After reading this post, you will have a crystal clear understanding of Carl Jung's cognitive functions!
INTRODUCTION
Some words on Carl Jung:
Carl Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist who founded analytical psychology and whose theories on cognitive functions are used by multiple personality typology systems. Some examples include MBTI (Myers-Briggs type indicator) and Socionics.
How the Psyche works according to Jung:
We as conscious creatures, interact with the external world and our own internal worlds by two processes, namely, perception and decision. We perceive information either directly from the real world through our senses as raw facts/data, or indirectly through our imagination/intuition in the form of possibilities or images. And using this perception, we decide, make judgments and reach conclusions either through logical reasoning or through moral justifications.
What are cognitive functions?
Cognitive functions are nothing but the processes used by the psyche to perceive information and to make decisions and to reach conclusions based on those perceptions.
Exploring the types of Cognitive functions.
Hence according to Jung, Cognitive functions are of 2 types.
1.) Decision making functions: The psychic processes which help us to make decisions and reach conclusions.
2.) Perceiving functions: The psychic processes which help us to perceive information.
As I discussed before, decisions are either made through logical reasoning (thinking) or through moral justification (feeling).
Hence, decision making functions can be further divided into 2 types, namely,
1) Thinking function (T)
2) Feeling function (F)
As I also discussed before, perception is either done directly through the senses (sensing) or through imagination (intuition).
Hence, by the same logic as before, perceiving functions can be divided into:
1) Sensing function (S)
2) Intuition function (N)
Introverted and Extraverted cognitive functions:
Jung believed that each of these functions which I described (T, F, S and N) are expressed in an individual in two ways; the ways being an extraverted (dynamic, flowing and volatile) way and an introverted (static, constant and conserved) way. I do not blame you if you are confused by this. Let me explain this to you through an example.
Suppose there exists a person who makes decisions and reaches conclusions through moral justifications (i.e. feeling).
Let us call such a person, 'a feeler'. By common experience, we can all agree that there are certain types of 'feelers' who keep their emotions, sentiments and beliefs to themselves. These types of 'feelers' do not actively seek to exchange emotions with others and are usually satisfied if individuals keep their moral beliefs to themselves without causing any conflict among each other. On the other hand, also by common experience, we all have talked to certain types of 'feelers', who prefer sharing their emotions, sentiments and beliefs with others. These types of 'feelers' actively exchange sentiments with others and try to establish a grand consensus of acceptable morals such that everyone's emotional and moral needs are satisfied.
This is how a cognitive function namely, feeling function (F) can be expressed in an extraverted and an introverted way as I previously described.
Hence, from this hypothesis we can divided each of the cognitive functions (T, F, S, N) again into 2 types, giving rise to a total of 8 cognitive functions, namely,
i) Introverted Thinking (Ti)
ii) Extraverted Thinking (Te)
iii) Introverted Feeling (Fi)
iv) Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
v) Introverted Sensing (Si)
vi) Extraverted Sensing (Se)
vii) Introverted Intuition (Ni)
viii) Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
AN OVERVIEW ON EACH OF THE 8 COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS
Introverted Thinking (Ti):
Process of using independent, proof based reasoning to arrive at conclusions. Users of this function do not prefer to let other's reasons affect their decisions, and likewise, they do not prefer to force their reasons upon others. They are detached thinkers.
Extraverted Thinking (Te):
Process of sharing reasons with others in order to arrive at conclusions. Users of this function prefer to let others' reasons affect their own decisions and likewise, they might expect others to implement the reasons they lay out. They are social thinkers.
Introverted Feeling (Fi):
Process of using independent moral justifications to arrive at conclusions. Users of this type do not prefer to let other people's moral justifications affect their own decision making, likewise, they do not prefer to force their moral justifications upon others. They are detached feelers.
Extraverted Feeling (Fe):
Process of sharing moral justifications and beliefs with others in order to arrive at conclusions. Users of this function prefer to let others' sentiments and beliefs affect their own decisions and likewise, they might expect others to be affected by the moral justifications and beliefs which they express. They are social feelers.
Introverted Sensing (Si):
Process of perceiving static and constant information and details through the senses (e.g. colours, tastes, textures, and facts)
Users of this function are great at remembering sensual details of past events. They usually prefer not to sensually over-engage with the external world and likewise, they do not like to keep up with the sensual flow of the external world in real time. They are detached sensors (observers).
Extraverted Sensing (Se):
Process of perceiving variable, inconstant and volatile flow of information and details directly from the external world through the senses. Users of this function are thrill seeking adventurers. They like to sensually engage with the external world and likewise, find it natural to keep up with the sensual flow which the external world throws at them. They are social sensors (adventurers).
Introverted Intuition (Ni):
Process of perceiving inner static dream like images through the use of imagination. Users of this function are great at imagining plans, visions and theories in order to reach a goal and are aware of information which cannot be directly perceived via the senses. They usually have difficulty in sharing these prophetic visions they have with others and likewise, do not usually prefer to overindulge in exchanging and discussing visions, plans and theories with others. They are independent, and detached theorists who highly value originality.
Extraverted Intuition (Ne):
Process of perceiving moving, flowing and inconstant dream like images through the use of imagination. Users of this functions are great at brainstorming possibilities, theories and visions, though most of the times not aimed to reach any particular fixed goal. They usually find it very natural to share their theories and ideas with others and likewise, appreciate exchanging and examining theories with others which might be very different from their own. They are social theorists who believe in exploring new ideas just for the sake of it.
CONCLUSION
Jung believed that each individual has a unique preference for the use of each of these functions, thereby creating different personalities. However, Jung believed that an individual primarily shows either an introverted or an extraverted version of a given function (i.e. A Ti user predominantly uses Ti and has little preference for Te).
Unique combinations of perceiving and deciding functions make up a personality of an individual. Such as intuitive thinker (NT), sensual feeler (SF) etc. In each combination, one of the 2 functions (perceiving and deciding) must be expressed predominantly as introverted and the other as an extraverted function.
The intuitive reason for this can be understood if we think about the very fact that in order for an individual to function in society, they must both interact with the external world and their own internal worlds.
It may be that a person prefers to live in their internally crafted worlds but even then, the person must have an external outlet for interacting with others even if they prefer to underuse that external outlet. Hence, functions are always formed in blocks such as Ti-Ne (As seen in INTP in MBTI), Se-Fi (As seen in ISFJ in MBTI) etc.
There are many things to talk about but I am afraid that, that would be too long for one single blog post. I plan to talk more about the Jungian shadow and axis functions in my future posts. Follow for updates!
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