Guide to the Jungian Cognitive Functions and Myers Briggs Typology

Introduction

Cognitive functions are a concept in psychology developed by the psychiatrist Carl Jung. They represent the fundamental processes that the human mind utilizes in order to take in information and make decisions. This guide will serve as an introduction to these functions by explaining what they are, how they are used, how they relate to the Myers Briggs 16 personalities, and why they are important in day to day life.

Base Functions

The cognitive functions derive from four core aspects: Feeling, Thinking, Sensing, and Intuition. Sensing and Intuition are the two main types of Perceiving functions while Thinking and Feeling are known as the two types of Judging functions.

Sensing

Sensing is the function of observing the physical world. It's the act of taking in concrete information and details using the five senses. It can be described as being detail-oriented, present and realistic. Individuals with strong sensory functions tend to trust facts, data, and tangible proof over instinct, concepts, and patterns.

Intuition

Intuition is the function of observing the abstract world. It's the act of using the imagination in order to detect patterns, possibilities, and concepts. Individuals with strong intuitive functions tend to trust instinct, concepts, and patterns over facts, data, and tangible proof.

Thinking

Thinking is the function of objective choice. It is the act of making decisions based off of knowledge and reason. Those with high thinking functions can be described as logical, analytical, and rational.

Feeling

Feeling is the function of subjective choice. It is the act of making decisions based off of emotion and value. Those with high feeling functions tend to make decisions based off of what is valuable, ethical, or moral.

In addition, these 4 base functions can be either Introverted or Extroverted in nature, thus giving us a total of 8 different functions. Each of these functions have a corresponding opposite function as well. Sensing is the opposite of Intuition, Thinking is the opposite of Feeling, and Introversion is the opposite of Extroversion. For clarity, here is a list of all of the functions and their opposites.

Introverted Sensing/Extroverted Intuition

Extroverted Sensing/Introverted Intuition

Introverted Thinking/Extroverted Feeling

Introverted Feeling/Extroverted Thinking.

Perceiving Functions

The Perceiving functions are the 4 processes used in order to gather information through either sensory or intuition. They are Extroverted Sensing, Introverted Sensing, Extroverted Intuition, and Introverted Intuition.

Judging Functions

The Judging functions are the 4 processes used in order to make decisions through either thinking or feeling. They are Extroverted Feeling, Extroverted Thinking, Introverted Thinking, and Introverted Feeling.

Extroverted Sensing (Se)

Extroverted Sensing is the act of continuously collecting new experiences in the physical world. Generally, high Se users are very detail oriented and tend to focus on what is right in front of them as it is occurring in the moment. They are usually very action-oriented and decisive. They make quick and efficient decisions and know how to make things happen accurately in the physical world. When speaking they will often refer to things in the real world as opposed to using analogies and metaphors. Se users also prefer to engage in things directly rather than indirectly. They have a very straightforward approach to life and seek the wide variety of experiences that it offers, moving on from thing to thing very quickly. The phrase to describe Se would be “Live and Let Live.”

Advantages

Action oriented

Have strong kinesthetic knowledge

Decisive

Pays attention to details

Often doesn’t seek to control others

Realistic and practical

Can adapt quickly to new situations

Weaknesses

Takes things at face value too often

Can be impulsive and act without thinking

Difficulty understanding the meaning behind things.

Prone to being materialistic and overindulging

Actions can be hollow and have no deeper purpose behind them

Not able to plan for the future efficiently

Struggles with committing to one thing.

Introverted Sensing (Si)

Introverted Sensing is the act of taking in selective experience. It's about standardization, routine, and strongly adhering to procedures. While Se is about taking in new experience, Si is about preserving the experiences it has already collected. Si users often have excellent memory recall and are even more detail oriented than their Se counterparts. Si users tend to stick to what they know and usually don’t like to deviate from the course of action that they know is guaranteed to work. Si users are often hardworking individuals with unwavering loyalty and discipline. Typically Si users move at a slower pace in order to take in all of the details of something. Because of this it may take them longer to do something but the task will be done with perfect accuracy. In contrast an Se user might be able to get more tasks completed in a day, but an Si user might be able to perform an individual task with higher quality. A phrase to describe Si would be “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”

Advantages

Possibly the most disciplined of all of the types

Can perform any task if given clear instruction

Stable and responsible

Able to stay organized

Likely has the strongest memory recall out of all the functions

Loyal and reliable

Hardworking and determined

Weaknesses

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Rigid, and unwilling to accept change.

Lives in the past.

Inability to adapt to sudden changes.

Slow to act.

Can become stagnant in life.

Idealistic and holds others to their standard of living

Intolerant to other’s way of life.

Extroverted Intuition (Ne)

Extroverted Intuition is the function of seeking out endless possibilities. Like Extroverted Sensing, Ne likes to gather in new information and move from one thing to another quickly, however while Se likes to experience the raw stimuli of a new thing, Ne prefers to gain insight that is in reference to a new thing. Ne users are often very imaginative and can find a variety of different meanings attached to a single thing. They can come up with creative solutions to complex problems using limited resources. Ne users also use their intuition to sense things beyond the surface level detail and make informed decisions on things.

Advantages

Can generate lots of ideas

Can see things from interesting perspectives

Very creative and inventive

Resourceful

Can improvise and adapt to new situations

Can use divergent thinking to solve difficult problems in unique ways

Sees the deeper meanings behind things.

Disadvantages

Often cannot articulate their ideas very well

Have difficulties committing to one thing

Can often try to escape from accountability and responsibility

Can move on too fast from one thing to another and disregard old information

Disorganized

Difficulty following instructions exactly and adhering to strict procedures

Introverted Intuition (Ni)

Introverted Intuition is the act of seeking out universal meaning along with the most common patterns perpetuated throughout life. Intuition in general is focused on both patterns and possibilities, but an easy way to distinguish between Ni and Ne is that Introverted Intuition tends to lean more towards the pattern recognition aspect whereas Extroverted Intuition tends to focus more on the possibility generating aspect. High Ni users tend to look into the future and plan ahead, envisioning a single path for themselves and doing everything in relation to that path. As a result of this long term thinking, Ni is typically able to perceive things in great depth. Ni users think of the things in life that hold the most significance and focus on what will give them the most in the long term. They invest in the future instead of living in the present. Ni tends to be able to focus on one thing and usually does not suffer from option paralysis.

I think that a perfect example of Ni would be the structure of the Saw movies or movies similar to it in which the entire movie is set in a single room.

Advantages

Able to make accurate predictions of the future.

Able to plan efficiently.

Know what they want and do not suffer from option paralysis.

Live with a strong sense of purpose.

Able to perceive the depth behind things.

Strong pattern recognition.

Able to focus intensely on one thing.

Disadvantages

Very weak connection to the physical world and has difficulty managing it.

Prone to having tunnel vision and obsessing over a single thing

Can be manipulative and often disregard people on a personal scale

Difficulty with physical tasks

Cannot adapt to things in the moment and resists change

Rigid and will take advantage of anything to achieve their goals

Actions can affect groups of people on a grand scale

The Perceiving functions are typically more difficult to distinguish between than the Judging functions but it can still be accomplished.

Take film watching for instance. If we were to take 4 individuals that were dominant in each of the four perceiving functions to see a film and had each of them record their thoughts on the film, they could have very different responses. The examples below are some of the hypothetical responses that you might see from each of the types.

If asked to review a movie, a dominant Extroverted Sensing user may simply list off the various different moments that occurred on screen.

An Introverted Sensing user might describe what their favorite scene in the entire film was.

An Extroverted Intuition user might discuss some of the more obscure sub-themes in the movie that they discovered.

An Introverted Intuition user might discuss the overall meaning of the film and the universal theme perpetuated throughout it.

The following example might assist with understanding the difference between the functions.

Say for instance, that you and a friend arrive at the grocery store to get beverages. You decide to go in alone to buy the drinks while your friend stays in the car. You ask your friend what kind of soda they want and they tell you to get them a Coke brand drink. When you enter the store you could use Extroverted Intuition to select any flavor of Coke. Coke Vanilla, Cherry, Diet, Zero, Cane Sugar, etc. You could pick any number of these to bring to your friend because they did not specify which flavor to buy, just so long as it had Coke branding. This is the relationship between Si and Ne. Si is the Coke in the scenario, the aspect that remains consistent throughout the types of soda and Ne is the wide variety of different interpretations that can branch from that aspect.

Let’s reimagine the same scenario. Let’s say that this time your friend asks you to buy them a cherry-flavored cola. You could use Introverted Intuition to buy any number of different brands under the criteria of cherry-flavored cola. Cherry Coke, Cherry Pepsi, Cherry RC, Diet Rite, Blue Sky, etc. While they are all different brands of cola, they achieve the same purpose of having cherry flavoring in it. They all fit under that category. This is the relationship between Ni and Se. The Ni has a single purpose to fulfill, in this case the cherry-flavored cola. Every brand of cola then attempts to arrive at that purpose in their own distinct way, Se. Se is the journey, Ni is the destination.

Judging Functions

Judging Functions are the functions used when making a decision using the information gained by the Perceiving functions. There are four Judging functions, Introverted Thinking, Extroverted Thinking, Introverted Feeling and Extroverted Feeling.

Extroverted Thinking (Te)

Extroverted Thinking is the act of finding and enforcing solutions that are mutually beneficial for the collective. Te users tend to make decisions based off of those around them rather than their own inner guidance. Because of this they are usually able to connect to others easily in the realm of ideas. Typically Extroverted Thinkers do well in areas like business or management because they are able to lead people in an efficient and pragmatic way to achieve results. Because of their logical approach to life, Te users can seem cold, demanding, or insensitive but often this is not intentional. It usually just occurs as a result of them working hard to find a solution to a particular problem.

Advantages

Highly efficient and productive.

Able to lead a group and take command

Selfless

Often have a lot of humility

Realistic and Practical

Disadvantages

Can be controlling

Do not always take personal feelings into account

Can be overly forceful or aggressive

Don’t often understand the needs of the individual vs the collective

Often neglect their own personal needs in pursuit of progress

Extroverted Feeling (Fe)

Extroverted Feeling is the act of making decisions based off of collective value. Extroverted Feeling users are often highly empathetic and socially aware of the emotions and values of others. The goal of Extroverted Feeling is to connect to others on an emotional level and create universal harmony among a community. Because of this Fe users are often the typical martyr type who will put the needs of the group above themselves. Because of this, Extroverted Feeling users often excel in secondary leadership positions because they can take the needs of those working beneath them into account. I see Extroverted Feeling users to be true extroverts.

Advantages

Socially adept

Emotionally Intelligent

Charismatic, easily connects with others

Caring and Kind

Selfless and Humble

Great with mediating conflict

Disadvantages

Can often fail to analyze a situation logically

Can be emotionally manipulative in order to get what they want

Often compromise personal beliefs for external validation

Are afraid to act using their internal logic

Are selfless to a fault

Introverted Thinking (Ti)

Introverted Thinking is the act of making decisions based off of internal logic. Unlike Extroverted Thinking, Introverted Thinking usually makes decisions based on what is most efficient for the self instead of the collective. It primarily focuses on knowledge and comprehension and prefers to form its own independent framework of the world and how it functions. Unlike Te users, Ti users generally prefer to come to their own conclusions to things instead of consulting others on certain matters. In other words they focus on what makes sense to them.

Advantages

Can make logical decisions

Fiercely independent

High mental acuity

Are usually honest.

Are adept at problem solving

Have a strong sense of morality and stay true to their beliefs

Disadvantages

Can be selfish and often put their desires above that of the group

Can be impatient when others take longer to understand things

Can struggle to connect emotionally

Can lack social awareness

Can be prone to condescension

Can be insensitive to the feelings of others, usually from being overly blunt

Introverted Feeling (Fi)

Fi is the function of making decisions based off of personal value. It is the function that deals the most with personal morals and understanding the value of certain things as well as what they mean to an individual person. It is making decisions off of what the individual desires rather than the group. Fi users typically understand the value of self-care and self respect and have a tendency to stay true to themselves and their beliefs. Because they can understand the deep emotions within themselves they can usually understand the depth of emotions in others as well.

Advantages

High emotional intelligence

Has respect for themselves along with others

Understands the true value of things

Can channel their emotions into their actions

Typically creative and artistic

Understand the needs of the individual

Disadvantages

Judgment is easily clouded by emotion

Prone to impulsive decision making

Can be selfish and individualistic

Can be sensitive to criticism and such

Can struggle to think objectively

Can struggle with leading and taking initiative