Updated Definitions of the 8 Cognitive Functions

Listen to my podcast episode on this topic below! ⬇️

#mbti #cognitivefunctions #typology #16personalities #16types #myersbriggs

[sirbradfordofhousejones]

Saving straight to my “helpful MBTI reminders” playlist. You made something complex much more digestible.

[justjennaish]

Hi! Kristin's sister here :) Just a clarifying note on Ti / Te for those who didn't understand the wording: Ti users make judgements based on a 'personalised' framework in the sense that they naturally prefer to *create* their *own* logical frameworks, rather than accept (for the sake of function and meeting outcomes) what other people have proven - in a *general* sense. That's what makes Ti 'personalised'. Now, just because the internal framework is personalised and created by the individual, doesn't mean it can't discover objective truth - in fact, Ti-dominant types are so rigorous with testing and falsifying their own logical frameworks that they have an incredible 'nose' for discovering what is *actually true* . Ultimately, the Ti user relies MORE on his or her own system of falsification (rather than an 'objective consensus') to establish what is reliable and true. We describe the framework as 'fixed' for the purposes of this video, because it is *logically consistent* : once a Ti user has found a rule or principle they have decided to be absolutely true (which may take a long time because of how much deliberation is required), it becomes 'fixed in place' in their logical framework and they will act *consistently* from that rule of logic that they've established to be reliable (regardless of whether or not they find it to be incommensurable with reality later on in their life / process of seeking understanding). When we say 'fixed' we certainly don't mean 'not open to new data'.

Te, by contrast, is less *naturally* interested in or inclined to this rigorous internal process (not uninterested, just less interested). Te is more likely to say: 'if there is a 'body of knowledge' external to myself, I will use what I find there to help me achieve my goals / meet outcomes'. Te users are certainly capable of critical thinking, but in meeting their goals they will usually (again: not always) sacrifice thorough falsification in favour of data that has 'already been proven by someone else' or data that is *useful* / functional in a real-world sense and can be implemented efficiently (there is a general sense of 'I don't have time to prove this again when someone else has already proven it and I / other people accept its validity'). Te users are not fools, though. They aren't blindly accepting bad arguments! They are just more naturally focused on implementation than falsification.

One final important note: both Te and Ti users can discover what is *actually true*, they just go about it in different ways. Also, both Te and Ti users can make errors in judgement and logic. The functions only tell you where your attention *naturally* goes as a *general pattern*.

[restlessmosaic]

This update does a good job (where MBTI's terminology does not!) at linking types of extroversion and introversion together. We're sorta stuck with the terms they give us, and that makes some of these things hard, but you cut through it nicely. Well done!

[RigoPup]

Perceiving Functions
Asks
Si: What it is in relation to what has been? (Experience the present comparing it to the past)
Se: What it is? (Experience it as it is)
Ne: What could be? (See the theme behind it and connect it to other ideas and identify possibilities)
Ni: Where does it fit in the big picture? (See the theme behind it and connect it to other ideas and identify its place in the big picture)

Judging functions
Ti: What is logical to me? (Knowledge and logic oriented)
Te: What is effective/works? (Result oriented)
Fi: What is right based on my values/feelings? (Value oriented)
Fe: What does others feel about it? (Harmony oriented)

[Zhimself]

^•° Some timestamps °•^

°∆° Your Cognitive functions are those ones that come naturally to you (and ofc you don't "choose" them or whatever)

°∆° Extraverted and introverted functions 0:50

°∆° About Perceivin' functions : 1:05
Se - 1:24
Ne - 1:56
Si - 3:10
Ni - 4:01

°∆° About Judging functions : 5:11
Te - 5:27
Fe - 6:15
Ti - 7:03
Fi - 7:28

[js]

I'm trying to get my family into MBTI but when I asked my dad to take a test he was like: "Why are you doing this to me? 😩" I want my family to know that this is not meant to put them in any boxes but can be used as a tool to help us understand and improve ourselves. As an INFP, I know I use my first three functions well but could use some help on mastering Te and my shadow function Se.

[oelekegel]

as someone who has been studying functions for months and has written a doc to help beginners understand, this video is amazing!

[rodoverde]

SE: 1:24
NE: 1:56
SI: 3:10
NI: 4:01
TE: 5:30
FE: 6:15
TI: 7:04
FI: 7:30

[kyurei]

This is because everyone can use any function that I feel like the term "ambivert" doesn't really make sense and deconstruct the concept of MBTI itself. Because it already implies that everyone can act in an ambivert way if I understand it correctly.

On a side note, I often feel like Ni is misunderstood between seeing and diving because for me Ni also see all the possibilities at first but decides to exclude most of them to keep the most relevant ones and deep dive into these.

[nerysghemor]

I really like how you called out Ne's "in-the-moment" aspect. People assume intuitives don't live in the moment at all, and while we aren't necessarily engaged with our senses to the same degree, Ne can and does very much respond to the present moment. For me Ne is what I have to use to keep engaged on the road while driving: "Hmm, I wonder what that driver might do next?" It's a constantly-updating predictive function. In contrast from what I gather, Se users are often so quick on their reactions to situations on the road as they unfold that they may not have to "wargame" it in the same way I have to. This has also helped me understand why my attention on my writing can be fickle...there is a very, VERY "in-the-moment" aspect to the back-and-forth of dialogue (especially humor, which tends to be very off-the-cuff for me and very hard to craft deliberately when I'm not reacting to something being said to me right then), and if I am not engaged and present, then it's tough to make anything happen.

[annepaulinetiu]

I love how you differentiate Ne and Ni. This is seriously the most complicated function to understand. Thanks Kristin for saving the MBTI YT

[indecisiveranter]

i started getting interested in mbti about a year ago. at first, i took the 16personalities test and got isfp. as time went on i became more interested in it and i decided to dive deeper into it. then, i thought i was in intj. later on i saw someone talking about cognitive functions and out of curiosity i did a pot of research on them, mistyping myself like 4 more times in the process. just these days i'm realizing that my true type doesn't come from who i am in my head or who i convince myself i am, but my natural way of processing information. currently torn between infp and enfp lol

[jays]

This was the clearest most concise introduction to the functions I’ve ever seen

[Starstreaka]

I started studying cognitive functions years ago, but you still managed to give me a better understanding of them all. Thanks!

[averagecatlover]

I'm an ISTJ who mistyped as ISFP for a long time until a couple weeks ago. I had some doubts about being aux Te at first but now it seems more reasonable, I do look outwards to find rules that make sense and then use that to pragmatically apply information I gathered through Si

[MazorKuziaki]

I hear the words but they just don't form an understandable pattern in my brain. I can't wrap my head around the functions no matter how hard I try.

Rather, with MBTI, I've formed a wordless understanding of each individual type that I imagine is probably parallel to the purpose of the functions. I don't pay much attention to the letters, but each type as a whole, and have formed my own abstract understanding of them (which continues to grow).
-INFP

[uprisingsun]

Lol I'm and ISFP and my mother is an ISFJ and I can just imagine her confusion as to why anyone would judge something based on their own feelings first instead of on what's good for the group.
Also loved the insight on the Ti, that clears up a few things about my INTP brother.

[ginargentum]

something i love about mbti is that once you understand the cognitive functions, when you're too busy to do your own research you can just wait for an intuitive to do it and have them explain it to you 😆 great job Kristin!

[cskandrsgyrgy]

Ti - skeleton
Fi - blood
Si - internal organs
Se - muscles and skin
Te - hands
Fe - face
Ne - tongue
Ni - the womb where you've been and the grave where you'll be.

[ngg]

ISTP here.
I really appreciate this video. Probably the best video explaining cognitive functions in ten minutes or less. I shall share this with others who are also interested in typology. Thanks