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.
