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an INFJ trying to understand people now officially slightly less confused!

[funkymbtifiction]

ISTP vs INFJ

ask: I notice the two have the same functions and they both could appear stoic and quiet. So what is the difference? Do INFJs appear warmer or something of that sort?

Uh… yeah. They do.

But it’s more than that.

If you are an introvert – any kind of an introvert – your first function is what processes information, and the second is how it either manifests (a judgment, for J types) or interacts with reality (information-gathering, for P types).

So, in an ISTP, you are going to actually see Se… as in, the ISTP interacting with tangible reality. Dealing with solid things. Hands on stuff. Being blunt and straightforward. Opportunistic. They see a chance to act, they take it. Same with the ISFPs. It’s there, why is no one taking advantage of it? I will! There is a reason ISTPs are known as “mechanical” – they are very physical, interested in actually getting their hands involved in a project. They like to tinker. Break systems apart and put them back together. Figure out work-arounds. Be actively involved in DOING THINGS. I dated one for awhile. If he went missing, I knew where he was – taking apart car engines with his buddy down the street.

Most ISTPs are pretty laid back and good natured. They are not cold, because they have Fe. But it’s low-order Fe, so it acts like a social filter more than a strong guiding force in the peacekeeping department; my guy actually told me, “I don’t like it when people fight…” but he was a bit awkward in knowing how to comfort others or deliver bad news. Our break up was … strangely wonderful. We pretty much just stopped talking to each other and went on our merry way. It was hilarious. He just decided I wasn’t for him and quit communicating with me, because he didn’t know how to break up with me without hurting my feelings… and I figured he’d decided that, so I left him alone.

INFJs are much more detached from reality in a physical sense (they live much more in their heads and are not as hands on) and more inclined toward pursuits that are less directly physical; that is not to say they won’t enjoy some of the same things, but when I’m around an INFJ (or an INTJ, for that matter), I expect it to be less about the physical moment they are in and more about the idea or concept behind whatever we are talking about. They live in the future far more often … dreaming … visualizing … imagining. I will on occasion interact with an SP who talks about the future, but it happens much, much more often with the NJ types. “Well, sure, we can offer aid NOW, but in twenty years, will this culture resent us for doing it?” (And being a sensor, my reaction is: “who cares? that is 20 years from now!”).

With an INFJ, the first thing you see is Fe. It might even be ALL you see, until they trust you. Ni-doms do not open their rich inner worlds lightly. So, you will see Fe. Social appropriateness, in terms of general demeanor, including others, and being at ease offering reassurances and comforts. And… social judgments, in terms of judging other people’s behavior as appropriate or non-appropriate given the social context and how it impacts others. They are warm but also inclined toward stubbornness, because once they have filtered through the information enough to reach a conclusion, it’s hard to shake them from that point. Ni takes over and asserts that the single truth is this. 

INFJs do not engage in seizing opportunities nearly as quickly as ISTPs, and ISTPs are less socially appropriate than INFJs. ISTPs want to be liked but are not always sure how to accomplish it; INFJs want to be attached to their physical environment but often find it overwhelming.

If you want a visual representation – go watch a few episodes of Fringe. Peter is your classic smooth-talking, deeply analytical, opportunistic ISTP, and Olivia is a wonderful representation of a curious but driven INFJ. Or … go watch Winter’s Tale. Same deal. The guy is an ISTP, the girl is an INFJ. One of them is all about ideas and dreams and the other one is about doing stuff.

[funkymbtifiction]

ISTP vs INFJ

ask: I notice the two have the same functions and they both could appear stoic and quiet. So what is the difference? Do INFJs appear warmer or something of that sort?

Uh… yeah. They do.

But it’s more than that.

If you are an introvert – any kind of an introvert – your first function is what processes information, and the second is how it either manifests (a judgment, for J types) or interacts with reality (information-gathering, for P types).

So, in an ISTP, you are going to actually see Se… as in, the ISTP interacting with tangible reality. Dealing with solid things. Hands on stuff. Being blunt and straightforward. Opportunistic. They see a chance to act, they take it. Same with the ISFPs. It’s there, why is no one taking advantage of it? I will! There is a reason ISTPs are known as “mechanical” – they are very physical, interested in actually getting their hands involved in a project. They like to tinker. Break systems apart and put them back together. Figure out work-arounds. Be actively involved in DOING THINGS. I dated one for awhile. If he went missing, I knew where he was – taking apart car engines with his buddy down the street.

Most ISTPs are pretty laid back and good natured. They are not cold, because they have Fe. But it’s low-order Fe, so it acts like a social filter more than a strong guiding force in the peacekeeping department; my guy actually told me, “I don’t like it when people fight…” but he was a bit awkward in knowing how to comfort others or deliver bad news. Our break up was … strangely wonderful. We pretty much just stopped talking to each other and went on our merry way. It was hilarious. He just decided I wasn’t for him and quit communicating with me, because he didn’t know how to break up with me without hurting my feelings… and I figured he’d decided that, so I left him alone.

INFJs are much more detached from reality in a physical sense (they live much more in their heads and are not as hands on) and more inclined toward pursuits that are less directly physical; that is not to say they won’t enjoy some of the same things, but when I’m around an INFJ (or an INTJ, for that matter), I expect it to be less about the physical moment they are in and more about the idea or concept behind whatever we are talking about. They live in the future far more often … dreaming … visualizing … imagining. I will on occasion interact with an SP who talks about the future, but it happens much, much more often with the NJ types. “Well, sure, we can offer aid NOW, but in twenty years, will this culture resent us for doing it?” (And being a sensor, my reaction is: “who cares? that is 20 years from now!”).

With an INFJ, the first thing you see is Fe. It might even be ALL you see, until they trust you. Ni-doms do not open their rich inner worlds lightly. So, you will see Fe. Social appropriateness, in terms of general demeanor, including others, and being at ease offering reassurances and comforts. And… social judgments, in terms of judging other people’s behavior as appropriate or non-appropriate given the social context and how it impacts others. They are warm but also inclined toward stubbornness, because once they have filtered through the information enough to reach a conclusion, it’s hard to shake them from that point. Ni takes over and asserts that the single truth is this. 

INFJs do not engage in seizing opportunities nearly as quickly as ISTPs, and ISTPs are less socially appropriate than INFJs. ISTPs want to be liked but are not always sure how to accomplish it; INFJs want to be attached to their physical environment but often find it overwhelming.

If you want a visual representation – go watch a few episodes of Fringe. Peter is your classic smooth-talking, deeply analytical, opportunistic ISTP, and Olivia is a wonderful representation of a curious but driven INFJ. Or … go watch Winter’s Tale. Same deal. The guy is an ISTP, the girl is an INFJ. One of them is all about ideas and dreams and the other one is about doing stuff.

[personalitytypepirate]

Very Advanced MBTI

ESTJ - Meanie ISTJ - Meanie’s minions ESFJ - Either Grandma or a bitch ISFJ - Pushover ENTJ - King Meanie INTJ - Standard Nerd ENFJ - Tell me about your *licks face* FEEEEEELINGS INFJ - Witch ESTP - Sociopath V1 ISTP - Sociopath V2 with 40% extra Sadism! ESFP - *Sees a new person* *Rubs genitals on their face as a greeting* ISFP - *rubs body with flowers* FREEDOM ENTP - Deluxe Nerd (Now with Free Violent Urges!) INTP - Quirky Nerd ENFP - *Spontaneously explodes into glitter* INFP - Nerds with added Emotions!

[fictionalcharactermbti]

Professor Minerva McGonagall: ISTP [Harry Potter Series] ISTP FOLLOWER FAVORITE 2017.

Dominant Introverted Thinking (Ti): We see Minerva light up and get involved with her logic when she gets to use her skills and abilities in the moment. Her logic is not based in Te aspects of being conceptual and analytical but are from introverted judgement. Ti is very tactile and experience based. We see this in Minerva in that she utilizes her judgment only in and from real situations and experiences. Unlike Extraverted Judging characters like Snape, Albus and Hermione, Minerva must be interacting with a situation to make judgments. She is far more involved in the moment with her students than these Extraverted Judging characters. 

We see her judgments come from an inner place (or personal) throughout the series. Lots of her decisions in punishing or not punishing students comes from a place independent of systematic rules and expectations. She doesn’t uphold the rules of the schools as hard as she may seem in the eyes of Harry. She uses Ti to alter them in the moment depending on each situation as it arises. This is her thinking perceptually rather than conceptually. She doesn’t uphold the concept and implications of the rules of the schools to the letter or ideologically try to (Te), rather she adapts these rules to each individual student and situation. We can see this comparatively with Hermione’s Te loyalty to the system. Minerva is not as rigid as Te, but wields the rules to what makes sense in the moment. This is what makes Minerva a bit more rebellious than her co-workers. 

Her introverted Thinking being dominant, Minerva has very specific focuses that needs direct involvement. We see this in Minerva’s dedication to transfiguration. Transfiguration is not just a part of who she is, but an extension of herself. Although she is an animagus, her dominant Ti is also part of why she is so interested in transfiguration. It is a tactile study of magic that involves really becoming one with what you are doing. This deep interest gets her excited, but when topics veer into subjects that she doesn’t actually physically get involved in with her Ti in some way, we see complete disinterest. This is why we bounce between her being completely involved or slinking into the background. 

Secondary Extraverted Sensation (Se): This is simply in how she is present oriented and works perceptually. Minerva doesn’t deal in potentials or the past. She deals directly in the present. This is what makes her quite pragmatic. She doesn’t have time for those who uphold past traditions or have big ideas for the future. She works realistically in the now. She adapts accordingly and doesn’t have time for what she sees as frivolous (more Ni and Ne related things).

Her sensation isn’t introverted in nature like many presume. She deals in facts and details but not in an introverted manner. Si gives meaning and internalizes these facts and figures. Minerva doesn’t do this. She deals in the outward reality when it comes to her sensation function. It is what makes her such a great tactile fighter when Hogwarts is attacked. She doesn’t waste anytime but immediately drums up how to defend Hogwarts and what everyone around her should be doing. Her Ti-Se thrives in this kind of situation where she can be so fully involved. [It is important to note that as a secondary function, ISTPs don’t crave the same novelty that ESTPs with Se as a dominant function do. Hence, why many may confuse Minerva as an Si user as well, because of a misunderstanding of how Se works depending on where in the functional stack it is.] 

We can see her Se in how she goes about Transfiguration, just as we did with Ti. Not only is she active in her Ti use, but with Se there is an additional physical perception added to it. She uses Transfiguration as an extension of herself. She isn’t theoretical in her study of it or her teaching. She is incredibly practical and physical in her approach.

Tertiary Introverted iNtuition (Ni): In a tertiary capacity, Ni shows itself in Minerva in a couple ways. The first in in her specialized knowledge. Ni encourages the Ti to hone in on one specialized skill. For Minerva she derives meaning from her Transfiguration and enjoys new meaning and experiences when doing the same transfiguration tasks. It is like a new experience every time. That is what happens with the Ti-Se-Ni order. 

Then we have the Ni combined with Ti creating a focus on system hypocrisies. Ti can be rebellious of Te like systems, trying to adapt them to current circumstances. This gives the ISTP, like Minerva, a skeptical eye of systems as a whole. Ni leads to poking holes in these systems and a deep dissatisfaction with system hypocrisies. We see this most in how outraged Minerva is with Dolores Umbridge, the definition of system hypocrisy. Many were outraged with her, but few were as aggressive in their outrage towards her like Minerva was. For her, this Ti-Ni was the trigger. Minerva was unable to take Umbridges hypocrisies any longer and constantly tried to either point them out or de-legitimize Umbridge at any opportunity she could get.

Inferior Extraverted Feeling (Fe): Luckily for Minerva she isn’t an unhealthy ISTP and therefore Fe doesn’t drive her unknowingly to need approval and appreciation. Instead, Fe works in two big ways for Minerva. The first derives itself because it is inferior resulting in her not seeing or really recognizing major social rituals or typical signs of a relationship. Hence, despite caring for Harry and others, she can seem cold. She doesn’t see the need to perform certain social niceties, the point of the them can be lost on her. We see this Ti v Fe most in her teaching. She doesn’t have the same hands on approach as we see with Lupin a dominant Fe user. She isn’t going to help you emotionally on purpose or guide you so obviously. Instead, we see her Ti be far more of a guide in pushing her students to be independent. To work trial by error, like she does.

Fe is actually for an inferior function pretty well developed in Minerva. It’s main driver is to prompt her to recognize and find her identity in relationships with others. This leads us to the second big way Fe effects Minerva. Her Ti is great at the independent thing, but inferior Fe reminds her to not isolate herself. For her these “others” can be found in her fierce loyalty to her students, staff, and the Order. This prompting of relationships to others is probably a major drive for her to be a teacher in the first place.

[istj-hedonist]

heyo, ur visual typing stuff seems cool! wondering how would u tell the diff btwn se eye bags and lack-of-sleep eyebags? are se users just chronically sleep deprived lol?

aegyo sal = Se-eyes

also unlike lack-of-sleep-eyebags they don’t go away when you are rested but they are always there. they are also not age-related eyebags since they are already there in toddlers.

[mbti-notes]

In the (MBTI & Emotional Health 3/3) section you have written that introverts process emotions inwardly and extroverts process emotions outwardly - was that line referring to Fi/Fe cognitive functions in specific or I/E mbti types in general? "When a problem arises... introverts are likely to become more and more withdrawn and extraverts are likely to get more and more aggressive" - in this context, should an ENTJ be identified as E (extrovert) or for their introverted feeling?

It refers to I/E, not Fi/Fe. Remember that F functions are not equivalent to emotions. Also, the location of the F function in the stack is important. In the example of ENTJs, inferior Fi would not override dominant Te's need to process information outwardly, through action.

[confusedinfj]

Hey, I need your opinion. I’m a bit confused between istp and isfp, so here is some info about me:

- I do a lot of stuff but sometimes I take breaks from my hobbies to start doing something new, then I drop it and get back to my old ones, it’s a never ending circle.

- I like to spend time alone like a lot but sometimes I get active and want to socialize. I can text my friends in a middle of Tuesday and ask out and they are like I’m working let’s meet tomorrow or whenever… and I can’t say yes coz I may not want to meet them, so yeah. And I cancel plans as well when I don’t feel like going, sometimes I regret making plans in my active phase.

- I usually do things last minute. I mean I’m okay with deadlines but I can procrastinate till the last day and then do things.

- I mostly listen to people, I talk a lot with a couple of my friends and my sister. Usually I just listen and overanalyze stuff and when I want to say something it feels like I forget how to talk, tho I’m not stupid. I don’t like being stupid.

- I don’t really care about people but if I do, I want to spend time with them a lot and get jealous when they don’t choose me. I question myself if I’m really friends with these people or I just randomly talk to them.

- I daydream sometimes and it happens unexpectedly but I quickly get back to reality thinking what’s the point at dreaming, like it brings me nothing.

- Sometimes I have a gut feeling and it makes me question things and get paranoid a bit.

- I have emotions but I can’t fight the saying in my head “emotions = weakness”. My family says I’m cold and distant and really not empathetic. I don’t remember the feeling when I was hurt, sad, happy, I just label them as hurt/sad/happy but feel nothing.

- I don’t like routines, I tried to stick to them and even made to-do lists but I give them up in a week. But I kinda have a systematic approach when working idk

- I get bored easily

From this information, I personally don't think I could call it. A lot of the things you mentioned are fairly universal behaviours, and some of them are just age/character development things (emotions = weakness is a strong socially pushed idea, for example).

The real difference between dominant Fi and dominant Ti will be in your decision making process. These can actually sound very similar, which may be why you're having difficulty. So I'll try to give you some separating questions which might help in distinguishing them.

When making a decision, do you naturally choose based off your feelings/moral judgements, or based off internal logic that make might make sense to anyone else?

The difference here is that Ti will first need to seek out enough options and information to make a decision. Fi isn't naturally so thorough. Ti likes to overwhelm itself with options, weigh them all up, and then choose. Fi is less likely to seek out all these options, and may go into a decision with a few predecided requirements (must be an ethically sourced product, for example).

When somebody tells you sad news (like maybe their dog died), do you feel sad too because you remember a time your dog (or someone/something else) died? Or do you feel whatever they're feeling in the moment?

The Fe difference is that if the person isn't actually sad about their dog anymore, you won't be overwhelmed with sad feelings about your own precious situation (with traumatic exceptions, of course). Fe tends to feel what's felt in the present, while Fi assumes what is felt based on its own experience.

When you're very stressed, do you find you become cold and rigorously scheduled (low te)? Or do you become overly concerned with what other people think about you and become unusually emotional (low Fe)?

I hope one of those helps!

[confusedinfj]

~ Function Group Vibes ~

Honestly, this is one of the most helpful things I've come up with yet 😂

Rebellious Monks

Entj, intj, esfp, isfp

Se, ni, te , fi

Kind of uptight, very moralled and principled, but a rebel for a cause. Neurotic™.

Dark Academia Chaos

Estj, istj, enfp, infp

Si, ne, te, fi

Seems bookish and put together, but is also completely off the charts. No matter how crazy and melodramatic they behave, their life is somehow always functional.

Mad Scientists

Esfj, isfj, entp, intp

Si, ne, ti, fe

Seems smart and robotic, but also clueless and off with the fairies. Barely interacting with reality they're so busy trying to box it and dissect it. They've probably come up with an algorithim for what they should have for breakfast (yes, *sfjs included).

Hippy/Stoner Vibes

Enfj, infj, estp, istp

Se, ni, ti, Fe

Are they constantly high, or are they just off the charts zen masters? They seem chill, but they say some existential stuff and ask whack questions... only a drug test will tell.

[confusedinfj]

My Estp sister: If I'm ever going to get hurt, I hope it's in the head, because then I'll look like a unicorn

[confusedinfj]

hi i'm curious how does an 3w4 esfp who only focus on her goal would look like ? but has an intj complex and think of herself she's one?

i engaged with her a few times

i will describe her behaviors first

she doesn't talk much but she likes to hang out just by herself or with someone she really close with. Hanging out means grabbing some coffee and read some books there or riding bicycle alone.

she's very goal oriented person she doesn't care if its not important for her. she has very big Fi like very. she said she could hate anyone without anh reason. do immature intj can be like that??????

i introduced her to mbti and take test first cuz it would be a good start.and yess she got intj on every test and now think of herself one since some common behaviors match her. i explained her about the functions stacks and everything i observed about this.

her response was ''trust me i'm intj'' without any explanation. even i asked do u know how Ni works she only said 'i dun know about that much but ik i'm one'' 😧 that doesn't make sense. and her another reply was 'i never tell or show the side of me solving problems''. well this is even worse than the above.

she even said dr.strange is similar to her cuz he will do anything for his love. that's wht she focused. so i told her if u wanna know about him try to profound him do not look at the traits only she said she did that. so i said tell me about ur opinion and who he is? she said '' didn't u watch the movies . u should know it''😶.i think real intj will understand my question.

so i wanna know ur opinion about this behaviors

ik i might look way too much in data i'm still learning so plz help me out

if it were u how would u prove or slove in the way she believe?

oh and do u think young intjs would buy stuffs like clothes and bags that doesn't really necessary? cuz she does that too. she even bought sunglasses with different styles but doesn't use it.

Um, well first, I don't know enneagram. And obviously, I can only go by what you've written here, so I could be wrong. But your friend does sound like a young/developing intj.

An esfp focused on their goals will still be extraverted, outgoing, communicative and fairly chill unless they're very depressed. Your friend doesn't sound depressed from your description, she sounds like she knows what she likes and is taking care of herself (going out for coffee with friends).

It sounds like your friend has the appropriate young ni vagueness/inability to express itself and the young te borderline arrogance (when she says 'haven't you seen the movie?).

And the buying stuff you don't really need sounds like an attempt to use low Se. It's not really a problem unless it becomes one, obviously, but if she can afford to do it it's just a nice way in*js like to connect with the world around them. In general, the es*ps I know would actually wear all the different styles of sunglasses they have, whereas our low se can get us excited about the possibility, but then because it's low we can get overwhelmed and just wear like 1 of them anyway.

I'd also like to add that *ntjs get way to much credit as logical robots, and if your friend seems to have strong Fi that's probably a sign she IS a tj. Because high Fi users don't exhibit signs of feeling like that, it's more apart of who they are (if that makes any sense). They use Fi so easily and naturally you might not notice it, because it's better developed. If you can notice Fi weak spots (like not doing ANYTHING you're not interested in, to the point of arrogance), it's more likely a tj thing. In general.

Also, as a side note, I think Benedict Cumberbatch is an istj, in addition to the character doctor strange (cos he doesn't use ni, he just has time seeing super powers).

The only other types your friend sounds kind of like from this description would be infj (but severely ti grip and miserable, unlikely to buy useless things in this depressed state), i*tp (but ti probably would've given you a better explanation of why they think they fit intj), or possibly istj, but I think si could've explained its logic better. She doesn't really sound like she's engaging with the external world enough to be an extravert (multiple jobs/hobbies/social groups/changes in fashion for no reason/just little adventures out in the world that aren't super planned).

When she says she doesn't show the side of her that figures things out, that seems like a fair argument to me. Te is often confused for ti, but it doesn't sort things out like that. Te is much more likely to just fix things with duct tape because it works, and can actually look like an avoidance of conflict/debates/explanations of logic. It wants to get things done, and tjs usually don't enjoy having other people's input on their efficient solution - like an intp saying, 'you realise given its just duct tape it'll be broken again in 6 months time?' To which they're likely to reply, 'then I'll do it again in 6 months!' Unless they know there will be worse problems from doing it the short way, that's their preference. They can be impulsive in their decision making and not research things properly because it just seems right to them. And since they lead with te, they usually have the capacity to pull that off, especially if their si or ni is well developed. This extends into personal interactions, which can make them ritualistic (offering tea when you're sad, always following etiquette) and unknowingly being blunt (for example, asking 'what do you want me to do about it?' when you're sad, without realising that might sound sarcastic and not like a genuine offer of help).

So I hope that helps! Obviously I can't say for sure from a short description, but that short ask sounded like an intj to me 😊

[confusedinfj]

Cognitive Functions as I’ve Observed Them #6 - ENTJs

This time I’m going to do a ‘case study’ on another of the most over-stereotyped MBTI types: the ENTJ.

So many unkind, thoughtless people cling on to the typing of ‘entj’ that their reputation on the internet is almost always psychopathic. However, this functionally makes no sense, and hopefully I can explain why below.

Functions of the ENTJ: Te, Ni, Se, Fi. As they get lower they are less easily used, and can be clung to in times of stress or conflict.

Te = the world around you is full of concrete judgements and realities, and they all come into you.

You don’t do anything with them, you just see them, all around you. You don’t need to try to understand the system, you just do. You know how to move within the system, and you know what society will do to you if you do certain things. Thus, at any given moment, you are able to move through the world without concrete consequences because you instinctively know how to behave. You do not store these judgements for a later date, because the receipt of concrete information varies from moment to moment. That is, the system can change. You are also capable of generating concrete judgements (i.e. telling someone how to complete paperwork), but your preference is to receive them. When people see you or speak with you, they may miss your T preference, because you are engaging with their concrete reality rather than requiring them to engage in yours. You may come across as confident and gracious at a first glance because of this.

Ni = you are full of abstract possibilities and realities.

Very little ever appears to vary for you, because everything you come into contact with has either been seen before and subconsciously stored or theorised as a natural occurrence. When people see you or speak with you, you project a strong N preference, because you generate abstract perceptions that they are required to engage with.  You may come across as eccentric and calculated at a first glance because of this.

Se = the world around you is full of concrete happenings and realities, and they all come into you.

You don’t do anything with them, you just see them, all around you. It’s not you projecting S preference, it’s your S preference receiving information. You do not store information for a later date, because the receipt of concrete information varies from moment to moment. You are also capable of generating concrete possibilities grounded in reality, but your preference is to receive them. When people see you or speak with you, they may miss your S preference, because you are engaging with their concrete reality rather than requiring them to engage in yours. You may come across as relaxed and irresponsible at a first glance because of this.

Fi = you are full of abstract judgements and realities.

Very little ever appears to vary for you, because everything you come into contact with has either been seen before and subconsciously stored or theorised as a natural occurrence. Thus, at any given moment, you are liable to create conflict because you do not adapt your behaviour to the situation or person. When people see you or speak with you, you project a strong F preference, because you generate abstract judgements that they are required to engage with. You may come across as private and blunt at a first glance because of this.

As you can see, the ENTJ has a number of contradictory elements in their cognitive function set. Their first function is focused on the concrete, whereas their second function is very focused on the abstract. Thus, an ENTJ will make judgements based on concrete data and then generate abstract data. This helps them to alter the system of things around them rather than simply following along. Ni gives them a sense of greater purpose and a moral centre. ENTJs needs to avoid putting too much emphasis on the concrete, because their inner state of perception will always generate an abstract world of possibilities - ignoring it will leave them feeling unaccomplished in life and depressed.

In terms of feeling, ENTJs are often painted as robotic and narcissistic. But this is an unfair stereotype, because even though Te may sometimes be robotic and systematic, it also aims for an efficient and fair way of being. Te considers all concrete judgements and systems - ENTJs may struggle to know what their own opinions are without alone time. This is in part due to the fact that Fi is their last function. With Se as their tertiary function, ENTJs may overestimate their ability to be fun-loving and relaxed, and may socially exhaust themselves into a low Fi state. 

With a function group like this, ENTJs do have some areas of natural weakness, as with any genetic weakness. This gives them a tendency to:

Be very focused on things that society deems important (stable income, house ownership, etc), but feel deeply unfulfilled and depressed despite meeting those requirements (high Te in need of Ni development)

Be anxious about things that may or may not even exist or happen (high Ni over-generating possibilities, needs Se to balance it out)

Become depressed by the pointlessness of daily life (low Se, needs Ni re-engagement)

Become overly focused on small details in their surroundings, unable to see the big picture anymore (Se grip, needs Te re-engagement)

Become defensively upset in a conflict before they really understand what’s going on (high Te focusing on each word that is said rather than using Ni to see the big picture)

Be vague or unconsciously misleading when they speak. Not having Fe, ENTJs may mistakenly believe their words will be taken at face value. They may struggle to understand the abstract social system that reads between the lines, even though they themselves do it through Ni. Strengthening of Ni will help fix this problem - ENTJs will just have to remember to think before they speak (consult Ni)

Have a lot of ‘friends’ from distinct categories (work, clubs, etc) that drain them (unfulfilled Ni), and not be sure how to make actual friends (high Te sees a system of social obligation. Ni must be engaged so that potentially fulfilling relationships can be pursued)

Be socially ‘odd’. Not quite rude, but not quite socially acceptable either (high Te being forward and systemised)

Accidentally create conflict because they didn’t accurately judge which concrete system to employ to navigate the abstract social realm (no Fe - conflict resolution skills can be learned through Te or even seen through Ni)

Commit to things without really knowing whether or not they believe or value them or, alternatively, be unable to commit to anything because they don’t know whether or not they believe or value it (low Fi. Ni must be engaged)

Become emotionally dysregulated to the point of illness, faltering between a sense of high self-esteem and a sense of incompetent worthlessness (low Fi grip. Ni should be re-engaged, and Te systems put in place to manage emotional lows)

However, as with any genetic weakness, these should not be constantly on display. The fact they have become defining features of ENTJs is a mistake because any type can struggle with any of the above issues, and high emotional intelligence and good character can negate them the majority of the time.

Hopefully, you will have noticed Fi is totally separate from feeling and emotion. So ENTJs can be as emotional as they like, and suffer emotional dysregulation as much as any type. Their biggest cognitive function problem that may be consistently apparent is their friendly, yet socially odd behaviour, as Te attempts to navigate the abstract social world. 

[sweetishobi]

plz if you want to approach the mbti world don't do the 16personalities test, it's not accurate since it doesn't type according to cognitive functions; there are loads of sites far more precise and useful, I'll link the most reliable below:

Cognitive Function Test

This free personality test will allow you to obtain your scores on the eight Jungian functions as developed by Jung, Myers, Briggs, von Fran

This is a good start for beginners

Sakinorva

A Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) based cognitive function test centered around the work of Harold Grant, Alan Brownsword, Myers & Jung,

This one was really helpful and made me discover cognitive functions, it's a bit long but it's worth it

Key 2 Cognition

I found the questions hard to understand but I guess it's because I'm not a native English speaker but give it a try

Myers-Briggs Personality Type Finder - Michael Caloz Coaching

Want to better understand who you are? Unlike other Myers-Briggs tests, this one goes way beyond the usual 4 letters to explore the deeper c

This one made me reflect on myself idk why maybe it's the comparison between two choises and overall pretty easy to complete; it also provides examples to make you understand the questions better

Mistype investigator

Free and accurate Cognitive Functions Test and Jungian typology articles provided by mistype.investigator.

This is also long and you have to concentrate quite a bit but if you give honest answers it can be precise and valid, it also provides a final ranking with your most likely mbti type to your most unlikely one

No test is 100% accurate so I suggest to try studying congnitive functions so you can understand yourself on a deeper level

(If you find that your 16personalities result is the same as your fuction type...yes, it may happen)

Cognitive functions explained in simple terms. You don't need to be a genius to understand this. It is the basis for personality type and w

If you feel unsure or need further explanations feel free to ask for more infos

[confusedinfj]

The sakinorva website is amazing!

[confusedinfj]

Cognitive Functions as I’ve Observed Them #5 - INFJs

This time I’m going to do a ‘case study’ on another of the most over-stereotyped MBTI types: the INFJ.

So many manipulative or wishy-washy people cling on to the typing of ‘infj’ that their reputation on the internet is often ‘narcissistic empath’. However, this functionally makes no sense as a rule, and hopefully, I can explain why below.

Functions of the INFJ: Ni, Fe, Ti, Se. As they get lower they are less easily used and can be clung to in times of stress or conflict.

Ni = you are full of abstract possibilities and realities. 

Very little ever appears to vary for you, because everything you come into contact with has either been seen before and subconsciously stored or theorised as a natural occurrence. When people see you or speak with you, you project a strong N preference, because you generate abstract perceptions that they are required to engage with.  You may come across as eccentric and calculated at a first glance because of this. 

Fe = the world around you is full of abstract judgements and realities, and they all come into you.

You don’t do anything with them, you just see them, all around you. You don’t need to try to understand socially acceptable behaviour, you just do. You know how to move within the abstract, and you know what society will think of you if you do certain things. Thus, at any given moment, you are able to move through the world without much conflict because you instinctively know how to behave. You do not store these judgements for a later date, because the receipt of abstract information varies from moment to moment. That is, the way you must behave can change. You are also capable of generating abstract judgements (i.e. telling someone if they do something they’ll be laughed at), but your preference is to receive them. When people see you or speak with you, they may miss your F preference, because you are engaging with their abstract reality rather than requiring them to engage in yours. You may come across as outgoing and gentle at a first glance because of this.

Ti = you are full of concrete judgements and realities.

When you come across a new judgement, you store it for later to avoid discovering variations in the future. Thus, at any given moment, you are liable to create conflict and suffer concrete consequences because you do not know which judgement to employ in a particular situation unless you have seen or experienced it before in an exact or approximate way. When people see you or speak with you, you project a strong T preference, because you generate concrete judgements that they are required to engage with. You may come across as arrogant and judgemental at a first glance because of this.

Se = the world around you is full of concrete happenings and realities, and they all come into you.

You don’t do anything with them, you just see them, all around you. It’s not you projecting S preference, it’s your S preference receiving information. You do not store information for a later date, because the receipt of concrete information varies from moment to moment. You are also capable of generating concrete possibilities grounded in reality, but your preference is to receive them. When people see you or speak with you, they may miss your S preference, because you are engaging with their concrete reality rather than requiring them to engage in yours. You may come across as relaxed and irresponsible at a first glance because of this.

As you can see, the INFJ’s top 2 functions are in harmony: they are both focused on the abstract. However, Ni is an intraverted abstract function that generates the abstract - which means INFJs can actually come across as very robotic and calculated. This is in total contrast to the stereotype of wishy-washy, illogical INFJs. 

In terms of feeling, INFJs are either painted as wishy-washy hippies or narcissistic, manipulative, and self-centred. However, Fe has nothing to do with feeling and everything to do with abstract judgement awareness. Being a secondary function, it is used after Ni, and gives INFJs a strange, robotic but warm appearance. That is, they are calculated and eccentric while being very conscious of the abstract judgements around them (feelings, opinions, social protocols). 

With a function group like this, INFJs do have some areas of natural weakness, as with any genetic weakness. This gives them a tendency to:

Be anxious about things that may or may not even exist or happen (high Ni over-generating possibilities, needs Se to balance it out)

Become depressed by the pointlessness of daily life (low Se, needs Ni re-engagement)

Be too literal in language and accidentally sound sarcastic (high Ni avoiding unambiguous words but forgetting use of Fe)

Struggle to discuss their feelings/emotions/ thoughts due to secondary Fe being their communicative judging function. While they may be good at articulating their judgement of others’ abstract reality, they can struggle to articulate their own. They may need to engage Fe on themselves and think in the third person or express themselves through a medium (like writing)

Struggle with making friends due to the oddity of high Ni. Fe usage can only mask for so long, so it’s ultimately up to the other person to reciprocate kindness

Constantly mask with Fe to the point of becoming a people-pleaser (Fe grip, over-engaging with the abstract judgements and constantly masking Ni)

Have a self-defeating attitude when stressed or depressed (low Ti concrete judgements assessing that an INFJ will never be liked or accepted because of x,y, or z)

Avoid people when stressed or depressed out of fear of rejection (Fe grip, Ni needs to be re-engaged so the INFJ remembers unkind people aren’t worth being upset over)

Delve into hedonism to avoid the burden of Ni (low Se in response to high Ni - needs Ti correction)

Communicate robotically, because they’re aware Ni is hard to understand thanks to Fe, and Ti gives them a concrete way to articulate and communicate those perceptions

However, as with any genetic weakness, these should not be constantly on display. Any type can struggle with any of the above issues, and high emotional intelligence and good character can negate them the majority of the time.

Hopefully, you will have noticed Fe is totally separate from feeling and emotion., and INFJs can be emotionally constant and even appear robotic. Indeed, their biggest cognitive function problem that may be consistently apparent is their inability to successfully communicate Ni and tertiary Ti providing a concrete way forward. 

[confusedinfj]

Cognitive Functions as I’ve Observed Them #4 - ENTPs

This time I’m going to do a ‘case study’ on one of the most over-stereotyped MBTI types: the entp.

So many unkind, thoughtless people cling on to the typing of ‘entp’ that their reputation on the internet is almost always psychopathic. However, this functionally makes no sense, and hopefully I can explain why below. 

Functions of the ENTP: Ne, Ti, Fe, Si. As they get lower they are less easily used, and can be clung to in times of stress or conflict. 

Ne = the world around you is full of abstract possibilities and realities, and they all come into you.

You don’t do anything with them, you just see them, all around you. It’s not you projecting N preference, it’s your N preference receiving information. You do not store information for a later date, because the receipt of abstract information varies from moment to moment. You are also capable of generating abstract possibilities grounded in reality, but your preference is to receive them. When people see you or speak with you, they may miss your N preference, because you are engaging with their abstract reality rather than requiring them to engage in yours. You may come across as playful and unthoughtful at a first glance because of this.

Ti = you are full of concrete judgements and realities.

When you come across a new judgement, you store it for later to avoid discovering variations in the future. Thus, at any given moment, you are liable to create conflict and suffer concrete consequences because you do not know which judgement to employ in a particular situation unless you have seen or experienced it before in an exact or approximate way. When people see you or speak with you, you project a strong T preference, because you generate concrete judgements that they are required to engage with. You may come across as arrogant and judgemental at a first glance because of this.

Fe = the world around you is full of abstract judgements and realities, and they all come into you.

You don’t do anything with them, you just see them, all around you. You don’t need to try to understand socially acceptable behaviour, you just do. You know how to move within the abstract, and you know what society will think of you if you do certain things. Thus, at any given moment, you are able to move through the world without much conflict because you instinctively know how to behave. You do not store these judgements for a later date, because the receipt of abstract information varies from moment to moment. That is, the way you must behave can change. You are also capable of generating abstract judgements (i.e. telling someone if they do something they’ll be laughed at), but your preference is to receive them. When people see you or speak with you, they may miss your F preference, because you are engaging with their abstract reality rather than requiring them to engage in yours. You may come across as outgoing and gentle at a first glance because of this.

Si = you are full of concrete happenings and realities.

When you come across a new happening, you store it for later to avoid discovering variations in the future. When people see you or speak with you, you project a strong S preference, because you generate concrete perceptions that they are required to engage with.  You may come across as boring and responsible at a first glance because of this.

As you can see, the ENTP has a number of contradictory elements in their cognitive function. Their first function is very focused on the abstract, whereas their second function is focused on the concrete. Thus, an ENTP will receive abstract data and make judgements based on concrete data. This is helpful for filtering out some of the abstract possibilities around them and focusing on what truly matters to them. However, an ENTP needs to avoid putting too much emphasis on the concrete, because their primary, preferred state of being is the abstract world of possibilities. 

In terms of feeling, ENTPs are often painted as heartless and basically evil. But, while it is lower down, they still have Fe, which gives them a good sense of the abstract judgements around them (such as people’s feelings, social groups, and how to move through those). Being a tertiary function, ENTPs may overestimate their capacity to use this function. 

With a function group like this, ENTPs do have some areas of natural weakness, as with any genetic weakness. This gives them a tendency to:

Be unfocused, but also disappointed and stressed about that, because they want to have a greater purpose (high Ne in need of Ti development)

Become depressed by the daily stressors of life (low Si, needs Ne re-engagement)

Be blunt in language, especially during conflict or when they feel emotional distress (high Ti trying to ‘solve’ abstract social interactions by resorting to previous concrete judgements)

Struggle to discuss their feelings/emotions/ thoughts due to low Fe being their communicative judging function. This can be learned through Ti. Use of Ne may be unhelpful and make things worse as ENTPs may become overwhelmed by ‘options’ for their feelings

Have a lot of ‘friends’ with no real depth and be depressed about that (low Fe sense of social obligation, vs Ti internal concrete judgements)

Accidentally create conflict because they didn’t accurately or quickly enough judge the social climate (low Fe - abstract judgements were too slow to quick in or were disregarded. Conflict resolution skills can be learned through Ti or even seen through Ne)

Avoid people when stressed or depressed out of fear of their unpredictability (Si grip, playing back past failures. Fe needs to be re-engaged)

Become a people-pleaser as a fear response to weak Fe  (Fe grip, over-engaging with the abstract judgements)

Obsess over small details in an attempt to protect themselves from the chaos they see out there all the time (low Si in response to high Ne - needs Ti correction)

However, as with any genetic weakness, these should not be constantly on display. The fact they have become defining features of ENTPs is a mistake because any type can struggle with any of the above issues, and high emotional intelligence and good character can negate them the majority of the time. 

Hopefully, you will have noticed Fe is totally separate from feeling and emotion. So ENTPs can be as emotional as they like, and suffer emotional dysregulation as much as any type. Indeed, their biggest cognitive function problem that may be consistently apparent is their inability to discuss or manage their own feelings in a coherent manner due to high Ne, secondary Ti struggling to adapt to a current situation, and low Fe contact being unable to judge a way forward.

[confusedinfj]

Cognitive Functions as I’ve Observed Them #3

So now we’re going to talk about E vs I - function direction - for the judging function.

E is often spoken about as the direction that your judgements about the world come from. I.e., an extraverted feeler makes judgements according to what the majority feel, whereas an intraverted feeler makes judgements in line with their own convictions and feelings. I think this totally conflates character and function, and a better way of describing it would be to simply say it’s about the direction in which you receive judgements. That would mean that the intraverted preference would again be the way that the world see you. You project it out without even meaning to, because it’s just you. That is:

Fe = the world around you is full of abstract judgements and realities, and they all come into you.

You don’t do anything with them, you just see them, all around you. You don’t need to try to understand socially acceptable behaviour, you just do. You know how to move within the abstract, and you know what society will think of you if you do certain things. Thus, at any given moment, you are able to move through the world without much conflict because you instinctively know how to behave. You do not store these judgements for a later date, because the receipt of abstract information varies from moment to moment. That is, the way you must behave can change. You are also capable of generating abstract judgements (i.e. telling someone if they do something they’ll be laughed at), but your preference is to receive them. When people see you or speak with you, they may miss your F preference, because you are engaging with their abstract reality rather than requiring them to engage in yours. You may come across as outgoing and gentle at a first glance because of this.

Fi = you are full of abstract judgements and realities.

Very little ever appears to vary for you, because everything you come into contact with has either been seen before and subconsciously stored or theorised as a natural occurrence. Thus, at any given moment, you are liable to create conflict because you do not adapt your behaviour to the situation or person. When people see you or speak with you, you project a strong F preference, because you generate abstract judgements that they are required to engage with. You may come across as private and blunt at a first glance because of this.

Te = the world around you is full of concrete judgements and realities, and they all come into you.

You don’t do anything with them, you just see them, all around you. You don’t need to try to understand the system, you just do. You know how to move within the system, and you know what society will do to you if you do certain things. Thus, at any given moment, you are able to move through the world without concrete consequences because you instinctively know how to behave. You do not store these judgements for a later date, because the receipt of concrete information varies from moment to moment. That is, the system can change. You are also capable of generating concrete judgements (i.e. telling someone how to complete paperwork), but your preference is to receive them. When people see you or speak with you, they may miss your T preference, because you are engaging with their concrete reality rather than requiring them to engage in yours. You may come across as confident and gracious at a first glance because of this.

Ti = you are full of concrete judgements and realities.

When you come across a new judgement, you store it for later to avoid discovering variations in the future. Thus, at any given moment, you are liable to create conflict and suffer concrete consequences because you do not know which judgement to employ in a particular situation unless you have seen or experienced it before in an exact or approximate way. When people see you or speak with you, you project a strong T preference, because you generate concrete judgements that they are required to engage with. You may come across as arrogant and judgemental at a first glance because of this.

[confusedinfj]

Cognitive Functions as I’ve Observed Them #2

So now we’re going to talk about E vs I - function direction - for the perceiving function. 

E is often spoken about as the direction that you put out into the world, but I think a better way to describe it would actually be the direction in which you receive the world. I is often spoken about as, essentially, a way in which you are removed from the world, but I think a better way to describe it would actually be the internal you that the world sees. You project it out without even meaning to, because it’s just you. That is: 

Ne = the world around you is full of abstract possibilities and realities, and they all come into you. 

You don’t do anything with them, you just see them, all around you. It’s not you projecting N preference, it’s your N preference receiving information. You do not store information for a later date, because the receipt of abstract information varies from moment to moment. You are also capable of generating abstract possibilities grounded in reality, but your preference is to receive them. When people see you or speak with you, they may miss your N preference, because you are engaging with their abstract reality rather than requiring them to engage in yours. You may come across as playful and unthoughtful at a first glance because of this. 

Ni = you are full of abstract possibilities and realities. 

Very little ever appears to vary for you, because everything you come into contact with has either been seen before and subconsciously stored or theorised as a natural occurrence. When people see you or speak with you, you project a strong N preference, because you generate abstract perceptions that they are required to engage with.  You may come across as eccentric and calculated at a first glance because of this.

Se = the world around you is full of concrete happenings and realities, and they all come into you. 

You don’t do anything with them, you just see them, all around you. It’s not you projecting S preference, it’s your S preference receiving information. You do not store information for a later date, because the receipt of concrete information varies from moment to moment. You are also capable of generating concrete possibilities grounded in reality, but your preference is to receive them. When people see you or speak with you, they may miss your S preference, because you are engaging with their concrete reality rather than requiring them to engage in yours. You may come across as relaxed and irresponsible at a first glance because of this.

Si = you are full of concrete happenings and realities. 

When you come across a new happening, you store it for later to avoid discovering variations in the future. When people see you or speak with you, you project a strong S preference, because you generate concrete perceptions that they are required to engage with.  You may come across as boring and responsible at a first glance because of this.

[confusedinfj]

Cognitive Functions as I’ve Observed Them #1

Building off my last post where I said that MBTI has taken the legitimate idea of cognitive functions and turned them into nothing more than character limitations and stereotypes, I will now attempt to explain what I’ve actually observed them to be. Stating them this way, it’s certainly easy to see how they’ve been labelled as ‘thinking’ and ‘feeling’, but I think that’s fuelling the unhelpful stereotypes. This is my first proper attempt at this, so I might need to correct it later :)

So I want to quantify them this way: N - F being abstract data/judgements, and S - T being concrete data/judgements.

N = when you perceive reality according to abstract data/patterns and possibilities. 

This isn’t actually the same as intuition, which all humans and even animals have. Describing it as intuition is misleading, and leads to many women in particular mistyping as N-types when they’re not. This also leads to a description of N-types as somewhat disconnected reality, when, in fact, they’re not. They’re just living in abstract reality. It’s really there, it’s just less often perceived. So if you show N-types and S-types a video and ask them what happened in it afterwards, they will ultimately both be able to accurately report and explain it, but they will report or explain it differently, because the information was perceived from a different source. 

S = when you perceive reality according to concrete data/patterns and history. 

This isn’t actually the same as sensing, which all humans and animals have. Sensing and being aware of your surroundings is necessary for your survival, and can be improved through training. Describing it as sensing is misleading, and leads to a description of S-types as hyper-observant, when, in fact, they can completely miss obvious details. A sensor is actually living in concrete reality. This doesn’t mean (as MBTI stereotype often states) that they’re actually missing half of reality by not being an N type.  Indeed, if you show N-types and S-types a video and ask them what happened in it afterwards, they will ultimately both be able to accurately report and explain it, but they will report or explain it differently, because the information was perceived from a different source.

F =  when you make judgements/alter your behaviour according to abstract data/patterns and possibilities.

This isn’t the same as feeling, which all humans and even animals have. In fact, psychological studies indicate feelings are universal, right down to the facial expressions. Describing it as feeling is misleading, and leads to many empaths and emotionally dysregulated people typing as F-types when they’re not. This also leads to a description of F-types as illogical and somewhat incapable, when, in fact, they’re not. They’re just MORE LIKELY to make judgements according to the abstract - people’s feelings, social protocols, their own feelings, patterns of behaviour, etc. I can see why they’ve labelled it as feeling, but that title overlooks the fact that those things really do exist, and are a form of fact. It also creates this unhelpful image of T-types as cold, but if you start crying in from of F-types and T-types they both have the capacity to feel empathy and express sympathy. That ultimately boils down to emotional intelligence, character, and confidence. But what they’re likely to do about it can be influenced by their F vs T judgement. 

T =  when you make judgements/alter your behaviour according to concrete data/patterns and history.

This isn’t the same as thinking, which all humans and even animals have. Even rats can use logic to solve puzzles, and not all people with a high IQ are T-types. Describing it as thinking is misleading, and leads to many people who are highly intelligent, on the spectrum, or even just actually anti-social/psychopathic typing as T-types when they’re not. This is due to an understanding of T-types as unemotional and unempathetic, when, in fact, they can be the complete opposite. They’re just MORE LIKELY to make judgements according to the concrete - people’s words, body language, social protocols they’ve been explicitly told about, patterns of behaviour. I can see why they’ve labelled it as thinking, but that title overlooks the fact that T-types feel the same way as an F-type. It also creates this unhelpful image of T-types as cold, but if you start crying in from of F-types and T-types they both have the capacity to feel empathy and express sympathy. That ultimately boils down to emotional intelligence, character, and confidence. But what they’re likely to do about it can be influenced by their F vs T judgement.