Ti vs Fi - A Closer Look

Ti vs Fi - A Closer Look

I'm unsatisfied by the descriptions of Ti and Fi that I see around in books or online. While generally the end result is somewhat correct, I know that each function goes deeper than it's external manifestation. I also want to assert that they are much more similar than they appear.

I'm not Ti, so I'm basing this on my interpretations of other people's introspection. Please correct me or elaborate. The more personal observations the better. Also, please correct me on any N bias I may be adding.

Ti is an abstract deductive reasoning process. Would it be correct to say that Ti focuses on stripping away at the superficial side of any given object/situation to find the inner and pure objective information? Ti then goes to define and ultimately fit the piece of information into an internal model of all objective information collected thus far. All done unconsciously for the most part until a particularly complex bit of information cannot fit in which case both the information and the internal construct are called into question until all inconsistencies are worked out and the puzzle is solved. The larger problems require varying amounts of time, energy, and logical processing until everything fits once again. This is how Ti can pinpoint inconsistencies from miles away, the information they received is not the proper shape or not even from the same puzzle as they understand the world to function.

Fi would then be an abstract integration process taking into account pure subjective information or 'feelings'. The internal world model is constructed less of logical systems as Ti. Fi focuses less on defining new information and more on simply understanding and then integrating it to the basic framework already in place. Like conducting and building a song one instrumental piece at a time. Fi is focused on how things work together, and dissonance is readily apparent. A distinction from the inconsistency targeting of Ti where things must fit, Fi can work with small inconsistencies as long as the bigger picture can still function as whole.

Objectivity and subjectivity are a large separation in the functions. Fi types are very close to their inner feelings, understand them, yet the objectivity of language prevents them from expressing this portion of their being. Fi then needs to take subjective viewpoints into account in their internal world model because that is the part world they best understand and they see it to affect their worldview greatly. This is not to say they ignore objectivity, yet a danger zone for Fi (DomFi especially) is to ignore objective truth that doesn't harmonize with their subjective truth resulting in either an overly-emotional or a self-centered person (or both, depending on your perspective). Ti, on the other hand, is either does not understand it like Fi can (much like Fi has a harder time with deductive reasoning of objective qualities), or deems it irrelevant. An unbalanced Ti would be entirely disconnected with the human element leaving their world model incomplete and too rigid for that sort of information. (ironically becoming too subjective in their objectivity)

I view the two functions as then starting from the same point when given piece of information and going opposite directions (not necessarily to opposing conclusions, however). Fi preferring to work outward only going inward when harmony is not achieved, and Ti working inward venturing outward when the pieces do not fit. Thus, they are almost mirror processes, neither being more or less rational than the other; only as rational as the information going in.



It's a work in progress and I may not have organized my thoughts properly. Please tell me for personal view on how you use/experience these functions.

I think the only difference between Thinkers and Feelers is that Thinkers are more likely to be emotionally strong. Not saying that feelers don't have that capability, just considering that Thinkers as I have obeserved are more likely to control their emotions, while Feelers like tending to their emotions. Feelers therefore favor positive affirmation because it makes up for emotional out burst. Most people will say things they don't mean when they are mad. Although, in my opinion such things don't come out of nowhere. They say it because they know exactly what hurts (may also be what they actually think). Thinkers are aware of this, but their sayings are on reasons to compromise, which are obeservations or possiblities and never to say anything to purposely hurt. However, it can be misterpreted as "mad thoughts."

Thinkers are much aware of their own emotions and others emotions, but don't put much importance on satisfying it through positive affirmation because it's not what is said if the same negative thing is going to happen again. Feelers tend to make decisions on the bases on how they feel in the current moment and go upon that (subjective). Thinkers consider other outcomes rather than just present feelings (objective). Such decisions can irritate both. Feelers will say Thinkers are stiff and Feelers could be taken as light-headed.

I'm a thinker this is only some of my personal opinion on the differences between each. I feel like there is an offense in every explaination I have from my obeservations . Although, to understand each side I must speak. Some things may not be believable to the other person and can be superficially taken as a personal offense. What's to happen? Defense mechanisms.

Psilo your interpretation of the two functions is well put. In particularly my dominant funciton is Ti and I use it so naturally that it's unconscious to me unless I am working something complex.

I think the only difference between Thinkers and Feelers is that Thinkers are more likely to be emotionally strong. Not saying that feelers don't have that capability, just considering that Thinkers as I have obeserved are more likely to control their emotions, while Feelers like tending to their emotions.

IME It's a matter of perspective. What you view as control could easily be repression. I've seen nasty emotional outbursts from thinkers who've been pushed a little too far. While f types tend to their emotions and may have more smaller outbursts, with the right amount of maturity each is a bit of growth pushing the edge farther. As a personal anecdote, I'm more likely to react to trivialities, but my emotional strength shows in a time of crisis.

Of course, without nurturing I would agree. Immature F types can let emotions overrun logic and immature t types repress emotion to the point of bursting.

Thinkers are much aware of their own emotions and others emotions, but don't put much importance on satisfying it through positive affirmation because it's not what is said if the same negative thing is going to happen again. Feelers tend to make decisions on the bases on how they feel in the current moment and go upon that (subjective). Thinkers consider other outcomes rather than just present feelings (objective). Such decisions can irritate both. Feelers will say Thinkers are stiff and Feelers could be taken as light-headed.

IMO T and F really have little to do with emotion, although emotion is treated differently between the types. T types typically add less value to emotion than do F types.

On the bolded, I don't agree with your definitions of subjective and objective. In the manner in which I use them in the OP, subjective would refer to any qualities that require an observer (that object is good, bad, helpful, strong) and objective being more quantitative (12, red, exerts x energy). Ti is a subjective function that prefers to use objective information, and Fi wants to include the subjective. Ti typically breaks down and quantifies objects so that they can be used equally for all and Fi holistically weaves together objective and subjective information into a subjective truth.

I hope that made sense

F types also don't only consider present feelings. Future feelings and the feelings of others also come into consideration. What's important is that the action aligns with inner values of what 'should' be. T types take the human element out and make decisions (subjective) based on what is.

Of course, I want T types to correct me when I msis the mark.

I thought this article was very well presented and seemed accurate. I'm neither Fi nor Ti dominant, but within a certain MBTI test I took (I forgot through what service exactly) I scored higher within Fi than Fe, which I feel actually makes sense considering myself.

The one thing which I found strange was the description of Ti being centered around a frame work of objectivity... I guess it seems to fit well regarding what I know of INTPs (and I suppose ISTPs), but of everything I read that was what came off the most foreign. I was correct in interpreting that whenever Ti dominant types find a fault (however miniscule) in their frame work they have to look outward, which often leads to the frame work being corrupted by subjectivity?

What seemed most true or easy for me to identify was the shunning of objectivity regarding those who would be Fi dominant or simply having well developed Fi... I've always preferred what's subjectively oriented as to me that's how life should be... I've always preferred literary studies, or to some extent general humanities studies to math ,and while psychology is meant to be objective regarding purpose, I like how there's always room for subjectivity (or at least that's how I've considered it).

While I find science interesting and necessary, I don't really prefer the scientific method, I just like learning new principles whenever given the chance (though I never find myself as impassioned as when it comes to the things I already explicitly mentioned as enjoying). I know the correlation of subjectivity and Fi wasn't only meant to refer to the academic before people think that's what I'd interpreted the article as referencing, but I just felt that those references would be most definitive (to cater to you Ti lovers :-P).

Hopefully my thoughts prove worthy after typing so much...

Fi and Ti? What are those? I've been too busy sharpening my NiFe!

Silly remark aside, this was quite the read.

John/Sage, did you take the function test here?

Well i'm gonna add my little grain of sand to the debate, only based on experience.

My best friend is an INTP (Ti) and i'm an INFP (Fi), we come from the same background, work in the same field, have the same age and the same level of maturity.

People who meet us usually say on the first look that we look the same, quiet, distant, introspective, attracted to complex ideas, childish with sarcastic humor. But the differences are much more noticeable afterwards.

Let's sayyyy i am the people oriented person and he is the problem solving person and we are both confident in each other abilities.

For example when we need to buy train tickets and organize a trip, find the better prices at the better time, personally i will get quickly tired to search for such things and i will buy the first thing i see. So i let him do the organization because he's usually much more competent than me at this, and will go further than me ie : "get the best of a situation at the better price" in a general manner.

When it comes to people, communicating and relating with their emotions, such as doing the mediator, get something from someone, what that person is made of, or what will be best to say and to do. He let me do the job or ask me for advice, it's not that he doesn't see the emotions of people around him, he is actually pretty aware of them and of what people are made of. But when something isn't going right with someone, he just don't know how to deal with emotions and make things better, long term or not.

I will be also more affected by my mood than he is. It doesn't happen often, actually it was the first time it happened with him, but one day at a pub i lost myself in an ephemeral melancholic/angry phase (which isn't a great deal for an INFP) while we were discussing serious matters. He was standing there next to me, and didn't knew what to do completely freaking out haha. Well one thing is sure, it's not from him that i can get emotional support and motivation. :p

I think, as i have little patience resolving practical problems, he has little patience resolving emotional problems.

There is also a lot of other differences, but it will be too complicated to list them all..

edit : One other very well illustrated example : To consider if a project is good or not, my INTP friend will see firstly if the project is on a good market, if the idea is intelligent or original, if the project is worth it in terms of funding. Whereas i will firstly see how the team working on the project is interacting, if there is good communication, if the people are motivated and passionate enough, if the people believe in the project they are working on; and i will consider the rest afterwards. I will have more dispositions to throw myself in a desperate cause with interesting people and will be proud to have made my best to do something out of it considering all the stormy context (the chivalrous kind of stuff). Where he is more for "efficiency".

Fi - Introverted Feeling
Adapted from Linda V. Berens and Dario Nardi, Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to the Personality Type Code (Telos Publications, 2004) *Used with permission.

It is often hard to assign words to the values used to make introverted Feeling judgments since they are often associated with images, feeling tones, and gut reactions more than words. As a cognitive process, it often serves as a filter for information that matches what is valued, wanted, or worth believing in. There can be a continual weighing of the situational worth or importance of everything and a patient balancing of the core issues of peace and conflict in life’s situations. We engage in the process of introverted Feeling when a value is compromised and we think, “Sometimes, some things just have to be said.” On the other hand, most of the time this process works “in private” and is expressed through actions. It helps us know when people are being fake or insincere or if they are basically good. It is like having an internal sense of the “essence” of a person or a project and reading fine distinctions among feeling tones.

Comment: This seems like HELL to me (INTP)!

Originally Posted by kdm1984

Fi and Ti? What are those? I've been too busy sharpening my NiFe!

Silly remark aside, this was quite the read.

John/Sage, did you take the function test here?

No I didn't know there was one, I'll have to look into it.

I do wonder whether far too much faith is put in the 'tool' of personality typing than is good for the user of such a tool. Trying to make such complex distinctions between functions which everyone has and everyone utilises must surely be a little like using a stethoscope, pressed to a shared wall, to listen to your neighbour playing Mozart on a low-powered radio, and then commenting on the role of the 2nd violinist in the front row of the orchestra.

The 'result' of the MB test is a set of preferences but nowhere does the taker of the test get any information about when their preferences are exercised. So someone who's test results indicate a strong preference for Fi can still spend an entire day exercising Ti if the enviroment or the task on which they're engaged, demands it, and vice versa.

In general I think Ti is decision making based on objective logic and Fi is decision making based on subjective logic. In pretty much most cases, if we look at the decision making process as a black box, the decisions made by Fi and Ti 'systems' will be the same, for most inputs. That is, the same output is arrived at by two different routes, when the information fed into both systems is the same.

I've noticed that sometimes my INTP friends can seem dispassionate in their analysis and decision making. An objective decision can only factor in so much subjectivity and if the subjective payload of a decision matters (as it does to Fi) then this is where differences can be perceived. By contrast my INTP friends can get very frustrated by Fi's 'wooliness' and what as seen as taking into account irrelvant factors in analysis or decision making.

As I understand it, a person can't utilise Fi and Ti at the same time, so, for any decision event, either subjective concerns will win the day, or objective ones. The fallout will vary according to the stakeholders :-)