- Jungian cognitive functions
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This article is about definitions in the context of psychometric testing. For more general discussion see Cognition.
In some forms of psychological testing, particularly those related to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the cognitive functions (sometimes known as mental functions) are defined as different ways of perceiving and judging the world. They are defined as "thinking", "feeling", "sensing" and "intuition".
Contents
History
The model in which these four cognitive functions combine in different ways to form different people's personalities was initially conceived by Carl Jung in his pioneering work Psychological Types (1921, ISBN 0-691-09770-4). Jung also posited that the functions formed a hierarchy within a person's personality—the most important function is referred to as the "dominant", with the remaining three filling the roles as "auxiliary," "tertiary," and "inferior" functions. In addition, each mental function is seen as either introverted or extroverted (known as attitudes). This idea is interpreted in terms of whether the person finds it more rewarding when using the function in question to have an outward focus on people and things (extroversion) or an inward focus on thoughts and ideas (introversion). These models do not claim that people are only capable of applying the function in question in that attitude, but rather that operating in the opposite attitude requires the expenditure of "energy" (or rather, emotional resources, enthusiasm, and so on) whilst operating in the person's natural attitude replenishes that same energy.
Myers' Dichotomies Extraversion Introversion Sensing iNtuition Thinking Feeling Judging Perceiving Bold letters are used as shorthand labels Isabel Myers, an early pioneer of psychometric testing whose ideas remain controversial within psychology, formalised these ideas and proposed that the mixture of types in an individual's personality could be measured through responses to a personality test she devised along with her mother, Katharine Cook Briggs, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. In this model, four "dichotomies" are defined, each labelled by two letters (one for each of the opposites in question), as shown by the emboldened letters in the table. Individuals' personalities fall into sixteen different categories depending on which side of each dichotomy they belong to, labelled by the four applicable letters (for example, an "ESFP" type is someone whose preferences are extraversion, sensing, feeling and perceiving).
Controversy over attitudes
Myers interpreted Jung as saying that the auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior functions are always in the opposite attitude of the dominant. In support of Myers' (and/or Briggs') interpretation, in one sentence Jung seems to state that the "three inferior" functions of an (extreme) extravert are introverted. The "most differentiated function is always employed in an extraverted way, whereas the inferior functions are introverted" (Jung, [1921] 1971:par. 575).
Many, however, have found Jung's writing to be ambiguous, and those who study and follow Jung's theories (Jungians) are typically adamant that Myers is incorrect.[citation needed] Jungians interpret Jung as explicitly stating that the tertiary function is actually in the same attitude as the dominant, providing balance.[citation needed] More recently, typologists such as John Beebe and Linda Berens have introduced theoretical systems in which all people possess eight functions—equivalent to the four functions as defined by Jung and Myers but in each of the two possible attitudes—with the four in the opposite attitude to that measured known as the "shadow functions", residing largely in the unconscious.
There is controversy even within the Center for Applications of Psychological Type (CAPT), co-founded by Myers, regarding the attitude of the tertiary relative to the dominant. "The MBTI Qualifying Program", a binder given out during official training, puts the tertiary in the opposite attitude to the dominant on page 13; however, "The Manual", which gives official instructions on how to use the test, has the tertiary in the same attitude on page 31. Charles Martin, ex-vice president of research at CAPT, writes the following on page 22 of the binder, "In what attitude is the tertiary? Isabel Myers read Jung to say that the auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior are all in the same attitude and opposite the dominant. Others (Harold Grant) read: tertiary is in the same attitude as the dominant."[citation needed]
Different models
The tables below give different theorists' ideas about personality types in terms of "cognitive functions".
Carl Jung
Carl Jung developed the theory of cognitive processes in his work "Psychological Types". He used the terms dominant, auxiliary, and inferior.
Extraverted RationalExtraverted IrrationalDominant Extraverted ThinkingExtraverted FeelingExtraverted SensationExtraverted IntuitionAuxiliary ????Inferior ????Introverted RationalIntroverted IrrationalDominant Introverted ThinkingIntroverted FeelingIntroverted SensationIntroverted IntuitionAuxiliary ????Inferior ????There is a difference between Jung and the MBTI regarding the designation of "inferior" function. While the MBTI clearly designates only the fourth function as the inferior, Jung uses a more flexible definition. "As a consequence of this one-sided development, one or more functions are necessarily retarded. These functions may properly be called inferior ..." (Jung, [1921] 1971:Def. Inferior Function, par. 763).
Isabel Myers
Isabel Myers created the original type table. In her table, diametrically opposite personality types (that is, those with no traits in common among the dichotomies) are separated by one block along diagonals.
Type ISITEJISIFEJINIFEJINITEJDominant or first Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Auxiliary or second Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Tertiary or third Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Inferior or fourth Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Type ISETIPISEFIPINEFIPINETIPDominant or first Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Auxiliary or second Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Tertiary or third Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Inferior or fourth Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Type ESETIPESEFIPENEFIPENETIPDominant or first Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Auxiliary or second Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Tertiary or third Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Inferior or fourth Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Type ESITEJESIFEJENIFEJENITEJDominant or first Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Auxiliary or second Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Tertiary or third Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Inferior or fourth Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling John Beebe
Though John Beebe has not published a type table, the format that Isabel Myers devised can also be applied to his theory. Beebe describes the different cognitive functions' role in the overall personality in terms of various mythic archetypes. Just as in Myers's table, personality types whose primary four functions are completely opposite are separated by one block along diagonals. The same does not apply to the four "shadow" functions, however.
Type ISITEJISIFEJINIFEJINITEJ1st - Hero/Heroine Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition 2nd - Good Parent Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking 3rd - Puer/Puella Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling 4th - Anima/Animus Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing 5th - Opposing Personality Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition 6th - Senex/Witch Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking 7th - Trickster Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling 8th - Daemon Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Type ISETIPISEFIPINEFIPINETIP1st - Hero/Heroine Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking 2nd - Good Parent Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition 3rd - Puer/Puella Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing 4th - Anima/Animus Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling 5th - Opposing Personality Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking 6th - Senex/Witch Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition 7th - Trickster Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing 8th - Daemon Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Type ESETIPESEFIPENEFIPENETIP1st - Hero/Heroine Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition 2nd - Good Parent Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking 3rd - Puer/Puella Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling 4th - Anima/Animus Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing 5th - Opposing Personality Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition 6th - Senex/Witch Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking 7th - Trickster Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling 8th - Daemon Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Type ESITEJESIFEJENIFEJENITEJ1st - Hero/Heroine Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking 2nd - Good Parent Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition 3rd - Puer/Puella Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing 4th - Anima/Animus Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling 5th - Opposing Personality Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking 6th - Senex/Witch Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition 7th - Trickster Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing 8th - Daemon Extraverted Feelings Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Linda Berens
The layout of Linda Berens's type table is unique and her terminology differs from that of Beebe; however, the ordering of cognitive processes in her and Beebe's models are the same.
EngineerCoordinatorType ENETIPINETIPENITEJINITEJ1st - Leading/Dominant Extraverted Intuition Introverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Introverted Intuition 2nd - Supporting/Overprotective Introverted Thinking Extraverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Extraverted Thinking 3rd - Relief/Unsettling Extraverted Feeling Introverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Introverted Feeling 4th - Aspirational/Projective Introverted Sensing Extraverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Extraverted Sensing 5th - Opposing/Backup Introverted Intuition Extraverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Extraverted Intuition 6th - Critical/Discovery Extraverted Thinking Introverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Introverted Thinking 7th - Deceiving/Comedic Introverted Feeling Extraverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Extraverted Feeling 8th - Devilish/Transformative Extraverted Sensing Introverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Introverted Sensing MediatorGuideType ENEFIPINEFIPENIFEJINIFEJ1st - Leading/Dominant Extraverted Intuition Introverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Introverted Intuition 2nd - Supporting/Overprotective Introverted Feeling Extraverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Extraverted Feeling 3rd - Relief/Unsettling Extraverted Thinking Introverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Introverted Thinking 4th - Aspirational/Projective Introverted Sensing Extraverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Extraverted Sensing 5th - Opposing/Backup Introverted Intuition Extraverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Extraverted Intuition 6th - Critical/Discovery Extraverted Feeling Introverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Introverted Feeling 7th - Deceiving/Comedic Introverted Thinking Extraverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Extraverted Thinking 8th - Devilish/Transformative Extraverted Sensing Introverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Introverted Sensing ExpediatorMonitorType ESETIPISETIPESITEJISITEJ1st - Leading/Dominant Extraverted Sensing Introverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Introverted Sensing 2nd - Supporting/Overprotective Introverted Thinking Extraverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Extraverted Thinking 3rd - Relief/Unsettling Extraverted Feeling Introverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Introverted Feeling 4th - Aspirational/Projective Introverted Intuition Extraverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Extraverted Intuition 5th - Opposing/Backup Introverted Sensing Extraverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Extraverted Sensing 6th - Critical/Discovery Extraverted Thinking Introverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Introverted Thinking 7th - Deceiving/Comedic Introverted Feeling Extraverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Extraverted Feeling 8th - Devilish/Transformative Extraverted Intuition Introverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Introverted Intuition ImprovisorConservatorType ESEFIPISEFIPESIFEJISIFEJ1st - Leading/Dominant Extraverted Sensing Introverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Introverted Sensing 2nd - Supporting/Overprotective Introverted Feeling Extraverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Extraverted Feeling 3rd - Relief/Unsettling Extraverted Thinking Introverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Introverted Thinking 4th - Aspirational/Projective Introverted Intuition Extraverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Extraverted Intuition 5th - Opposing/Backup Introverted Sensing Extraverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Extraverted Sensing 6th - Critical/Discovery Extraverted Feeling Introverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Introverted Feeling 7th - Deceiving/Comedic Introverted Thinking Extraverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Extraverted Thinking 8th - Devilish/Transformative Extraverted Intuition Introverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Introverted Intuition Lenore Thomson
Lenore Thomson offers yet another model of the cognitive functions. In her book, Personality Type: An Owners Manual, Thomson advances a hypothesis of a modular relationship of the cognitive functions paralleling left-right brain lateralization. In this approach the Judging functions are in the front-left and right-back brain and the Perception functions in the right-back and left-front brain. The extraverted functions are in the front of the brain, while the introverted functions are in the back of the brain. The order of the cognitive functions are then determined not by an archetypal hierarchy (as supposed by Beebe) but by an innate brain lateralization preference.
Brain Types by Lenore Thomson
Front of Left Brain Front of Right Brain Extraverted Thinking
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Extraverted FeelingExtraverted Intuition
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Extraverted SensingIntroverted Sensation
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Introverted IntuitionIntroverted Feeling
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Introverted ThinkingBack of Left Brain Back of Right Brain Type ISITEJISIFEJINIFEJINITEJDominant Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Secondary Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Left-brain Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing alternatives Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Right-brain Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking double agents Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Tertiary Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Inferior Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Type ISETIPISEFIPINEFIPINETIPDominant Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Secondary Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Right-brain Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling alternatives Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Left-brain Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition double agents Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Tertiary Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Inferior Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Type ESETIPESEFIPENEFIPENETIPDominant Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Secondary Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Right-brain Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing alternatives Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Left-brain Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking double agents Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Tertiary Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Inferior Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Type ESITEJESIFEJENIFEJENITEJDominant Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Secondary Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Left-brain Extraverted Feeling Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling alternatives Introverted Intuition Introverted Intuition Introverted Sensing Introverted Sensing Right-brain Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition double agents Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Tertiary Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Intuition Extraverted Sensing Extraverted Sensing Inferior Introverted Feeling Introverted Thinking Introverted Thinking Introverted Feeling Further reading
- Jung, C.G. [1921] (1971). Psychological Types, Collected Works, Volume 6, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-01813-8.
- Myers, Isabel Myers [1980] (1995). Gifts Differing, Palo Alto, C.A.: Davies-Black Publishing. ISBN 0-89106-074-X.
- Thomson, Lenore (1998). Personality Type: An Owners Manual, Boston & London: Shambhala Publications, Inc. ISBN 1-57062-987-0.
External links
Categories:- MBTI types
- Personality tests
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