The MBTI Model

So what does the model of MBTI try to explain that the online tests fail to capture? The MBTI is based on the idea from Swiss psychologist Carl Jung that human cognition can be neatly classified into functions. We will define cognition as the mechanisms you use to think, especially in the domains of making decisions and processing information. These functions, of which there are eight, are meant to categorize the various ways people think and emote. It is important to note that everyone has all eight functions. It’s not impossible for someone with N in their profile (iNtuition) to use S (Sensing). What differentiates people temperamentally- and personality-wise is which functions they naturally lean on the most. This will translate to behavior, but again, one can behave in a way not natural to them. Therefore, I believe this is a better model. Not only that, it is important to note everything is a spectrum. You are not, nor is anyone, neatly categorized into four letters. It’s just that people in those four letter groups will tend to exhibit more similar behavioral patterns on average.

Now let us discuss what the functions are and what they mean. There are four decision making functions. Introverted and Extraverted Thinking, and Introverted and Extraverted Feeling, which can be abbreviated as Ti, Te, Fi, and Fe. Likewise, there are four observation functions, which specialize in gathering and processing information. These are Introverted and Extraverted Intuition, and Introverted and Extraverted Sensing, which can be abbreviated as Ni, Ne, Si, and Se. (Notice that J/P doesn't appear.) Unlike the Big 5, the four letter code in MBTI is measured in binary coins, and the letters are meant to track which functions you use. If you have I in your for letter code, this does NOT mean that you are introverted, although it tends to work out that way. It just means your most dominant function is an introverted one. There are large minorities of extraverted INTPs and introverted ESFJs. The most important functions in the stack, the ones that determine your personality, are your top two functions. Of course, you have other functions in lower positions, but for the sake of simplicity, we will only discuss the top two.

The way the four letter code of the MBTI is broken down is as follows. Everyone has one information gathering (O, for 'observation') function and one decision making (D) function in their top two. One of these functions must be introverted, and the other must be extraverted. N/S determines one letter in your O. T/F determines one letter in your D. P/J determines which function is E and which is I: people with P has an extraverted O (N/S) and an introverted D (T/F); people with J have an extraverted D and an introverted O. Finally, I/E tells you which function is your most dominant. People with the letter I have their introverted function most dominant, and people with the letter E have their extraverted function most dominant. Example: An ISTP has Ti (introverted thinking) as their dominant function, and Se (extraverted sensing) as their second function. An ENFJ has Fe (extraverted feeling) dominant, with Ni (introverted intuition) second. The first function tends to be overdominant in an unhealthy way, and can overshadow other functions at inappropriate times, while the second function is dominant in a more healthy, constructive way.

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