Jung’s theory proposed that individuals could be categorized based on psychological functions such as thinking, feeling, sensation, and intuition, and attitudes such as introversion and extraversion (4). Myers and Briggs expanded on Jung’s theory to develop the MBTI, which assigns individuals into 16 different personality types based on four dichotomies: Extraversion vs. Introversion, Sensing vs. Intuition, Thinking vs. Feeling, and Judging vs. Perceiving (2)(4).
The 8 Jungian Cognitive Functions
- Extraverted Thinking—ET and TJ one-sidedness
- Extraverted Feeling—EF and FJ one-sidedness
- Extraverted Sensing—ES and SP one-sidedness
- Extraverted Intuition—EN and NP one-sidedness
- Introverted Thinking—IT and TP one-sidedness
- Introverted Feeling—IF and FP one-sidedness
- Introverted Sensing—IS and SJ one-sidedness
- Introverted Intuition—IN and NJ one-sidedness
Understanding of Carl Jung’s Typing
Carl Jung, based on his own system which does not utilize a “function stack,” suggested that Charles Darwin ‘has’ ET (Extraversion ‘and’ Thinking), distinct from the MBTI’s Te (extraverted Thinking).
Charles Darwin is an Enneagram social 5 and ENTP on MBTI, a classification he shares with Leonardo da Vinci. Therefore, the classic Jungian notation for them is EN(T). Again as Jung said Charles Darwin ‘has’ E,T:
TJ and ET one-sidedness:
Jungian Extraverted Thinking, characteristic of ETs and TJs, aims to align its entire life activities with intellectual conclusions, always guided by objective data, be it factual evidence or universally accepted ideas.
This approach prioritizes an intellectually driven formula or method, both for personal orientation and in dealing with the external environment.
Adapted Simplified Translation of Psychological Types by Carl Jung
Without adhering to a “function stack,” Jung implied he possessed IT (Introversion ‘and’ Thinking)[1] and stated he had IN (Introversion ‘and’ Intuition)[1], showcasing that he, by his own account, was predominantly rational—indicative of an IJ orientation in this typological framework (with ‘J’ aligning with conscientiousness in the Big Five personality traits.)
[1] I most certainly was characterized by Thinking … and I had a great deal of Intuition, too. And I had a definite difficulty with Feeling. And my relation to reality was not particularly brilliant. … I was often at variance with the reality of things. Now that gives you all the necessary data for diagnosis.This quote is from Jung directly discussing his own psychological type and cognitive functions, as described in Jungian psychology.(1)(2)(3)(4)
- Jung acknowledges that he was strongly characterized by Thinking and Intuition, but had difficulty with Feeling, and did not have a particularly strong connection to external reality. (1). This is further supported by the following: ‘Where Jungian Thinking Falls Short,’ an analysis by university professor and EN(T), Jordan B. Peterson:
- This self-reflection aligns with Jung’s model of the four cognitive functions – Thinking, Feeling, Sensing, and Intuition – and how individuals tend to prefer and develop certain functions over others. (1)(2)(3)
Consequently, Jung is classified as an INTJ in the MBTI framework, or IN(T) according to the classical system proposed by Jung himself.
What you ‘have’ as letters (called dichotomy) is different from what you ‘use’ (‘make decisions with’ in MBTI) ie. the 8 cognitive functions in MBTI.
Carl Jung simply thought his ‘Aide’ (his Thinking being an introvert) was more characteristic than his General [2] because this is how others would see him and how an INTJ who has never taken an MBTI test would describe themselves.
[2] A good way to visualize the difference (between introversion and extraversion) is to think of the dominant process as the General and the auxiliary process as the Aide. In the case of the extrovert, the General is always out in the open. Other people meet him immediately and do their business directly with him. They can get the official viewpoint on anything at any time. The Aide stands respectfully in the background or disappears inside the tent.
The introvert’s General is inside the tent, working on matters of top priority. The Aide is outside fending off interruptions, or, if he is inside helping the General, he comes out to see what is wanted. It is the Aide whom others meet and with whom they do their business. Only when the business is very important (or the friendship is very close) do others get in to see the General himself.
If people do not realize that there is a general in the tent who far outranks the Aide they have met, they may easily assume that the Aide is in sole charge. This is a regrettable mistake. It leads not only to an underestimation of the introvert’s abilities but also to an incomplete understanding of his wishes, plans, and point of view. The only source for such inside information is the General.
A cardinal precaution in dealing with introverts, therefore, is not to assume, just from ordinary contact, that they have revealed what really matters to them. Whenever there is a decision to be made that involves introverts, they should be told about it as fully as possible. If the matter is important to them, the General will come out of the tent and reveal a number of new things, and the ultimate decision will have a better chance of being right.Excerpted from Gifts Differing by Isabel Briggs Myers published by The Myers-Briggs Company
