Cognitive Functions and What They Look Like Explained with Objects
Iām going to attempt explain the cognitive functions better than I have before, and hopefully in a lot more depth. The risk with this is that it could be wrong, but at least an attempt was made. Iām not an academic or anything, Iām just writing from observation/experience stuff that I find helpful to understand. Hopefully this can help you type yourself more accurately too!Ā All functions are described as they are in the first 2.Ā
I hope this helps you see how EVERY FUNCTION IS IMPORTANT!
And no. None of these objects really make sense.Ā
A thermostat canāt feel whether itās hot or cold itself, but it can feel if you are! And depending on how fancy your thermostat is, it will cool you or heat you until youāre just the temperature you want to be. That is its single goal in life: to keep you comfortable. If youāre sad, it will try to fix it.Ā
Basically, Fe is about everyone being genuinely happy and comfortable. It wants to be in touch with other people and respond to their needs accordingly. Itās not necessarily good at showing or expressing this, but thatās its aim.Ā
Well developed Fe is the function that encourages open discussion of problematic feelings that it KNOWS are right there - remember, it can FEEL them, cos itās a thermostat. Poorly developed Fe ignores unspoken problems and pretends itās a good little thermostat anyway.Ā
If youāre upset with a Fe user, just tell them calmly. If you need space, just tell them calmly. If youāre angry, tell them why. READJUST THE THERMOSTAT. Donāt be surprised when the Fe user does the same - thatās their way of trying to keep everyone happy in the long run. Good Fe believes arguments are necessary. Bad Fe is passive aggressive and let things build up until theyāre too big to handle. If you sense your Fe user is doing this, approach them about it and get it out while you still can. Fe users donāt talk about issues with emotions most of the time - they speak about feelings clinically. It helps if you explain to a Fe user how the problem makes you feel, but also that you still love them.
High Fe - is a natural thermostat. It doesnāt even realise thatās how it operates, it just DOES. High Fe users can struggle to even FEEL that they have their own problems, and can easily be ignored as a result (sheeple). As their Ti develops, they should become a little more self aware, and better at turning their natural thermostat off every now and again so they get a break. A key feature of high Fe users is that theyāre just ALWAYS THERE. You might hate them, get sick of them, find them annoying, or feel like they donāt understand youā¦ but theyāre always there. Always trying. Immature high Fe is very sensitive to extreme temperatures, but with Ti development comes a bit more separation and ability to help you through, even if youāre not responding to their attempts at cooling/heating you. Because constantly living as a thermostat requires you to learn that SOMETIMES you just canāt change the weather. So at the end of the day, even though theyāre not a T type, well developed high Fe users can actually be less sensitive and more useful in a rough patch than their low Fe counterparts.Ā
Low Fe - is a thermostat with emergency settings. It kicks in at unusually high or low temperatures and gets it back into humanly-survivable temperatures. As Fe develops, low Fe users become more sensitive to other peopleās temperatures and can regulate the environment a little better. While low Fe users arenāt naturally very sensitive to your extreme temperatures, they can become suddenly overwhelmed and deeply upset if things go too far and theyāre the reason youāre not doing so well. With good character development, which is totally SEPARATE from MBTI, a low Fe user can become just as good at maintaining the perfect temperature as a high Fe user. It will just take a little more effort and skill. BUT, since theyāre not always used to being a thermostat, theyāre not always aware of whatās the weather and whatās their fault. So at the end of the day, even though theyāre not an F type, well developed low Fe users actually seem to be more sensitive and fragile than their high Fe counterparts.
The thermometer canāt really do anything about the weather - it can just tell you whatās going on. Fi users are very sensitive to whatās going on around them, and feel the need to regulate the climate theyāre in as much as possible. That is: going against their own feelings can actually be painful for them. They feel a very strong NEED to be who they are. Fi is about being in touch with yourself and your own emotions/beliefs/you name it. Bad Fi can easily be selfish, but good Fi has the capacity to help where Fe standsā¦ clueless.Ā
Good Fi values you feeling good too! Fi users CAN apply their thermometer to others and get a reading on how hot/cold their climate is. They canāt feel your emotions like the Fe thermostats, but if you express emotion they can essentially measure it. Good Fi users try to help you in any way they would feel would be helpful if they were in your shoes. This means Fi users are much better at showing sympathy than Fe users.
If youāre upset with a Fi user, you have to tread carefully. They can be easily hurt, and will definitely take things the wrong way if you donāt articulate it correctly. The clinical approach of Fe users is often not appreciate, because itās interpreted as cold, uncaring, or worse - nasty. Youāll have to express a lot more emotion when talking to a Fi user. From what Iāve found, you have to approach Fi with Fi, so Iāve never managed to do this successfully. It always becomes a fight for like an hour until finally the Fi user understands what I was trying to say. So, from what Iāve found, Fi finds the Fe approach hostile, but responds better to genuine displays of emotional vulnerability.
High Fi - is a natural thermometer. It knows what itās feeling, what it believes inā¦ all that jazz. It finds it hard to compromise its feelings and beliefs for ANYTHING or ANYONE. It can be kind and sensitive as a result, but also very fragile and easily overwhelmed. Well developed Fi users learn to work through the emotional instability of thermometer life, but immature Fi can be unstable and selfish. Te development helps high Fi users get on with things and move through whatever they might be feeling. They can apply that same resilience to others who are suffering, and inspire people to get through their emotional lows. So at the end of the day, even though theyāre not a T type, high Fi users can function better under emotional pressure and inspire action better than their low Fi counterparts.Ā
Low Fi - is a thermometer that is usually ignored in favour of getting things done. This means high Te users can be confident and headstrong most of the time, but occasionally have dramatic shut-downs into low Fi. And since they usually ignore their thermometer, they donāt really know what to do about it. HOWEVER, well developed low Fi users can learn to apply their thermometers to others with some skill. And they can be more overwhelmed by othersā emotions because their Fi is so low. So, at the end of the day, even though theyāre not an F type, well developed low Fi users can be more sensitive and sympathetic than their high Fi counterparts.Ā
The car is designed to get you from point A to B without death or injury. Itās complex, but not too much can go wrong at any given moment. The process itself is fairly simple: engine sparks, wheels go round - drive. Te wants to get to point B quickly, and is focused on action and outcomes. And if you stand in its way, you might get run over. It isnāt necessarily focused on the steps required to get from point A to B, it just sees the end and drives.Ā Ā
Well developed Te values doing things effectively as well - not just getting them done in the first place. This means Te users can be persuaded to change their approaches and routes providing you can argue that itās worth it. Te is good at seeing potential in other people, but can make the mistake of seeing the end point and missing the starting point or steps required to develop.Ā
If youāre upset with a Te user, youāll have to appeal to Fi. No one likes criticism, not matter how high a T function is! However, high Te users can tolerate and even appreciate the Fe approach to relationships and conflicts, providing theyāre not having a low Fi moment.Ā
High Te - This is life in the car, on the road. Always heading towards a new goal. However, contrary to popular opinion, Te users can actually be very kind and considerate! Providing theyāre well developed, Te aims to take care of the people it loves. High Te users can fall into the Te trap of seeing the personās potential without recognizing theyāre not quite there yet. They can be very idealistic and romantic in relationships because their Fi is so low. They can also be angry little cars who run people over if theyāre poorly developed or just mean. This is why Te users have a reputation for being cold and controlling. Iāve found Te users only really act like this when theyāre succumbing to low Fi.Ā
Low Te - This is the car that mainly sits in the garage, but occasionally comes out for a Sunday drive. Although, poorly developed low Te looks like saying mean things just to hurt people when youāre upset, or provoking people for a reaction.High Te users definitely go through phases like this when theyāre young, but low Te users are more open to these problems when theyāre older. Well developed, low Te helps high Fi users overcome their overwhelming feelings and get through things. It may even help them compromise if they absolutely must.Ā
The aeroplane is designed to take you over long distances very quickly, and as safely as possible. There are back up systems, back up systems for back up systems, and multiple things can go wrong if you forget to do even one simple thing. Itās a much more dangerous process than driving, but itās also much faster if youāre trying to go far.Ā
Ti is about understanding things so that you can run your life well. Poorly developed Ti is dysfunctional, but well developed Ti can get you pretty far with very little effort! But unlike Te, Ti isnāt as focused on the end destination so much as it is on the steps required to get there. Every little detail matters, just like on an aeroplane. And if even one small detail has been misunderstood, the Ti usersā entire understanding of something can go crashing down like an aeroplane. They MUST understand the parts to understand the whole.Ā
If youāre upset with a Ti user, you can refer to the Fe section. Ti users prefer a clinical approach to emotions simply because they want to UNDERSTAND rather than be overwhelmed by negative feelings their thermostat will detect once you start crying in front of them. Ti will then engage thermostat measures to ensure relationship contentment.Ā
High Ti - Life in the sky as a pilot. The Fe thermostat doesnāt matter so much when youāre trying to make sure you donāt fall out of the sky. High Ti users aim to understand every small thing in life. Poor high Ti users have a faulty misunderstanding and drive everyone insane arguing theyāre right. Well developed Ti users have a good understanding, but often enjoy arguing anyway, just to make sure they donāt have any flaws in their understanding. When youāre arguing against yourself, you have to know your stuff pretty well! While theyāre not given enough credit for it, high Ti users can be very considerate in relationships, and aim to understand their loved ones just as well as everything else. Ti isnāt satisfied with a functional understanding, so it may provoke and tease to better understand people. And when it goes too far and upsets people, the emergency thermostat kicks in to fix the problem.Ā
Low Ti - life in the sky as a co-pilot. Low Ti users prefer to take their cues from someone ELSE - preferably the pilot (high Ti user). Low Ti users can be overwhelmed if they have to take on too much responsibility or have to understand too many small details. Then they can feel like a co-pilot taking control of a plane after the pilot has died and the plane is spiraling down. Theyād rather do what theyāre told and keep the pilot happy! But they also take comfort in knowing that - if it really comes down to it - they can fly the plane and land safely. They like knowing they have back up systems, back up systems for back up systems, and are capable of making it out alive.Ā
Ne: Google Search Auto-predict
Youāre not even finished typing, and Google already has 10 ideas about what you might be asking. Thatās the Ne brain - branching out, and out, and outā¦ sometimes a bit TOO out.Ā
High Ne - Google search auto-predict is always on. It all happens at once, just like how Google suggestions change with every letter you add. And when you finish your question, itās kind of disappointed you didnāt ask one of the 10 other more interesting ones. Easily bored, always sees a better optionā¦ but also very good at picking which option is most realistic. May or may not care.
Low Ne - random auto-predict. Because sometimes Google doesnāt predict anything as you type? Thatās a weird phenomenon. But then itāll just suddenly appear halfway through a sentence? Yeahā¦ like that. Poorly developed low Ne can mistake every new idea as a great idea, but well developed low Ne knows which ones are worth listening to :)
Ni: Google Search Results
Did you meanā¦? Not only shows you every single possible thing on what you Googled, but also shows you what could be immediately connected to it.Ā
High Ni - Figures out what youāre looking for based on a few key words that may or may not have made sense - understands your typos. Does it all in seconds, doesnāt really understand the algorithm. Just does it. Can take you down a rabbit hole for hours. Forgets about time as a concept. Sometimes connects strange things, but somehow makes sense anyway. Usually isnāt wrong about what you were Googling.Ā Bad Ni thinks it knows everything though, and forgets it needs to add things to its database. Good Ni is always learning MORE
Low Ni - Like the 20th page of Google Search Results. Doing the same thing as high Ni, but not as effectively. Might have a few conspiracy theories in there. Mightāve misunderstood your question or taken the typos literally. Occasionally gets it right, but the best results are usually on the first page anyway.Ā
Takes a picture of the moment, every detail rendered exactly as it was.Ā
High Se - High focus camera, good colour, good lighting - the kind of pictures you want to keep forever and frame. Se knows whatās right in front of it. It doesnāt miss anything it can see. Might not understand whatās about to happen, but knows what IS happening.Ā
Low Se - Like a polaroid camera, and the pictures might not be worth keeping. Awkward shots that are accurate but not great quality. Might be blurry, not really able to see facesā¦ just a LITTLE bit out of focus, so that you miss something that was pretty obvious. Has a kind of artsy vibe though.Ā
Recorded everything, but from a very subjective point of view that may or may not be accurate. Is structured so that it can be read again and again.Ā
High Si - A very detailed diary. Concerned about detailing every aspect of life. Some pages have been ripped out. Sometimes pages are inserted to add in additional information that may or may not alter the entire memory. A nice little organised diary thatās written very neatly.Ā
Low Si - A diary that gets an entry once every 6 months or so. Still valued and personal, but a lot is missing. Since itās less tended to, pages are less likely to be missing or replaced - so whatās written is probably more accurate. Thereās just not that much of it. A very badly written diary thatās got coffee stains and might not be entirely legible.Ā
