Hi Seth, I'll try to break it down a bit further, and I really do think this will make MBTI way easier to grasp.
The N/S in your type indicates whether you prefer to use Intuition or Sensing. The F/T in your type points to whether you prefer to use Feeling or Thinking.
So now, straight off the bat, we know that any NT and NT type's first functions will be Thinking and Intuition.
Now, we need to figure out two things: 1) which one of those two is the extroverted function (the introverted one will simply be the other option); and 2) what order do they go in?
As I said earlier, the E/I in your type tells us whether your dominant function is Extroverted or Introverted. So INT types either have Ni/Te or Ti/Ne.
This is where the P/J distinction comes into play - the P/J in your type points to whether your most preferred extroverted function is Perception (N/S) or Judging (T/F). So for an INTJ, your most preferred extroverted function is Thinking - thus your first two functions are Ni/Te.
What you may not notice until you see it written out, is that this means the J switches all functions around. So even though you have all the letters in common with an INTP,you actually share no functions with each other:
INTJ: Ni/Te/Fi/Se INTP: Ti/Ne/Si/Fe
Everyone has four functions, but if you look back in my earlier comment then you'll see that ineverycase the first two functions (so for you Ni and Te) are a mirror image of the last two functions (Fi and Se). This means you can work out any type from their first two preferred functions.
So for me, an ENFP, my first two functions are Ne and Fi. But since I have Ne and Fi in 1st and 2nd place, by definition my 3rd and 4th place will be Te and Si (mirror image). And of course, this works the other way round.
I hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions.
Richard B (not verified)says...
Hi Seth, I'll try to break it down a bit further, and I really do think this will make MBTI way easier to grasp.
The N/S in your type indicates whether you prefer to use Intuition or Sensing.
The F/T in your type points to whether you prefer to use Feeling or Thinking.
So now, straight off the bat, we know that any NT and NT type's first functions will be Thinking and Intuition.
Now, we need to figure out two things: 1) which one of those two is the extroverted function (the introverted one will simply be the other option); and 2) what order do they go in?
As I said earlier, the E/I in your type tells us whether your dominant function is Extroverted or Introverted. So INT types either have Ni/Te or Ti/Ne.
This is where the P/J distinction comes into play - the P/J in your type points to whether your most preferred extroverted function is Perception (N/S) or Judging (T/F). So for an INTJ, your most preferred extroverted function is Thinking - thus your first two functions are Ni/Te.
What you may not notice until you see it written out, is that this means the J switches all functions around. So even though you have all the letters in common with an INTP,you actually share no functions with each other:
INTJ: Ni/Te/Fi/Se
INTP: Ti/Ne/Si/Fe
Everyone has four functions, but if you look back in my earlier comment then you'll see that ineverycase the first two functions (so for you Ni and Te) are a mirror image of the last two functions (Fi and Se). This means you can work out any type from their first two preferred functions.
So for me, an ENFP, my first two functions are Ne and Fi. But since I have Ne and Fi in 1st and 2nd place, by definition my 3rd and 4th place will be Te and Si (mirror image). And of course, this works the other way round.
I hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions.