A Simple-ish Explanation of the Cognitive Functions

            For a blog that is supposedly about writing, life, and MBTI, I've posted a lot about life, less about writing, and twice about MBTI.

            As I discovered the MBTI system, I looked up everything I could on everything (like I do when I have a new obsession– I've learned it's a Ni trait, but I digress). But for awhile, I ignored the cognitive functions. Why? Because they were just too darn complicated. I couldn't figure it out, and I couldn't fathom how I'd memorize each type's function combination. I could not for the life of me get a straightforward explanation of them. So, now that I'm older and wiser and actually kind of know what I'm talking about, I'm going to write that explanation.

            There are eight functions. Each has an abbreviation, which is listed below. I've also included a short explanation of the basics each function.

Extraverted Sensing- Se- Often stereotyped as the adrenaline junkie function. Se is all about taking in information in the present moment. It pays attention to the five senses and is aware of the external world.

Introverted Sensing- Si- Si is most closely linked to memory, and to being aware of sensation within one's own body. Si types tend to put trust in the past and what has worked before, which lends towards their reputation of being stubborn and bad with change.

Introverted Intuition- Ni- Ni gets a really good reputation in the MBTI community. It's known on tumblr as "psychic powers." In reality, Ni is all about picking up patterns and applying them to the future. It's used mostly unconsciously, assembling bits of information and putting them together like puzzle pieces, all below conscious understanding.

Extraverted Intuition- Ne- Ne is focused on possibilities- all of the possibilities. My best friend's little sister uses Ne, and hasn't yet developed her second function, and you can see that in the way she talks. She'll jump from idea to idea exhaustingly quickly, with seemingly no connections between them. Ne gathers as much information as possible and looks for relationships between things.

Extraverted Feeling- Fe- Stereotypically hugs and emotional manipulation, Fe seeks external harmony between people. It tries to read the dynamics of a situation and bring people together. Fe focuses on community values, but this doesn't necessarily mean that it uses traditional values. Fe takes the values of the community they belong to to heart, and try to help everyone feel included within them.

Introverted Feeling- Fi- Fi is all about internal values. It's about exploring one's own thoughts and feelings and staying true to them. Fi users tend to work through their feelings internally rather than look for external companionship. They live with the idea of not being able to control everything, but controlling themselves.

Introverted Thinking- Ti- Ti cares about internal logical consistency. It makes an internal framework for how the world works, adjusting when necessary for new information. Ti is analytical and enjoys taking things apart and figuring out why they work. It loves learning and finding the best possible solution, regardless of time.

Extraverted Thinking- Te- Te cares about structuring and ordering the external world through rational thought. It's decisive and efficient, and is very action-oriented. While Ti is content to sit and think about options for hours, Te likes to make a decision and execute it as quickly as possible. Te users tend to be good leaders because of this quality.

            The Judging function are the thinking/feeling ones– Ti, Fi, Te, and Fe. Perceivers will have the introverted versions of these functions, while judgers will have the extraverted versions. These functions primarily affect decision making– passing judgements. The Perceiving functions are Ne, Ni, Se, and Si. They affect how we process and experience the world, and having an extraverted perceiving function makes you a perceiver.

            Everyone has four functions in their stack, but you only need to figure out the first two, and the last two will be the opposite (Opposites are Ni/Se, Fi/Te, Si/Ne, Ti/Fe). Figuring out the functions can be a little complicated, especially if you don't know what they are, so here's a brief sketch of each function.

            Now, on to figuring out your functions! I'm going to use myself as an example. So, because of my obsession with this system, and because I overanalyze things, I got into this black hole of self-doubt a few months ago. What if I'm not actually an INFJ? What if everything I think I know about myself is a lie? So I resolved to determine the problem mathematically. (My method only fed into my doubt at first. My main problem was what if I'm actually a thinker/perceiver because Ti?) I found five different function tests across the internet, and took each of them, writing down my percentage for each function. Then I took the averages of each percentage to figure everything out. I discovered I am, in fact, an INFJ, I just have really strong Ti and social anxiety that impacts my Fe. You don't have to go to these lengths, but it helped me.

            Anyhow, in order to figure out which functions you use, it would be good to take at least one function test, to get a feel, and you kind of need to study the system. A lot. You don't necessarily need to find your dominant function first. I usually figure out thinking/feeling first, then figure out if the function is introverted or extraverted, then determine if the person is more introverted or extraverted. Your dominant function will be introverted if you're an introvert, and vice versa. Your secondary function will be extroverted if you're introverted.

If your dominant function is-

Te or Fe, your secondary function will either be Si or Ni

Ti or Fi, your secondary function will be Ne or Se.

Ni or Si, your secondary function will be Fe or Te.

Ne or Se, your secondary function will be Fi or Ti.

Figure out which dominant and secondary functions best fit you, and then put them together to find your type.

Ni, Fe, Ti, Se- INFJ

Ni, Te, Fi, Se- INTJ

Ne, Fi, Te, Si- ENFP

Ne, Ti, Fe, Si- ENTP

Se, Ti, Fe, Ni- ESTP

Se, Fi, Te, Ni- ESFP

Si, Te, Fi, Ne- ISTJ

Si, Fe, Ti, Ne- ISFJ

Ti, Se, Ni, Fe- ISTP

Ti, Ne, Si, Fe- INTP

Te, Ni, Se, Fi- ENTJ

Te, Si, Ne, Fi- ESTJ

Fe, Ni, Se, Ti- ENFJ

Fe, Si, Ne, Ti- ESFJ

Fi, Ne, Si, Te- INFP

Fi, Se, Ni, Te- ISFP

I'm not sure how much sense this makes, so if you have any questions, please ask them in the comments. I hope I've cleared up some of the confusion around the functions and made it simpler for you. If you want an explanation of the four-letter system and how you can use it for characters, check out my previous post here.

The Lunar Chronicles MBTI

So, I have recently discovered the amazing series The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. Oh, stars, it is fabulous. Easily one of the best-crafted series I've ever read. The fandom is fairly small though, and MBTI resources have been painfully limited. And then I realized-- I have a blog! (I kinda forget that) I can write a post with what I think! And then you all can disagree with me via comments! So, here's what I think about the types of the Rampion Crew.

Linh Cinder- ISTP: Okay, so initially this thought came to me with the nickname ISTP mechanic, which immediately led to an internal rant berating myself for relying on stereotypes, but the more I thought about it the more it made sense. Cinder is very observant, good with the present moment and physical world, which indicates Se, but I'm also quite certain she's introverted. Deciding between Ti and Fi was more difficult, but I tentatively decided Ti. She's very logical, staying cool in dangerous situations.

Kai- ENFJ: This one was kind of difficult. The only thing I was certain of at first is that he was an NF-- he's a hopeless romantic and extremely idealistic. Narrowing down his functions was a bit more difficult, but I'm reasonably confident he uses Fe, with how much he cares for his people. He constantly keeps his wants and desires in check for the safety of the Earthen Union, even if he does drop some epic sass while doing so. That makes it so his percieving function has to be Ni. After much deliberation, I decided that he's probably slightly more extroverted. He never really shows fatigue after dealing with people, and is very personal in all his communications.

Scarlet Benoit- ESTP: Scarlet. . . oh, Scarlet. She's very direct, very observant, and excellent at improvisation. She's definitely a Se-dom. She's also very blunt and direct. She may be a feeler, but I lean more towards Ti for reasons I have no idea how to articulate.

Wolf Kesley- ISFP: Oh my sweet cinnamon roll. He is sweet and perfect and I love him. Fangirling aside, I'm certain he's a Fi-dom. His whole character arc revolves around being who he really is rather than what others want him to be. He cares deeply about his convictions, his alpha, and his tomatoes. He's also very much in the present moment, taking in minute changes in an opponent's stance to win fights, and being very in touch with his senses. (Though that might have something to do with the wolf thing.)

Carswell Thorne- ESTP: Okay. How could Thorne be anything but an ESTP? His impulsivity, his focus on the external, his thrill-seeking behavior. He started a prison riot over soap, for stars' sake. He stole a spaceship he didn't know how to fly. He's very extroverted, very direct, and really, about what people think of when you say ESTP.

Cress Darnel- INFP: Cress's defining characteristics are her imagination and her kindness. She's very in tune with her feelings, and cares deeply about everything, really. And since a very young age, she's used imaginative scenarios to get through the many, many rough spots, jumping from idea to idea.

Jacin Clay- ISTJ: Jacin is another example of a stereotypical example of his type. He's extremely self-contained and doesn't take nonsense, even as a very young child. His Si is evident in the way he uses established ways to protect Winter, and is extremely loyal to her. He is also very logical and follows rules in order to get what he wants.

Winter Hayle-Blackburn- INFJ: I worried at first that this was a type bias, but I'm pretty confident in my reasoning here. She couldn't use anything but Fe as her judging function, with her incredible empathy. The way she thinks is very Ni-- consider her sitting in court, imagining her heart is a blood-platelet factory (anatomically incorrect, but it's the sentiment that matters). She thinks and speaks in abstract, but very human terms, and I'm fairly certain she's an introvert.

Iko- ESFP: Oh, my other cinnamon roll. And another example of someone who embodies their type. Iko is obsessed with the physical world, mostly in clothes, stays updated on current events, and is very feelings-oriented. Honestly, she's probably one of the easiest characters to type. And she's fabulous.

So that's my interpretation of the TLC characters. I'd love to hear what you think about them though, and if you haven't read the series, do yourself a favor and find it right now. It's completely worth everything.

I'll probably try to get back to writing about writing. To my friends who'll see this post, remind me to write next weekend, cause I have a list of potential topics and no excuses not to write. And to the rest of you, have fabulous days!

MBTI Types as Words for Intelligent

One MBTI stereotype that irks me to no end is the assumption that some types are inherently unintelligent. Everyone has some measure of intelligence. It's how that intelligence is used that counts. I've posted before on narrow definitions of intelligence. So, with this post, I hope to bring two messages--
1) To the types that are usually cited as smart-- This post is not meant to belittle you in any way, shape, or form. You are smart. But we need to recognize everyone's intelligence. Which leads me to my second message.
2) To the types that aren't generally told they're smart. Yes you are. People just don't realize that intelligence comes in many forms. You're awesome. Don't let the online MBTI stereotypes get you down.

So, without further ado, on to the synonyms!

ISTJ- Knowledgeable- intelligent and well informed.
ISFJ- Discerning- having or showing good judgement.
ESFJ- Sharp- having or showing speed of perception, comprehension, or response.
ESTJ- Responsible- (of a job or position) involving important duties, independent decision-making, or control over others. I feel like this one needs clarification, because it's not generally used with intelligence. You are so together, and you can always be counted on to make a good decision and make it work.

ESTP- Clever- quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas.
ESFP- Resourceful- having the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.
ISFP- Alert- able to think clearly; intellectually active.
ISTP- Quick-Witted- showing or characterized by an ability to think or respond quickly or effectively.

INTP- Brilliant-exceptionally clever or talented.
ENTP- Inventive- (of a person) having the ability to create or design new things or to think originally.
ENTJ- Acute- having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight: shrewd
INTJ- Reasonable- (of a person) having sound judgment; fair and sensible. (I also thought of calculating, but that has super negative connotations)

INFJ- Perspicacious- having a ready insight into and understanding of things.
INFP- Wise- having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
ENFP- Witty- showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humor.
ENFJ- Sagacious- having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd.

Thoughts? Anything to add?

Using MBTI to Develop Characters

   

   I don't know about you, but developing characters is one of my favorite parts of writing. Figuring out who they are, and why, is incredible, and seeing them run loose on the page is, while occasionally exasperating, really quite cool.
    But sometimes they decide not to talk to me. That's a problem. I know something will happen, but I have no clue how they'd react. This is where Myers-Briggs comes in handy. I can hop onto the writing group on Facebook that I'm part of, type up a quick question addressed to people of the same type as my character, and get some ideas of how my character would react.
    By the way, for those who don't know, MBTI stands for Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (or instrument, depending on who you ask). Each person will be a four-letter type, and use four of eight functions (which are super confusing and I'm not good at them, so if you want to know about them, google MBTI functions). So, for a quick rundown of the system--
    Introversion/Extraversion- This is where you get your energy. Introverts expend energy in social situations, while Extraverts gain it. Introversion is abbreviated as I, and Extraversion is abbreviated as E.
    Sensing/Intuition- This is how the inner world is structured. Sensors prefer concrete details, while Intuits tend to lean more towards the big picture and what it means, rather than what it is. Intuition is abbreviated as N, to differentiate it from Introversion. Sensing is shortened to S.
   Thinking/Feeling- This is how you make decisions. Thinkers rely on objective reasoning, while Feelers are more likely to 'follow their hearts.' These two abbreviations are easy; just T/F.
   Judging/Perceiving- This is how the outer world is structured. Judgers prefer schedules, order and tidiness, while Perceivers would rather go with the flow. The abbreviations are J/P.
   Each person has one of eac of these, and you put the letters together to make your type. I'm an INFJ, which stands for Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, Judging. My four-letter opposite would be an ESTP, which stands for Extraversion, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving.
    If you want to find out your type, there are online tests, but those aren't the most accurate. If you have to, use a test that measures the funtions, rather than letters, and then read about types to figure out the best fit.
    To figure out your character's type, follow the same process.
    Anyhow, once you know your character's type, it gives you a good way to figure out reactions you're not sure of. My current main character is an ESTP, so I'm often lost on what she would do. Because I know her type, though, I can either Google it (ESTP and anger, for instance), ask ESTPs I know in real life, or ask other ESTPs on the internet.
   It also gives a framework to work with for your character. While Myers-Briggs isn't a cookie cutter mold, it can give you a good idea of some common traits. When I create a character, the first thing I usually do for personality is MBTI type. It gives me a good idea of some basics, and helps me get a good foundation for further detail.
     P.S. Here are some of my favorite MBTI resources-
     http://oddlydevelopedtypes.com/survival_quiz  This is mostly just fun. It has short stories about each type in a zombie apocalypse, and is...definitely interesting.
     http://www.keys2cognition.com/explore.htm   If you MUST use an online test, this one is decent. It measures the functions, and will suggest the main type it thinks you are, plus the next two.
     http://typelogic.com/fa.html   This gives a description of each type, using functions.
    Do you have any questions? What are your characters' types? What are yours? Let me know in the comments!

Let's Stop with the Stereotypes

 

    Okay, so I feel a strong need to write this.
    I absolutely love Myers-Briggs types. They fascinate me. I love reading articles, typing my friends and family and complete strangers. I love using it to help me understand people. Even the stereotypes can be fun.
     But they can also be hurtful.
     Yesterday, I was bored. I decided to play with Google's suggested searches. I typed in each Myers-Briggs type, followed by the word are, and watched what it suggested.
    I was shocked by the differences between types. Some types were exclusively positive. Some were mixed. And some were completely negative.
    ESFJs, for example. The suggested words included annoying and stupid. Now, both my mom and my sister are ESFJs (though my sister is pretty ambiverted). Of course, sometimes they annoy me. That's inevitable, considering I live with them. But they are also amazing. Both are hardworking, conscientious, and loving. Both will always listen and provide a shoulder to cry on. They are so much more than stupid and annoying.
     And just because they're the same type doesn't mean they're the same person. My sister loves reading, and spends a lot of her time doing it. Her favorite genre is fantasy. She's a proud Ravenclaw. She loves singing and dancing. She wants to open a daycare when she grows up.
    My mom, on the other hand, does read, but prefers historical fiction. She's studying to get a degree in English. She likes romantic comedies. She doesn't really care about Harry Potter, but we're 99% sure she's a Hufflepuff.
    Yes, they're similar. But they don't have a hive mind.
     While I fit very well into the category of INFJ, I don't agree 100% with everything I read. I can't effortlessly tell someone's life story, or even if they're upset. Sometimes I think something's wrong when they're totally fine. Sometimes I'm completely oblivious. I spend a lot of time in my head, but I don't think exclusively about philosophy and world peace. I think about homework. I think about boys. I think about that last episode of Doctor Who that I watched.
     One of my least favorite things about Myers-Briggs is the assumptions that come with each group and type.
    Just because I'm not an NT doesn't mean I'm not smart. Just because I'm not an SJ doesn't mean I can't follow rules. Just because I'm not an SP doesn't mean I can't be crazy and spontaneous. If you're not an NF, it doesn't mean you can never be deep.
     Introverts can enjoy having company. Extroverts can enjoy being alone. Sensors can be deep. Intuits can be practical. Thinkers can be kind. Feelers can be smart. Judgers can be spontaneous. Percievers can be organized.
     Your type can help you discover yourself. But it does not define you. You define you. You are so much more than your type. Each type has good points and bad points, and each type has diversity within the type. Don't let stereotypes hold you back. Because before you are a type, you are a person.