A Beginner's Guide to the 16 Personalities
You might have seen the 16p test in high school, got a weird four-letter code, decided it was stupid, and never thought about it again. It kinda is stupid, but there's some interesting stuff buried in there. If you finish this post and still don't care about mbti, at least it'll be for new reasons! Or you're just here to look at weird theory babble, in which case enjoy.
The Stupid Four-Letter Thing
So, let's start with the accurate part of what you might remember. There are sixteen different personality types, divided initially by four letter dichotomies.
I vs. E = Introverted vs. Extroverted
N vs. S = Intuitive vs. Sensory
T vs. F = Thinking vs. Feeling
P vs. J = Perceiving vs. Judging
The combination of these elements forms your type. For example, ESTP means an Extroverted Sensory Thinking and Perceiving type. The letter-dichotomies are the slightly stupid part, but don't worry, we're getting to the cool stuff. Before we go any deeper into the theory, though, it's crucial to understand these more base level distinctions.
First, introverted vs. extroverted. This one seems obvious, but in MBTI it means something slightly different than the pop psychology versions. For example, most people regard an 'introvert' as someone who recharges by being alone instead of interacting with others, but the issue with this definition is that whether someone is socially introverted or extroverted depends heavily on who they're around. Even extroverts don't usually recharge by being around people they hate, and introverts aren't nearly as drained around people they like.
The question isn't just "Are you shy at parties?"
The Myers Briggs version of this dichotomy is that introverts spend time considering ideas in their own brain world, while extroverts deal with external things.
Introverts = Librarians, collecting / storing / refining information in the recesses of their brain.
Extroverts = Street vendors, selling their knowledge by the pound and trading perspectives with others.
In MBTI, it is totally possible to have a socially introverted extrovert or vice versa. So, keep that in mind when looking at certain individuals' type.
Next up is Intuitive vs Sensory. Intuitive types exist more in a world of abstract ideas (possibilities, connections, patterns), while sensory types live in the real world. An intuitive type deals with hypotheticals, future schematics, and eventualities more than a sensory type, while sensors deal with material things, step-by-step ways of doing things, and small details more often than intuitives.
Intuitives are much more prone to "just trust me" logic than sensors, just because the operations of their brain can seem more esoteric. Sensors' plans are in tiny steps, where intuitive plans are in massive leaps. This dichotomy is pretty much one-for-one the same from the 16personalities version, but certain types are more intuitive or sensory than others in their same category (we'll get to that later).
Next up is the devious Thinking and Feeling dichotomy. No, just because you are a man, does not mean you are a thinking type or vice versa. No, just because you think of yourself as 'logical' does not mean you're a thinking type. There are plenty of logical feelers.
The simplest way to frame the distinction is that Feeling types are focused on evaluating the quality of things where Thinking types are focused on analyzing the function of things. Thinkers ask the question, "Is this [thing] true/How does this [thing] work?" where Feelers ask the question "Is this [thing] good?" They're not different in levels of intelligence; thinkers are not 'smarter' than feelers. They're fundamentally answering different questions.
It might help to divide this up a bit to make it easier to understand. Feelers in general assess the quality of things and how much it resonates. FPs, however, want to build up a 'self' by pushing a bunch of stuff they like into a little hole and pointing to that when people ask them who they are. FJs, on the other hand, want to figure out what others (the 'Tribe') like, and working from there. To move to the other side, thinkers address the validity or soundness of statements (based on the specifics of their types). TJs want to know 'is this thing valid?' (is the conclusion true) where TPs want to know 'is this thing sound?' (does it's conclusion follow logically from it's arguments). This distinction seems minimal at first, but TPs can logic themselves into some truly wacky or out-there conclusions from their logic since they're not all that worried about being empirical (testable) as much as they are about the conclusion making sense or being useful to them. TJs, on the other hand, can disregard even valid conclusions if they feel like they're based on too much conjecture. TJs want their information to be empirically tested and shown to be effective over lots of trial-and-error in the real world. Put simply,
TP = "If pigeons do control the economy, then that makes perfect sense."
TJ = "Harvard study or it didn't happen."
FP = "I'm basically a playlist on two legs."
FJ = "Why worry about what I like when there's everyone else to worry about."
Finally, the infamous Judging vs. Perceiving axis. This one is by far the most complicated to explain simply, but I shall try regardless. Perceiving types are all about gathering 'stuff'. What they do with it can even be of less importance than just having it in their brain. The Perceiving type is all about gathering data and being adaptable to different circumstances. Perceiving types are best summed up by this image:
Judgers, on the other hand, operate from the decision-making side of this axis. They are all about organizing priorities and arriving at useful conclusions. They don't often waste their time absorbing 10,000 pieces of information before deciding.
Perceivers = Check for patterns, strategies, and tactics to gain some kind of advantage that you can expand upon.
Judgers = Constantly race towards checkmate, and every action is part of the bigger goal. No use dealing with smaller, incremental tactics that don't meaningfully advance my position.
Okay, now that we've established all of the ground-level theory, we can move into the meaningful bits. While the four-letter code is the label on the folder telling you the rough details, the function stacks inside tell you the order of your brain's mechanics.
There are 8 Cognitive Functions that combine to make your type. Think of cognitive functions like different tools in your mental toolbox that you use to solve different problems and get through your day. The functions are broken into Feeling, Thinking, Intuitive, or Sensory functions of the Introverted or Extroverted variety. Lucky for you, since I've already described what those dichotomies mean in this system, you can just apply that understanding to these functions.
Put simply, the functions are just an application of the element inward or outward. For example, extroverted intuition is just an application of intuition to the outside world (patterns, connections, possibilities of external things) and introverted thinking is just an application of thinking to the internal world (logic that is rational and not empirically tested).
First, though, let's talk about what these functions look like in text. Since it's a combination of, say, Intuition and Introversion, this is phrased as Introverted Intuition (simple enough). However, most of the time when you see these functions referred to, they will be in the following format:
Ti = Introverted Thinking
Te = Extroverted Thinking
Ni = Introverted Intuition
Ne = Extroverted Intuition
As is likely apparent by those examples, the format is (S for sensing, N for intuition, F for feeling, or T for thinking) and (i for introverted or e for extroverted). Now we can get into what these different functions actually do. It's important to note that each function has a strong relationship with it's opposite (Say, Ti and Fe).
Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Types who have Ti first: INTP, ISTP
Types who have Ti second: ENTP, ESTP
Introverted Thinking represents a sort of rational perspective, where something making sense to them in their framework is more important than being empirically true. Ti-types place importance on evaluating ideas and critical thinking. Ti users thrown into a world that just doesn't make sense, and they have to formulate a way to make it all compute. Ti can run into an issue, though, of being too absorbed in it's internal machinations and miss the outside world. It can become delusional, stuck in their own mental fantasy world, immune to the real-world truth. Ti types want to figure out their own way of doing things, and can feel like they have to critically think through everything before they do it.
Types who lead with Ti (INTP and ISTP) focus on creating frameworks and new ways of thinking, and evolve by sharing those ideas effectively with the tribe who can then use them as well (Inferior Fe). The Ti journey looks something like this:
Has a 'way of doing things'
2. A new complication emerges that they can't solve immediately.
3. They figure out how to break the complication down into things they can understand
4. 'Think their way around' the complication
5. Share their fix with others (Fe brain)
However, there are a lot of places where Ti types can get lost. They can get stuck in mental loops, and sometimes there are problems that they simply can't think their way out of. Ti-types are particularly attached to their first function, and struggle to let the rest of their stack breathe at times.
Extroverted Thinking (Te)
Types who have Te first: ENTJ, ESTJ
Types who have Te second: INTJ, ISTJ
Where Ti types run the risk of venturing off too far into aimless conjecture, Te types run the risk of sticking too closely to what is immediately provable. Where a Ti type (especially an intuitive one) can come out believing that the world is run by underground mole men, a Te type can end up becoming myopic, and unwilling to see perspectives that deviate from the most empirically validated NPC answer (by whichever metric they prefer).
When well-regulated, though, a Te type is great at applying existing tools to new problems to help make sure they get solved as efficiently and neatly as possible. Te types create their own methods only if they find existing ones to be insufficient, and usually do so through combining existing models into their own. Not to say Ti types don't take inspiration, but Te by virtue of being an extroverted function looks at the world first and foremost when problem solving. They're more directed than Ti; When solving a problem, they tailor their solution more specifically to the issue instead of plugging it in to the old critical-thinking-inator.
In short, Te types treat everything as in need of it's own approach, and usually finds that approach through looking at others' tools. When a Ti type shares their models / ways of thinking with the tribe (Ti-Fe), Te types analyze those models according to whether it makes empirical sense and whether it appeals to their sensibilities / priorities (Te-Fi). Fi directs the Te type towards what it feels is even worth doing in the first place.
Te is the executioner while Fi is the king deciding who's next on the chopping block.
Types who have Fi first: INFP, ISFP
Types who have Fi second: ENFP, ESFP
Fi is the function most concerned with deep, inner truth and a sense of authenticity. Fi appraises things and decides their quality, where Ti breaks down how they work. A skilled Fi user can be a great critic: They can break down what they like and don't like about various things, and apply those preferences to their own work. Fi-types have a stereotype as artistic, and I can see where that comes from. Their complex identity is often hard to verbalize in ways other than art, and they don't usually wear their feelings on their sleeves like Fe-types. However, the assumption that all artists are Fi types is far off-base.
Te directs these Fi types to care about being good at whatever they've decided will become their personality. For example, Fi-types driven to art will eventually learn to use their Te to become a more skilled artist, using techniques learned from the outside world to better express the inner self. Expressing the inner self well requires a lot of skill, and Fi users eventually learn to use their Te to develop those skills.
Socially, Fi types scan those around them to figure out who aligns with them and who doesn't. For Fi, these are often snap decisions. Regardless, Fi ranks people on criteria that the individual Fi type sets, and often varies between users. Funnily enough, I've noticed somewhat of a competitiveness among Fi users. Once they have this 'tier list' of people, a Fi user with well-integrated Te will often ask "how can I reach the top tier in my ranking system?"
Types who have Fe first: ENFJ, ESFJ
Types who have Fe second: INFJ, ISFJ
Where Fi is all about the individual's values and preferences, Fe types are all about those of others. The Fe type mainly focuses on the reaction of the Tribe to certain things. If poorly developed, Fe types can be unwilling to do or believe anything that deviates from what those around them believe. More commonly, they are skilled at understanding and manipulating the social environment around them. Fe types are acutely aware of social missteps or successes, and are stereotyped as charismatic for this reason.
A problem that takes a lot of maturity to surpass for Fe-types is allowing themselves to use their Ti in ways that contradict what the people around them believe. The main way that Fe users develop their Ti is through figuring out ways to heighten their Fe: Linda talked to Bob this way, so if I talk to Bob that way, my chances of succeeding are higher (Ti cause-and-effect analysis feeding Fe social orientation). However, they rarely let their Ti run wild, partially because it's underdeveloped and partially because it could lead to a lack of social cohesion.
Introverted Intuition (Ni)
Types who have Ni first: INFJ, INTJ
Types who have Ni second: ENFJ, ENTJ
Introverted intuition is arguably the hardest to narrow down function. Many have tried, and many have failed. Since this is a fairly simple introduction, I will attempt to give a straight-forward definition, but this is one that warrants further research. Ni works in the following stages:
Takes in information from Se (sensory data, presence in the moment, concrete details)
2. Unconscious mind crunches the data.
3. Arrive at a conclusion (an 'aha' moment)
This appears to be the trend among Ni users I've seen and talked to. The Ni type sees what currently exists and takes trends from that data. Afterwards, the Ni user inevitably thinks: "how will this play out in the future?" This is where the stereotype of Ni-users as long-term planners come from. Ni as a function extrapolates trends over time, how things are changing and moving. It's not dissimilar from Se in that way. It relies on Se, in fact, because without Se there would be no data to crunch.
Ni has big hit-or-miss potential. Sometimes (perhaps even often) when an Ni-type makes a future prediction, they're off the mark. But the one in five times that they are on the mark, they see something that I would have totally missed even if given 100 years to analyze. Ni users without integrated Se are so in their mental world that the real one just feels like noise. Since Se is so undervalued for these types, the data from Se is treated as merely input to be built upon, instead of something that can be used to build a good life. From this generates the stereotype of the Ni-user (as well as the Ti-user) of being easily overwhelmed academics who hide in their mind fortress.
To all of the Ni users out there, please develop your Se. Ni particularity without Se adaptability makes for a challenging person to get along with at times.
Extroverted Intuition (Ne)
Types who have Ne first: ENFP, ENTP
Types who have Ne second: INFP, INTP
Ne is similar to Ni in that they both analyze patterns, but Ne applies this trend to the external world. "What would happen if aliens came to Earth right now?" Where Ni types crunch all of the data into specific conclusions, Ne types expand outward to form bigger and bigger piles of information. Ne types see everything from many different sides, and can be indecisive for that reason.
Ne is ultimately anchored by Si. Si stops Ne from going too high up in the clouds, and grounds their analysis with an understanding of what realistically would happen in a given scenario (rather than 10,000 equally possible alternatives). Ne brings in all kinds of data for the rest of your functions to process. ENTPs use this to consider all possible sides of an argument (filtered by Ti), and ENFPs more often use it to imagine how they would react to different scenarios (filtered by Fi).
Ne users without integrated Si can come off as air-headed, up in the clouds, and inattentive to the world around them. Ne-dominant types often have wider selections of interests, but sometimes not as much depth as many Si-types can generate. INTPs and INFPs for this reason have incredibly varied and deep interests due to their balanced Ne and Si. However, they likely won't reach the breadth (Ne) or depth (Si) of knowledge as an ENP or ISJ respectively.
Types who have Si first: ISFJ, ISTJ
Types who have Si second: ESFJ, ESTJ
Si measures what has worked in the past, and keeps tally of something's successes and failures. I think of introverted sensing as the snowball rolling down the hill, slowly gaining traction as it goes. Si wants things to be precise, and wants them to fit the way they've been in the past. When something isn't broken, Si doesn't fix it. Si users risk becoming complacent at worst, and unwilling to change their ways. However, much to Ne-users' chagrin, there is value in being precise, detail-oriented, and regimented.
Si types catalogue information according to precise detail. Si types, for most of their lives, are scared of Ne. It feels disruptive to the order they've created, and it risks tearing down their shelter. However, when well-integrated, Ne can help Si types to make slow, incremental progress in a different direction.
Types who have Se first: ESFP, ESTP
Types who have Se second: ISFP, ISTP
Se takes in information from the outside world in it's purest form. ESFPs and ESTPs especially are able to appreciate the beauty of the world around them, and often live in the moment, precisely because they have no processing filter before their interaction with reality. However, this can cause ESPs to become reckless when they don't have integrated Ni. Ni leads Se users to realize that they can have fun and enjoy life, up to a limit. Se chases dopamine, while Ni helps them make sure they can continue receiving dopamine over long periods of time.
Se can be reckless, and is often stereotyped as such, but intelligent Se-users know when to use their other functions to stop and think before rushing in to an engagement. Se-types, as they grow older, realize that they need to have some kind of stable plan to return to, and that is when they realize how essential Ni is in their stack.
By now, you've probably gotten an idea of which functions resonate with you most, but the Function stack of a given type is derived from a pretty simple method.
Your fourth function is the opposite of your first. When you're good at something, you're usually not great at the opposite of that thing (say, Ne and Si). -> Fi X X Te
2. Your third is the opposite of your second, and they're roughly balanced as you age.
3. You have two extroverted functions in your stack, and two introverted (it alternates).
4. Perceiver = Ne or Se in first two. Judger = Ni or Si in first two.
If you don't understand these steps, that's fine. Here is a reference list of the first four functions of every type:
Thank you all for reading this far, and I hope this has been informative. The next part of this series will cover the individual type descriptions, and will likely be about this length or longer. If you still think Myers-Briggs is stupid, so be it. I kinda agree.
