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Personality: Self concept · Personality testing · Theories · Mind-body problem

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".

History Edit

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" 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 Edit

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 Edit

The tables below give different theorists' ideas about personality types in terms of "cognitive functions".

Carl Jung Edit

Carl Jung developed the theory of cognitive processes in his work "Psychological Types". He used the terms dominant, auxiliary, and inferior.

	Extraverted Rational		Extraverted Irrational
Dominant	Extraverted Thinking	Extraverted Feeling	Extraverted Sensation	Extraverted Intuition
Auxiliary	?	?	?	?
Inferior	?	?	?	?
	Introverted Rational		Introverted Irrational
Dominant	Introverted Thinking	Introverted Feeling	Introverted Sensation	Introverted Intuition
Auxiliary	?	?	?	?
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 Edit

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	IS_IT_EJ	IS_IF_EJ	IN_IF_EJ	IN_IT_EJ
Dominant 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	IS_ET_IP	IS_EF_IP	IN_EF_IP	IN_ET_IP
Dominant 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	ES_ET_IP	ES_EF_IP	EN_EF_IP	EN_ET_IP
Dominant 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	ES_IT_EJ	ES_IF_EJ	EN_IF_EJ	EN_IT_EJ
Dominant 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 Edit

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	IS_IT_EJ	IS_IF_EJ	IN_IF_EJ	IN_IT_EJ
1st - 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	IS_ET_IP	IS_EF_IP	IN_EF_IP	IN_ET_IP
1st - 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	ES_ET_IP	ES_EF_IP	EN_EF_IP	EN_ET_IP
1st - 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	Extravertd 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	ES_IT_EJ	ES_IF_EJ	EN_IF_EJ	EN_IT_EJ
1st - 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 Edit

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.

		Guide		Mediator		Monitor		Conservator
		Envisioner Mentor ENFJ	Foreseer Devevloper INFJ	Discoverer Advocate ENFP	Harmonizer Clarifier INFP	Implementor Supervisor ESTJ	Planner Inspector ISTJ	Facilitator Caretaker ESFJ	Protector Supporter ISFJ
Leading Dominant	1st	Fe	Ni	Ne	Fi	Te	Si	Fe	Si
Supporting Overprotective	2nd	Ni	Fe	Fi	Ne	Si	Te	Si	Fe
Relief Unsettling	3rd	Se	Ti	Te	Si	Ne	Fi	Ne	Ti
Aspirational Projective	4th	Ti	Se	Si	Te	Fi	Ne	Ti	Ne
Opposing Backup	5th	Fi	Ne	Ni	Fe	Ti	Se	Fi	Se
Critical Discovery	6th	Ne	Fi	Fe	Ni	Se	Ti	Se	Fi
Deceiving Comedic	7th	Si	Te	Ti	Se	Ni	Fe	Ni	Te
Devilish Transformative	8th	Te	Si	Se	Ti	Fe	Ni	Te	Ni
		Coordinator		Engineer		Expeditor		Improvisor
		Strategist Mobilizer ENTJ	Conceptualizer Director INTJ	Explorer Inventor ENTP	Designer Theorizer INTP	Promoter Executor ESTP	Analyzer Operator ISTP	Motivator Presenter ESTP	Composer Producer ISFP
Leading Dominant	1st	Te	Ni	Ne	Ti	Se	Ti	Se	Fi
Supporting Overprotective	2nd	Ni	Te	Ti	Ne	Ti	Se	Fi	Se
Relief Unsettling	3rd	Se	Fi	Fe	Si	Fe	Ni	Te	Ni
Aspirational Projective	4th	Fi	Se	Se	Fe	Ni	Fe	Ni	Te
Opposing Backup	5th	Ti	Ne	Ni	Te	Si	Te	Se	Fe
Critical Discovery	6th	Ne	Ti	Te	Ni	Te	Si	Fe	Si
Deceiving Comedic	7th	Si	Fe	Fi	Se	Fi	Ne	Ti	Ne
Devilish Transformative	8th	Fe	Si	Se	Fi	Ne	Fi	Ne	Ti

Lenore Thomson Edit

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 left-brain and the Perception functions in the right brain. Likewise, 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 & Extraverted Feeling	Extraverted Intuition & Extraverted Sensing
Introverted Sensation & Introverted Intuition	Introverted Feeling & Introverted Thinking
Back of Left Brain	Back of Right Brain

Template:CognitiveFunctionsOfLenoreThomson

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Jungian cognitive functions

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