The 8 cognitive functions of MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) are what make up the 16 different personality types. They’re the building blocks of the entire typing system & arguably the most important part. If you learn these 8 functions, the 16 personalities will be much much easier to identify & you’ll be able to develop a strong conviction in your ability to type yourself & other people.
The eight cognitive functions are
- Introverted Intuition (Ni)
- Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
- Introverted Thinking (Ti)
- Extraverted Thinking (Te)
- Introverted Feeling (Fi)
- Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
- Introverted Sensing (Si)
- Extraverted Sensing (Se)
In this article we’ll go over each function in-depth, as well as the ego functions for each personality type, and answer a handful of frequently asked questions. So read on if you’re ready to dive deep!
The 8 Cognitive Functions of MBTI
Introverted Intuition (Ni)
Individuals who prefer to process information internally and focus on patterns, possibilities, and underlying meanings often associate with Ni. This function associates with fire, strong will, burning desire, and narrow but intense focus.
People with a dominant Ni function tend to have a strong sense of intuition and may also skillfully recognize and analyze complex systems or patterns. They often see connections between seemingly unrelated pieces of information.
A powerful intent, however, comes at a cost, and Ni dominant users can struggle to communicate their insights concretely. Furthermore, their intense focus on desires can cause them to miss details, see the forest but not the trees, and forget to stop and smell the roses once in a while. We should note that Ni functions as a perceiving function.
Extroverted Intuition (Ne)
Ne functions as a water-related concept and serves as the “Yin” to the “Yang” of introverted intuition (fire). Extroverted intuition divines possibilities, sees underlying connections in the external world, and focuses on tropes or archetypes.
People with a dominant Ne function tend to be highly curious and open-minded, and often generate new ideas and creative solutions to problems. They often skillfully connect seemingly disparate pieces of information in a way that many people can relate to (memes), even if unconsciously at first. An Ne hero, for example, masters knowing and understanding the desires of others, whether those people are aware of their wants or not.
However, because Ne operates primarily on an external level, those who rely on this function may sometimes struggle with maintaining focus and following through on projects to completion. Their Ne ties to Introverted Sensing (Si), which functions as the endurance and discipline function. If you have Ne, you also have Si. We should note that Ne functions as a perceiving function.
Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Ti is the function of truth & accuracy. People with this function can be highly analytical & logical in their thinking, seeing things as either true or false. They are independent & original thinkers that require coming to their own conclusions. The way their mind functions is like building a Jenga block tower on a single topic, the blocks being conditional statements of Boolean logic questions: “If this, then that” “If this car is black, then all cars are red is false, only some cars are red, but not all.”
They may also skillfully analyze complex systems and identify flaws in existing structures or arguments. This function serves well in debates where participants value truth and logic to win. Their knowledge also runs deep, and they often become thought leaders in their field or challenge the status quo.
However, because Ti operates internally, those who rely on this function may sometimes struggle with effectively communicating their ideas to others while taking into account the emotional or social implications of their actions. Additionally, individuals with a dominant Ti function may sometimes become so focused on analyzing data and information that they overlook established best practices & efficiency. Ti is a decision making function.
Extroverted Thinking (Te)
Individuals who prefer to process information externally associate with Te, meaning they focus more on consensus, best practices, and common sense. Like all other external functions, this also operates as a “tribe” function, which means it performs best with the input of other people.
People with a dominant Te function tend to be highly organized and efficient; they focus on efficiency and making things work for everyone around them. They may also skillfully make decisions quickly and confidently, basing their choices on a careful analysis of available data. This trait gives rise to the “commander” stereotype for the action-based ENTJ.
However, because Te operates primarily on an external level, those who rely on this function may sometimes struggle going in depth on a certain topic & coming to an absolute true or false conclusion. One big drawback is that high Te users can sometimes disregard emotional implications of their actions & overlook the importance of relationships & building social connections. Te is a decision making function.
Introverted Feeling (Fi)
Fi relates to individual moral judgment and is highly individualistic. People often misunderstand it for ethics, empathy, and kindness, but these qualities relate more closely to the following function, Fe. That’s not to say Fi users can’t show these characteristics, but they attune far more to their own emotions and personal value systems.
Fi users can have a strong moral compass as to what is right or wrong for them and why. Furthermore, because Fi ties to Te (if you have one, you have the other), they can develop strong values and beliefs about the world.
A drawback of high introverted feeling, however, is the inability to effectively express their inner emotions as they relate to others. Working with the beliefs of others might also create a stumbling block, such as navigating best practices or working in an overly structured environment. Fi users may also struggle with decision making if they don’t take objective facts and data into account. Fi functions as a decision making function.
Extroverted Feeling (Fe)
If we could sum up Fe in one word, it would be group harmony. Those with Fe attune well to the emotional states of others and function as the true empaths. Fe users excel at being relatable and possess the ability to improve the overall emotional state of individuals and groups.
Empathy & compassion are the bread & butter of the Fe dominant user. They are able to intuitively pick up on & understand the emotional needs of others. As long as there is group harmony & cooperation, Fe users are at peace & shine in social environments.
However, because Fe operates externally, it requires the input of Fi users to do its thing. Also directing emotions towards themselves & being aware of their own emotions can be difficult.
Additionally, Fe dominant people might be so busy taking care of the emotional needs of others that they can lose sight of their own needs or priorities. Fe is a decision making function.
Introverted Sensing (Si)
Si associates with steadfastness, duty, endurance, the past, memories, and functions internally. Strong Si users can exhibit stubbornness and resist change, but these traits also contribute to their strength. They often approach life stoically and use past experiences to inform their decision making.
If we could boil down introverted sensing to one word, it would be tradition. Si users gear themselves towards doing things the way that people have always done them and require a steady routine. They also attune to physical sensations and orient themselves to details.
Like other internal functions, Si only concerns itself with the individual, therefore it lacks awareness of what others are doing. Si users can lack quick reflexes and struggle to react to rapidly changing environments or situations. Finally, they might ingrain themselves so deeply into the status quo that they find it difficult to break away into innovation or new ways of doing things. We should note that Si functions as a perceiving function.
Extroverted Sensing (Se)
High Se users are the ones jumping out of airplanes & lighting their hair on fire. They are concrete people & not concerned with theories or “what ifs”, only “what is”. Whereas Si is the past, Ni is the future, Se is the now.
Extroverted sensing users are highly observant & reactive to their environments. Reflexes are high and they tend to enjoy new or intense experiences. Se users also have keen spatial awareness & understand physics on an intuitive level.
On an axis with Se, is introverted intuition, so they can struggle with long term planning. Furthermore, this means that Ne resides in their shadow (more on that later), which makes them completely unaware of the consequences of their actions. We should note that Se functions as a perceiving function.
Ego Functions of The 16 Personality Types
The ego functions in the MBTI system of typing are the first 4 cognitive functions.
They are ordered from strongest to weakest & have their own “attitudes”, which we will go further in depth in another article.
Hero or Dominant Function
This is the most dominant or “heroic” function that a person utilizes effortlessly to solve the majority of their everyday problems.
It’s a very optimistic function and sometimes to a fault when it can get carried away with saving the world & taking away from the other functions.
Parent or Auxiliary Function
This is the function related to one’s own responsibility & is a pessimistic function.
It can also become strong in a similar way to the hero but requires conscious effort & expends more energy when using it.
Child or Tertiary Function
This is someone’s inner child function & is very innocent in nature. It’s optimistic like the hero & they often like to hang out together in a person’s years of development.
Inferior or Aspirational Function
This is where someone’s fear exists & is their weakest conscious function. It’s also pessimistic but can at times “aspire” to become heroic in short bursts. It’s very draining to use & difficult to master but is where a person’s happiness lies.
All 16 MBTI Personality Types & Their Ego Functions
Below are the function stacks of all 16 personality types. They’re doubled up in pairs with their corresponding “platinum pairs” which are their highest compatibility partners. Learn more about type compatibility here.
INTJ Ni – Te – Fi – Se
ENTP Ne – Ti – Fe – Si
INTP Ti – Ne – Si – Fe
ENTJ Te – Ni – Se – Fi
INFJ Ni – Fe – Ti – Se
ENFP Ne – Fi – Te – Si
INFP Fi – Ne – Si – Te
ENFJ Fe – Ni – Se – Ti
ISTJ Si – Te – Fi – Ne
ESTP Se – Ti – Fe – Ni
ISTP Ti – Se – Ni – Fe
ESTJ Te – Si – Ne – Fi
ISFJ Si – Fe – Ti – Ne
ESFP Se – Fi – Te – Ni
ISFP Fi – Se – Ni – Te
ESFJ Fe – Si – Ne – Ti
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Find My MBTI Cognitive Functions?
We recommend studying each of the individual functions & trying to identify them in others to get a feel for its associations. This will give you the observational understanding of each archetype & make your own identification most accurate.
Unless you can identify each function on a whim, then it’s best to ask a friend or 3rd party to help narrow down your own function stack. It can be very difficult to type yourself due to projections.
Remember, identifying your mbti cognitive functions is a process that requires patience, self-reflection, and trusting your observations.
What Are The 4 Functions of MBTI?
The first 4 functions are what’s known as the “ego functions” which we covered briefly above. These are what make up your MBTI personality type.
There however 4 other functions which are unconscious for a total of 8. These are called the shadow functions and are your polar opposite & together they make up the complete set of 8 cognitive functions in MBTI theory.
What Is The Rarest MBTI Function?
The majority of people are sensors & we live in a concrete, sensor world.
The rarest MBTI types are all of the lead intuitives, anyone who has intuition in the first 2 slots.
The rarest MBTI function however is in our opinion, introverted intuition.
Which MBTI Type Is Most Successful?
Success comes from many forms & it depends on how you want to define it.Traditionally a high Te user can be very successful in business.
However if you see success as being liked & valued by many, you might see the popularity of a high Fe user as a success.
That’s not to say that lead Ti or Fi users can’t be successful though. We recommend that everyone work on their contrasting functions.
So if you are more introverted, work on developing your extroverted functions. If extroverted, work on your inner functions to develop identity & inward reflections.
Which MBTI Is Secretly Very Emotional?
You would be hard pressed to find out that it’s often the Te heroes that are actually the squishy ones.
Te heroes might look cold, calculated, & EFFICIENT on the outside, but all of this houses and is there to protect their baby introverted feeling (Fi).
Which MBTI Type Has The Highest EQ?
If referring to “emotional quotient”, then we will definitely have to say that the Fe heroes & Fe parents are the most emotionally intelligent.
Fe heroes can read the room in a snapshot, while Fe parents might have to put in some effort to develop this skill.
Extroverted Feeling is also the function that’s associated with empathy, group cohesion, community, caring for others, and generally putting others before self in the name of harmony.
Was Albert Einstein INFJ?
After closely investigating the details of Albert Einstein’s life and his ardent interest in ethical issues, we determined that, yes, he was an INFJ. His impact goes beyond his technical genius and includes a genuine concern for global ethics and social fairness. This combination of inventive intuition and humanitarian motivation is typical of the INFJ personality type.
For a more in-depth look at Einstein’s multidimensional character & how it relates to the INFJ type, see our personality typing page on Albert Einstein.
Which MBTI Is Most Independent?
The INTJ is the most independent MBTI archetype. They are wholly pragmatic types which are solely focused on their own ideal futures.
Having Ni hero, also requires them to have freedom of choice, meaning they don’t like to be obligated or told what to do.
The combination of Te & Se, once developed, can make them great with common sense applications such as home maintenance, car repair, and just fixing things in general.
They also lack Fe, which is actually in their blindspot (7th slot in the shadow). So they are not bothered with being part of a community or being accepted by “the tribe”.
Final Words
We hope this comprehensive guide to the 8 cognitive functions has deepened your understanding of MBTI typing and its nuances. Did we miss any questions or have one you want answered? Comment below!
Thank you for reading & we hope you found this article packed full of useful information.
Stay tuned for more articles on MBTI, personality types, & typology in general.
