To recap, dichotomy-based MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator)
is a system of analyzing the aspects of someone's personality. I know,
we're all special snowflakes who shouldn't be labeled, but I personally find it
fun and helpful for self-discovery.

In dichotomy-based (aka mainstream and more-common) MBTI
typing, a person is…

Extroverted (E)
or Introverted (I)

plus Sensing (S)
or Intuiting (N)

plus Thinking (T)
or Feeling (F)

plus Judging (J)
or Perceiving (P)

For example, I'm INTP, because I'm introverted (get energy
from being alone), intuiting (more concerned with abstract patterns than
concrete details), thinking (logic over emotion), and perceiving (observing
more than acting and organizing).

Dichotomy-based MBTI typing is fun, but there's a more
complex and distinctly different interpretation given to us by Isabel
Briggs-Myers (whose book, Gifts Differing, is quite old but still a
fascinating read if you like this stuff). Let's look at cognitive functions theory.

Again, this asks which methods a person uses most often to interact with the world,
and the four-letter titles all look the same – ENTP, INFP, etc etc. But now these
titles imply more information. Here's why.

First, we look at only the two middle letters – S/N (the way you perceive the world) and T/F (how you make judgments). I'm still NT. But now we decide which
of these is focused inwardly (I) and which outwardly (E). Instead of just NT, I
now have to choose Ne or Ni, and Te or Ti.

Extraverted Intuition,
or Ne, means your emphasis on abstractions,
patterns, and ideas is focused outwardly. You create a bunch of ideas in a
brainstorming manner. Maybe you need to bounce them off someone or something to
know which ones are good; maybe you have loads of ideas but don't pursue any
intensely.

Introverted Intuition,
or Ni, would mean abstractions,
patterns, and ideas are focused inwardly. Maybe you can lock on to one idea and
pursue it intensely, mapping out every detail (more than you branch out).

Extraverted Thinking,
or Te, means thinking that is
directed outwardly. Hard facts, concrete data, and results. Maybe you're
interested in the practical applications of things, you care about the specs
and stats when choosing between two products.

Introverted Thinking,
or Ti, is thinking directed inwardly.
This is more concerned with a logical framework – everything fitting together
sensibly – than the data itself. Maybe you want to know the theoretical implications,
not the practical applications, of how an experiment turned out.

Personally, I identify most with Ne and Ti! Of course, if I
chose S or F, I'd still have to choose introverted or extroverted for each:

Extraverted Sensing,
or Se, is concerned with the real world around you. You're more interested
in what's actually happening than the dreamy, abstract ideas of "what
if". You're aware of what goes on around you, physically and currently.

Introverted Sensing,
or Si, still cares about the real
and concrete, but since it's directed inward, this is focused mostly on memory
and the facts you know to be true. This person is still involved with the real
world, but through their personal lens or filter, and they believe in the
truths they've experienced firsthand.

Extraverted Feeling,
or Fe, is feeling directed
outwardly. You make decisions based on the emotional impact it will have around
you, and you're concerned with the group's feelings and ideals.

Introverted Feeling,
or Fi, is feeling focused inwardly.
You make decisions based on your own emotional responses, and you're more
concerned with your own moral standpoint than the effect something will have on
the group.

Now we pick which we use more – your perceiving or your judging?
Do I use my Ne (outward intuition) or Ti (inward thinking) more?

I definitely use thinking more; I'm often caught up in my
head. I'm terrible at making decisions because I'm often paralyzed by the logical
pros and cons of my options. So I'm Ti-Ne, in that order – Ti is my main
function, and Ne slightly less prominent.

The I/E orientation of your main function determines your I/E
overall. Since Ti (introverted thinking) is my main function, this makes me
I, not E. Now I'm INT_!

How do we decide J
or P? In functions theory, these
letters say whether your perceiving
or judging is shown outwardly. My judging (Ti) is inward/introverted, so that's not what I
show, even though it's my main function. My perceiving (Ne) is the extraverted
function, which means I am P.

Therefore, in both dichotomy and functions theory, I'm INTP. Hurray!

I hope this made sense to
everyone. If not, let me know, I always love to talk about this!

Rona Thompson

April 24, 2014