Cognitive Functions

(Illustration: Jake Beech)

What are cognitive functions? They’re the motivation behind your actions. You possess four out of eight possible functions that dictate how you respond to external stimuli. The eight functions are as follows:

• Extroverted intuition (Ne) sees new possibilities.
• Introverted intuition (Ni) sees connections between ideas.
• Extroverted sensing (Se) has full awareness of the present environment.
• Introverted sensing (Si) applies past environments to the present.
• Extroverted feeling (Fe) manifests as empathy.
• Introverted feeling (Fi) manifests as sympathy.
• Extroverted thinking (Te) solves problems according to an external framework.
• Introverted thinking (Ti) solves problems according to an internal framework.

Intuition and sensing are called perceiving functions. Feeling and thinking are called judging functions. You have one of each intuition, sensing, feeling, and thinking functions. Of those, two are extroverted and two are introverted. Their order determines your psychological type.

Dominant function: How you think
Auxiliary function: How you act
Tertiary function: How you support your actions
Inferior function: How you respond to stress

You're either an extrovert or an introvert. Extroverts are energized by being around people. Introverts are energized by being alone. An example would be that extroverts think aloud, while introverts process their thoughts internally. This category determines whether your dominant and inferior functions are extroverted or introverted.

Functions of extroverts:
Extroverted dominant function
Introverted auxiliary function
Extroverted tertiary function
Introverted inferior function

Functions of introverts:
Introverted dominant function
Extroverted auxiliary function
Introverted tertiary function
Extroverted inferior function

You're either a judger or a perceiver. Judgers need to take care of their outer world before they can focus on their inner world. Perceivers focus on their inner world and deal with the outer world as it comes. An example would be that judgers clean their rooms to feel better, while perceivers clean their rooms when they feel like it. This category determines whether your first judging function is extroverted or introverted.

Functions of extroverted judgers:
Extroverted judging dominant function
Introverted perceiving auxiliary function
Extroverted perceiving tertiary function
Introverted judging inferior function

Functions of introverted judgers:
Introverted perceiving dominant function
Extroverted judging auxiliary function
Introverted judging tertiary function
Extroverted perceiving inferior function

Functions of extroverted perceivers:
Extroverted perceiving dominant function
Introverted judging auxiliary function
Extroverted judging tertiary function
Introverted perceiving inferior function

Functions of introverted perceivers:
Introverted judging dominant function
Extroverted perceiving auxiliary function
Introverted perceiving tertiary function
Extroverted judging inferior function

Note that you can’t have two extroverted judging functions or two extroverted perceiving functions. So if you have extroverted feeling, you have introverted thinking. If you have extroverted intuition, you have introverted sensing.

For example, the INFJ is introverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging. Introverted means it has an introverted dominant function and an extroverted inferior function. Judging means that its first judging function is extroverted. So the INFJ’s dominant function is introverted intuition (Ni). Its auxiliary function is extroverted feeling (Fe). Its tertiary function must be introverted thinking (Ti) because an extroverted judging function already exists. And its inferior function is extroverted sensing (Se).

Keep reading to learn how these functions look on reality stars!