Do you know about the cognitive functions? In my opinion, they are a useful tool for self-knowledge and thus a good avenue for any self-improvement. Many people have heard of the MBTI, but it seems like the cognitive functions are much less known. Maybe some people do not really care about understanding things and seeking truth (Ni) but prefer the thrill of being intellectually stimulated by something new (Ne). They are just humoured by what others think of themselves. Maybe they are just totally happy living in their comfort zones, basically having no desire at all to change the way they live. Whatever the case, as in many things, it’s just a choice – simply that.
But really, how does this self-knowledge work? Without further ado, I’ll get into the cognitive functions, of which there are eight. So first, there are four categories – sensing, intuition, feeling and thinking. I basically think of them as outer world, ideas, emotions and analysis respectively. Each of these can further be subdivided into introverted and extraverted. The former means that it is directed inwards while it is directed outwards if it’s the latter. Now, easy, right? Seriously in no way complicated at all.
Basically, we human beings possess the capacity for all eight of these functions. However, the functions are developed to different extents based on the unconscious ‘preferences’ of any individual. Of those four categories, each of us has either the introverted or extraverted function as a ‘main’ function with the other as the ‘shadow’ function. To avoid unnecessary knowledge (subjectively speaking) which will just be ignored, the furthest I will delve into the theory here is to explain this: So say the main functions, of Individual A in order happen to be Ne, Fi, Te, Si. Functions (shadow) five to eight, to which they will afford much lesser recognition comparatively, will be Ni, Fe, Ti, Se.
Anyway, on to the cognitive functions and what they can teach you. Now, what order should I go in… oh whatever. Let’s just throw in an Eight Trigrams Theory and integrate it with a Five Elements theory just for good measure. Quick Note: The Eight Trigrams are Water, Fire, Earth, Mountain (Earth element), River (Metal element), Heaven (Metal element), Wind (Wood element) and Thunder (Wood element). I suppose today’s post will be a short one…
Earth (Fe)
Extraverted feeling is like reading the mood of the room. You know like when sometimes you think kuuki yomerou (read the air)! That’s when people are weak in Fe. People with developed Fe are strongly tuned into sensing how others are feeling. In the process, they are more attuned with the feelings of others than with their own. If their intentions are pure, these people are therefore much more likely to help others as opposed to being selfish.
I think it’s all good to relate Fe to the Earth trigram which is in turn linked to the Earth element. This is because when we think about Earth, we think about the planet and the so many people on it!
Fire (Fi)
Since Fe is related to the emotions of others whereas Fi is related to your own, one might be quick to conclude that Fi is selfish as one is wholly self-absorbed and blind to the feelings of others. No, that is not how it has to be! Yeah indeed, that is one way it can be manifested in the real world. However! It’s not necessarily so. Someone with Fi empathises with others by imagining how they would feel in their shoes. They can be passionate about causes they believe in, spurring positive change! Plus Fi is important for the regulation of your own emotions, so it’s just as essential as Fe really.
I think it’s good to relate Fi to the Fire trigram which is in turn linked solely to the Fire element. This is because of the fires of passion! The passion when talking about stuff you love – those! are YOUR feelings! Moeru (Blaze)! Well, in truth, there is anger, frustration too… fine. It’s negative but still gotta acknowledge it.
Se (River)
Extraverted sensing is the living in the moment function. Basically, you are focused on what is going on in the outside world and are stimulated by it, reacting as this information is fed to your senses. For example, say you are playing Beat Saber and have to react to some crazy influx of blocks flying at you. That’s none other than extraverted sensing! You need the outside stimuli or the world seriously is dull like hell! and your brain switches off partway (assuming you have a strong Se preference, I mean). In other words, somebody with developed Se will much prefer to try new things as compared to their Si peers who will be far happier in their comfort zones.
I think it’s all good to relate Se to the River Trigram which is in turn linked to the Metal element. I can liken the stream of consciousness flowing in from the extraverted sensing to a river, and that flexing of the will in reaction to this stream is consistent with metal as wills (like in the Five Elements Theory).
Si (Mountain)
As opposed to Se where sensing is directed outwards, Si is sensing directed inwards. How does that work? Well, besides being so well attuned to how your body is feeling, you form an inner framework based on what you have obtained from your senses. That’s like memories. Some people are really great navigators!! That’s because they have something like a map inside their head (a bit like exploring a dungeon and increasing your ‘seen’ percentage. All the tiny sensory details are integrated into their system which they’re able to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle – classic detective sense really is none other than Si. For us who do not have sensory details sticking in the back of our minds, though, Si is, at the very least, the antithesis of Alzheimer’s disease. It enables nostalgia, allowing for bonds with a lot of people who are precious to us.
I think it’s all good to relate Si to the Mountain trigram which is in turn linked to the Earth element. This is because like a mountain, Si really helps to ground us to this Earth. Without it, our core, essential lives would be impossible.
Ni (Thunder)
Introverted intuition is what I like to think of as the truth-seeking function. Basically, it processes data and extracts the essence as insights. Some, preferring Si, internalise the details. Those preferring Ni don’t! Rather, overlooking the details, they tend to look for that ‘truth’ concealed behind the details, what intuitively just ‘fits’ snugly. Thus, developed Ni users will prefer to seek broad, general statements regarding things to gain a better understanding of them. Naturally, they won’t find straight out memorising details very pleasant as the general idea alone is more or less what sticks. Finally, they say that people with a strong Ni preference have a deeply penetrating gaze which exhibits their propensity to break things down to their core to see their truth and essence.
I think it’s all good to relate Ni to the Thunder trigram which is in turn linked to the Wood element. Sometimes, inspiration strikes. Eureka! Your subconscious mind processed all the information and came up with a single, coherent info packet for you! Also, Ni is a big part of a person’s content and growth as in the Five Elements Theory. It is through Ni that people gain their paradigm changes in apprehending truth. A person who accepts truth wholesale from their environment growing up does not use Ni, sadly, because it is more likely than not not a coherent, perceived concept that backs up their worldview but this dogmatic, preconceived notion imparted by their environment.
Ne (Wind)
Just as Ni and Si are both about puzzle-piecing, where Se is about being stimulated through the senses, Ne is about being stimulated through ideas or possibilities. Now, these ideas can come externally from outside sources, but they can also come from you yourself! The term ‘creativity’ is probably synonymous with Ne. Of course, it’s most likely the case that this happens in concert with the other cognitive functions. For example, Si is needed for visualisation in drawing – otherwise, you won’t be able to make the character look like anything even! Basically, Ne registers in the mind as possibilities ‘written’ into existence. Performance is a great example of this as the audience and the performer/s both have their figurative ‘way’ manifesting. Improvisation is Ne with Ni’s limit break activated! Now, a drawback of developed Ne and underdeveloped Ni is that said person is receptive to many different perspectives but generally will not distil stuff to obtain their truth value. They do not internalise them rigorously so as to consider how the potentialities are potentially applicable to them and the bigger picture.
I think it’s all good to relate Ne to the Wind trigram which is in turn linked to the Wood element. Just like wind, Ne is not immediately perceivable in form yet exists all-encompassing in the background. This relates to how those with strong Ne can be open-minded and able to see things from different perspectives. Additionally, Ne is also a big part of a person’s content and growth as in Wood. You always start off excited by a possibility, and then you expand further on it and bring greater things into existence. A small wind expands into a gale, and then a hurricane!
Ti (Water)
Introverted thinking happens when you think about stuff in your head and try to make sense of it. Now, you might think – hey, this sounds a lot like Ni! Yes, it does! I think so too. Even so, I think that there’s a simple way to differentiate it. So, as mentioned earlier, Ni goes on in the background. Well, Ti goes on in the forefront! So, it can often be the case that both are simultaneously activated when one is trying to get to the bottom of something (one subconsciously, the other consciously). Anyway, introverted thinkers have a mind of their own. They do not take things at face value, that which others may easily take for granted. Rather, they will tinker with these things and dissect them before integrating them into their own systems as what works. So, people with developed Ti are more likely to do things on their own terms. A developed Ti user is perfectly capable of independent thought, does not need to justify themselves to anyone and is proud of that.
I think it’s all good to relate Ti to the Water trigram which is in turn linked solely to the Water element. Water represents flexible, fluid intelligence according to my Five Elements theory. That basically matches!
Te (Heaven)
Te is about working within the preexisting system/systems independently of questioning them. For example, one can make goals and work towards them. If one has stronger Te than Ti, they’re more likely to do rote memorisation rather than try to make sense of stuff to integrate into their own systems. I find that fighting games are a good example of this. The Te main will happily memorise those combos while the Ti main will somewhat find it lacking in taste, thinking: why these random buttoms? For all their users, Ti and Te are geared towards different things in life, the former being more passive in terms of being done in the head and not manifested as action in the outer world. The Te user may consequently be more impatient of the impracticality exhibited by the Ti user, exhorting them to be more practical. Still, their objectivity and impersonal logic can alienate them from other people! If their Fe is not developed, they are likelier to be sarcastic, blunt, biting, cold, distant etc, basically not so good at empathising in seeing vulnerability as a weakness.
I think it’s all good to relate Te to the Heaven trigram which is in turn linked to the Metal element. That’s because when people use Te and execute actions in the outside world, it’s like an exercising of Heaven’s will! That’s how change happens!
That’s all for today. My brain is ultra drained!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And if you want to find out more about the cognitive functions, there’s Google for that! Note: Self-knowledge involves learning what aspects one’s lacking in and trying to develop them more. No one says you can’t develop all your functions!!! Get it?!!
PS: Maybe when you are using an introverted function, your eyes gaze inward whereas when you are using an extraverted function, they gaze outward? Wanna give it a go? Hah, try it if you want to!
PPS: Socionics basically uses the same cognitive functions too! Some say for intuitives it matches.