The 16 MBTI personality types, based on Carl Jung’s functional theory, reveal how people perceive, process, and respond to the world around them. Each type is defined by a dominant cognitive function that shapes its core focus and decision-making style. Extroverted and introverted functions balance each other, with outward-facing functions responding to reality and inward-facing ones reflecting internal insights. By understanding how perceiving functions (Sensing and Intuition) and judging functions (Thinking and Feeling) interact in different “functional stacks,” you can better recognize each type’s strengths, challenges, and unique way of approaching life. This guide offers a clear, simplified overview to help you avoid the common MBTI misconceptions found online.
If you are unfamiliar with functional theory, scroll down for a basic overview of the types.
Profiles for Each Type:
The following contains an assessment of the focus and character traits of each type, as reliant on their dominant function. If you are stuck between E and I types, you must consider what takes greater dominance in your daily life and what drives you.
Basic Overview
Before we begin, you need to know the basic functional options:
Perceiving Functions: take in information and observe the world.
Intuition: Extroverted (Ne) and Introverted (Ni) references to the external or internal focus of the function. The basic difference is adaptability in the moment and drawing ideas from the outside world (Ne) and self-innovation and fixed specific future predictions (Ni).
Sensing: Extroverted (Se) and Introverted (Si) references to the external or internal focus of the function. The basic difference is adaptability in the moment and learning from hands on experience (Se) and self-referencing and expertise in specific chosen interests (Si).
Since these functions do not exist in a vacuum, Jung proposes they work together, with each E function having a correlating I function. The dominant function overwhelms the lesser function, creating an imbalance that the person learns to correct through their life experiences. So, Ne/Si types (NP) has far more Ne than Si, and Si/Ne types (SJ) have far more Si than Ne. Ni/Se types (NJ) have far more Ni than Se, and Se/Ni types (SP) have far more Se than Ni.
Judging Functions: determine what to do with perceiving information.
Thinking: Extroverted (Te) and Introverted (Ti) references to the external or internal focus of the function. The basic difference is direct application and emphasis on organizing information outside the self (Te) and self-understanding and creating an internal knowledge framework (Ti).
Feeling: Extroverted (Fe) and Introverted (Fi) references to the external or internal focus of the function. The basic difference is awareness of how to bring people into a consensus of opinion to accomplish a greater good for the collective (Fe) or self-awareness and measuring the world through individualized judgment and comparison (Fi).
Since these functions do not exist in a vacuum, Jung proposes they work together, with each E function having a correlating I function. The dominant function overwhelms the lesser function, creating an imbalance that the person learns to correct through their life experiences. So, Fe/Ti types (FJ) has far more F than Ti, and Ti/Fe types (TP) have far more Ti than Fe. Fi/Te types (FP) have far more Fi than Te, and Te/Fi types (TJ) have far more Te than Fi.
The Functional Stacks: refer to the order in which the person uses the cognitive functions. The functions diminish in strength the further down the stack, leading to dominance (the top function) and an inferior function (the bottom function). The inferior function is typically the weakest, and there is an instinctual pull between the dominant and inferior, because they want opposite things. For example, the Ne-dom wants to run with ideas freely whereas Si inferior wants to collect the details and establish a strong baseline of knowledge before delving into abstract topics. Because Ne is dominant, the ENP will run with ideas at the expense of detailed (complete) understanding.