Being the INFJ and Beyond: How I’ve Attempted to Balance my Cognitive Functions

Understanding myself through the lens of the Jungian-MBTI personality theory has helped me make sense of several choices I have made in my life and my tendencies. I have also written and published an academic article on it (link to paper). In this blog, I share my reflection on how I make sense of my personality using the Jungian-MBTI Personality framework, especially as an INFJ. While any test does not reveal entirely about who we are, the Jungian-MBTI personality framework is generally useful for me.

In theory, the INFJ has four dominant cognitive functions (in order of priorities): introverted intuition (Ni), extraverted feeling (Fe), introverted thinking (Ti), and extraverted sensing (Se). Overall, this usually translates into someone who is visionary and eager to seek deeper understanding and meaning in everything that happens by connecting all possible elements in life (Ni), ensuring that things are done in a harmonious way (Fe), yet with critical thinking through one's concerns in being consistent (Ti) and focused on the now or on what can be done realistically (Se). I have been considered to be an INFJ but I have also been linked to the cognitive functions of extraverted intuition (Ne), introverted feeling (Fi), and extraverted thinking (Te) in other tests (the functions that are not part of the INFJ's cognitive functions). Basic definitions of cognitive functions can be found in some websites, such as this and this.

Below, I give some explanation on how the cognitive functions work in me, against the other cognitive functions. In this post, I place each cognitive function of the INFJ against the extraverted or introverted versions of that function.

Comparisons 1

1. Introverted Intuition vs. Extraverted Intuition. In tests of cognitive functions, I usually score high in both types of intuition, with the introverted one being slightly more dominant. This usually translates into imagining experiencing a variety of things and eventually create abstract connections across these things. Combined, they allow me to be driven by perspectives and possibilities and create a common ground based on these. These functions fit very well with the job I have been entrusted to do, which is in the context of international relations, partnerships, or collaborations. In effect, their works are at times exciting and at times overwhelming, as they may come off very ambitious to others. Dealing with 50-60 international institutions per month is a bit scary if one thinks about it. Indeed, it can have some dangerous effects. My marriage and a variety of my projects are usually driven by such intuitive urges. My own parents thought that I decided to get married too early, but I went with it anyway (as I have a vision and all the dreams associated with it). My challenge is usually to manage these urges and make sense of such urges in the context of life in general, whether they are meaningful or whether I should let them go. Being holistic is something that largely defines how I operate.

2. Extraverted Feeling vs. Introverted Feeling. I am usually more dominant on extraverted feeling than the introverted one. This means that I tend to make decisions based on what feels right according to the common and I tend to want to make sure that everybody is okay with the decision to make. What makes me happy are usually when my loved ones are happy. While it sounds good, this has some drawbacks. I usually have to try hard to make decisions that feels right for me without the need to make people around me happy. I can be a bit agitated when people are not willing to compromise and fight for harmony. But users of introverted feeling (such as the ENTJ) remind me that I should not feel obliged to make people agree on things or be comfortable with things. Discomfort is in and of itself a fact of life that I should allow myself to experience. Now, I am more used to making decisions based on what I feel is right for me at a given point, marking my attempts to balance both types of feeling. What I need to check is that, whether I use extraverted feeling or introverted feeling, there is usually a consequence to that decision I make, which I should be ready to accept.

3. Introverted Thinking vs. Extraverted Thinking. As a social researcher, I believe that introverted thinking is what drives some of the decisions I make. Whenever I see anything inconsistent with certain logical bases, I can insist on making sure that everything is done consistently. In situations where I already feel comfortable, introverted thinking can come off to immerse myself in debates and questions to ensure logical consistency. On the other hand, because I have been tasked in various managerial and administrative tasks, extraverted thinking has come to develop to ensure that I do things more efficiently. While introverted thinking wishes to make me spend time in correcting every single thing that is not consistent, extraverted thinking allows me to just go to the point as long as what is done gets to the goal to achieve. Balancing these two can be very challenging as I see both as important, especially considering different types of work. Academic work tends to demand introverted thinking while practical work tends to demand extraverted thinking. Nevertheless, if one function is absent from each type of task, it can also be dangerous. An academic can be too indulgent in their theoretical work without paying attention to timelines, while a manager can be too focused to achieving targets too efficiency without paying attention to critical thinking.

4. Extraverted Sensing vs. Introverted Sensing. Whenever I have an idea or an imagination, there is always something in me that immediately wants me to put it in practice or to experience it first-hands using my senses. I usually don't wait too long for that idea to be realized. I use my senses to try to birth that idea into a reality. This is the work of extraverted sensing. That idea, generally the work of intuition, is at times something that I don't have any experience with. To me, that is the point. I rarely use my sensory memory, which is the work of introverted sensing, in crafting that idea in the beginning. Nevertheless, I've realized that introverted sensing helps in providing some insight into patterns of behaviors that I have come to do, including the recurring themes in my life that I had at times ignored. Introverted sensing helps me to step back and look back at experiences of the past. My challenge is usually to remember the details of such patterns as I usually tend to see a bigger picture only (which is about introverted intuition). I've began more and more to use introverted sensing, especially in my process of healing from something devastating and forgiving.

Overall, my main lesson from the Jungian-MBTI Personality theory is to allow ourselves to experience the cognitive functions beyond our own natural cognitive functions. Usually the learning or the nurturing of the other cognitive functions comes when something very deep strikes our life in a fundamental way that we begin to form some openness as a means to survive and to be more whole.

Feel free to give your thoughts below!

Written on August 11, 2024

Updated on August 18, 2024