Myers-Briggs Jungian Functional Typology
Myers-Briggs is often a difficult subject to bring up in the personality-typing space. Most MBTI tests - I'd express - are fairly hogwash and not useful, the texts being generic and applicable to everyone and the metrics expressing nothing of use beyond parlor tricks. That being said, understanding the functions has - to me - proven incredibly useful and enlightening, and - while a soft and not a hard science - Jungian functions can demonstrate good predictive validity. The issue then becoming the effort it takes to understand the functions; which is unfortunately not usually a simple or a streamlined process.
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So, what are functions?
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Functions are at their core a way to explain the thought processes used to gather and then to make decisions based on the information we are exposed to. These processes can be observed, even in early infancy, and I have never seen anyone experience a fundamental change in which processes they use. These are stable paths our mind clings to throughout all our life and experiences.
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There are eight functions in total. The first division is in how four are focused on the world around us and four are focused on our internal world. The second division is in how four are focused on the gathering and processing of information, while four are focused on making decisions with the information we have. This second division further divides into two types of gathering/processing (ie: Intuition and Sensing) and two types of decision making (ie: Feeling and Thinking).
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In my own life, I have seen that coming to an understanding of both the four functions I have and the four I do not, has enabled me to better understand myself and to express greater empathy both for those who think like me and those who do not. It is truly liberating to realize that your way of experiencing the world is not the only one and that none of you are wrong. Each function has a place and a purpose, and we as a people are richer for collectively having all eight of them.
The Four Perceptive Functions
Perceptive Functions are focused on how we gather and process information. They are divided two ways (1) abstract/intuition and concrete/sensing and (2) external/extroverted and internal/introverted.
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It is important to note that perceptive functions exist in pairs. Between having two, you need one abstract, one concrete, one external, and one internal. As such, the pairs are Ne+Si and Ni+Se.
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[Ne] Extroverted Intuition
Pairing the abstract to our external world, Ne loves focusing on possibilities and out of the box thinking. It is creative and thrives on curiosity. It wants to see things from multiple angles and often delights in the unusual. Its weaknesses are in consolidating information and making choices that cut out future opportunities.
[Ni] Introverted Intuition
Pairing the abstract to our internal world, Ni loves planning and looking forward into the future. It has amazing predictive skills and often delights in categorizing things. It always wants to have some semblance of a plan in some stage of completion. Its weaknesses are in failed plans and unforeseen occurrences.
[Se] Extroverted Sensing
Pairing the concrete to our external world, Se loves basking in the senses. It thrives with physical experiences and can tend to both visceral memories and adrenaline activities. Its sense of caution often comes more from an understanding of its capabilities than from actual caution. Its weaknesses chiefly arise when they are less capable than they think they are.
[Si] Introverted Sensing
Pairing the concrete to our internal world, Si loves understanding how it got to where it is now. It is often talented in narrative memory and tends to suggest caution with a strong value for tradition and pre-existing structures. Its weaknesses often involve getting out of the routine and encountering situations they have no template for.
The Four Judging Functions
Judging Functions are focused on how we categorize and make decisions on information. They are divided two ways (1) morals/feeling and logic/thinking and (2) external/extroverted and internal/introverted.
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It is important to note that judging functions exist in pairs. Between having two, you need one morals, one logic, one external, and one internal. As such, the pairs are Fe+Ti and Fi+Te.
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[Fe] Extroverted Feeling
Pairing morals to our external world, Fe cares deeply about the group and interpersonal dynamics. It usually will understand its own emotions through their interactions with others and what the group considers good and/or appropriate. Its weaknesses are in being either too entrenched or too isolated from society.
[Fi] Introverted Feeling
Pairing morals to our internal world, Fi cares deeply about upholding a strong personal code of ethics. It tends to have a deep emotional world, which the individual will usually keep largely private. It tends to understand itself and others through personal emotional experience. Its weaknesses are in getting stuck feeling emotions or occasionally thinking their morals are superior.
[Te] Extroverted Thinking
Pairing logic to our external world, Te cares deeply about situations and processes being both efficient and effective. It values looking to the heart of issues and quickly cutting to the chase on what needs to be done. Its weaknesses are in forgetting that hammers are not the best tool for everything and sometimes lacking in subtlety.
[Ti] Introverted Thinking
Pairing logic to our internal world, Ti cares deeply about understanding processes and piecing together complex things. It wants life to make sense and to create a sense of reason in its life experience. Its weaknesses include getting stuck in a loop and a stubborn belief that their thought process is without fault.
MBTI Function Stacks
The four letters in an MBTI type are not a comparison on if you are more extroverted or introverted, intuitive or sensing, feeling or thinking, and judging or perceiving. This idea is one I find very frustrating in online tests. Instead, think of the four letters as an abbreviation to give information on your 'stack' (ie. your brain's preferential order and natural comfort zone in using your functions).
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The stacks are as follows:
INFJ - 1.Ni..... 2.Fe..... 3.Ti..... 4.Se
INFP - 1.Fi..... 2.Ne..... 3.Si..... 4.Te
ENFJ - 1.Fe..... 2.Ni..... 3.Se..... 4.Ti
ENFP - 1.Ne..... 2.Fi..... 3.Te..... 4.Si
INTJ - 1.Ni..... 2.Te..... 3.Fi..... 4.Se
INTP - 1.Ti..... 2.Ne..... 3.Si..... 4.Fe
ENTJ - 1.Te..... 2.Ni..... 3.Se..... 4.Fi
ENTP - 1.Ne..... 2.Ti..... 3.Fe..... 4.Si
ISFJ - 1.Si..... 2.Fe..... 3.Ti..... 4.Ne
ISFP - 1.Fi..... 2.Se..... 3.Ni..... 4.Te
ESFJ - 1.Fe..... 2.Si..... 3.Ne..... 4.Ti
ESFP - 1.Se..... 2.Fi..... 3.Te..... 4.Ni
ISTJ - 1.Si..... 2.Te..... 3.Fi..... 4.Ne
ISTP - 1.Ti..... 2.Se..... 3.Ni..... 4.Fe
ESTJ - 1.Te..... 2.Si..... 3.Ne..... 4.Fi
ESTP - 1.Se..... 2.Ti..... 3.Fe..... 4.Ni
Subtypes
In every system, there are always ways for things to enter levels of complexity and the ability for people to adapt and change. For MBTI, this starts with subtypes. While your specific stack are the natural grooves in your mind unlikely to ever change, subtypes are how you use the grooves and which ones you use more often and thoroughly than others.
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From my experience, subtypes are the answer to the nurture part of the 'nature vs. nurture' debate (while your specific stack fits under nature). The reason for this, is because there are different parts of ourselves which serve us best in different environments. For example, a family that values active adventure will be a tremendous struggle for an intuitive kid who keeps their head in the clouds, it thereby makes total sense for the child to pull from their sensory function to fit into their family dynamic - the beginning of subtypes.
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Also, subtypes DO change throughout your life. These changes can be slow or fast, dramatic or subtle, etc. While our favorite processes are how the brain functions, our preferred way to make use of those functions is always subject to change.
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Subtype Divisions: an INFJ has four functions [1.Ni, 2.Fe, 3. Ti, 4.Se] and twelve subtypes [1.Ni Fe, 2.Ni Ti, 3.Ni Se, 4.Fe Ni, 5.Fe Ti, 6.Fe Se, 7.Ti Ni, 8.Ti Fe, 9.Ti Se, 10.Se Ni, 11.Se Fe, 12.Se Ti]. Most all MBTI types will follow this pattern - with only ENFJ and ESFJ differing.
[Stay Tuned: page going through all the different subtypes on the way!]
Shadow Functions
If subtypes is the first answer to endless complexity, shadow functions is the second.
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To understand what your shadow functions are, look at the four functions which are not in your stack. These are the four functions your brain has not trained itself from infancy to use, however, the human mind is an elastic thing able to use processes it has not trained itself for and is incredibly capable of going against the grain of the mind.
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An important warning and caveat, is that because these are not the mind's natural processes, using them is often likely to turn maladaptive. This usually happens because we jump into using the functions without a well-formed understanding of what the function does and how to use it healthily. The caveat is that when developing the shadow function with care and delicate precision, a person is able to receive a great boon from having the added function in their tool box - a metaphoric sword instead of a crutch.