Why should I care about the functions?!

[ThatGirl]

Ok on cognitive functions I test as an INTP. Spend one minute in front of me and you would understand the reason I dont put too much stock in these things.

So every one is Ee this and Pt that.

I am fairly new to the whole MBTI thing but I have pretty much learned to type someone in RL on the spot. I will even give someone the test and when their profile comes back absurd I will just hand them the one I think and they are amazed by the accuracy.

So why the functions? They seem to differ depending on situation and are highly inconsistant.

[heart]

Jung's system is totally based on the functions and more reliable than MBTI.

[ThatGirl]

Not from what Ive seen. How do they test reliability?

[Evan]

You should care about the functions because even people who don't fit the profiles fit the functions.

The functions are more exact, and you can accurately move from function preference to type. You cannot accurately move from the four separate dichotomies to the functions.

The dichotomies pit things like Thinking and Feeling against each other when they are not in opposition. Thinking depends on Feeling and vice versa. Ditto for Sensing and Intuition.

Also, just because you took a function test and didn't get the right results doesn't mean you should throw out the theory. All tests are going to be unreliable.

[INTJMom]

Ok on cognitive functions I test as an INTP. Spend one minute in front of me and you would understand the reason I dont put too much stock in these things.

So every one is Ee this and Pt that.

I am fairly new to the whole MBTI thing but I have pretty much learned to type someone in RL on the spot. I will even give someone the test and when their profile comes back absurd I will just hand them the one I think and they are amazed by the accuracy.

So why the functions? They seem to differ depending on situation and are highly inconsistant.
Yeah, I came out twice as an INTP, and there's no way I'm a P.
I think the functions have some validity and are worth understanding,
but the online test doesn't work well enough to give accurate answers.
Not asking the right questions.

[ThatGirl]

Ok Im going off now to read the functions I will be back with observations.

[ThatGirl]

Decided my main functions are Se Ne Fi Ti what does that make me?

[heart]

Which one do you lean on the most? What's your automatic pilot?

[ThatGirl]

Ne was the only one I dont really think about or plan for I just do

Although when walking into any new situation Se is all over the place too

[GZA]

Both are B.S. really... they are fun, they explain some things in laymen's terms, but neither are reliable or testable.

[heart]

Ne was the only one I dont really think about or plan for I just do

Although when walking into any new situation Se is all over the place too

From reading your posts I would say you were Ne dominant, but only you know you the best.


So ENxP

Then if you could decide which judging function feels most comfortable for you, you would have your two foremost functions.

[ThatGirl]

ENXP Lol!

Shouldnt these line up with our obvious types?

Or is it life you are but you dont know you are?

[entropie]

uah, does not matter where you go, you always find a ThatGirl post :D

[Lateralus]

ENXP Lol!

Shouldnt these line up with our obvious types?

Or is it life you are but you dont know you are?
My functions don't line up with any particular type, either. My functions are Te/Fi/Ne/Se. I'm probably just a mutant.

I settled for ENTJ because Te is my dominant judging function, I'm not an introvert (so I'm not INTJ), and I'm definitely not an SJ (so I'm not ESTJ).

[heart]

ENXP Lol!

Shouldnt these line up with our obvious types?

Or is it life you are but you dont know you are?

To my way of thinking, knowing the functions for one's self is the whole point to MBTI/Jung's personality systems. The functions are the way to learn how we use our intelligence and where our weaknesses are and such. A tool for self discovery. Focusing on function rather than behavior seems the best use for the system. Otherwise(and we've all done it) just get too much into pidgeon holing people. Only the person in question knows their true preferences. When we type people from the outside, it's all just guesses.

[Jack Flak]

My opinion: We'd be better off if Keirsey were born before Jung or Meyers. Throw the functions in the trash, they are extraneous and problematic.

[ThatGirl]

Hm, I just know that I am ENTP word for word on any given discription....although I often get frusterated with the interpretations of where the behavior comes from the overall discription is dead on.

Yet somehow my functions never align.

I guess not everyone fits into such a box.

[disregard]

Tests only tell you what you value, because when you answer questions you're subconsciously painting yourself into (under?) what you perceive to be a "good" light.

Care about the functions if they interest you, which they should.. but don't obsess over your type. Just learn about the functions.. they're cool.

[Jack Flak]

Functions are a lot like Astrology in actual practice. You tell someone "you are x, that's why you do this," and they say "oh yeah, that makes sense." Yet you can't usually decipher someone's functions without prior knowledge. Think about it.

[heart]

The tests just measure what a person's preferences are, not how well they've developed any preferences.

[ThatGirl]

Shit! I am Fe I just dont define F as others do...its very objective to the situation.

[Ilah]

Shit! I am Fe I just dont define F as others do...its very objective to the situation.

A complicated thing about functions is that it seems like different authors define them differently. You might identify strongly with one Fe description, but another seems like it is not you at all.

Also "feeling" in MBTI is not used the way it is used in normal language. It is not just emotion, but covers values as well. For example if you feel strongly about the environment, politics, religion or some cause that would be part of F.

[ThatGirl]

After almost accidentally killing the dog I never should have owned in the first place. I really wanted her to make it so I could give her to someone else........ because I'm not a caretaker and I dont do causes.

But I cared enough to give her away


She did make it by the way and with a good family with another dog.

[ThatGirl]

I think I need to read up on F more

[mlittrell]

Jung's system is totally based on the functions and more reliable than MBTI.

agreed very very very much, if you look at my posts, a good chunk of them are basically function theory. the functions are by far one of the most important things in personality typing. to me, moreso then understanding the temperaments (though you must understand that before functions). the reason i find them to be extremely helpful is because really anything can be explained using functions. it seems to help people who are trying to figure out what they are in mbti terms. I use it a lot in situations. Really, its a deeper way of understanding people. and your functions are INTP (Ti, Ne, Si, Fe)

[Jennifer]

Functions are a lot like Astrology in actual practice. You tell someone "you are x, that's why you do this," and they say "oh yeah, that makes sense."

yes, it's pretty easy to do that.

I.e., you can define behavior in terms of functions, but you cannot justify/proves functions necessarily from behavior. It's just one way of organizing behavior and potentially explaining it and probably should just be looked at in that light.

I think where it gets a little more interesting is whether or not you can predict future behavior by organizing past behavior in terms of function. Does it have predictive value? Unfortunately there is enough deviation so you're left wondering what suggests the theory is flawed versus what is just exception to the rule.

[mlittrell]

behavior/motives = enneagram, decision making = functions/mbti. you will find that an Fi and Fe person might come to the same decision but for different reason. or they have a different mindset about it.

[Evan]

Functions are a lot like Astrology in actual practice. You tell someone "you are x, that's why you do this," and they say "oh yeah, that makes sense." Yet you can't usually decipher someone's functions without prior knowledge. Think about it.

And Keirsey is somehow better? Are you kidding?

[Jack Flak]

And Keirsey is somehow better? Are you kidding?
Yes; No.

[Evan]

Good luck with that.

[Jack Flak]

Good luck with that.
Thank you. It's going absolutely smashingly so far.