𝔼𝕏ℙ𝕃𝔸𝕀ℕ𝕀ℕ𝔾 ℍ𝕆𝕎 𝕋𝔼 + ℕ𝕀 𝕎𝕆ℝ𝕂𝕊
xNTJs are often stereotyped as evil CEO billionaire masterminds, so these types are often bombarded with horrible misconceptions. First, I’ll explain how the two functions work together, then I will debunk misconceptions!
Other work regarding this series:
https://tinyurl.com/NEandFI
*ೃ༄Extroverted Thinking*ೃ༄
Te: Extroverted thinking is the most pragmatic function of all the cognitive functions. It is only concerned with what is impersonal, objective, and truthful. It is focused on the systems, laws, and structure in the environment. It makes decisions based on how logical something is based on if it’s truthful compared to external logic. While Ti users aim to understand their logical interpretation of something, Te users are only concerned with what is universally true. Te is like deductive reasoning. It draws a conclusion based on external rules you know to be true.
How it manifests: Te users are concerned with results because of their natural instinct to prioritize the logical connections and effects of decisions. If Ne is focused on connections between abstract ideas, Te is focused on how logical ideas connect to each other. They have less focus on internal consistency/reasoning within one idea. Te users are often blunt, strategic, organize, and good at managing. Furthermore, Te has an externalized opinion of how things should or should not be done and see everything else as bad / wrong if they don't fit into the external standards. This belief oftentimes creates rigidity in terms of morality.
Behaviors that can exist due to dominant Te:
impatience due to inefficiency. Becomes frustated when cirucmstances are not clear
Large focus on organization. Likes to sort ideas and concepts into boxes
Pragmatic, impartial, refuses to act on impulses
Oriented towards intellectuality. Judgemental and strict with morality. Only acts when it is rational
Frequent emotional suppression, oftentimes lack of emotional introspection, represses internal emotions and desires. Oftentimes subconsciously hostile towards those subjects
Interactive with the external world. Likes to negotiate with other people to carry out plans / operations. Has a tendency to want to "fix" systems to make it more efficent, logical, effective, and right
Can be emotionally unexpressive, unperturbed, even harsh at times
Moralistic / strict in what is right or wrong
*ೃ༄Introverted Intuition*ೃ༄
Ni: Introverted intuition is focused on abstractionism, symbolism, main ideas, and trends. Rather than seeking possibilities, newness, and change, Ni is convergent, seeking one core insight or pattern than endless options. Ni users are visionaries: they are focused on one possibility and building upon it. While Ne spreads ideas outwards, Ni takes information in, distilling many inputs into a singular, synthesized insight.
How it manifests: Ni users are not very spontaneous. They are focused on predicting how the future could play out. They ask themselves: “Where is this going?” “What’s the purpose of this?” etc. They often step back from the noise of the present to analyze what is happening. Ni users often get “aha” moments where they realize the overall theme and connection of an idea, but oftentimes they glimpse over smaller details. Sometimes, they “just know” without linear reasoning and step-by-step logical build-up. Ni users can often be poetic and enjoy symbolism and metaphors in media and literature.
Behaviors that can exist due to dominant Ni:
Lacks touch with reality. Lives in their head and is not attached to the present
Finds self-expression difficult. Vague with ideas. Has a liking for subjectivity, symbolism, and interpretations of life
Insightful and reflective, may be mistaken for Fi
Sticks to a singular vision of the future. Be certain of such insights and has a hard time not commiting, unlike Ne
not focused on objectivity, but rather its own personal subjective view of life, which is not related to the concreate reality
Like what I've said before, their arguments often lack reasoning due to the vagueness in their perception of the world. Intuition can be hard to back up with practical evidence
*ೃ༄How Te + Ni work together*ೃ༄
I call the Te + Ni combination “the visionary” or "the truth finder" because not only are these types constantly building upon an idea, but they are also consistently focused on the overall structure and main idea of everything. xNTJs are concerned with putting everything into boxes based on the overall framework and ensuring it all connects logically. The Te + Ni combo is a truth seeker, always focused on finding the meaning behind everything. Te takes Ni’s insight and translates it into concrete plans, systems, and structures that can be applied in the external world. The two functions create a mindset that is always refining and building upon ideas for long-term impact and efficiency.
*ೃ༄Misconceptions*ೃ༄
I blame 16personalities for most of the misconceptions
Te is controlling and bossy -> False. That is a behavioral trait. Te = / = bossy, it is simply a cognitive function that focuses on external logic. Te is inherently focused on making systems and operations more rational and effective, which can manifest into a "controlling" behavior, but none of these behavior suggests that the person is physically aggressive, controlling / possessive, etc.
Te lacks empathy -> low Fi does not mean someone lacks morals or emotions. None of the cognitive functions stand for feeling emotions. Fi is simply a function that evaluates and interprets internal feelings and is focused on subjective interpretations/meaning. A Te user usually pushes their feelings aside to seek the impersonal truth, but that does not mean they are heartless.
ENTJs are explosive and impatient -> unless you’re dealing with an unhealthy ENTJs, typically, Te doms tend to put emotional needs aside to act impartial. But it is true than ENTJs may be unaware of how their emotions build up and may become explosive under stress.
Controlling, action-oriented character, ESTP or ENTJ?: Generally speaking, many stern, bossy, power-hungry ESTPs are mistyped as ENTJs. Remember, ENTJs still have auxiliary Ni, so they would rather step away from the environment and evaluate before jumping into action. ENTJs are judgers/a rational type, meaning they need to analyze where the situation is heading before acting. ESTPs focus on living in the moment. If this archetype does not value abstractionism, structure, logical connections, or hidden meanings, then chances are they are not a true ENTJ.
Ni is detail-oriented and good at planning things out -> while aux Te can help INTJs be exceptional at planning, Ni is not step-by-step itself. It usually jumps to conclusions due to the prioritization of main ideas and overall structure. Intuition functions are not rational, and they focus on ideas that are not pragmatic or concrete.
Quiet, mysterious, stoic character, INTJ or ISTP?: a lot of ISTPs get mistyped as INTJs (Wednesday Addams). ISTPs analyze and see themselves as being in the moment, while also focusing on their logical perception of the whole situation. INTJs see themselves as being apart from what is going on around them and analyze the situation from afar, looking for main ideas and structure.
INTJs are cold and emotionless -> this, again, is a behavioral trait lol. There’s probably no need for an explanation
xNTJs can’t be impulsive -> this statement is half true. xNTJs would rather not jump into action without thinking, but they tend to focus on main ideas over details, which means they may be careless when evaluating situations.
xNTJs are unaccommodating -> not always, being a nice person has nothing to do with cognitive functions
*ೃ༄Differences between ENTJ and INTJ*ೃ༄
ENTJs value taking action efficiently and quickly, INTJs value fully analyzing the situation before acting
ENTJ is a rational type. They are quicker to judge, while INTJ is more about absorbing information
ENTJs are more impersonal and logic-oriented, while INTJs tend to me a bit more attuned to their feelings and focus more on symbolism and abstractionism
ENTJs are objective and good at explaining their ideas to be more efficienct. INTJs struggle with explaining their ideas in a concise and coherent way as they value intuition over logic
ENTJs push against the idea of making decisions based on their personal needs, emotions, or subjective interpretation (Te against Fi), while INTJs push against the idea of making decisions in the moment or simply evaluating the situation as it is (Ni against Se. Ni favors hidden meanings and intuition, while Se values realism).
ENTJs focus on the environment around them more, while INTJs tend to live in their head
ENTJs may aspire to be more connected with their emotions, while INTJs may aspire to be more focused on the present (Fi suggestive and Se suggestive in socionics)
ENTJs become more focused on themselves, emotionally explosive, biased (in terms of their subjective views), etc. when they are stressed, while INTJs feel the need to act/focus in the moment, may become more impulsive and reckless
*ೃ༄Enneagram Combinations*ೃ༄
ENTJ: SO1, SX1, SP1, SO3, SP3
Rarer ones: SO7, SO6/SX6
INTJ: SO5, SX5, SP5
Rarer ones: SO6, E1
