jung functions

  When, Where, What, How Why
ESTJ Exports world thought parts Good
ISTJ Exports self thought parts Good
ESFJ Exports world feeling parts Good
ISFJ Exports self feeling parts Good
     
ENTJ Exports world thoughts whole Truth
INTJ Exports self thoughts whole Truth
ENTP Imports world thoughts whole Truth
INTP Imports self thoughts whole Truth
     
ESTP Imports world thought parts Beauty
ISTP Imports self thought parts Beauty
ESFP Imports world feeling parts Beauty
ISFP Imports self feeling parts Beauty
     
ENFJ Exports world feelings whole Harmony
INFJ Exports self feelings whole Harmony
ENFP Imports world feelings whole Harmony
INFP Imports self feelings whole Harmony


E/I = Where
S/N = How
T/F = What
J/P = When
Myers-Briggs temperament = Why

The matrix looks complicated, so be patient as it's explained.  

First, a brief note

If two types that are the same, except for E/I, they will have the same description but with a different priority.  E.g., ESTJ and ISTJ both export thoughts in parts, but ESTJ priortizes the fact that it's a "thought"; ISTJ prioritizes the fact that it's a "part".

Now, how do we arrive at the above chart?

Jung discovered that the combinations give a flavor of how we process, which he called functions, presented in the matrix below.  And the functions have a preferred order, left to right, more conscious to less conscious.  For example, ESTJ has a first function of Te, which means they most naturally think about the world, and are least in touch with Fi, which is about their own feelings.  

Here's the matrix, and the functions are described beneath it.

ESTJ Te Si Ne Fi
ISTJ Si Te Fi Ne
ESFJ Fe Si Ne Ti
ISFJ Si Fe Ti Ne
         
ENTJ Te Ni Se Fi
INTJ Ni Te Fi Se
ENTP Ne Ti Fe Si
INTP Ti Ne Si Fe
         
ESTP Se Ti Fe Ni
ISTP Ti Se Ni Fe
ESFP Se Fi Te Ni
ISFP Fi Se Ni Te
         
ENFJ Fe Ni Se Ti
INFJ Ni Fe Ti Se
ENFP Ne Fi Te Si
INFP Fi Ne Si Te
         
  1st Fn
Dominant
2nd Fn
Auxiliary
3rd Fn
Tertiary
4th Fn
Inferior
  Hero Adult Parent Child

 

What, How, Where

The "What" (T/F) is thoughts or feelings;
and "How" (S/N) are parts or whole.  

can each be oriented to a Where (E/I) which is world or self;

That gives us eight functions:

Te Thoughts about the world
Ti Thoughts about the self
Fe Feelings about the world
Fi Feelings about the self
Se Parts about the world
Si Parts about the self
Ne Wholeness about the world
Ni Wholeness about the self

When (J/P)

The last letter gives us the "When", which describes either the future goal (J) or present journey (P).  

A better way to think of this is that we are either:
exporting (J) to a future goal or
importing (P) the present journey.

An important distanction:  Export/Import vs. Extovert/Intravert

These are often confused:

exported/importing (J/P), and
extroverting/introverting (E/I). 

 

Notice that an exporter (J) might be an introverted, and
an importer (P) might be an extrovert!
E.g., ISTJ is introverted, but exports thoughts.
E.g, an ESFP is extroverted but imports beauty.

In other words, tricky types to discern are:

if a J and is intoverted, or
if a P type is extraverted

E.g., the ISTJ exports but appears introverted, and
E.g., the ESFP imports but appears extroverted.

So watch out:  8 of the 16 types have that.

 

OK, here's the main insight:

We are comfortable with functions 1 and 2, then mature into 3 and 4.

A basic ideas is that we each have a preferred, natural, most comfortable ordering of those functions.  And if we are really natural at one half of the parity, then the opposite quality will be less natural.

Each of the 16 types preferentially orders these eight Functions in the matrix (which displays on 1-4, left to right which are conscious, but 5-8 are not displayed because they are unconscious).  

Normally a person first accesses functions 1 and 2 (most conscious) ,
and, if healthy, then accesses the later functions (least conscious).

For example, a healthy person go deeper into their creative (4th) function, which is the last of the conscious expressions -- it's least concerned what "should" be done.

As we mature we better integrate the fourth function, like filling up the 4th wheel of the car with air.

The Why:  Myers-Briggs

Last, the Myers-Briggs tells us our greatest appetite: the "Why".

This will be either:

-- Goodness
-- Truth
-- Beauty
-- Harmony.

Wrap up

This may seem convoluted, but once you get it, the flavors of people become much more rich.

Thus, using both the Myers-Briggs and the Jung functions together gives us:

For each type in the left sidebar, I have placed a one-line summary at the top of the description. For example, at the top of the ESTJ page we read "Exports thoughts in parts for the goal of goodness."

That tells quite a bit about a person!  It's at least a great starting point for conversation.

Anyway, that's my two cents—please send me any corrections.