Understanding MBTI Type Dynamics

Type is more than just the sum of the four preferences. The four-letter
MBTI type formula is a shorthand way of telling you about the interaction
of your four mental functions and which ones you prefer to use frst. This is
called type dynamics, and it is an important part of understanding your
MBTI results. Below are some basic facts about type dynamics.
ne preference has the most in!uence on you. This is called the dominant
function.
The ne"t strongest preference is called the au"iliary function. It is important
because it ser#es to support and balance the dominant.
The third strongest is the tertiary function.
ne preference is the least strong. This is the fourth function, often called
the inferior function.
There is one preference each person tends to show frst to the outside world.
The eight function-attitudes are e"pressed #ery di$erently in the inner world
and the outer world.
The middle two preferences are called the function pair.
#er the course of your life, di$erent preferences may emerge and be used
more often, as well as more easily. This is referred to as type de#elopment.
MBTI Type Dynamics
MBTI type is more than simply the four basic preferences% it is a dynamic
and comple" interrelated system of personality. The di$erent components of
a person&s psychological type wor' in an interrelated way to establish
balance and e$ecti#eness. Type is a lifelong de#elopmental process, and
many factors can a$ect the direction of type de#elopment.
The frst and last letters in your type are called attitudes or orientations
because they ha#e to do with how you interact with the world.
The middle two letters are called your mental functions because they are the
basis for much of your brain&s wor'. The two letters together are called your
function pair
The Attitudes or Orientations
In type language, attitudes (or orientations) re!ect the ways in which you are
energi*ed and how you structure, or li#e, your life. +"tra#ersion and
Intro#ersion, according to ,ung, are complementary attitudes (or
orientations) of energy.
Those who prefer +"tra#ersion, direct energy outwardly and are energi*ed by
the outside world.
Those who prefer Intro#ersion, direct energy inwardly and are energi*ed by
re!ecting on their inner world.
The other two attitudes (or orientations), ,udging and -ercei#ing, while
implied in ,ung&s wor', were constructed by Isabel Myers to further refne the
applications of psychological type.
-eople who prefer the ,udging attitude are li'ely to come to conclusions
.uic'ly and enjoy the structure pro#ided by reaching closure.
-eople who prefer the -ercei#ing attitude are li'ely to ta'e more time to
gather information before comfortably coming to closure, enjoy the process,
and are more comfortable being open-ended.
The Mental Functions
In type language, you ha#e four mental functions/ 0ensing, Intuition,
Thin'ing, and 1eeling. +#eryone has and uses all four functions, e#en though
only two of them are part of your type. In fact, you couldn&t get through the
day without using all of them to some degree2
Two of the mental functions are for gathering information3that is, they are
used for perception/
0ensing (0) perception pays attention to details and current realities%
Intuition (4) perception pays attention to meanings, patterns, and future
possibilities.
Two of the mental functions are for organi*ing information and for ma'ing
decisions3that is, they are used for judgment/
Thin'ing (T) chooses decisions based on principles and logical conse.uences.
1eeling (1) chooses decisions based on #alues and conse.uences for people.
5lthough e#eryone has access to and uses all four mental functions, each
type prefers to use these functions in a specifc order. In type theory, the
order in which we prefer these functions is considered to be inborn, although
certainly this order can be changed when circumstances re.uire us to ma'e
decisions or sol#e problems in an alternati#e manner than one we prefer.
Function Pairs

Sensing plus Thinking ST!
0Ts tend to approach life and wor' in an objecti#e and analytical manner,
and li'e to focus on realities and practical applications in their wor'. They are
often found in careers that re.uire a technical approach to things, ideas, or
people, and tend to be less interested in careers that re.uire nurturing of
others or attending to their growth and de#elopment. 0Ts are often found in
business, management, ban'ing, applied sciences, construction, production,
police, and the military.
Sensing plus Feeling SF!
01s tend to approach life and wor' in a warm people-oriented manner, li'ing
to focus on realities and hands-on careers. They are often found in human
ser#ices and in careers that re.uire a sympathetic approach to people. They
tend to be less interested in careers that re.uire an analytical and
impersonal approach to information and ideas. 01s are often found in the
clergy, teaching, health care, child care, sales and o6ce wor', and personal
ser#ices.
Intuition plus Feeling "F!
41s tend to approach life and wor' in a warm and enthusiastic manner, and
li'e to focus on ideas and possibilities, particularly 7possibilities for people.8
They are often found in careers that re.uire communication s'ills, a focus on
the abstract, and an understanding of others. They tend to be less interested
in careers that re.uire an impersonal or technical approach to things and
factual data. 41s are often found in the arts, the clergy, counseling and
psychology, writing, education, research, and health care.
Intuition plus Thinking "T!
4Ts tend to approach life and wor' in a logical and objecti#e manner, and li'e
to ma'e use of their ingenuity to focus on possibilities, particularly
possibilities that ha#e a technical application. They are often found in careers
that re.uire an impersonal and analytical approach to ideas, information and
people, and they tend to be less interested in careers that re.uire a warm,
sympathetic, and hands-on approach to helping people. 4Ts are often found
in the sciences, law, computers, the arts, engineering, management, and
technical wor'.
The Dominant Function
+#eryone has a fa#orite function. 9e de#elop one of the four mental
functions to a greater degree than any of the other three. This frst and
fa#orite function is li'e the captain of a ship, ha#ing the most important role
in guiding us, and it becomes the type core of our conscious personality. This
is called the dominant function. :uring the frst part of your life, you come to
rely on your fa#orite function, and you tend to de#elop the most s'ill with it.
0ome people, for e"ample, gi#e the most weight to their Intuition. They trust
that function the most, and they are the most energi*ed when they use it. 5s
children, they probably tended to focus on Intuition (assuming their family
supported it), and they probably became in#ol#ed in acti#ities where they
could use their imagination and focus on possibilities.
1unctions de#elop by being used consciously and purposefully for things that
matter. 5s the dominant is used, it becomes strengthened and di$erentiated
from the other functions. 9e tend to ha#e the most s'ills and conscious use
of this function, and we tend to trust it the most.
+"tra#erts use their dominant function in the outer world because, by
defnition, they prefer to li#e in the outer world. They put their best foot
forward.
Intro#erts use their dominant function in their inner world because, by
defnition, they prefer to li#e in their inner world. Their de#elopment of the
dominant function is less #isible.
The Au#iliary Function
If indi#iduals used the dominant function all the time, they would be one-
sided, always ta'ing in information (and ne#er ma'ing decisions) or always
rushing to decisions (and not stopping to ta'e in information). Therefore,
there is a second-preferred function called the au"iliary function.
The au"iliary can be thought of as the frst mate on the ship where the
captain is the dominant function. The au"iliary function tends to de#elop
after the dominant function. :uring adolescence and early adulthood,
indi#iduals come to de#elop s'ills in and rely on their dominant and au"iliary
functions. They gi#e less attention to the opposite functions, the letters that
do not appear in their type.
It is critical to understand that the basis for good type de#elopment is a well-
de#eloped au"iliary function that can support the dominant function.
$o% does the au#iliary &alance the dominant 'unction(
;. +#eryone needs to be able to ta'e in new information and e#eryone needs
to be able to come to closure or ma'e decisions about that information. The
au"iliary helps ensure you do both.
If a person were always gathering information, he or she would be blown
around li'e a small boat with an o#ersi*ed sail and a small 'eel3dri#en by
any change in wind direction. 0uch a person would be constantly drawn by
new perceptions (whether 0ensing or Intuition) but ha#e di6culty ma'ing
decisions or coming to conclusions. The au"iliary brings the person&s focus to
decisions.
In contrast, if a person were all judgment, he or she would be li'e a boat with
a #ery large 'eel and a small sail3#ery sure and stable, but not open to new
input from the wind. 0uch a person would be sure of his or her decisions
(whether using Thin'ing or 1eeling), but would be unable to ta'e in needed
new information to modify his or her beha#ior as conditions changed. The
au"iliary brings the person&s focus to information.
:ominant Intuiti#e types, for e"ample, ha#e Thin'ing or 1eeling as their
au"iliary function. If they prefer 1eeling, then we would typically fnd that the
1eeling function de#eloped ne"t in their li#es after Intuition. They would still
gi#e the most weight to their Intuiti#e perceptions, but then they would ma'e
use of 1eeling to reason and to ma'e decisions about the intuiti#e
information they too' in.
)* The au#iliary helps you &alance +#tra,ersion and Intro,ersion*
+#eryone needs to be able to pay attention to the outer world and mo#e into
action, and e#eryone needs to be able to pause for re!ection and pay
attention to their inner world. +"tra#erts need to be able to turn to their
inner world at times and Intro#erts need to be able to turn to the outer world
at times. The au"iliary function helps in this balancing act.
5s you saw before, if you are an +"tra#ert, you use your dominant function in
the outside world. 1or balance, you use your au"iliary function in the inner
world. The outer world is of more importance to you, but your au"iliary is
there when you need to be in#ol#ed in your inner world. 9ithout using the
au"iliary, an +"tra#ert would ne#er stop to re!ect.
If you are an Intro#ert, you use your dominant function in your inner world.
1or balance, you use your au"iliary function in the outer world. The inner
world is of more interest to you, but your au"iliary is there when you need to
be in#ol#ed in the outer world. 9ithout using the au"iliary, an Intro#ert might
ne#er mo#e into action.
The au"iliary function pro#ides needed Intro#ersion for +"tra#erts, and
needed +"tra#ersion for Intro#erts.
The dominant and au"iliary are the two middle letters of your four-letter
type. They are sometimes called your function pair.
The Tertiary Function
The third-preferred, or tertiary, function tends to be less interesting to
indi#iduals, and they tend to ha#e fewer s'ills associated with it. The letter of
this function does not appear in your type. It is the opposite function from
the au"iliary function. If, for e"ample, your au"iliary function is Thin'ing,
then your tertiary will be 1eeling.
:e#elopment of this function tends to come later in life (about midlife) after
you ha#e grown and feel comfortable with the dominant and au"iliary. 5s you
grow and de#elop, you learn that there is a time and place to use your third
and fourth functions.
5bout this time, the .uestion arises in life, is this all there is< The tertiary
function can guide you toward areas of your life you ha#e a#oided, areas that
re.uire s'ills you do not feel comfortable using. 1or e"ample, a Thin'ing type
with tertiary Intuition may begin ta'ing literature courses. 5 Thin'ing type
with tertiary 0ensing may begin doing carpentry or wea#ing.
The Fourth or In'erior Function
The fourth-preferred, or inferior, function tends to be the least interesting to
indi#iduals, and they tend to ha#e e#en fewer s'ills associated with it.
:e#elopment of this function tends to come in late midlife. It can be the
source of great stress, or it can be a seed for signifcant de#elopment.
1or e"ample, if Thin'ing were your dominant function, 1eeling would be your
least-preferred function. =ou would probably ha#e signifcantly less interest in
and fewer s'ills with the 1eeling function (e.g., attending to harmony in
relationships, gi#ing weight to the personal aspects of decision ma'ing).
9e often call the fourth function the inferior function when it emerges
without conscious intention and tries to o#erpower the dominant and
au"iliary. This can lead to a person feeling 7in the grip8 of his or her inferior
function. The inferior may also manifest under stress, when resources of the
dominant and au"iliary are e"hausted. 9hen the inferior function manifests
in someone&s life, that person may say, 7I don&t 'now what got into me.8 It
often feels li'e being out of control (outside the conscious ego). The inferior
may manifest in negati#e, immature ways.
1or e"ample, Intuition as an inferior Intuition may manifest not as creati#e
possibilities, but rather as worry o#er e#ery possibility that can go wrong.
0ensing may manifest not as attention to details, but rather as an obsession
with them.
Pre'erence -ou Tend to Sho% to the Outside .orld
The last letter of your type 7points to8 the function you use with the outside
world3either your perception function (0 or 4) or your judgment function (T
or 1).
If you are an +4T,, for e"ample, your type ends in ,, so you use your
judgment function, which is Thin'ing, in the outside world.
If you are an I01-, then you use your perception function which is 0ensing, in
the outside world.
1or those who prefer +"tra#ersion, the dominant function is e"tra#erted
because +"tra#erts use their fa#orite function (dominant) in their fa#orite
world (the outer world.)
1or those with a preference for Intro#ersion, the dominant function is
intro#erted, used in their inner world, and what they show to the outside is
their au"iliary or second fa#orite function.
The +ight Function/Attitudes
5s we e"plore MBTI type in depth, you will note that each of the eight
functions can be e"pressed in either the inner world or the outer world.
0ometimes the same function loo's #ery di$erent in one world than in the
other. >ere are some descriptions of the functions in each world.
+"tra#erted 0ensing/ 5cts on concrete data from here and now. Trusts the
present, then lets it go.
Intro#erted 0ensing/ ?ompares present facts and e"periences to past
e"perience. Trusts the past. 0tores sensory data for future use.
+"tra#erted Intuition/ 0ees possibilities in the e"ternal world. Trusts !ashes
from the unconscious, which can then be shared with others.
Intro#erted Intuition/ @oo's at consistency of ideas and thoughts with an
internal framewor'. Trusts !ashes from the unconscious, which may be hard
for others to understand.
+"tra#erted Thin'ing/ 0ee's logic and consistency in the outside world.
?oncern for e"ternal laws and rules.
Intro#erted Thin'ing/ 0ee's internal consistency and logic of ideas. Trusts his
or her internal framewor', which may be di6cult to e"plain to others.
+"tra#erted 1eeling/ 0ee's harmony with and between people in the outside
world. Interpersonal and cultural #alues are important.
Intro#erted 1eeling/ 0ee's harmony of action and thoughts with personal
#alues. May not always articulate those #alues.
0i'elong Type De,elopment
5t the most basic le#el, type de#elopment is the process of gaining comfort
and command of your preferred way of ta'ing in information, and your
preferred way of coming to conclusions. :e#eloping a function in#ol#es
consciously di$erentiating it from the others, e"ercising it, and becoming
more s'illed with it.
,ung belie#ed that all the functions are largely unconscious and unde#eloped
in infants. 5s we grow and de#elop, the di$erent functions de#elop. The
timing of this de#elopment has been the subject of considerable study. It is
generally belie#ed that the dominant generally de#elops up to age A, the
au"iliary up to age BC, the tertiary in the DCs and ECs and the inferior or
fourth function at midlife or later.
5s you de#elop your type, the way you see the world and the way you
beha#e tends to change and broaden. ?omfort with your dominant and
au"iliary functions forms the basis for much of your self-esteem.
If the use of your dominant and au"iliary functions is not supported by your
en#ironment, it will still press to reach the surface, li'e a beach ball held
under water. 9hen a function is ne#er allowed to de#elop naturally, a person
can e"perience stress and frustration.
5s you de#elop your tertiary and least-preferred functions later in life, the
range of beha#iors a#ailable to you opens up e#en further. But the dominant
and au"iliary functions will always be the core functions of your conscious
personality.