Each person has four main cognitive functions that their brain primarily uses.
Of these four functions, there is one that is most predominant, with the second, third and fourth following successively.
The first function that is used most predominantly, is the first to develop within the brain during infancy and childhood.
As the child matures into adulthood, the second function begins to develop, then the third, and so on.
There is therefore an order, or preference, to the development of these functions within the brain.
Thus, determining ‘Personality Type’.
Function Stack
For example, the INTP (from our earlier example in Part Two), displays the Ti function most predominantly in their early years.
As the child grows into adulthood, the Ne function begins to display itself, with the third and fourth functions following along as they continue in adulthood.
This is what is known as a ‘function stack’ in the world of Myers-Briggs® personality typing.
For the INTP, their ‘function stack’ is as follows:
One – Ti – introverted thinking
Two – Ne – extraverted intuition
Three – Si – introverted sensing
Four – Fe – extraverted feeling
As you can see, there is an alternating pattern of introverted to extraverted, or extraverted to introverted, and so on.
The ‘function stack’ is present in each personality type.
Function Stack by Personality Type
Here is the function stack for each of the 16 Personality Types:
|
INTP: Ti > Ne > Si > Fe ISTP: Ti > Se > Ni > Fe ENTJ: Te > Ni > Se > Fi ESTJ: Te > Si > Ne > Fi INFP: Fi > Ne > Si > Te ISFP: Fi > Se > Ni > Te ENFJ: Fe > Ni > Se > Ti ESFJ: Fe > Si > Ne > Ti |
INTJ: Ni > Te > Fi > Se INFJ: Ni > Fe > Ti > Se ENFP: Ne > Fi > Te > Si ENTP: Ne > Ti > Fe > Si ISFJ: Si > Fe > Ti > Ne ISTJ: Si > Te > Fi > Ne ESFP: Se > Fi > Te > Ni ESTP: Se > Ti > Fe > Ni |
In a healthy state, as you continue along in adulthood, you may begin to notice other functions of your brain begin to develop and mature. These are your third and fourth functions. They may not reach the same level of proficiency and strength as your more dominant functions (1 and 2), but, in a healthy state, there should certainly be a level of growth in these inferior functions (3 and 4), that you should be able to recognise.
This is called cognitive function development.
This may be identified as a growing interest or natural skill in a certain area, such as an effortless grasp of spatial awareness and kinesthesia (Se), or an increasing ability to pick up and discern social moods & behaviours (Fe), or an inclination towards organizing and creating systems & structures in different areas of your life (Te).
Those are just some examples.
An Easy Recognition
If you have correctly identified your ‘Personality Type’, then further examining your third and fourth functions should be a confirmation.
There should be an easy recognition in relating to, or identifying with, the third and fourth functions that come in your ‘function stack’.
It shouldn’t feel forced or strange or unnatural, it should seem familiar and relatable and recognisable.
For example, the INTP whose first two functions are Ti and Ne, would look at the table above and see that Si and Fe are next in their ‘function stack’.
Since this INTP is well into adulthood, they know it is reasonable to expect to recognise traits coming from their third and fourth functions, which are Si and Fe respectively.
So, the INTP analyses Si (descriptions can be found in Part Two) and can easily relate to having a growing sense of connection to the past or to finding a sense of stability and comfort in familiar routines, tasks or traditions. This would further confirm that their personality type is an INTP.
The fourth function may seem less like an easy fit, and more of a growing inclination or subtle interest in that area. Perhaps even reading the description of your fourth function, you may think, I’ve always wanted to grow more in that area, or I can relate to some of those traits. Thus, there should still be some sense of relatability or ease towards that area.
If, however, an ISTP had earlier mistyped themselves as an INTP and examined the third function of the INTP and found that it didn’t fit them at all – then this would be a good confirmation or suggestion that they may have earlier mistyped their personality.
In which case it would be a good idea to revisit the cognitive functions again, to see which top two they most strongly and closely identify with. If correctly identified, the third and fourth functions should seem like an easy fit.
Again, examining cognitive functions to determine personality type may give the most accurate result, as it analyses the foundations of how our brains are wired, and therefore, what our ‘Personality Type’ may be.