TLDR;
This video explains cognitive functions, their role in understanding the 16 personality types, and how they form a cognitive function stack. It covers the basics of cognitive functions, the two attitudes (introverted and extroverted), the eight cognitive functions, and how they relate to each other. The video also discusses the dominant, auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior functions, and how they contribute to an individual's personality.
- Cognitive functions are mental processes that determine how we perceive information and make decisions.
- Each of the 16 personality types has a unique cognitive function stack consisting of four functions: dominant, auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior.
- Understanding cognitive functions can provide a deeper understanding of personality types.
Intro [0:00]
The video introduces the concept of cognitive functions and their importance in understanding the 16 personality types. It explains that by understanding cognitive functions, many aspects of personality types become easier to grasp. The video promises to explain what cognitive functions are, the principles behind them, how they form personality types, and what a function stack is.
What are “Cognitive Functions”? [1:21]
Cognitive functions are defined as mental processes that determine how we perceive information and make decisions. These functions, conceptualized by Carl Jung, involve how we perceive reality and arrive at conclusions. Perception includes intuition and sensing, while decision-making involves feeling and thinking. Sensing relates to facts and details, intuition to concepts and patterns, feeling to values, and thinking to logical reasoning.
The 2 Attitudes [3:22]
Each of the four cognitive functions (sensing, intuition, thinking, and feeling) can be expressed in two attitudes: introverted and extroverted. Extroverted functions focus outward, are less personal, and gather more information, while introverted functions are inward-focused, personal, and prioritize depth over breadth, focusing on organizing and narrowing down information.
The 8 Cognitive Functions [4:07]
The video outlines the eight cognitive functions with their abbreviations: Introverted Sensing (Si), Extroverted Sensing (Se), Introverted Intuition (Ni), Extroverted Intuition (Ne), Introverted Thinking (Ti), Extroverted Thinking (Te), Introverted Feeling (Fi), and Extroverted Feeling (Fe). Each function is briefly explained: Si focuses on organizing information, Se on gathering new experiences, Ni on abstract concepts, Ne on making connections, Ti on personal logical decisions, Te on logical decisions based on external input, Fi on decisions based on personal values, and Fe on decisions based on broader values.
Cognitive Functions and their Opposite [6:43]
Each cognitive function is paired with its opposite. Thinking is opposite to Feeling, Sensing is opposite to Intuition, and vice versa. The attitude is also opposite, meaning an introverted function is paired with an extroverted one. For example, Introverted Sensing (Si) is always paired with Extroverted Intuition (Ne). These opposite pairs are often referred to as axes.
The 4 Axes [8:34]
The four axes are Te-Fi, Fe-Ti, Si-Ne, and Ni-Se. Cognitive functions only operate with their opposites, meaning a personality type with Extroverted Sensing must also have Introverted Intuition somewhere in their function stack. Everyone has Thinking, Feeling, Sensing, and Intuition.
Why are Functions in Pairs? [9:44]
Cognitive functions exist in pairs because if one function is conscious or preferred, its opposite is suppressed by the psyche. Overusing a preferred function, like Feeling, can hinder Thinking. Non-preferred functions can be sources of pain and fear, either ignored, suppressed, or not fully conscious.
The Dominant Function [10:38]
Each personality type has a dominant cognitive function, which is the primary function that defines the personality type. Carl Jung initially identified eight personality types based on the eight cognitive functions in the dominant position. For example, INTPs and ISTPs both have Introverted Thinking (Ti) as their dominant function.
How we got to 16 Personalities [11:32]
Carl Jung's initial theory included only eight personality types, but Katharine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers expanded it to 16 by introducing the concept of an auxiliary function. For example, there are two types of introverted intuitive personalities: those who prefer to make decisions using feeling (INFJ) and those who prefer to use thinking (INTJ). This distinction led to the creation of the 16 personality types and their four-letter codes.
The Auxiliary (2nd) Function [13:05]
In addition to the dominant cognitive function, each personality type also has a second, or auxiliary, function. If the dominant function is a perceiving function (intuition or sensing), the auxiliary function will be a judging function (thinking or feeling), and vice versa. Each type has a preferred judging function (thinking or feeling) and a preferred perceiving function (intuition or sensing), with one being dominant and the other auxiliary.
How to know what a type’s Dominant function is [14:51]
The dominant and auxiliary functions can be determined by understanding that personality must be balanced. If the dominant function is introverted, the auxiliary function must be extroverted, and vice versa. For example, if the first function is Introverted Sensing, which is introverted and perceiving, the second function must be extroverted and judging.
Examples of figuring out a type’s functions [16:47]
The video provides examples of how to determine the dominant and auxiliary functions using the four-letter personality type code. For an ENFJ, the 'E' indicates that the dominant function is extroverted. The 'J' at the end indicates that the first extroverted cognitive function is a judging function, which in this case is feeling. Therefore, the dominant function for an ENFJ is Extroverted Feeling (Fe), and the auxiliary function is Introverted Intuition (Ni). For introverted types like INFJ, the 'J' indicates the second function is extroverted feeling, making the dominant function Introverted Intuition (Ni).
What is a Cognitive Function Stack? [22:17]
Each of the 16 personality types has a cognitive function stack consisting of four cognitive functions. The first two functions are the dominant and auxiliary functions, and the remaining two are the tertiary and inferior functions, which are the opposites of the first two.
The Tertiary (3rd) function [23:10]
The tertiary function is the opposite of the auxiliary function. It is not as preferred as the auxiliary function, but individuals may still find ways to use it. The tertiary function often starts to emerge in the late teens or early adulthood.
The Inferior (4th) function [24:00]
The inferior function is the opposite of the dominant function. For example, if Introverted Intuition is dominant, then Extroverted Sensing is the inferior function. The inferior function is often a source of problems because it is the most suppressed and least balanced function.
Why the Inferior is such a problem [25:04]
The polarity between the dominant and inferior functions defines each personality type. The inferior function is often suppressed because individuals invest so much in their dominant function. This imbalance can cause problems in life. The issue is not the function itself, but the fact that it is ignored and suppressed.
Challenge! [26:39]
The video challenges viewers to practice identifying the cognitive function stacks for all 16 personality types. Viewers are encouraged to try figuring out the function stacks based on the information provided in the video and then verify their answers using online resources.