Clarification on MBTI · Synthesizer School

Jan '23 (edited) in Other

Clarification on MBTI

Since this platform has shown interest in Carl Jung & MBTI I've wanted to give my 2 cents after having studied cognitive functions for a little over 4 years now. There are some misconceptions that I thought I'd help clarify.

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

MBTI is often used via the website ''16personalities''. Unfortunately, despite this website being fun, their typing is incredibly inaccurate. This happens because they follow the letter typing system which has no scientific backing. What I mean by letter typing is for example ''INTP'' (my MBTI) being looked simply and the ''I'' for introvert and ''N'' for intuitive. Instead MBTI is set up in cognitive functions INTP being ''TiNeSiFe''. As you see there are four sets of functions to each Myers-Briggs type. In this case

Dominant Ti (introverted thinking)
Auxiliary Ne (extroverted intuition)
Tert Si (introverted sensing)
Inferior Fe (extroverted feeling)

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐁𝐓𝐈

The best way is to learn about cognitive functions, what do they mean and how do they differ. For example, Te means extroverted thinking which is dominant in e.g. ENTJ's. ENTJ's are really concerned with structuring the life around them. How can they set their life up in a way where it'll benefit them most. There's a lot of stereotype ENTJ's in movies because they're such fierce characters. I think a really great example of an ENTJ is Iman Gadzhi, lot of you will know him. If you learn about his personality you see why. The second best way to learn about cognitive functions is by going to the Sakinorva MBTI test. I still don't believe a quiz will ever be good enough but it's far better than 16personalities. I've seen people who thought they were mistyped but they just didn't understand the functions well enough until years later. Once you know your dominant function, there are only 2 MBTI's left for you to decide from. This will make it much easier for you to see which MBTI you are. In my case I've known my dominant function to be introverted thinking. Because when things don't make sense to me I'll malfunction and figure things out until they do. That's a typical INTP trait.

𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐁𝐓𝐈

Stereotypes make the MBTI

This is a really bad misconception. People tend to mistype me an ENTJ because I like a structured life and make lists. That's because 16personalities has installed this idea where making lists = Te dom. It just isn't true. Cognitive dominant functions however will dictate this.

Your MBTI can change

People will hate me for this but this is a misconception. You can absolutely train your cognitive functions but you can't just ''become a different type''. Your dominant functions are deeply rooted into your personality. Now you might have a different idea of who you are, but your dominant and inferior function are static. I know this is a hard to swallow pill, and sounds like a ''fixed'' mindset, but it is not. It just simply tells you about your prefered way of dealing with problems

Feelers and Thinkers are more or less emotional

This one is a bit silly. MBTI is all about prefered function over the other. Just because you prefer one function over the other does not mean you're any more or less emotional. Feelers simply prefer introverted or extroverted feeling over introverted or extroverted thinking. Nothing more to it.

Because you are X type you can't do X thing

We need to address that MBTI is (unfortunately) not backed up by any form of science. I've met people who suggested that they aren't able to do something out of their MBTI. This is silly and only creating a barrier that doesn't exist. If you are e.g. INFP, it by no means dictates that you can't clean your room. Sure it might be harder than someone with dominant Te, but you can still clean your room.

𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥

Disclaimer: this goes far deeper than what I say but generally speaking

Ti: Is concerned with making ideas make sense for themselves (why is)

Te: Is concerned with structuring the world around them (how is)

Ni: Is concerned with pattern recognition (narrows down conclusions)

Ne: Is concerned with what could be (sees many options to one problem)

Se: Is concerned with ''what is'' sees the world objectively

Si: Is concerned with collecting data or ''what used to be''

Fi: Is concerned with inner feelings ''Do things feel right''

Fe: Is concerned with group identity ''what do we need''

(see image for function stack per MBTI)

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Take MBTI with a grain of salt, it is a useful tool to get to know yourself. Don't put yourself in a category of ''I can't do x because my MBTI is y''. Instead learn how your cognitive functions will be a useful tool to get you to work through things. For example, if you're dominant Si. It means you're great at collecting information and absorbing this. Use this to your advantage. Last but not least, please don't let 16personalities dictate your life. It's probably the worst quiz out there, even if they guess your MBTI correctly. I've met many people being correctly quizzed by Sakinorva but not by 16personalities, so they just went with what they like. If you do that, you might wrongly learn about yourself, which of course if up to you but I personally do not recommend this.

PS: in the attachment you see how each function deals with problem solving.

Any questions about MBTI, feel free to ask here on in a DM :)

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