Full Disclosure: I don’t subscribe to pop psychology, pseudo-psychology, or psychology. But I repeat myself. Of course, that’s just what an INTP would say anyway. So predictable.

I was introduced to the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) in the late ’80s as an undergrad Psychology student and then in Organisational Behaviour classes. I read about the foundations in the ’90s when I read the works of Carl Jung’s, Archetypal psychology.

I take the test every few years, and I consistently come up as INT. The P and J flip now and again. The last test I took was a P. Some tests have added an A or T dimension. There are also sub-factors. I’ll get to those presently.

MBTI is a personality assessment tool designed to categorize individuals into one of 16 distinct personality types. Based on Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types, MBTI helps identify how people perceive the world and make decisions. Each personality type is derived from a combination of four dichotomies:

1. Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I) – Describes where individuals prefer to focus their energy. Extraverts are outward-focused, gaining energy from interaction, while Introverts are inward-focused, drawing energy from solitude.
2. Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N) – Defines how people process information. Sensing types rely on concrete details and present realities, while Intuitive types focus on patterns, possibilities, and abstract thinking.
3. Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F) – Describes how decisions are made. Thinking types prioritise logic and objectivity, while Feeling types consider values and emotional impact.
4. Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P) – Describes lifestyle preferences. Judging types prefer structure and closure, whereas Perceiving types favour flexibility and keeping options open.

Cognitive Functions

Each type has a specific “cognitive function stack” that explains how these preferences play out in everyday life. These functions are divided into:

• Dominant Function: The most natural and frequently used function.
• Auxiliary Function: Supports the dominant function, offering balance.
• Tertiary Function: Less developed but still important, often emerging later in life.
• Inferior Function: The least developed function, which tends to show up awkwardly, especially under stress.

The eight cognitive functions are:

1. Introverted Thinking (Ti) – Internal analysis and logic refinement.
2. Extraverted Thinking (Te) – External organisation and efficiency.
3. Introverted Feeling (Fi) – Personal values and internal authenticity.
4. Extraverted Feeling (Fe) – Social harmony and emotional dynamics.
5. Introverted Sensing (Si) – Recalling past experiences and valuing tradition.
6. Extraverted Sensing (Se) – Engaging with the present moment and sensory details.
7. Introverted Intuition (Ni) – Focusing on future possibilities and deep insights.
8. Extraverted Intuition (Ne) – Exploring ideas and brainstorming possibilities.

Assertive (A) vs. Turbulent (T) Dimension

The A-T dimension adds a layer of emotional self-regulation to MBTI types. It describes how confident or self-critical individuals are in their decision-making and handling of stress.

Turbulent (T) types tend to be more self-critical, stress-prone, and driven by perfectionism and external validation.

Assertive (A) types are self-assured, less prone to stress, and comfortable with their decisions.

With this definition in place, I’ll save further commentary for a future post.