Jung's Unconscious Attitudes (Auxiliary E/I)


Hello Guest! Sign up to join the discussion below...
Results 1 to 3 of 3
Thank Tree13Thanks
  • 5 Post By Functianalyst
  • 4 Post By Functianalyst
  • 4 Post By Functianalyst

This is a discussion on Jung's Unconscious Attitudes (Auxiliary E/I) within the Myers Briggs Forum forums, part of the Personality Type Forums category; The f ollowing is Jung’s description from the Classics in the History of Psychology . For those who have found ...

  1. #1
    ISTP - The Mechanics

    Jung's Unconscious Attitudes (Auxiliary E/I)

    The following is Jung’s description from the Classics in the History of Psychology. For those who have found hid work hard to followd, I have edited the information without hopefully diluting the meaning. Below is a syllabus of words that have been changed per my own translation. If you have read Jung and see that my translation is in error, please let me know:

    Conscious = Dominant Function
    Unconscious = Auxiliary Function
    Attitude = Extravert/Introvert
    Object = External
    Subject = Internal


    11. The Principal and Auxiliary Functions


    In the foregoing descriptions I have no desire to give my readers the impression that such pure types occur at all frequently in actual practice. The are, as it were, only family-portraits, which sum up in a cumulative image the common and therefore typical characters, stressing these disproportionately while the individual features are just as disproportionately effaced. Accurate investigation of the individual case consistently reveals the fact that in conjunction with the most differentiated function, another function of secondary importance, and therefore of inferior differentiation in consciousness, is constantly present, and is a -- relatively determining factor.

    For the sake of clarity let us again recapitulate: The products of all the functions can be conscious, but we speak of the dominance of a function only when not merely its application is at the disposal of the will but when at the same time its principle is decisive for the orientation of consciousness. The latter event is true when for instance, thinking is not a mere esprit de l'escalier, or rumination, but when its decisions possess an absolute validity, so that the logical conclusion in a given case holds good, whether as motive or as guarantee of practical action, without the backing of any further evidence. This absolute sovereignty always belongs, empirically, to one function alone, and can belong only to one function, since the equally independent intervention of another function would necessarily yield a different orientation, which would at least partially contradict the first.

    But since it is a vital condition for the conscious adaptation-process that constantly clear and unambiguous aims should be in evidence, the presence of a second function of equivalent power is naturally forbidden. This other function therefore, can have only a secondary importance, a fact that is also established empirically. Its secondary importance consists in the fact that in a given case, it is not valid in its own right, as is the primary function as an absolutely reliable and decisive factor. But comes into play more as an auxiliary or complementary function. Naturally only those functions can appear as auxiliary whose nature is not opposed to the leading function. For instance, feeling can never act as the second function by the side of thinking, because its nature stands in too strong a contrast to thinking. Thinking, if it is to be real thinking and true to its own principle, must scrupulously exclude feeling.

    This of course, does not exclude the fact that individuals certainly exist in whom thinking and feeling stand upon the same level, whereby both have equal motive power. But in such a case, there is also no question of a different type, but merely of a relatively undeveloped thinking and feeling. Uniform consciousness and unconsciousness of functions is therefore, a distinguishing mark of a primitive mentality.

    Experience shows that the secondary function is always one whose nature is different from, though not antagonistic to, the leading function. Thus for example, thinking as a dominant function, can readily pair with intuition or indeed equally well with sensation as an auxiliary but, as already observed, never with feeling. Neither intuition or sensation are antagonistic to thinking. They do not have to be unconditionally excluded since they are not like feeling, of similar nature though of opposite purpose, to thinking. For as a judging function feeling successfully competes with thinking, but are functions of perception, affording welcome assistance to thought. As soon as they reached the same level of differentiation as thinking, they would cause a change of attitude that would contradict the tendency of thinking. For they would convert the judging attitude into a perceiving one whereupon the principle of rationality indispensable to thought would be suppressed in favor of the irrationality of mere perception. Hence the auxiliary function is possible and useful only in so far as it serves the leading function, without making any claim to the autonomy of its own principle.

    For all the types appearing in practice, the principle holds good that besides the dominant function there is also a relatively unconscious auxiliary function that is in every respect different from the nature of the main function. From these combinations well-known pictures arise, the practical intellect for instance paired with sensation, the speculative intellect breaking through with intuition, the artistic intuition which selects and presents its images by means of feeling judgment, the philosophical intuition which, in league with a vigorous intellect, translates its vision into the sphere of comprehensible thought, and so forth.

    A grouping of the lesser functions also takes place in accordance with the relationship of the dominant functions. Thus for instance, an unconscious intuitive and feeling attitude may correspond with a dominant practical intellect whereby the function of feeling suffers a relatively stronger inhibition than intuition. This peculiarity however, is of interest only for one who is concerned with the practical psychological treatment of such cases. But for such a man it is important to know about it. But the approach to the unconscious and to the most repressed function is disclosed as it were, of itself, and with more adequate protection of the dominant standpoint when the way of development is via the secondary function, thus in the case of a rational type by way of the irrational function. For this lends the dominant standpoint such a range and prospect over what is possible and imminent that consciousness gains an adequate protection against the destructive effect of the auxiliary function. Conversely a perceiving type demands a stronger development of the judging auxiliary function represented in consciousness in order to be sufficiently prepared to receive the impact of the auxiliary. The auxiliary functions are in an archaic, animal state.

    parallel, Grey, screamofconscious and 2 others thanked this post.

  2. #2
    ISTP - The Mechanics

    (II) THE ATTITUDE OF THE AUXILIARY FUNCTION

    It may perhaps seem odd that I should speak of attitude of the 'auxiliary function'. As I have already sufficiently indicated, I regard the relation of the auxiliary function to the dominant function as compensatory. The auxiliary function according to this view, has as good a claim to an ‘I attitude' as the dominant function.

    In the foregoing section I emphasized the tendency of certain one-sidedness in the extraverted attitude, due to the controlling power of the external factor in the course of psychic events. The extraverted type is constantly tempted to give him self away (apparently) in favor of the external, and to assimilate his internal to the external. I have referred in detail to the ultimate consequences of this exaggeration of the extraverted attitude, viz. to the injurious suppression of the internal factor. It is only to be expected that a psychic compensation of the dominant function extraverted attitude will lay special weight upon the internal subordinate, i.e. we shall have to prove a strong egocentric tendency in the auxiliary function. Practical experience actually furnishes this proof. I do not wish to enter into an intellectually dishonest survey at this point, so must refer my readers to the ensuing sections.

    Where I shall attempt to present the characteristic attitude of the auxiliary function from the angle of each function-type, in this section we are merely concerned with the compensation of a general extraverted attitude. I shall therefore, confine myself to an equally general characterization of the compensating attitude of the auxiliary function.

    The attitude of the auxiliary function as an effective complement to the dominant function extraverted attitude has a definitely introverting character. It focuses energy upon the internal factor, i.e. all those needs and claims which are stifled or repressed by too extraverted a dominant function attitude. It may be readily gathered from what has been said in the previous section that a purely external orientation does violence to a multitude of internal emotions, intentions, needs, and desires, since it robs them of the energy that is their natural right. Man is not a machine that one can reconstruct as occasion demands, upon other lines and for quite other ends, in the hope that it will then proceed to function in a totally different way just as normally as before. Man bears his age-long history with him in his very structure is written the history of mankind.

    The historical factor represents a vital need, to which a wise economy must respond. Somehow the past must become vocal, and participate in the present. Complete assimilation to the external, therefore, encounters the protest of the suppressed minority, elements belonging to the past and existing from the beginning. From this quite general consideration it may be understood why it is that the auxiliary function lay claims of the extraverted type that has an essentially primitive, infantile, and egoistical character. When Freud says that the unconscious is "only able to wish" this observation contains a large measure of truth for the auxiliary function of the extraverted type. Adjustment and assimilation to external data prevent inadequate internal impulses from reaching the dominant function. These tendencies (thoughts, wishes, affects, needs, feelings, etc.) take on a regressive character corresponding with the degree of their repression, i.e. the less they are recognized, the more infantile and archaic they become. The dominant function attitude robs them of their relatively disposable energy charge, only leaving them the energy necessary to survive. This remainder that still possesses a potency not to be under-estimated can be described only as primeval instinct. Instinct can never be rooted out from an individual by any arbitrary measures; it requires the slow, organic transformation of many generations to effect a radical change. For instinct is the energy expression of a definite organic foundation.

    Thus with every repressed tendency, a considerable sum of energy ultimately remains. This sum corresponds with the potency of the instinct and guards its effectiveness, notwithstanding the deprivation of energy that made it the auxiliary function. The measure of extraversion in the dominant function attitude entails a like degree of infantilism and archaism in the attitude of the auxiliary function. The egoism that so often characterizes the extravert's auxiliary function attitude goes far beyond mere childish selfishness; it even verges upon the wicked and brutal. It is here we find in fullest bloom that incest-wish described by Freud. It is self-evident that these things are entirely auxiliary function, remaining altogether hidden from the eyes of the uninitiated observer so long as the extraversion of the dominant function attitude does not reach an extreme stage. But wherever an exaggeration of the dominant function standpoint takes place, the auxiliary function also comes to light in a symptomatic form, i.e. the auxiliary function egoism, infantilism, and archaism lose their original compensatory characters, and appear in more or less open opposition to the dominant function attitude. This process begins in the form of an absurd exaggeration of the dominant function standpoint, which is aimed at a further repression of the auxiliary function, but usually ends in a “reductio ad absurdum” of the dominant function attitude, i.e. a collapse. The catastrophe may be an external one, since the external aims gradually become falsified by the internal. I remember the case of a printer who starting as a mere employee, worked his way up through two decades of hard struggle until at last he was the independent possessor of a very large business. The more the business grew, the more it increased its hold upon him until gradually his other interest was consumed. At length he was completely enmeshed in its toils, and as we shall soon see, this surrender eventually proved his ruin. As a sort of compensation to his exclusive interest in the business, certain memories of his childhood came to life. As a child he had taken great delight in painting and drawing. But instead of renewing this capacity for its own sake as a balancing side-interest, he canalized it into his business and began to conceive 'artistic' elaborations of his products. His fantasies unfortunately materialized. He began to produce after his own primitive and infantile taste, with the result that after a very few years his business went to pieces. He acted in obedience to one of our 'civilized ideals', which enjoins the energetic man to concentrate everything upon the one end in view. But he went too far, and merely fell a victim to the power of his internal infantile claims.

    But the catastrophic solution may also be internal in the form of a nervous collapse. Such a solution always comes about as a result of the auxiliary function counterinfluence, which can ultimately paralyze the dominant function’s action. In which case the claims of the auxiliary function force themselves categorically upon dominant function, thus creating a calamitous cleavage which generally reveals itself in two ways: either the internal no longer knows what he really wants and nothing any longer interests him or he wants too much at once and has too keen an interest-but in impossible things. The suppression of infantile and primitive claims, which is often necessary on "civilized" grounds, easily leads to neurosis, or to the misuse of narcotics such as alcohol, morphine, cocaine, etc. In more extreme cases the cleavage ends in suicide.

    It is a salient peculiarity of auxiliary function tendencies that, just in so far as they are deprived of their energy by a lack of dominant function recognition, they assume a correspondingly destructive character, and as soon as this happen their compensatory function ceases. They cease to have a compensatory effect as soon as they reach a depth or stratum that corresponds with a level of culture absolutely incompatible with our own. From this moment the auxiliary function tendencies form a block, which is opposed to the dominant function attitude in every respect;
    such a bloc inevitably leads to open conflict.

    In a general way, the compensating attitude of the auxiliary function finds expression in the process of psychic equilibrium. A normal extraverted attitude does not of course mean that the individual behaves invariably in accordance with the extraverted schema. Even in the same individual many psychological happenings may be observed, in which the mechanism of introversion is concerned. A habitus can be called extraverted only when the mechanism of extraversion predominates. In such a case the most highly differentiated function has a constantly extraverted application, while the inferior functions are found in the service of introversion. The more valued the dominant function is, the more completely subordinated the less dominant function. In other words, the auxiliary function and inferior functions become increasingly unconscious to the greater the dominant function.

    The superior function is always the expression of the dominant function personality, its aim, its will, and its achievement, whilst the inferior functions belong to the things that happen to one. Not that they merely beget blunders, e.g. lapsus linguae or lapsus calami, but they may also breed half or three-quarter resolves, since the inferior functions also possess a slight degree of the dominant function. The extraverted feeling type is the classical example since he enjoys an excellent feeling rapport with his friends, yet occasionally opinions of an incomparable tactlessness will just happen to him. These opinions have their source in his inferior and subdominant function thinking, which is only partly internal to control and is insufficiently related to the external to a large extent, therefore it can operate without consideration or responsibility.

    In the extraverted attitude the inferior functions always reveal a highly internal determination with pronounced egocentricity and personal bias, thus demonstrating their close connection with the auxiliary function. Through their agency the auxiliary function is continually coming to light. On no account should we imagine that the auxiliary function lies permanently buried under so many overlying strata that it can only be uncovered so to speak, by a laborious process of excavation. On the contrary, there is a constant influx of the auxiliary function into the dominant function psychological process. At times this reaches such a pitch that the observer can decide only with difficulty which character-traits are to be ascribed to the dominant function, and which to the auxiliary function. This difficulty occurs mainly with persons whose habit of expression errs rather on the side of extravagant. Naturally it depends very largely also upon the attitude of the observer, whether he lays hold of the dominant function or the auxiliary function character of a personality. Speaking generally a judging observer will tend to seize the dominant function character, while a perceptive observer will be influenced more by the auxiliary function character, since judgment is chiefly interested in the dominant function motivation of the psychic process, while perception tends to register the mere happening. But in so far as we apply perception and judgment in equal measure, it may easily happen that a personality appears to us as both introverted and extraverted, so that we cannot at once decide to which attitude the superior function belongs. In such cases only a thorough analysis of the function qualities can help us to a sound opinion. During the analysis we must observe which function is placed under the control and motivation of the dominant function and which functions have an accidental and spontaneous character. The former is always more highly differentiated than the latter, which also possesses many infantile and primitive qualities. Occasionally the former function gives the impression of normality, while the latter have something abnormal or pathological about them.
    parallel, Grey, susurration and 1 others thanked this post.

  3. #3
    ISTP - The Mechanics

    II) THE ATTITUDE OF THE AUXILIARY FUNCTION

    The superior position of the internal factor in dominant introverts involves an inferiority of the external factor. The external is not given that importance which should really belong to it. Just as it plays too great a role in the extraverted attitude, it has too little to say in the introvert. To the extent that the introvert's dominant function is internal, thus bestowing undue importance upon the ego, the external world is placed in a position that in time becomes quite weak. The external is a factor of undeniable power, while the ego is something very restricted and transitory. It would be a very different matter if the Self opposed the external. The Self and world are commensurable factors; hence a normal introverted attitude is just as valid and has as good a right to existence as a normal extraverted attitude. But if the ego has usurped the claims of the internal world, compensation naturally develops under the guise of an auxiliary function reinforcement of the influence of the external. Such a change eventually commands attention for often, in spite of a positively raging attempt to ensure the superiority of the ego, the external world and external data develop an overwhelming influence that is all the more invincible because it seizes upon the individual unexpectedly, thus effecting an irresistible invasion of the dominant function. As a result of the ego's defective relation to the external world a compensatory relation to the external develops in the auxiliary function, which makes it self felt in the dominant function as an unconditional and irrepressible tie to the external world. The more the ego seeks to secure every possible liberty, independence, superiority, and freedom from obligations, the deeper does it fall into the slavery of external facts. The internal freedom is chained to an embarrassing financial dependence, his unconcern of action suffers now and again, a distressing collapse in the face of public opinion, his moral superiority gets swamped in inferior relationships, and his desire to dominate ends in a pitiful craving to be loved.

    The chief concern of the auxiliary function in such a case is the relation to the external, and it affects this in a way that is calculated to bring both the power illusion and the superiority fantasy to utter ruin. The external assumes terrifying dimensions in spite of the dominant function depreciation. Detachment from and command of, the external world are in consequences pursued by the ego still more violently. Finally the ego surrounds itself by a regular system of safeguards (Adler has ably depicted these) that shall at least preserve the illusion of superiority. But there with the introvert severs himself completely from the environment and either squanders his energy in defensive measures or makes fruitless attempts to impose his power upon the environment and successfully assert him self. These efforts are constantly frustrated by the overwhelming impressions he receives from the environment. It continually imposes itself upon him against his will, provokes in him the most disagreeable and obstinate affects, persecuting him at every step. An immense inner struggle is constantly required of him in order to 'keep going.' Hence phobias, obsessions, compulsions, or excessive anxietyis his typical form of neurosis, a malady that is characterized on the one hand by an extreme sensitiveness and on the other by a great liability to exhaustion and chronic fatigue.

    An analysis of the personal auxiliary function yields an abundance of power fantasies coupled with fear of the dangerously animated external world to which, as a matter of fact, the introvert easily falls a victim. For a peculiar cowardliness develops from this fear of the external world. He shrinks from making either himself or his opinion effective, always dreading an intensified influence on the part of the environment. He is terrified of impressive affects in others, and is hardly ever free from the dread of falling under hostile influence. For the external world possesses terrifying and powerful qualities for him. Qualities which he cannot dominate functionally in a discerning manner but which, through his auxiliary function perception, he cannot choose but to believe in. Since his dominant function relation to the external world is relatively repressed, its outlet is by way of the auxiliary function where it becomes loaded with the qualities of the auxiliary function. These qualities are primarily infantile and archaic. His relation to the environment therefore becomes correspondingly primitive taking on all those peculiarities that characterize the primitive external relationship. Now it seems as though external world possessed magical powers. Strange and new circumstances raise fear and distrust, as though concealing unknown dangers. Cultures long rooted and blessed by tradition are attached to his soul as by invisible threads.

    Every change has a disturbing, if not actually dangerous, aspect since its apparent implication is a magical animation of the environment. A lonely island where only what is permitted to move becomes an ideal.
    parallel, Grey, susurration and 1 others thanked this post.


 

Similar Threads

  1. SP Interests and Attitudes
    By Sidewinder in forum SP's Temperament Forum- The Creators
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 11-28-2012, 07:54 PM
  2. Jung's Conscious Attitudes (Dominant E/I)
    By Functianalyst in forum Myers Briggs Forum
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 05-06-2011, 08:50 PM
  3. Collective Unconscious
    By 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34 in forum General Psychology
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 03-06-2010, 08:51 PM
  4. Jung's Introverted Intuitive Description
    By Deagalman in forum Myers Briggs Forum
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 11-05-2009, 05:43 AM
  5. How can I figure out my auxiliary function?
    By NewSoul in forum What's my personality type?
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 09-13-2009, 12:01 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:50 AM.
Information provided on the site is meant to complement and not replace any advice or information from a health professional.
© PersonalityCafe - All rights reserved.