MBTI
In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order.
✎ Carl Jung
(Welcome to carrd #2! As always, click on the images :))
Recap!
We left the previous carrd as we were learning about cognitive functions; in this one, you can look forward to learning how actually those cognitive functions work inside types.
A quick summary of the things to keep in mind:
✎[Perceiving Functions]
✦ Sensing
Extroverted Sensing (Se)
Introverted Sensing (Si)
✦ Intuition
Extroverted Intuition (Ne)
Introverted Intuition (Ni)
✎ [Judging Functions]
✦ Thinking
Extroverted Thinking (Te)
Introverted Thinking (Ti)
✦ Feeling
Extroverted Feeling (Fe)
Introverted Feeling (Fi)
The "Functional Stack"
There are two factors that combine to give us 16 unique personality types:
1. The cognitive functions, which we have already seen
2. The arrangement of thes functions
In each type's "Functional Stack", the four functions are ranked according to their degree of strength - or "Consciousness". The most "conscious" function is named the "dominant function".
In order, these functions have these names:
1. Dominant Function (Hero/Heroine)
2. Auxiliary Function (Good Parent)
3. Tertiary Function (Eternal Child)
4. Inferior Function (Aspirational / Soul / Spirit)
These functions are present in the "sentient", or awake, part of the mind, and you develop them with growth. Generally speaking, you won't develop your inferior function until you're in your thirties or fourties.
The functions in total are however eight, and the other four functions are still present in a person's psyche but in the form of the "Subconscious". They are the ones we use when we become defensive, stubborn, and we might even see people who use these as manipulative.
They have names as well, depending on their order in the stack:
5. Opposing Function
6. "Critical Parent" Function
7. Trickster Function
8. Devilish or "Demon" Function
Conscious Mind
Unconscious Mind
Dominant Function
Your dominant function plays the "hero/heroine" role in your life.
Every type has a "favourite" function, which we develop to a greater degree than any other in our Function Stack. It is the type core of our conscious personality; during the first part of your life, you come to rely on this function, and you tend to develop the most skill with it.
We tend to have the most skill and conscious use of the dominant function, and we tend to trust it the most.
When life calls on you to save the day, you will depend on this function. If you look at your life, at a time that you made the most progress or you did something very significant, it was your hero function that "saved" you.
Auxiliary Function
The auxiliary function is your second strongest function. It supports your Dominant Function, that is why it is called auxiliary and "Parent".
It's used in a helping, positive and supportive way; it also helps to balance out Introversion and Extraversion, as if your dominant function is extroverted your auxiliary will be introverted and viceversal.
The auxiliary function also helps to stabilise judgment and perception, as it will ensure that you either process the information you have gathered or that you are able to take in needed new information.
Some people tend to skip out on the auxiliary function and go directly onto the tertiary - as if the dominant is extroverted, so is the tertiary and viceversal, thinking that they are more "similar". That is called a "Loop".
Tertiary Function
The Tertiary Function is not usually developed until Mid-Life, and because of this it gets very little exercise.
The Tertiary Function can guide you toward areas of your life ou have avoided, areas that require skill you might not feel comfortable using. Thus, if you are called to use this function in your teens you probably won't be as able to.
Psychologists suggest that you should get to know your tertiary function in a stress-free and recreational manner, therefore it is unhealthy to rely on it before it is fully developed and you are fully comfortable using it. Since your tertiary function is the factual opposite of your Auxiliary Function - e.g. if you have auxiliary "Ne", your tertiary will be "Si - it fills a similar role, but it is too "immature" to rely on.
Inferior Function
Early on in life, your Inferior Function is considered the doorway to the unconscious. It mostly comes out when we are in a stressful environment, and it generally tends to be the least interesting to individuals.
However, as much as it can be source of great stress, it can also be a seed for significant development.
The inferior function may manifest in negative, immature ways; for example, inferior intuition might be manifested as worry over every possibility that could go wrong, and inferior sensing may manifest as an obsession with details.
Once it is developed, however, you will find great satisfaction. Initially, it leads one to try to fulfill neglected needs but in ways that clash with the rest of the person's life, experiences and self-understanding since it is the opposite of the dominant function, but once fully matured in adulthood it helps to fill those holes that relying on our dominant and auxiliary functions lead to.
The Shadow Functions
According to Jung, the "shadow" lies at the edge of our conscious and unconscious psyche. It is the dark, unlived and repressed side of the self. It contains repressed memories, primitive, negative human emotions and impulses. Usually, what we deem as "unrelatable" becomes part of the shadow. It lies in opposition of what we imagine ourselves to be, our conceived "identity".
Functions that are not part of our primary function stack are left in "the shadow", and only come in and out of consciousness when it feels that the ego isn't doing a good enough job on its own.
Shadow functions can be both highly destructive and catalysts for self-growth.
The shadow is the part of us that others see, but we don't. It's our "blind self".
Opposing Role Function
If you think of the dominant function as your "hero", then you can imagine the opposing role as a sort of nemesis or anti-hero. The opposing role calls out doubts, opposition and passive aggressive remarks. It may cause you to doub your dominant function's goals or viewpoints. It also may be what you use when you become argumentative or lash out at someone.
Because our experience with it is mostly negative, when others use the same function we can risk seeing them as oppositional, passive-aggressive or having hidden motives.
Critical Parent Role Function
The critical parent funcion shadows the auxiliary mother/father function. In contrast to it, in fact, it calls out our shortcomings and failures and rejects our ideas. The critical parent belittles and inactivates the self or others and its criticism is often harsh.
Sometimes, when we see someone being "childish" we take on this critical role; it is the "voice in your head" that causes you to criticise yourself and others.
Trickster Function
The trickster function shadows the tertiary "Eternal Child" function.
Using the trickster function feels uncomfortable, confusing and disquieting. When using this function we may find that we are disrespecting rules or boundaries or being manipulative in ways that don't feel right to us.
The Trickster function is sly and malicious, but at the same time it is actually very important for individualisation. It breaks down self-limiting structures in order to open up new options that lead to a new order
Demon Function
The demon is essentially our inferior's inferior function. Our failures in this area tend to be the most undermining and we may struggle with relating to people who use this function as a dominant because our experiences with this are so negative and we don't connect with it consciously except in very rare, disquieting cases.
It usually comes out if you are consistently hurting a type's inferior function and chaos will ensue.
When "activated", this function can be very destructive and any actions that result from it will probably be regrettable, As an aded problem, this function is mostly deeply unconscious and will impose itself unconsciously or erupt unexpectedly.
