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Feb 05, 2010 - 7:39 PM - by Grey |  The Functions
Part of the process of determining your type has to do with digging through all of your learned behaviors to see who you really are inside, beyond your own self-image.
The standard model of functions is four of the eight, even though we use all eight functions throughout our lives. The dominant, or the first function, is the one we develop as soon as perception begins. The supportive, or second function, develops as we begin to mature (usually around the pre-teen age). Our tertiary, or third function, begins conscious development in our twenties and thirties, although you may notice that, as you are or were going through teenage years, you began to grasp the concept of your tertiary function. Some of us begin development of it consciously even in teenage years, but that is very uncommon. The last, or inferior function, is developed in the forties and fifties, but may not be developed at all, depending on how well the other functions are employed and what biases are at hand.
That is the natural order of things. Frequently, however, we find that life throws all sorts of hurdles at us that delay natural development and mask it, and even force the unnatural development of some functions. Occasionally, this can be good, such as developing one of the functions to better deal with a living situation, but often times, this unnatural development is bad, and it may impair your true perception of yourself.
ENFJ: Fe-Ni-Se-Ti.
INFJ: Ni-Fe-Ti-Se.
INFP: Fi-Ne-Si-Te.
ENFP: Ne-Fi-Te-Si.
ENTP: Ne-Ti-Fe-Si.
INTP: Ti-Ne-Si-Fe.
INTJ: Ni-Te-Fi-Se.
ENTJ: Te-Ni-Se-Fi.
ISFJ: Si-Fe-Ti-Ne.
ISTJ: Si-Te-Fi-Ne.
ESTJ: Te-Si-Ne-Fi.
ESFJ: Fe-Si-Ne-Ti.
ESFP: Se-Fi-Te-Ni.
ISFP: Fi-Se-Ni-Te.
ISTP: Ti-Se-Ni-Te.
ESTP: Se-Ti-Fe-Ni.
Fi, Introverted Feeling: Corresponds to values and beliefs in the inner mind. Those who use Fi may be stubborn in their beliefs and values and may even be easily offended if someone goes against what their beliefs are, even if they do not say anything about it. Although you may think of a man arguing all of the time, those who lead with Fi are INFPs and ISFPs, so they often may not even express their emotions to the fullest extent. Fi corresponds to: Dominant (ISFP, INFP), Supportive (ENFP, ESFP), Tertiary (INTJ, ISTJ), Inferior (ENTJ, ESTJ). If you determine Fi is your dominant or supportive function, you can determine that you are an xxFP.
Fe, Extroverted Feeling: Corresponds to the desire and working for outer harmony. Those who use Fe may be overly focused on everyone getting along - in worse scenarios, they may interpret a small argument as a full-blown battle, even between two other people who aren't interacting with the Fe user. Those who use Fe have a great ability to tell and to care for the well-being of others, though, so you may think of the camp counselor when you think of someone using Fe. Those using Fe are more likely to press down their own needs for the sakes' of others in the beginning, but may be prone to complaining behind their backs. Fe corresponds to: Dominant (ENFJ, ESFJ), Supportive (INFJ, ISFJ), Tertiary (ENTP, ESTP), Inferior (INTP, ISTP). If you determine Fe is your dominant or supportive function, you can determine that you are an xxFJ.
Ti, Introverted Thinking: Ti focuses on specifying, analyzing, and defining within the inner world. Those who use Ti have an inner system in which they categorize everything, and these categories may be very specific. The Ti mind is a very natural analyst. Those who use Ti seek clarity, and may, at times, come across as too complicated to others, even if this is not the case. Ti corresponds to: Dominant (INTP, ISTP), Supportive (ENTP, ESTP), Tertiary (INFJ, ISFJ), Inferior (ENFJ, ESFJ). If you determine that Ti is your dominant or supportive function, you can determine that you are a xxTP.
Te, Extroverted Thinking: Te focuses upon organization and efficiency within the outer world. Those who use Te have a drive to make things as efficient as possible, whether to solve problems, manage things, or even to carry out their future plans. Those who use Te seek results over clarity, and may press for work to be done and decisions to be made even if they do not have enough proper information. Those using Te become impatient when no results are made, but are easily pleased when they see objective progress. In striving for efficiency, however, Te may be prone to neglect personal feelings, whether their own or the feelings of others in the process. Te corresponds to: Dominant (ENTJ, ESTJ), Supportive (INTJ, ISTJ), Tertiary (ENFP, ESFP), Inferior (INFP, ISFP). If you determine Te is your dominant or supportive function, you can determine that you are a xxTJ.
Those are the major judging functions. The T and F scales represent how we make decisions, as you may know. The way the functions are set up are that we have one N function, one S function, one T function, and one F function. The N and S functions serve as our perceiving functions, and we prefer one as the major perceiving function, and the other as a minor perceiving function. The same is for the T and the F functions: we each have a major judging function, and a minor judging function within the model. My major judging function as an INTJ, for example, is Te, and my major perceiving function is Ni. My perceiving function leads, however, so my judging function serves to make the 'whims' of the perceiving function possible, much like the perceiving function of someone who has a T or F function as their dominant would serve the judging function.
Extroverted Sensing, Se: Se is often misconstrued as the function that always needs excitement, always involved in some zany activity or another. This is not usually the case, but can be in more extreme situations. Se, as a perceiving function, perceives the present 'as is', and can actually be energized by taking in information that way. Se also seeks stimulation to keep perceiving, which may lead those using Se to involve themselves in risky or at least odd activities. With Ti as a partner, Se may seek stimulation through such objective experiences (or anything interesting), or with Fi as a partner, may seek stimulation through connections with others. Se corresponds with: Dominant (ESTP, ESFP), Supportive (ISFP, ISTP), Tertiary (ENTJ, ENFJ), and Inferior (INTJ, INFJ). If you determine Se is your dominant or supportive function, you can determine that you are an xSxP.
Introverted Sensing, Si: Si is, at its basics, associated with past memory and recollection. Si does not actually correspond to memory, however. Si perceives information in the present through a 'lens', one of that of the past. What that means is that Si is always situated in the past, and uses those experiences to perceive and draw information from what is going on in the present. This can give those who use Si a 'worn' feel to others, in that they seem to focus too much on the past instead of what's going on right now. That is how Si naturally functions, however, so it ought not be discouraged. Si corresponds with: Dominant (ISTJ, ISFJ), Supportive (ESFJ, ESTJ), Tertiary (INTP, INFP), and Inferior (ENTP, ENFP). If you determine Si is your dominant or supportive function, then you can determine that you are an xSxJ.
Extroverted Intuition, Ne: Ne is a connector - when perceiving information, those using Ne are capable of constant connection from one item to the next, making them capable of creating and employing unique solutions in dealing with the world. Ne is a very present-oriented function, using the present as a lens for viewing the future. Those who use Ne may be viewed as 'hyper-active' or 'random', and may even trip up others in conversation, including fellow Ne users who may not follow their exact chain of thought. One classic example of how Ne perceives and connections information is the letter example. Assuming A is the beginning and Z is the conclusion to something, Ne follows a trail not unlike this: A-C-L-S-U-Z. As such, Ne users may be perceived as jumping around from wall to wall with nothing to anchor them. Ne corresponds with: Dominant (ENFP, ENTP), Supportive (INTP, INFP), Tertiary (ESTJ, ESFJ), and Inferior (ISFJ, ISTJ). If you determine Ne is your dominant or supportive function, you can then determine that you are an xNxP.
Introverted Intuition, Ni: Ni perceives information and looks for patterns in the outer world, relating the perceived info to the inner world. Much like Ne, Ni has an eye for the future, but in the reverse sense of how Ne functions: Ni uses the future as a means of looking at and perceiving the present. Ni is a very unconscious function, and as such, those who use Ni may be perceived as relying on their 'gut feeling' too much, as they often have a hard time explaining how they arrived to a certain conclusion. One classic example of how Ni perceives information is the letter example. Assuming A is the beginning and Z is the conclusion to something, Ni follows a trail like this: A-C-L-S... Z! Instead of the conscious connections that Ne makes, Ni is more of a quiet analyzer, coming to a sudden conclusion all at once, skipping ahead as the pieces all fall into place. This can be thought of as an 'ah-ha!' moment, but not quite so dramatic. Ni corresponds with: Dominant (INTJ, INFJ), Supportive (ENFJ, ENTJ), Tertiary (ISFP, ISTP), and Inferior (ESTP, ESFP). If you determine Ni is your dominant or supportive function, you can then determine that you are an xNxJ. |   
1 Reply | 105 Views | | Applying Personality Type In The Workplace | |
Feb 03, 2010 - 3:33 PM - by DevelopingPotentialUK | | Applying Personality Type In The Workplace
As the MBTI is a personality indicator (indicating personality type and not trait/ability), it can't be used for recruitment, selection or assessment purposes. I guess for me, where it adds value is simply understanding that we all have preferences - and if met, we find life easier and if we find life easier we are, perhaps, more inclined to focus our energy on to good ends. Whilst personality indicators in no way reflect our ability, capacity or skill to do something, it can add value in terms of aiding a dialogue between people who have an impact on one an other. For me, that's all the MBTI is. Essentially, it helps to explain part of the 'why' we do things, but certainly not 'how' well we do them.
It is my opinion that our affinity with and desire for labels allows much 'type' casting to go on, and organisations who invest in tools such as the MBTI can be guilty of it. 'Oh, he's and E, he never listens'. She's a P, she's always late. I'm and N, I don't do detail. I'm sure that forums and communities such as this are guilty of it too. If, however, by taking personality inventories such as the MBTI, we are encouraged to share thoughts and have conversations about how we prefer to work (not how good we can do it) and how we can help other people work more effectively, surely that has to be a good thing. I do accept that some people may want to use this information for less than good purposes - but is that a good enough reason for the majority of good intentioned people not to benefit from it? Isnt that the same with all walks of life?
On the issue of the effectiveness of psychometrics that measure personality trait, and abilities - i.e. numerical and verbal reasoning, IQ etc, in the workplace, I would agree that they too can be used poorly in some recruitment, selection and assessment processes. They should form part of the process to provide additional and extra information, and not the sole basis for selection. On the whole, however, we can train ourselves, develop skills and practice at many of these to improve our results. In these 'tests' there are right and wrong answers. I would argue that the 'MBTI' has nothing to do with right and wrong and has no place in 'testing'.
This brings about a very important issue surrounding the ethical use of such instruments. I am curious to know how you found out about your personality type - whether it was an free online questionnaire or through an accredited MBTI practitioner?
The issue of ineffective management, and corporate structures are interesting topics, but probably not explained by personality preference, but I am to guess, a lack of training, skill and ability to effectively manage and lead others?
To contribute to this research on applying personality type in the workplace please click
Applying personality type to the work place Survey
Many thanks,
Dan
Learning & Development Consultant
Team Building, Personal, Management and Leadership Development London, and Manchester UK Wide | |
1 Reply | 80 Views | | The significance of P and J. | |
Feb 02, 2010 - 3:03 AM - by ster |  The significance of P and J.
I learnt this on TC a while back, and it made so much sense to me. This is too ingenious for me to explain, so I'm paraphrasing (and quoting) the incredible ENTP who laid it out so clearly :P
Supposedly the P/J is the most important letter in typology because it dictates how the other "cognitive functions" will be used. Each person functions with a combination of 2 cognitive functions out of the 4 possible.
1) Perceiving function with either S or N, because it takes in information.
2) Judging function with either T or F, because it makes decisions with that information.
Each person has one function that is extroverted, directed outwardly - handling the outward situation, ideas, things apart from the self, and one function that is introverted, directed inwardly - creating inner values and perspective, the self itself.
"Your two primary functions are represented by your middle two letters, but the P/J and E/I are not functions themselves, just directional descriptions of them.
xxxJ is someone who extroverts the Judging function (Te or Fe) & introverts the Perceiving function (Si or Ni).
xxxP is someone who extroverts the Perceiving function (Se or Ne) & introverts the Judging function (Ti or Fi)."
So the ENTP and the ENTJ, for example, have no functions in common.ENTP = Extroverted Intuition (Ne) + Introverted Thinking (Ti)
ENTJ = Extroverted Thinking (Te) + Introverted Intuition (Ni) To put it simply:
The ENTP uses iNtuition outwardly, handling external factors, while using Thinking internally, according to the self.
The ENTJ uses iNtuition inwardly, according to the self, and Thinking outwardly, according the the environment.
So in conclusion: If this is all true, it wouldn't make sense to be a "borderline P/J" because it implies two completely different value systems. "MBTI leads people to this conclusion because it oversimplifies Js as "organized" and Ps as "disorganized" when this is only half the story."
"Js value rigid external organization of the environment but maintain a more flexible private perspective."
"Ps value rigid internal organization of the self but maintain a more flexible external approach."
/end. I have found this to be extremely^3 reflective of my experience, and reading it has confirmed my suspicions. I hope it can help you all too. & Hopefully it's not too redundant for you MBTI veterans. =]
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37 Replies | 685 Views | |
