Intro to MBTI in brief
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality assessment based on the theory of cognitive preferences by Carl Jung and developed by Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs.
It can be used as a tool to understand the ways people think.
People gather information via their senses (observation and experience) and intuition (concept and pattern).
People process information via logic (true/false and correct/incorrect) and values (right/wrong and good/bad).
Individual nervous systems are uniquely attuned to two functions: one method of gathering information (called a perceiving function) + one method of processing information (called a judging function). Bodies become accustomed to using one of those two functions to respond to their environment, and one to respond to itself. These preferences are established early in life; they do not change over time, but may be developed and emphasized in a variety of ways throughout a lifetime. Every body uses all four functions to respond to their environment, but develops favorites that their brain reinforces by building up their respective neural connections.
In MBTI, these four functions are known as:
Sensing
iNtuition
Thinking
Feeling
If you tend to use your favorite function to respond to stimulus originated outside of you, this is called Extroversion. If you tend to use your favorite function to respond to stimulus originated inside of you, this is called Introversion.
If you tend to use your favorite judging function in an extraverted way, you are called a Judger. If you tend to use your favorite perceiving function in an extraverted way, you are called a Perceiver.
Every person uses all four functions in both ways, ergo there are eight cognitive functions total. A person’s order of preference for how they use the cognitive functions to operate is known as their personality type.
In MBTI, the eight cognitive functions are known as:
extraverted Sensing (Se)
introverted Sensing (Si)
extraverted iNtuition (Ne)
introverted iNtuition (Ni)
extraverted Thinking (Te)
introverted Thinking (Ti)
extraverted Feeling (Fe)
introverted Feeling (Fi)
Each cognitive function manifests as a competency in an area:
Se- power
Si- preservation
Ne- possibility
Ni- opportunity
Te- procedure
Ti- structure
Fe- expression
Fi- evaluation
And each cognitive function translates to a condition of value:
Se- agency
Si- consistency
Ne- relevancy
Ni- potency
Te- efficacy
Ti- cogency
Fe- congruity
Fi- integrity
There are rational constraints to a person’s order of their cognitive functions (also known as the order of their function stack).
A perceiving function is followed by a judging function and vice versa (a method of input implicates a method of output).
An extraverted function is followed by an introverted function and vice versa (homeostasis necessitates feedback).
An extraverted function is not immediately followed by the corresponding introverted function and vice versa (balance maintains operation).
With these constraints, sixteen permutations are possible, resulting in sixteen personality types. They are denoted as:
INFJ
ENFJ
INFP
ENFP
ISFJ
ESFJ
ISFP
ESFP
INTJ
ENTJ
INTP
ENTP
ISTJ
ESTJ
ISTP
ESTP
As an example, an INFJ’s function stack is denoted as Ni-Fe-Ti-Se-Ne-Fi-Te-Si.
Each type is drawn to a unique theme derived from the interaction of their favorite two functions, known as the preferred function pair:
INFJ- sagacity
ENFJ- diplomacy
INFP- sincerity
ENFP- originality
ISFJ- security
ESFJ- solidarity
ISFP- virtuosity
ESFP- sensibility
INTJ- perspicacity
ENTJ- pragmaticality
INTP- coherency
ENTP- ingenuity
ISTJ- stability
ESTJ- savvy
ISTP- mastery
ESTP- dexterity
The position of a cognitive function in a function stack changes its behavior. The positions are commonly denoted as:
Dominant / leading
Auxiliary / creative
Tertiary / mobilizing
Inferior / anima
Fifth / opposing
Sixth / demonstrative
Seventh / trickster
Eighth / demon
Positions 1-4 are collectively known as the Ego. Positions 5-8 are collectively known as the Shadow. The shadow parallels the ego. Ego functions are constructive and familiar, while shadow functions are destructive and unfamiliar. Ego functions are used regularly, while shadow functions are reserved for use in distress. The preferred pair of functions of the ego and shadow (1 & 2, 5 & 6 respectively) are strengths; the remaining are weaknesses. The “outer” pair of functions of the ego and shadow (1 & 4, 5 & 8 respectively) are receptive– used to connect to the self– and the remaining are productive– used to connect to others.
A combination of development and health influence the presentation of a type. If underdeveloped or unhealthy, an individual may fall back on their shadow functions, causing them to behave like the type that mirrors them on a bad day.
The healthy/unhealthy presentations of the functions in each position are:
Dom- motivates/tempts
Aux- guides/curbs
Tert- advises/pesters
Inf- supports/distracts
5th- questions/obstructs
6th- critiques/chastises
7th- challenges/restrains
8th- pressures/threatens
An individual may experience the functions in each positions as:
Dom- orienting
Aux- directing
Tert- backing
Inf- assisting
5th- perturbing
6th- repulsing
7th- distressing
8th- devastating
When overstimulated, the dominant and tertiary functions may form a closed feedback loop. To break out of a loop, the auxiliary function must be activated.
When understimulated, the auxiliary and inferior functions may form a closed feedback loop, known as a grip. To break out of a grip, the tertiary function must be activated.
In addition to their type, a person may exhibit a partiality for their auxiliary function over their dominant function. While this does not mean their stack order is different from individuals of the same type that are partial to their dominant function, it does call for recognition of subtypes. Aux-pref subtypes appear to be more outgoing than their dom-pref counterparts because the auxiliary function connects to others. A subtype is denoted by a dash followed by the abbreviation of the preferred function. For example, and INFJ who favors their auxiliary function is denoted as INFJ-Fe.
Finally, while MBTI can be used to understand how a person takes in information and processes information, it does not speak to what drives the way a person uses that information, known as the Ego Drive. For this reason, people often supplement their MBTI type with their Enneagram or Millon types (or even their Alignments or Hogwarts Houses!)
MBTI does not seek to put people in boxes; it attempts to outline people-shaped boxes. What fills those boxes is irreplicable and unlimited, but defining the approximate boundary of that infinite space can facilitate tolerance and understanding. Happy typing!
