The Cognitive Function Theory Explained

Making sense of the guiding principles of the MBTI

Author’s Note: My ultimate goal is to be able to speak freely to you, my reader, about cognitive functions and how the different mental processes of each person affects how they behave in different scenarios. In the previous post I spoke about what learning deeply about cognitive functions can do for us. In this post, I’ll like to start the process of actually explaining the cognitive function theory.

Like in the previous post I will quote a lot of my material from this really long piece of writing that you can treat as the bible of the cognitive function theory. If you are the type of person who wants to spend quite some time poring over the best material possible on a subject, you can skip my series of posts and go ahead and read this: The Principles of Cognitive Function Theory.

As an overarching summary, in this post, I will cover sub-topics like what cognitive functions are; classifications that make them easier to understand, their dynamics when in operation and a little explanation of why we’re all different in our expression of these cognitive functions

Firstly, what are cognitive functions?

They are the tools (8 in number, in it’s most expansive form) that help to explain how the brain expresses itself.

“A cognitive function is a mental faculty that helps you make sense of the world.” (Part 2, Paragraph 1)

Another easy way to explain the above excerpt (verse, haha) is to see cognitive functions as the senses of the brain. The way our complete body has 5 senses (sight, smell, taste, etc) the brain also has a group of senses that it uses to interact and express itself.

What classifications help us better understand cognitive functions?

The easiest thing to understand about cognitive functions is that they do either of two things; they either help us gather information or make decisions.

Functions that help the brain to gather information can be known as perceiving functions (seems obvious enough). While functions that help the brain make decisions or judgements can be known as judging functions (even more obvious).

In terms of perceiving functions, there are two major cognitive functions that do this work of collecting information:

1. Sensing (S): This function gathers sensory facts/details.* A sensory fact or detail is one grounded in absolute reality. A thing that can be observed without a special explanation or special principle explained. A man gets angry. Someone has $10,000 in her bank account. It’s easily confirmed facts. 2+2 is 4, -1, that’s 3. Quick math (will edit this out eventually).
2. Intuition (N): This function gathers abstract patterns/potential.* By design, abstract patterns/potential are harder to explain. It’s about ideas and visions and principles that aren’t easily observable. The big picture. Large scale interaction and patterns. “The patriarchy is why women are sexist towards other women.”

*(Part 2, Table 1)

In terms of judging functions, there are two major cognitive functions that help people make decisions.

1. Thinking (T): Judgments based on systematic principles.* This is pretty self explanatory.
2. Feeling (F): Judgements based on human values.*

*(Part 2, Table 1)

The one difference between these two things (Thinking & Feeling) is that systematic principles by their essential nature have little consideration for individual human values. And Human values by design puts these individual consideration over the systematic principle and its cold lack of consideration for the feelings of the individual human being.

“Each cognitive process [function] can be expressed inwardly in an introverted (i) manner or outwardly in an extroverted (e) manner, making eight possible modes of cognitive functioning” (Part 2, Paragraph 3)

Since we have described 4 cognitive functions above, an extroverted and introverted expression of each of those functions means that the 4 functions can be further divided into 8 functions: Introverted or Extroverted Sensing S(i) or S(e); Introverted or Extroverted Intuition N(i) or N(e); Introverted or Extroverted Thinking T(i) or T(e); Introverted or Extroverted Feeling F(i) or F(e).

What’s this introverted or Extroverted nonsense?

Everyone is a combination of both extroversion and introversion. However, each person is more of one, even if it’s by a little bit. This, however does not mean that the introvert will use all the introverted parts of the cognitive functions. Far from it. It just helps us understand the dominant function (will be discussed in detail in another post).

Knowing the dominant function helps us to further understand the other functions a person will use and in what order. More importantly, everyone will make use of an equal number of extroverted functions as introverted functions (and in a symmetrical manner). More on this beautiful concept in another post.

An easy way to tell whether your dominant function is introverted or extroverted is to look at the I/E category of your MBTI test results (provided they are accurate). An INTP’s dominant function is T(i); and an ENFJ’s dominant function is F(e). An INTJ’s dominant function is N(i). An easy to notice trend is that all those dominant functions correlate with the I/E of the overall MBTI type.

What’s the difference between introverted and extroverted functions?

An introverted function looks inwards to either gather data or make a judgement. Simply put, the introverted function is asking itself, what do I believe, based on my internally calculated permutations, is the truth? They are sometimes referred to as subjective functions (because they use information from self, not because they are irrational).

1. Introverted Sensing; S(i): How do I interpret what is happening now based on what I have previously experienced/sensed myself?
2. Introverted Intuition; N(i): How do I interpret this new information based on the abstract ideas and principles I have formed in my head?
3. Introverted Thinking; T(i): How do I make a decision based on this formula I came up with in my head?
4. Introverted Feeling; F(i): How do I make a decision based on the human oriented values I have decided on my own?

An extroverted function looks outward to either gather data or make a judgement. The extroverted function is asking itself, what is the world around me saying about this particular thing? They are sometimes referred to as objective functions (because they use information from the world; not because they are rational).

1. Extroverted Sensing; S(e): How do I react based on the information I am receiving from the environment around me?
2. N(e): What do I do based on the abstractly connected/big picture trends and patterns that I have noticed of the world around me?
3. T(e): What formulas, systems and standards has the world already decided is the best way to make this decision?
4. F(e): What are the societal norms I’m supposed to use to decide what is best?

Because of how long it has taken me to simply explain to you what cognitive functions are and the classifications that exist, both in terms of number of words and the amount of time I’ve spent working on this post (3 hours plus; can you believe that?); I’ll have to continue the above stated goals in the next post.

Once again, you don’t have to wait for me (depending on how you’re reading this); you can always go ahead of my series and read off the cognitive functions theory bible. Suggested reading if I have really piqued your interest, is Gifts Differing by Isabel Myer-Briggs. Apart from the cognitive functions bible, it’s the best place to cement yourself in the fundamentals of the MBTI.

Till next time, stay true to your type (haha; love the motivational garbage) and keep strengthening your functions (you will understand this in the fullness of time).