How the
Mind Works
While
processing information the mind
follows a Matrix, and the first division is:
Rational
(Judging) or
Irrational[1]
(Perceiving)
You either process data RATIONALLY through the Judging axis via Thinking or Feeling,
OR,
you process data IRRATIONALLY through the Perceiving axis via Sensing or iNtuition.
Mixture is impossible between
the opposites:
thinking-feeling and
sensation-intuition. But there
is always a compensatory relation between them.
Where one function is
overemphasized, in a one sidedly intellectual individual for example, the
opposite function, here feeling, will set up a compensatory drive. In the
present case, of course, feeling will take its inferior form. Quite unexpectedly
the intellectual will be overcome by outbursts of infantile feeling; he is beset
by fantasies and purely instinctual dreams against which he feels quite
defenceless. And similarly, the neglected sensation function of the one-sided
intuitive type will compel him, often by seemingly incomprehensible onslaughts
to take account of hard reality.
The
thinking[2]
function conceives the world around it by way of thought (cognition).
The feeling function apprehends the world through an evaluation based on the feelings of ‘pleasant or unpleasant, wanted or unwanted’, and is the function in which ‘fight or flight’ decisions are made.
The
sensation function perceives things
as they are through the 5 senses[3].
The
intuition function perceives things
in terms of the potentiality of things.[4]
[5]
[6]
The top part[7]
of the psyche spectrum is the thinking/conscious part, which is referred to as
the
superior
function.
The bottom
darker area is the feeling/unconscious part
of the mind,
referred to as the
inferior function[8].
DATI
We are constantly exercising all four functions (TFSN), but are predominated by a Dominant function, that is coupled with an auxiliary function[9] making up the Primary axis. The 3rd Tertiary function is accessed less often (by your own preferences/bias) and the 4th and least developed function, is referred as your Inferior function.
Experience shows that it is
practically impossible, owing to adverse circumstances in general, for anyone to
develop all his psychological functions simultaneously.
The demands of society compel a man to apply himself first and foremost
to the differentiation of the function with which he is best equipped by nature,
or which will secure him the greatest social success.
Very frequently, indeed as a general rule, a man identifies more or less
completely with the most favoured and hence the most developed function.
It is this that gives rise to the various psychological types[21].
·
Regarding the Dominant function:
“Just as the lion strikes down his enemy or his prey with his fore-paw, in which
his strength resides, and not with his tail like the crocodile, so our habitual
reactions are normally characterized by the application of our most trustworthy
and efficient function; it is an expression of our strength.”[10]
“In the struggle for existence and adaptation everyone instinctively uses
his most developed function, which thus becomes the criterion of his habitual
reactions.”[11]
·
Regarding the auxiliary/tertiary functions; whichever axis (judging or
perceiving) the dominant function comes from, the auxiliary and tertiary (#2 &
#3) will come from the 2 functions of the opposite
·
Regarding the
inferior function; it is your ‘Achilles heel’ and is what gets
outwardly projected during times of emotional outbursts.
The inferior function exists beyond the reach of the
conscious in the
unconscious, and is referred to as the
Shadow[12].
If
we think of the psychological functions as arranged in a circle, then the most
differentiated function is usually the carrier of the
ego and, equally
regularly, has an auxiliary function attached to it. The "inferior"
function, on the other hand, is
unconscious and for that reason is projected
into a non-ego. It too has an auxiliary function. But this totality
is
ego plus non-ego. Therefore the
centre of the circle which expresses
such a totality would correspond not to the
ego but to the
self as the summation
of the total personality.
Feeling is a term that is often
used to describe one’s expression of the
Sensing/Intuition functions.
For clarity’s sake, the following expresses more clearly the difference
between those ‘feelings’ and the Feeling function.
The key distinction between
Feeling and the
sensing/intuition
usage of the word is Rationality.
Feeling in the Rational/Judging axis is marked by feeling values and
feeling judgments – value assessed.
They require reason and are as discriminating and logical as Thinking.
Introversion or extraversion, as a typical attitude, means an essential bias
which shapes the whole psychic process, establishes the
habitual reactions, and
thus determines not only the style of behavior, but also the nature of
subjective experience.
And not only
so, but it also denotes the kind of compensatory activity of the unconscious
which we may expect to find.”[17]
“… a
man may give preference to thinking, whether he be extraverted or introverted,
but he always uses it in the way that is characteristic of his attitude-type.[16]”
A third
attitudinal axis expresses the
Z-axis (3rd dimension) of the mind by
providing the introvert and
extrovert elements.
The functional types (TFSN) describe how psychological material and
experiences are processed and illustrate to us a person’s psychological
character. The attitude types (E-I)
Because there
are 4 different axes[18]
there are 16 possible psychological types.
They are:
ENFJ
(Giver) |
ENFP
(Inspirer) |
ENTJ
(Executive) |
ENTP
(Visionary) |
ESFJ
(Caregiver) |
ESFP
(Performer) |
ESTJ
(Guardian) |
ESTP
(Doer) |
INFJ
(Counselor) |
INFP
(Healer) |
INTJ
(Scientists) |
INTP
(Thinker) |
ISFJ
(Nurturer) |
ISFP
(Artist) |
ISTJ
(Duty fulfiller) |
ISTP (Mechanic) |
By
taking the well-known
Myers-Briggs[19]
test you can get a clear indication of your
functional typography.
It can be taken on the
Internet for free in a matter of minutes[20].
This descriptive analysis of the mind is a good starting point in
understanding how your mind is biased, while clarifying if some areas are too
one-sided.
[1] Jung coined the term irrational, but with today’s common understanding of the word – thinking of the term non-rational will provide more clarity.
[2] “When, for instance, I speak of “thinking,” it is only the philosopher who does not know what I mean; no layman will find it incomprehensible.” C.G. Jung
[3] There is an objective and subjective perception with sensation. Objects in themselves have specific characteristics that are not subject to opinion, but subjective perception is characterized by the “meaning that clings to it”.
[4] While witnessing a crime scene a sensation dominated person would recognize all of the details of a crime scene, while the intuitive person would recall the general attitude of what was happening.
[5]
“The intuitive function is
represented in consciousness by an attitude of expectancy, by vision and
penetration; but only from the subsequent result can it be established
how much of what was “seen” was actually in the object, and how much was
“read into” it.” (BW page 214 par 610)
[6]
“… so intuition is not mere
perception, or vision, but an active, creative process that puts into
the object just as much as it takes out.” BW page 214 par 610
[7] In reality, there is no top/bottom/etc… but this is the commonly accepted view (picture) of how the mind ‘is’ by the psychology world.
[8] The different zones are meant as only a clarifying guideline because there is no fixed separation between them and they are in actuality lines in a constantly changing spectrum with shifting frontiers.
[9] i.e.
thinking/intuition, thinking/sensation, intuition/thinking,
feeling/intuition
[10] Modern Man in Search of a Soul – page 88
[11] Ibid
[12] Which
I detail more fully on page
[13] Modern Man in Search of a Soul – page 92-93
[15]
“Jung’s model is concerned with
the movement of energy and the way in which one habitually or
preferentially orients oneself in the world” Jung Lexicon – Typology pg
140.
[16]
No idea where this is from
J
[17] Modern Man in search of a Soul – page 86
[18] 1)
Thinking/Feeling
2) Sensation/Intuition
3) Judging/Perceiving
4)
Introvert/Extrovert
[19] Even though I am emphasizing the value of this test I must point out that 1) even Jung says “Everybody is an exception to the rule, 2) 1 in 4 results come out wrong, and 3) there are instances where people are quite well balanced on any of the axes and thus can drift over depending on their mood while taking the test. Some people find very powerful correlations with their results and some do not.
[20] But there are many versions of this test varying in detail and depth
[21] [Definitions, CW 6 par. 763]. (lexicon primary function)