Functional Analysis of Psychological Types




Functional Analysis

Carl Jung developed psychological types based on the four functions (Feeling, Thinking, iNtuition and Sensing) and the two attitudes (Extraversion and Introversion). (There is, in my experience, a good deal of confusion, especially among those without some grounding in psychological type, about the nature of these functions and attitudes. The words don't necessarily mean what we expect them to mean, and caution should be used in applying common usage to these terms if this system is to be of value in the understanding of basic temperaments.)

In this system there are eight basic types, each designated by its dominant (defining, controlling, pre-eminent) function:

Symbol Jungian Type Myers-Briggs Types
Fe Extraverted Feeling ESFJ ENFJ
Fi Introverted Feeling ISFP INFP
Ne Extraverted Intuition ENFP ENTP
Ni Introverted Intuition INFJ INTJ
Se Extraverted Sensing ESFP ESTP
Si Introverted Sensing ISFJ ISTJ
Te Extraverted Thinking ESTJ ENTJ
Ti Introverted Thinking ISTP INTP

Jung developed these types within a mental illness model. He spoke of functions being dominant, auxiliary, tertiary and inferior. The 16 types popularized through the MBTI reflect each of Jung's eight types subdivided by auxiliary (secondary) functions.

Of the four functions, two (Feeling and Thinking) are the rational, or deciding, functions. The other two (Sensing and iNtuition) are the irrational (non-conclusive/perceiving) functions. If an individual has a dominant rational function, one of the irrational functions is always auxiliary. Likewise, dominant N (irrational) would have an F or T (rational) function. Third and fourth functions are mirror-images of the first and second. For example, if Sensing is first and Thinking is secondary, Feeling (the opposite of Thinking) must be tertiary, and iNtuition (Sensing's opposite) would be fourth.

There are two schools of thought concerning the attitude, or direction of energy flow, of each function within a given type. Some believe that if the dominant function is Introverted, the other three will be Extraverted; likewise, an Extravert's non-dominant functions are all Introverted. Others think that the attitude alternates from first to fourth position as I/E/I/E for Introverts and E/I/E/I for Extraverts. The functional analyses in our profiles follow the latter alternating pattern.

In summary, the sixteen types in four-function terminology are:


Dominant
Auxiliary
Tertiary
Inferior
ESFJ ISFJ ESTJ ISTJ
Fe Si Te Si
Si Fe Si Te
Ne Ti Ne Fi
Ti Ne Fi Ne
ENFJ INFJ ENFP INFP
Fe Ni Ne Fi
Ni Fe Fi Ne
Se Ti Te Si
Ti Se Si Te

Dominant
Auxiliary
Tertiary
Inferior
ESFP ISFP ESTP ISTP
Se Fi Se Ti
Fi Se Ti Se
Te Ni Fe Ni
Ni Te Ni Fe
ENTJ INTJ ENTP INTP
Te Ni Ne Ti
Ni Te Ti Ne
Se Fi Fe Si
Fi Se Si Fe


Copyright © 1996-2007 Joe Butt

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