#cognitive functions

(ENFP/ENTP)

xNTJs are often stereotyped as evil CEO billionaire masterminds, so these types are often bombarded with horrible misconceptions. First, I’ll explain how the two functions work together, then I will debunk misconceptions!

Other work regarding this series:

https://tinyurl.com/NEandFI

*ೃ༄Extroverted Thinking*ೃ༄

Te: Extroverted thinking is the most pragmatic function of all the cognitive functions. It is only concerned with what is impersonal, objective, and truthful. It is focused on the systems, laws, and structure in the environment. It makes decisions based on how logical something is based on if it’s truthful compared to external logic. While Ti users aim to understand their logical interpretation of something, Te users are only concerned with what is universally true. Te is like deductive reasoning. It draws a conclusion based on external rules you know to be true. 

How it manifests: Te users are concerned with results because of their natural instinct to prioritize the logical connections and effects of decisions. If Ne is focused on connections between abstract ideas, Te is focused on how logical ideas connect to each other. They have less focus on internal consistency/reasoning within one idea. Te users are often blunt, strategic, organize, and good at managing. Furthermore, Te has an externalized opinion of how things should or should not be done and see everything else as bad / wrong if they don't fit into the external standards. This belief oftentimes creates rigidity in terms of morality.

Behaviors that can exist due to dominant Te:

impatience due to inefficiency. Becomes frustated when cirucmstances are not clear

Large focus on organization. Likes to sort ideas and concepts into boxes

Pragmatic, impartial, refuses to act on impulses

Oriented towards intellectuality. Judgemental and strict with morality. Only acts when it is rational

Frequent emotional suppression, oftentimes lack of emotional introspection, represses internal emotions and desires. Oftentimes subconsciously hostile towards those subjects

Interactive with the external world. Likes to negotiate with other people to carry out plans / operations. Has a tendency to want to "fix" systems to make it more efficent, logical, effective, and right

Can be emotionally unexpressive, unperturbed, even harsh at times

Moralistic / strict in what is right or wrong

*ೃ༄Introverted Intuition*ೃ༄

Ni: Introverted intuition is focused on abstractionism, symbolism, main ideas, and trends. Rather than seeking possibilities, newness, and change, Ni is convergent, seeking one core insight or pattern than endless options. Ni users are visionaries: they are focused on one possibility and building upon it. While Ne spreads ideas outwards, Ni takes information in, distilling many inputs into a singular, synthesized insight.

How it manifests: Ni users are not very spontaneous. They are focused on predicting how the future could play out. They ask themselves: “Where is this going?” “What’s the purpose of this?” etc. They often step back from the noise of the present to analyze what is happening. Ni users often get “aha” moments where they realize the overall theme and connection of an idea, but oftentimes they glimpse over smaller details. Sometimes, they “just know” without linear reasoning and step-by-step logical build-up. Ni users can often be poetic and enjoy symbolism and metaphors in media and literature.

Behaviors that can exist due to dominant Ni:

Lacks touch with reality. Lives in their head and is not attached to the present

Finds self-expression difficult. Vague with ideas. Has a liking for subjectivity, symbolism, and interpretations of life

Insightful and reflective, may be mistaken for Fi

Sticks to a singular vision of the future. Be certain of such insights and has a hard time not commiting, unlike Ne

not focused on objectivity, but rather its own personal subjective view of life, which is not related to the concreate reality

Like what I've said before, their arguments often lack reasoning due to the vagueness in their perception of the world. Intuition can be hard to back up with practical evidence

*ೃ༄How Te + Ni work together*ೃ༄

I call the Te + Ni combination “the visionary” or "the truth finder" because not only are these types constantly building upon an idea, but they are also consistently focused on the overall structure and main idea of everything. xNTJs are concerned with putting everything into boxes based on the overall framework and ensuring it all connects logically. The Te + Ni combo is a truth seeker, always focused on finding the meaning behind everything. Te takes Ni’s insight and translates it into concrete plans, systems, and structures that can be applied in the external world. The two functions create a mindset that is always refining and building upon ideas for long-term impact and efficiency.

*ೃ༄Misconceptions*ೃ༄

I blame 16personalities for most of the misconceptions

Te is controlling and bossy -> False. That is a behavioral trait. Te = / = bossy, it is simply a cognitive function that focuses on external logic. Te is inherently focused on making systems and operations more rational and effective, which can manifest into a "controlling" behavior, but none of these behavior suggests that the person is physically aggressive, controlling / possessive, etc.

Te lacks empathy -> low Fi does not mean someone lacks morals or emotions. None of the cognitive functions stand for feeling emotions. Fi is simply a function that evaluates and interprets internal feelings and is focused on subjective interpretations/meaning. A Te user usually pushes their feelings aside to seek the impersonal truth, but that does not mean they are heartless.

ENTJs are explosive and impatient -> unless you’re dealing with an unhealthy ENTJs, typically, Te doms tend to put emotional needs aside to act impartial. But it is true than ENTJs may be unaware of how their emotions build up and may become explosive under stress.

Controlling, action-oriented character, ESTP or ENTJ?: Generally speaking, many stern, bossy, power-hungry ESTPs are mistyped as ENTJs. Remember, ENTJs still have auxiliary Ni, so they would rather step away from the environment and evaluate before jumping into action. ENTJs are judgers/a rational type, meaning they need to analyze where the situation is heading before acting. ESTPs focus on living in the moment. If this archetype does not value abstractionism, structure, logical connections, or hidden meanings, then chances are they are not a true ENTJ.

Ni is detail-oriented and good at planning things out -> while aux Te can help INTJs be exceptional at planning, Ni is not step-by-step itself. It usually jumps to conclusions due to the prioritization of main ideas and overall structure. Intuition functions are not rational, and they focus on ideas that are not pragmatic or concrete.

Quiet, mysterious, stoic character, INTJ or ISTP?: a lot of ISTPs get mistyped as INTJs (Wednesday Addams). ISTPs analyze and see themselves as being in the moment, while also focusing on their logical perception of the whole situation. INTJs see themselves as being apart from what is going on around them and analyze the situation from afar, looking for main ideas and structure. 

INTJs are cold and emotionless -> this, again, is a behavioral trait lol. There’s probably no need for an explanation

xNTJs can’t be impulsive -> this statement is half true. xNTJs would rather not jump into action without thinking, but they tend to focus on main ideas over details, which means they may be careless when evaluating situations.

xNTJs are unaccommodating -> not always, being a nice person has nothing to do with cognitive functions

*ೃ༄Differences between ENTJ and INTJ*ೃ༄

ENTJs value taking action efficiently and quickly, INTJs value fully analyzing the situation before acting

ENTJ is a rational type. They are quicker to judge, while INTJ is more about absorbing information

ENTJs are more impersonal and logic-oriented, while INTJs tend to me a bit more attuned to their feelings and focus more on symbolism and abstractionism

ENTJs are objective and good at explaining their ideas to be more efficienct. INTJs struggle with explaining their ideas in a concise and coherent way as they value intuition over logic

ENTJs push against the idea of making decisions based on their personal needs, emotions, or subjective interpretation (Te against Fi), while INTJs push against the idea of making decisions in the moment or simply evaluating the situation as it is (Ni against Se. Ni favors hidden meanings and intuition, while Se values realism). 

ENTJs focus on the environment around them more, while INTJs tend to live in their head

ENTJs may aspire to be more connected with their emotions, while INTJs may aspire to be more focused on the present (Fi suggestive and Se suggestive in socionics)

ENTJs become more focused on themselves, emotionally explosive, biased (in terms of their subjective views), etc. when they are stressed, while INTJs feel the need to act/focus in the moment, may become more impulsive and reckless 

*ೃ༄Enneagram Combinations*ೃ༄

ENTJ: SO1, SX1, SP1, SO3, SP3

Rarer ones: SO7, SO6/SX6

INTJ: SO5, SX5, SP5

based on cognitive functions, not stereotypes!

ENTJ: you’ll notice they focus on outcomes and efficiency immediately. they organize people and situations without asking, and get impatient when others hesitate. often found leading group projects, managing things at work, or naturally taking charge in chaotic situations

ENTP: constantly exploring ideas out loud. they question everything, switch perspectives mid-conversation, and get bored with routine. you’ll find them in debates, brainstorming sessions, or derailing conversations into something more interesting

INTJ: observes first, acts later but when they act, it’s deliberate. they trust their own direction and ignore things that feel pointless. often the one working independently, sitting slightly apart, or only speaking when they’ve fully formed their thoughts

INTP: analyzes before acting. pauses a lot, questions logic, and goes deep into explanations when interested. you’ll find them researching, discussing niche topics, or mentally checked out during things that don’t interest them

ESTJ: quickly identifies what needs to be done and how to do it. relies on structure and expects others to follow through. often organizing group work, setting rules, or keeping things on track in practical environments

ESFJ: highly aware of others. checks in, includes people, and adjusts to keep harmony. you’ll see them making sure everyone is okay, maintaining social balance, or being the “glue” of a group

ISTJ: grounded, consistent, and detail-focused. they stick to what works and follow through reliably. often quietly doing their tasks, keeping systems running, or handling responsibilities without needing attention

ISFJ: attentive and people-focused, but more subtle. remembers details about others and shows care through small actions. you’ll find them supporting behind the scenes, helping individuals rather than leading groups

ESTP: reacts instantly to what’s happening. takes action without overthinking and adapts quickly. often in fast-paced environments, hands-on situations, or being the one who just does instead of planning

ESFP: expressive and present. engages easily, reacts emotionally in the moment, and brings energy into spaces. you’ll notice them in social settings, making interactions feel more alive and spontaneous

ISTP: quiet, observant, and independent. steps in when there’s a practical problem to solve, then steps back again. often doing their own thing, focused on tasks, or fixing something without making it a big deal

ISFP: guided by personal values but not always vocal about them. expresses more through actions than words. you’ll find them in creative or personal spaces, or quietly doing things their own way without needing recognition

ENFJ: tracks group dynamics and naturally guides people. encourages, organizes socially, and keeps people aligned. often leading socially, mentoring others, or being the one everyone goes to for advice

ENFP: jumps between ideas, people, and interests, but follows what feels meaningful. expressive, curious, and quick to connect. you’ll see them talking to different people, exploring new things, or bringing unexpected topics into conversations

INFJ: observes quietly and picks up on underlying patterns in people. speaks in a more intentional, reflective way. often harder to place, but you’ll notice them having deep one-on-one conversations rather than engaging in everything

INFJ/ISFJ: true crime, scrolling through wikipedia for hours, looking up riddles, scrolling through "onlyjayyus" tiktok, has a huge duolingo streak

ENFJ/ENTJ: uses se to support te/fe ambitions (sports, performing arts, community service, cleaning)

ESFJ/ESTJ: fantasizing, vision boards on pinterest, adding items to amazon wishlist, makes a bucket list for the year,

ESTP/ENTP: touches grass, hangs our with friends, class clown, watches reality tv, starts drama for no reason, debates on the internet (or fights irl if you're an estp 👀)

ESFP/ENFP: random urge to organize computer, random internet debates, creates new playlists, watches video essays about random topics, argues with friends about either stupid or smart things

INFP/INTP: reminisces about things. procrastinates. overthinking past conversations in the shower. collects cool rocks. photography. listens to the same song over and over again.

ISFP/ISTP: planning and...stuff. zodiac, psuedoscience, etc. strategic/world building video games, has a whole fictional world planned out in their head.

i'm glad you enjoyed my post about whc, and of course, i'd be more than happy to brief you about mbti. however, i hope you don't regret asking this question, because you might have unleashed a beast.

so, get ready for a quick mbti class! here's a little cheat sheet i made for your reference:

so basically, mbti operates on cognitive functions, which are just the mental processes we rely on to make decisions and understand the world. there are eight functions total, and each one is either:

introverted or extraverted (how you engage with your inner self versus how you engage with the external world)

judging or perceiving (deciding versus observing)

everyone has all eight functions, but in different orders. your mbti “type” (like INFP, ESTJ, etc.) is based on which four you use the most, and especially your top two, called the dominant and auxiliary functions. these two shape most of your personality.

if your dominant function is a perceiving function (N, S), then your auxiliary function would be a judging function (T, F). if one is extraverted, the other is introverted.

so if you're an ISTJ, for example, that doesn't mean you don't perceive at all. the S in ISTJ helps you perceive (through sensing), while the T helps you judge. J in your mbti just means that your judging function (T) makes the external part of your personality (so, Te), while your perceiving function (S) is who you are on the inside, (so Si).

now that we have that out of the way, let me brief you on all 16 mbti types, based on their dominant/auxiliary function pairings:

INFP (Fi-Ne)

to explain functions a bit: an INFP's dominant function is Fi (introverted feeling), which means their personal values and emotions are very inward, deep, and individual.

their auxiliary is Ne (extraverted intuition), so they interpret the world through patterns, ideas, and possibilities, very externally focused.

so INFPs tend to be thoughtful, emotionally independent, and idealistic. they care a lot about authenticity and inner peace, and they love exploring new ideas and meanings behind things.

ENFP (Ne-Fi)

ENFPs lead with extraverted intuition, constantly scanning for possibilities, ideas, connections. their secondary function, Fi, means they check those ideas against their personal values.

they’re outwardly energetic, spontaneous, and full of big-picture thinking, but they’re also quietly principled and sensitive under the surface.

the difference between ENFP and INFP isn't that one is an extrovert and the other is an introvert (though that might be the case, a lot of times). it just means that ENFP's intuition (Ne) is stronger than their feeling (Fi), while an INFP's Fi is stronger than their Ne.

INFJ (Ni-Fe)

introverted intuition (Ni) leads INFJs to focus inwardly on abstract insights, long-term patterns, and “gut” feelings. Fe, their secondary, is how they connect to others, read emotional environments and try to maintain harmony.

they often come across as calm, gentle, and emotionally intelligent externally (because their external function is feeling), yet internally they can be intense and future-focused, thanks to their introverted intuition.

ENFJ (Fe-Ni)

ENFJs lead with Fe, meaning they prioritize external harmony and the emotional needs of others. their Ni makes them insightful about people’s long-term paths and potential.

they are warm, empathetic leaders, often guiding others with a mix of emotional intelligence and quiet vision.

again the difference between ENFJ and INFJ is that ENFJs rely on their external function (Fe) more, while INFJs rely on their internal function (Ni) more.

INTP (Ti-Ne)

Ti (introverted thinking) leads INTPs to analyze things logically and independently. paired with Ne, they explore endless possibilities, ideas, and patterns.

they’re deeply curious, skeptical, and abstract in their thinking. they can get stuck in their heads, but that’s also where they thrive.

ENTP (Ne-Ti)

ENTPs are idea machines. their Ne drives them to chase possibilities and mentally experiment with “what-ifs.” their Ti evaluates those ideas with internal logic.

they’re witty, rebellious thinkers, drawn to novelty, debate, and intellectual play.

INTJ (Ni-Te)

Ni gives INTJs a single-minded focus on long-term visions, strategies, and future outcomes. their Te (extraverted thinking) helps them organize the external world efficiently to achieve those visions.

they’re goal-oriented, rational, and strategic; rarely loud, but always calculating the next move.

ENTJ (Te-Ni)

ENTJs lead with Te, structuring the world around them based on objective logic and efficiency. their Ni keeps them oriented toward long-term goals and intuitive predictions.

they’re decisive, commanding, and visionary; often seen as natural leaders who value competence above all.

ISFP (Fi-Se)

Fi makes ISFPs deeply value-driven and emotionally independent. Se means they perceive the world through immediate sensory experiences.

they’re artistic, grounded in the present, and often express emotion through action or creativity rather than words.

ESFP (Se-Fi)

ESFPs are vivacious and in-the-moment. their Se makes them attuned to the physical world, while Fi means they still stay true to their personal values.

they’re bold, warm, and emotionally reactive; often spontaneous with a hidden depth.

ISTP (Ti-Se)

ISTPs use Ti to assess things logically and independently, and Se to interact fluidly with their environment.

they’re adaptable, often quiet but sharp, with a love for mechanics, hands-on problem-solving, and autonomy.

ESTP (Se-Ti)

ESTPs lead with Se, reacting instantly and confidently to their surroundings. their Ti filters those perceptions with logical precision.

they’re bold, action-oriented, and love pushing boundaries, often charming and clever, with an appetite for risk.

ISFJ (Si-Fe)

Si (introverted sensing) makes ISFJs rely on past experiences and traditions, while Fe helps them care for others and maintain harmony.

they’re gentle, loyal, and highly observant of people’s needs; usually quiet, but emotionally strong and dependable.

ESFJ (Fe-Si)

ESFJs lead with Fe, actively maintaining social harmony and supporting others. Si makes them grounded in familiarity and routine.

they’re sociable, nurturing, and detail-oriented, often the “glue” that holds groups and communities together.

ISTJ (Si-Te)

Si leads ISTJs to be meticulous, detail-focused, and grounded in what they know works. Te organizes the world around them in a practical, no-nonsense way.

they’re responsible, reliable, and value order and duty above chaos or novelty.

ESTJ (Te-Si)

ESTJs are dominant Te users, they love structure, control, and results. paired with Si, they draw on past systems and rules to create stability.

they’re firm leaders, often blunt but dependable, and motivated by getting things done right.

•

so that's mbti types explained through cognitive functions in the simplest way possible. hope it helps!

AHEM I PRESENT TO YOU

✨✨(not)Small summaries of each function in the dominant spot✨✨

It’s the full cast!

The 16 types as things they love