by Anne Bogel
The Eight Cognitive Functions
Your type is not just a combination of letters; it’s a pattern of mental behavior. To get the most accurate MBTI type for yourself, you need to identify the cognitive functions you rely on and the specific order you use them in. It’s a surprise to many when they find out that this is in fact the whole point of the assessment. The end game isn’t simply to label your preferences but to discover the mental processes that underpin your personality.
There are eight cognitive processes, or cognitive functions:
Perceptive Functions:
Extraverted Sensing (Se)
Introverted Sensing (Si)
Extraverted Intuiting (Ne)
Introverted Intuiting (Ni)
Judging Functions:
Extraverted Thinking (Te)
Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
Introverted Feeling (Fi)
As the above chart demonstrates, four functions are introverted, four are extraverted. The vocabulary here is important. Introverted simply means directed inwardly, toward the inner world. Extraverted means directed outwardly, toward the external world. These terms refer not to sociability but to each function’s orientation toward the world.
In addition, four of the eight functions are perceptive; they help us take in, process, and make sense of new information. Their purpose is to explore possibilities. Four functions are judging (or decision-based) functions. They help us evaluate that information and make decisions based on it. These functions help us draw conclusions and make plans.
Everyone, regardless of type, has two perceptive functions and two judging functions. Everyone, regardless of type, has two extraverted functions and two introverted functions—the mental processes used on a daily basis. And everyone, regardless of type, has one intuitive function, one sensing function, one thinking function, and one feeling function.
The Order of Our Function Stack Matters
These functions don’t just pop up randomly out of the function lotto machine. They work together in important ways. There’s a hierarchy to function use. Every MBTI personality type’s functions follow a certain order of operations, top to bottom, most used to least used, strongest to weakest:
Dominant (1st)
Auxiliary (2nd)
Tertiary (3rd)
Inferior (4th)
Because we take our dominant function for granted, two things happen: (1) we assume everyone interacts with the world the same way we do, and (2) we have a hard time perceiving our dominant function at work because we use it so effortlessly.
If you’re an extrovert (meaning your MBTI type begins with E), then your dominant function is always extraverted. If you’re an introvert (your MBTI type begins with I), then your dominant function is always introverted. Your auxiliary function is always the opposite orientation of your dominant function, meaning you—along with everyone else—have one extraverted function and one introverted function in your top two.
Now, let’s talk about that auxiliary function. If your dominant function is your pilot, you can think of your auxiliary function as the copilot; it works with your dominant function as you move through life. As second best, this function is still awfully strong. In fact, it’s more readily apparent to you than your first function because your auxiliary function requires conscious thought, unlike the dominant function, which you use intuitively. And for introverts—because their auxiliary function is always extraverted—it’s the function most obviously on display to the world. This is a major reason why introverts often feel misunderstood: the biggest piece of their personality identity is literally hidden. Other people truly can’t see the dominant process guiding everything they do. The truth is that we’re all a little bit of everything. We’re all Sensers, Feelers, Intuitives, etc. The real questions are, Which kind (introverted or extraverted) are you and in what order? And how do those functions work together?
The Eight Cognitive Functions Explained
Let’s explore what each function means so you can figure out which ones make up your deck. What do these processes look like at work?
Pay special attention to which functions you resonate with and notice the variety of mental processes. A key insight will be how many people’s minds work differently from yours.
As I think about how these functions work, it helps me to imagine them as eight software programs, humming along—with their own individual prerogatives and priorities—in my brain.
To avoid being overwhelmed, I recommend sticking to the functions you think might be in your cognitive stack on your first read-through. You can come back and read about your friends’ and loved ones’ functions after you’ve absorbed the information a little.
Perceptive Functions (Ne, Ni, Se, Si)
Intuition is a perceptive function, which means it’s about learning/gathering information.
Extraverted Intuition (Ne): Extraverted Intuition is an expansive function that imagines possibilities, synthesizes ideas, and draws connections between seemingly unrelated things. It enjoys brainstorming, speculating, and connecting ideas to one another. Extraverted Intuition is future-oriented, focusing on what could happen next instead of what’s happening now or what happened in the past. This function excels at exploring every possible angle or side of an issue, a skill that makes it difficult for people who rely heavily on Extraverted Intuition to find closure in the decision-making process.
People who lead with Extraverted Intuition—that is, who use Extraverted Intuition as their dominant function—are great at seeing possibilities and patterns of meaning. They are lighthearted, spontaneous, and extremely open-minded—sometimes to a fault. They are great starters, but they see so many ideas that it’s difficult for them to pick one and stick with it. They may seem distractible or “bouncy,” because one idea always leads them to another.
Introverted Intuition (Ni): Introverted Intuition builds a framework to explain how the world works, drawing on detailed, abstract analysis of current and past events. This function is great at simplifying ideas to their core, working convergently to narrow all available options to a single comprehensive solution. Introverted Intuition is future-oriented: this function is excellent at visualizing likely or best outcomes for future events, as opposed to what’s currently happening. This cognitive process excels at seeing patterns of behavior and cause and effect and using those patterns to anticipate what’s coming next.
People who lead with Introverted Intuition are excellent problem solvers who love to generate theories. They are highly perceptive, insightful, and great at spotting logical fallacies and inconsistencies. They trust their intuition and their hunches.
Sensing is a perceptive function, which means it’s about learning/gathering information.
Extraverted Sensing (Se): Extraverted Sensing is focused on what’s happening right here, right now. More so than any other function, Extraverted Sensing is in the moment. It’s fantastic at taking in information through the five senses, registering everything that’s happening. Extraverted Sensing is attuned to the external world, taking in raw data in the form of information gathered through the five senses.
People who lead with Extraverted Sensing are sensation-seekers who love the new and novel. They have a hands-on approach to life, live in the present, and think fast on their feet. They are naturally impulsive and confident and have an appreciation for aesthetics. They’re good at absorbing sensual experiences and gathering facts, but they’re not prone to overanalyzing situations.
Introverted Sensing (Si): Introverted Sensing is a detail-oriented function that is great at storing data and information, neatly filing them away, as in a filing system. It’s oriented toward the past, focusing more on what has been than on what will be. Introverted Sensing takes an inward, reflective focus as it relies on this stored information from the past to understand the present.
Those who lead with Introverted Sensing respect tradition, uphold the status quo, and do thi
ngs by the book. They are organized and structured. They prefer routines and predictability and have a tendency toward nostalgia. More than any other type, they believe the past repeats itself.
Judging/Decision-Making Functions (Fe, Fi, Te, Ti)
Feeling is a judging function, which means it’s about decision-making. This isn’t just about emotions; it’s prioritizing how a decision will affect people before considering the cold, hard facts. Imagine a judge delivering a verdict.
Extraverted Feeling (Fe): Extraverted Feeling prioritizes maintaining harmony in the external environment. It is focused on helping everyone get along and strives to do what is best for the group as a whole. More so than any other function, Extraverted Feeling requires social interaction to be satisfied. Extraverted Feeling is quick to read and empathize with the emotions of others.
People who lead with Extraverted Feeling wear their hearts on their sleeves. They are quick to display their feelings and opinions and equally quick to turn to others for emotional support. They can’t fully relax unless those around them are happy and healthy. They are highly reactive to other people’s feelings and prone to reflecting others’ emotions back to them. They are expressive, accommodating, and sensitive to criticism.
Introverted Feeling (Fi): Introverted Feeling is focused inwardly on the abstract world of thoughts, feelings, and values. This function aims to discover the deeper meaning behind everything by deeply reflecting on and analyzing emotions as fully as possible. Introverted Feeling demands authenticity, seeking consistency between what it believes and what it does. It’s also extremely empathetic to the feelings of others.
People who lead with Introverted Feeling are in touch with their emotions. They are compassionate and analytical and have a strong sense of right and wrong. They are often highly creative or artistic and prone to feeling misunderstood. They have a rich inner world and feel deeply, but because this function is introverted, they’re not always comfortable expressing how they feel and don’t wear their hearts on their sleeves.
Thinking is a judging function, which means it’s about decision-making.
Extraverted Thinking (Te): Extraverted Thinking is a results-based, action-oriented function that focuses on what is. It excels at executing ideas in external reality and imposing order on the external environment in an efficient and logical way. This function values productivity and usefulness and is great at foreseeing consequences and getting from point A to point B.
People who lead with Extraverted Thinking are pragmatic, analytical, decisive, and skilled at building logical arguments. They tend to be black-and-white thinkers; unlike others, the boundaries aren’t blurry for them. They are quick to take charge and don’t mind confrontation. They like to get their ideas out and hear feedback. While they may appear to be bossy and opinionated, they believe they’re helping everyone by pointing out the most efficient plan.
Introverted Thinking (Ti): Introverted Thinking is focused inwardly on the abstract world of reason. It seeks to understand how things work and builds a framework for understanding the world by discovering the logical principles that support it. This function is great at organizing ideas and naturally notices inconsistencies.
People who lead with Introverted Thinking are self-disciplined, logical, and objective. They are great at thinking deeply about every angle of an idea, examining every detail, and figuring out how all the pieces fit together. They are skilled at spotting ways to make a system more efficient. They are nonconfrontational and may appear detached, and as though they live in their own heads.
Our Mental Processes Grow with Us
As we mature, our mental processes mature as well. When we’re young, we have little control over or access to our weaker functions. We mostly inadvertently turn to our tertiary and auxiliary functions in times of stress. But that changes with time. If you feel as though you’re becoming more well-rounded over time, as most people do, it’s because your weaker functions are predictably strengthening. Our cognitive processes develop chronologically according to our personal hierarchies.
For most of us, the tertiary function finally becomes readily apparent in our twenties, and the inferior function doesn’t typically develop until we’re nearing middle age. Although, interestingly, stress or challenging emotional seasons can prompt our weaker functions to develop sooner.
Many of us notice that our personalities seem to shift as we move into our twenties and thirties and chalk it up to our MBTI type changing because we’re maturing or we got married or we had kids or we took a new job. That’s not what happens. We don’t change our MBTI type, but we develop and strengthen those processes that characterize our type that are already present. We become deeper, more complete versions of ourselves.
The inferior function is our weakest link, the one we’re least proficient with. It’s also the subject of some very interesting psychological theories. Jung believed the inferior function was the “bridge” between the conscious personality and the world of the unconscious and that when our inferior function “erupted” (as in times of stress), it provided helpful and interesting insights into the personality. Naomi Quenk wrote a book about how we act when we’re in the grip of our inferior function called, tellingly, Was That Really Me?, in which she examines how and why we’re all inclined to go off the rails in predictable ways during stressful times.
Accessing the inferior function is not easy (except in times of provocation or stress, when it may erupt, prompting behavior that baffles us because it’s so unlike our usual selves). And integrating our inferior function into our whole selves is even more difficult. However, for those of us who are able to do so, learning how to access that inferior function can help us become the best—and most complete—versions of ourselves.
Putting This Information to Work in Your Own Life
Now that we have more information about the cognitive functions, let’s explore what the MBTI types really mean. Here’s what the function stack looks like for each of the sixteen MBTI personality types:
Cognitive Function Hierarchy
ISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ
Si Si Ni Ni
Te Fe Fe Te
Fi Ti Ti Fi
Ne Ne Se Se
ISTP ISFP INFP INTP
Ti Fi Fi Ti
Se Se Ne Ne
Ni Ni Si Si
Fe Te Te Fe
ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP
Se Se Ne Ne
Ti Fi Fi Ti
Fe Te Te Fe
Ni Ni Si Si
ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ
Te Fe Fe Te
Si Si Ni Ni
Ne Ne Se Se
Fi Ti Ti Fi
If you have a decent idea of what your MBTI type is, find yourself on this chart and jot down your cognitive function stack. Then go back and read through the descriptions of what each of these mental processes involves and imagine how they might work together to make you you. If these descriptions resonate, congratulations! You’ve typed yourself correctly. If they feel off, you’ve probably gotten your type wrong. But don’t despair! When you develop a working knowledge of cognitive functions, the likelihood that you’ll get your MBTI right skyrockets.
Determining Your Type with the Cognitive Functions
Let’s go back to my friend Kim, who couldn’t decide if she was an ESTP or an ESFP. While we sat at my kitchen counter, we made a chart showing the cognitive function stack for each type.
ESTP vs. ESFP
Se Se
Ti Fi
Fe Te
Ni Ni
“It’s no wonder you’re confused,” I said, drawing circles around the two Se and Ni notations. “These two types are similar. They have the same dominant function and the same inferior function. Both types lead with Extraverted Sensing, which means you focus on the here and now and are fantastic at taking in information through your five senses. People with Extraverted Sensing love the new and novel. They are hands-on and have a strong aesthetic sense. Does that sound like you?”
; Kim nodded. She’s an engineer by training, and she runs a sewing business. She loves to take apart store-bought handbags and figure out how to make them herself at home. This made perfect sense.
I agreed. That sounded exactly like her.
“But the next-best function—which you still use all the time—is different for the two types. So is the third function. When we nail these, we’ll have your type.
“If you’re an ESTP, your auxiliary is Introverted Thinking. This cognitive function wants to know how things work. It’s great at understanding systems and organizing ideas. This function is able to see how all the pieces fit together.”
Kim laughed. “I think I use that function every day.”
“If you’re an ESFP, your auxiliary function is Introverted Feeling. That function seeks to discover the deeper meaning behind everything. It’s a reflective process that analyzes emotions and wants to experience authenticity between what you believe and what you do.”
“Um, that’s not really me,” Kim said.
I didn’t think so, either.
We took a look at Kim’s third function to be sure, and before we stood up, Kim had confidently declared herself an ESTP (Se-Ti-Fe-Ni). That’s the entrepreneur, in case you were wondering, but it’s not the label that matters. It’s the functions—which ones do we utilize and in what order?
Let’s break it down.
Here’s what Kim’s cognitive function stack looks like in action. When Extroverted Sensing (Se) is in charge, it wants to fully engage with all the sensory aspects of any experience—what can be tasted, seen, smelled, heard, or touched. Introverted Thinking (Ti) is copilot, evaluating the logical systems in the environment and identifying ways they can be put into action. Extraverted Feeling (Fe) is next in line, which is the ability to read other people’s motivations and emotions. Introverted Intuition (Ni) completes the stack. In the inferior position, it shows up as a profound dislike for overanalysis.
