceeds along the path of individuation.


What’s my MBTI type?

The easiest way to find out your type  is by taking one of the many free personality tests online (I've listed several sites that offer these at the end of the post). Beware when taking the tests that you don’t base your answers simply on the last incident that happened. You need to think about what you would typically do in such a situation, not what you happened to do in one particular instance. When in doubt, ask someone who you feel knows you well what they think you would do. It's probably going to take some time to work out; I’ve been working on this subject for years and I’m still learning new things about myself and about Jung’s typology.

Personally, I feel that the best way to figure out one’s “type” is to get a firm grasp of the various dimensions of the personality (intuition, sensation, introvert, extrovert, etc.) One helpful thing to do is to figure out which are your weakest functions, and which, in particular, is your inferior function. Just as it’s fairly clear what your two strongest functions are, it’s also generally pretty clear what your two weakest functions are; they’re the two areas of your life that always trip you up. To figure out which one is your inferior function ask yourself where you feel the most shame.

As an INTP, both my thinking and my intuition are fairly strong, so much so that at first I wasn’t sure which one was my primary function and which the auxiliary function. This was especially true because I was trying to figure this out later in life, and as you grow psychologically you often move more strongly into your second function as the first one gets worn out and boring. I’ve always suffered failure in the areas of sensation and feeling; I always struggle to take care of my most basic needs, and I’m constantly embarrassed by my social faux pas. However, while I’m embarrassed by my dirty apartment and inability to keep my finances in order, I’m terrified of and humiliated by my social difficulties, to the extent that I’ve literally wanted to die after having embarrassed myself. That simply doesn’t happen when my sloppy housekeeping or lack of financial acumen come up. This kind of over the top affect is an excellent indicator that the inferior function was touched, as our inferior function is the wound that never heals. And once you know what your inferior function is you can figure out the rest.


Understanding the MBTI Code

The MBTI code notes an individual’s attitude and their two strongest functions; the first letter, the “I” or the “E”, denote whether the person is introverted or extroverted. The two letters following the I or the E denote the two main functions, without indicating which is the primary and which the auxiliary function. Determining one’s attitude and main functions in the MBTI is fairly straightforward. Determining which function is one’s primary function is a little more complicated, especially if one is an introvert, due to the MBTI’s somewhat convoluted method of notation.

In the MBTI the last letter that shows which of the two functions is extroverted; the J or the P (for “judging” or “perceiving,” or the rational and irrational functions). The important thing to remember is that this last letter shows which of the two functions is extroverted. In an extrovert it’s easy; the extroverted function is the extrovert’s primary function. An introvert, however, by definition introverts their primary function. This is what makes them an introvert. Therefore, the J or the P indicates which of the two functions is the auxiliary function.

… Extroverts turn their primary function towards the external world; when you meet an extrovert you can quickly make out their primary function because that is the one with which they will greet you. Introverts turn their primary function inwards; the function they turn to the world is actually their auxiliary function. For example, if you meet an extroverted feeling type who secondarily relies on their sensation, you will see a feeling type. But if you meet an introverted feeling/sensation type, you will initially perceive their auxiliary function, sensation. This is because introverts rely on their auxiliary function to get through life. Introverts hide their primary function (in this case, feeling), unless they get to know you well. This makes introverts seem a bit awkward because they're generally using their second best function when dealing with the world.

- Glossary: Auxiliary Functions


As the MBTI code tells you which of the two functions is extroverted, and introverts extrovert their auxiliary function, the last letter for an introverted MBTI type indicates the introverts auxiliary function, NOT their primary function. Below are some examples

ESTP = Extroverted Sensation Thinking, primary function sensation (“P” means perceiving, which is MBTI for irrational, which are the sensation and intuition functions, hence the primary function is sensation, the perceiving function).

ESTJ = Extroverted Sensation Thinking, primary function thinking (“J” means judging, which is MBTI for rational, which are the thinking and feeling functions, hence the primary function is thinking, the judging function).

ISTP = Introverted Sensation Thinking, primary function thinking (“P” means perceiving, but since this person is an introvert the function indicated by the P – sensation – is the auxiliary function, so thinking is the primary function here).

ISTJ = Introverted Sensation Thinking, primary function sensation (“J” means judging, but since this person is an introvert the function indicated by the J – thinking – is the auxiliary function, so sensation is the primary function here).

If this seems completely counterintuitive and ridiculously complicated you are not the only one. This is literally the thing that took me years to get. The thing to remember is 1) if you’re an extrovert, the last letter indicates your primary function but 2) if you’re an introvert, the last letter indicates your auxiliary function.


Once you’ve figured out your MBTI type have fun exploring the internet for information on your type, and that of others as well. While it’s not good to pigeonhole people (yourself included), you can discover valuable insights into your and your loved ones’ personalities. The MBTI is a tool and as such should be your helper, not your master. But if you know how to use it it’s a very useful tool, and one that should be explored by anyone who’s interested in people and why they do the things they do. If Jung’s theory of typology is the only thing, out of all of Jung’s concepts, that you ever master it will still help you enormously in understanding yourself and others.

Typological analysis determined by written tests can be helpful, but it can also be misleading. Such tests are collectively based and static; that is, their validity is statistical and time-specific. They may give reasonable picture of one’s conscious predilections at the time of the test, but in ignoring the dynamic nature of the psyche they say nothing about the possibility of change.

Daryl Sharp, Personality Types: Jung's Model of Typology, p. 92



For further reading (including self-tests):
Personality Hacker
Personality Junkie
16 Personalities
Truity
Personality Page
Human Metrics


Podcasts:
Jung Podcast #11 - 13 (Jungian’s Podcast)
How To Figure Out Your Personality (Personality Hacker)


See also:
Primary function
Auxiliary function
Tertiary function
Inferior function
Introversion
Extroversion
Thinking
Feeling
Intuition
Sensation
Rational functions
Irrational functions
The 16 “Types” (MBTI)
Integrating the Four Functions

The narrow door of shadow

The unconscious is commonly regarded as a sort of incapsulated fragment of our most personal and intimate life – something like what the bible calls the “heart” and considers the source of all evil thoughts. In the chambers of the heart dwell the wicked blood spirits, swift anger and sensual weakness. This is how the unconscious looks when seen from the conscious side. But consciousness appears to be essentially an affair of the cerebrum, which sees everything separately and in isolation, and therefore sees the unconscious in this way too, regarding it outright as my unconscious. Hence it is generally believed that anyone who descends into the unconscious gets into a suffocating atmosphere of egocentric subjectivity, and in this blind alley is exposed to the attack of all ferocious beasts which the caverns of the psychic underworld are supposed to harbour.

True, whoever looks into the mirror of the water will see first of all his own face. Whoever goes to himself risks a confrontation with himself. The mirror does not flatter, it faithfully shows whatever looks into it; namely, the face we never show to the world because we cover it with the persona, the mask of the actor. But the mirror lies behind the mask and shows the true face.

This confrontation is the first test of courage on the inner way, a test sufficient to frighten off most people for the meeting with ourselves belongs to the more unpleasant things that can be avoided so long as we can project everything negative into the environment. But if we are able to see our own shadow and can bear knowing about it, then a small part of the problem has already been solved: we have at least brought up the personal unconscious. The shadow is a living part of the personality and therefore wants to live with it in some form. It cannot be argued out of existence or rationalized into harmlessness. This problem is exceedingly difficult, because it not only challenges the whole man, but reminds him at the same time of his helplessness and ineffectuality. Strong natures – or should one rather call them weak? – do not like to be reminded of this, but prefer to think of themselves as heroes who are beyond good and evil, and to cut the Gordian knot instead of untying it. Nevertheless, the account has to be settled sooner or later. In the end one has to admit that there are problems which one simply cannot solve on one’s own resources. Such an admission has the advantage of being honest, truthful, and in accord with reality, and this prepares the ground for a compensatory reaction from the collective unconscious: you are now more inclined to give heed to a helpful idea or intuition, or to notice thoughts which had not been allowed to voice themselves before. Perhaps you will pay attention to the dreams that visit you at such moments, or will reflect on certain inner and outer occurrences that take place just at this time. If you have an attitude of this kind, then the helpful powers slumbering in the deeper strata of man’s nature can come awake and intervene, for helplessness and weakness are the eternal experience and the eternal problem of mankind. To this problem there is also an eternal answer, otherwise it would have been all up with humanity long ago. When you have done everything that could possibly be done, the only thing that remains is what you could still do if only you knew it. But how much do we know ourselves? Precious little, to judge by experience. Hence there is still a great deal of room left for the unconscious. Prayer, as we know, calls for a very similar attitude and therefore has much the same effect.

The necessary and needful reaction from the collective unconscious expresses itself in archetypally formed ideas. The meeting with oneself is, at first, the meeting with one’s own shadow. The shadow is a tight passage, a narrow door, whose painful constriction no one is spared who goes down to the deep well. But one must learn to know oneself in order to know who one is. For what comes after the door is, surprisingly enough, a boundless expanse full of unprecedented uncertainty, with apparently no inside and no outside, no above and no below, no here and no there, no mine and no thine, no good and no bad. It is a world of water, where all life floats in suspension; where the realm of the sympathetic system, the soul of everything living, begins; where I am indivisibly this and that; where I experience the other in myself and the other-than-myself experiences me.

- Jung, The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, paras. 42 - 45

Glossary: Inferior Function

The inferior function is practically identical with the dark side of the human personality.
- Jung, “Concerning Rebirth,” CW 9i, par. 222


A person’s weakest function. The inferior function is always the opposite of the primary function (intuition if your primary function is sensation, thinking if it’s feeling, or vice versa). Not only is it the opposite function, it will also have the opposite attitude (introverted/extroverted). For example, if your primary function is extroverted intuition your inferior function will be introverted sensation. In other words, you will be good at sniffing out the “next big thing” but have a hard time dealing with practical concerns such as responsibility or one’s physical well-being.

As the primary function is the one that is the most conscious, the inferior function is the one that’s the most unconscious. The very state of differentiation of one function automatically pushes it’s opposite down into the unconscious. Imagine the four functions as a plate resting on the surface of the ocean; if you lift up one side, the other side automatically goes down into the water. Developing one function lifts it up into consciousness; this automatically pushes the opposite function down into the unconscious. For this reason, the inferior function is always the function that causes the most problems in one’s life. It expresses itself in the most primitive, archaic, and affect laden ways. And the more energy you pour into your superior function, the more starved for energy your inferior function becomes and the more unconscious it will become. This one-sidedness leads to ever more infantile and primitive expressions of the inferior function until you end up in neurosis.

The inferior function will always be an area of pain and shame in a person’s life, but we can learn to adapt to social expectations enough to muddle through our lives. For example, the extroverted intuitive can learn to get their act together and keep their bills paid and their home (relatively) clean… but it will never be as effortless as it is for other types. We can learn what Marie Louise von Franz calls “pseudo adaptations” – feeling types can memorize knowledge from books (but it will generally be the most conventional kind of thinking), and thinking types can learn what to do in different social situations (again, purely conventional manners) – but dealing with the fourth function will always be a challenge.

Pseudo-adaptations allow us to get through life but no matter how hard we try the inferior function always finds ways to trip us up, usually when we least expect it. It has an autonomous quality to it, as if we were stuck with a child, a wild animal, or a stupid and malicious prankster. It’s the part of us which is the closest to the unconscious and the least under ego’s control. As such, it's the “doorway” through which unconscious contents, including the Self, can come into our lives. The superior function may be our best way to survive in the world, but the inferior function is the doorway to meaning.

The inferior function is always of the same nature, rational or irrational, as the primary function: when thinking is most developed, the other rational function, feeling, is inferior; if sensation is dominant, then intuition, the other irrational function, is the fourth function, and so on. This accords with general experience: the thinker is tripped up by feeling values; the practical sensation type gets into a rut, blind to the possibilities seen by intuition; the feeling type is deaf to logical thinking; and the intuitive, at home in the inner world, runs afoul of concrete reality.

One may be aware of the perceptions or judgments associated with the inferior function, but these are generally over-ridden by the superior function. Thinking types, for example, do not give their feelings much weight. Sensation types have intuitions, but they are not motivated by them. Similarly, feeling types brush away disturbing thoughts and intuitives ignore what is right in front of them.

- Daryl Sharp, “Jung Lexicon”

To the extent that a person functions too one-sidedly, the inferior function becomes correspondingly primitive and troublesome. The overly dominant primary function takes energy away from the inferior function, which falls into the unconscious. There it is prone to be activated in an unnatural way, giving rise to infantile desires and other symptoms of imbalance. This is the situation in neurosis.

- Daryl Sharp, “Jung Lexicon”

Positive as well as negative occurrences can constellate the inferior counter-function. When this happens, sensitiveness appears. Sensitiveness is a sure sign of the presence of inferiority. This provides the psychological basis for discord and misunderstanding, not only as between two people, but also in ourselves. The essence of the inferior function is autonomy: it is independent, it attacks, it fascinates and so spins us about that we are no longer masters of ourselves and can no longer rightly distinguish between ourselves and others

- Jung, “The Problem of the Attitude-Type,” CW 7, par. 85

In order to extricate the inferior function from the unconscious by analysis, the unconscious fantasy formations that have now been activated must be brought to the surface. The conscious realization of these fantasies brings the inferior function to consciousness and makes further development possible.

- Jung, “The Problem of the Attitude-Type,” CW 7,  par. 764

Our conscious realm is like a room with four doors, and it will be the fourth door by which the shadow, the animus, and the anima and the personification of the Self will come in. They will not enter as often through the other doors, which in a way is self-evident, because the inferior function is so close to the unconscious and remains so barbaric and inferior and undeveloped that it is naturally the weak spot in consciousness through which the figures of the unconscious can break in. In consciousness it is experienced as a weak spot, as that disagreeable thing which will never leave you in peace but always causes trouble, for every time you feel you have acquired a certain inner balance or inner standpoint, something happens from within or without to throw you off again, and it is always through that fourth door, which you cannot shut. You can keep the three doors of your inner room closed, but on the fourth door the lock does not work, and there, when you do not expect it, the unexpected will come in again. Thank God, you can say, for otherwise the whole life process would petrify and stagnate in a wrong kind of consciousness. It is the ever-bleeding wound of the conscious personality, but through it the unconscious can always come in and so enlarge the consciousness and bring forth new experience.

As long as you have not developed your other functions, your auxiliary functions, they too will be open doors, so in a person who has only developed one superior function, the two auxiliary functions will operate in the same way and will appear in personifications of the shadow, animus, and anima. It is only when you have succeeded in developing three functions, in locking three of your inner doors, that the problem of the fourth door still remains, for that is the one which is apparently not meant to be locked. There one has to succumb, one has to suffer defeat, in order to develop further.

- Marie Louise von Franz, Psychotherapy


See also:
Symbolism: The Snake Pt. 2 (The Child)
Symbolism: The Trickster
Glossary: The Shadow
The Narrow Door of Shadow
The golden shadow
The plumb line of personality


Link:
Jungian’s Podcast: Type 2 (Episode 12), John Betts

The perversion of love

This is kind of off topic but unfortunately very much on topic in light of current events. Trump's (still) in the White House and Republicans are doing their damndest to pass a health care bill that will basically lead to the deaths of many poorer people in this country, a kind of social Darwinism not seen since the era of the robber barons... Or maybe it does have something to do with the topic of the four functions. Why don't you decide?



White people (or men, or people of any other dominant group) simply don't get group dynamics unless it's brought up by a person of a dominated group.  It may be perfectly clear to everyone else, including people who don't belong to either group. When you're in a dominating group there's some sort defense mechanism that tries to prevent you from seeing reality. The same doesn't happen to a dominated group; they have no reason to distort reality, they haven't done anything wrong, i.e. anything in violation of the laws of basic human dignity. So, members of the dominating group refuse to even see it... unless it's an attempt to balance the inequities that inevitably result from such relations. In that case, they take the “best defense is an offense” tactic and try to use sleight of hand to turn the accusation on their victims. This is because people's identity is actually very deeply tied with their group identity (this is the similarity between American and Japanese cultures that leads both to attack the loners).

There is a difference between white and black peoples because in this culture white people are on top... and they want to stay there. The masculine way is to look at the law itself, completely without any reference to the relationship. The reality is that to truly understand the situation, we must admit to the truth of the unequal relationship which is baked into the system, upon which the system is dependent to maintain itself. This is because the true motivator is the drive for power; because love is not there, because there is no consciousness in the feeling side, it comes up in its unconscious form, the desire for power.

The desire for power is love perverted. It's an attempt to get the good feelings of love without sacrificing anything of yourself. We want love but the only way to get it is to allow a part of yourself to die. This is why I've had to live a life of failure. Any part of life can be can be a time we got it right, but especially when your Self is pushing you away from the things of this world. This is why spiritual people down the ages have spoken about giving up this world in order to gain the other one, the eternal one, the real one. But the truth is, both worlds are real; the real is something beyond them, that unites them but also transcends them. Each must be accorded its respect and treated with all the dignity due them. Only then does one achieve the goal.


- "Object Anyway?", More Perfect

Listen to this podcast; it's awesome. Actually, you should listen to the entire series. It was created by the gifted and passionate folks over at RadioLab (and if you haven't listened to them, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR????)