#tertiary function

Could you please explain more about the test function?

Is it true a person's tert starts manifesting in early adulthood as in starting from 20 years old if so..how does it work when they were younger?

Besides, I have noticed that people display the third function as a mask.

I theorized that it is similar to the dom and stress relief that's why it's more prominent. Unless it's a stressful situation then its harder to use it.

Also, when do loops occur as opposed to gripping?

I figured the last one was from stress and the first from prolonged stress or depression.

Thanks in advance.

It's somewhat nonexistent and/or seems less important when they are young. For example, I've always been an avid writer and spent the majority of my time writing novels (starting at eleven years old, lol), but I looked back recently on a book I wrote at sixteen and realized it was all Ne-driven. Random scenes building into each other, with no sense of larger plot or structure or word count or grammar. The older I get, the more important those things are to me during the writing process itself -- I am now conscious of what plot lines might derail things, or if I have too many characters (which gets confusing for my reader and often means they are "thin" rather than deep), I can think more objectively about what needs to be there and what is just padding, and I greatly crave a sense of order in my process. I also can now tell a story in 95,000 words rather than 200,000.

I've seen INPs develop more of a capacity for details and become more able to retain detailed information after 20 years old, rather than just be rigid about their environment and hating change. Etc. So it's always there, but it manifests in an immature way -- and once you hit adulthood and have to start problem-solving out in the real world, it becomes more necessary to develop it -- and other people start to notice it more, since you become more competent with it.

ExFP - Te: barks out orders, enjoys unleashing their inner bitch, and then fails to follow through with supervision and coordination. 

ExTP - Fe: makes things awkward by pointing out sexual tension in the air.

ENxJ - Se: gets inspired by a Pinterest/Tumblr post to produce mildly aesthetically pleasing (but otherwise basic) DIY project.

ESxJ - Ne: uses the same joke for the 863th time. Hey, it still works.

IxFJ - Ti: semi-politely points out an error in logic in what someone’s saying, fails to keep up with resulting debate.

IxTJ - Fi: tries to counsel and emotionally comfort someone, gets misunderstood and gives up in frustration.

ISxP - Ni: successfully predicts what is going to happen, but only if it’s a low stakes small event.

INTJ is out of her depths (however deep), INFJ’s mind is Chaos

INTJ:  *covers face with hands* *can’t form a proper sentence* 

INFJ: *stares at INTJ with raised eyebrows* 

Anyway, stan Tertiary Te.

That really depends on who you ask, so I'm just going to answer it the way you'll be seeing it on my blog: it's a shorthand way of referring to people's cognitive functions.

3 things to understand

Mbti is A shorthand for a FRAMEWORK. A FRAMEWORK of how people's minds work - not a personality/behaviour rulebook. You won't relate to your mbti type descriptions all the time, because they're just predictions of behaviour based on cognitive functions.

There are 16 types - 16 function stacks - and 8 cognitive functions. The type names help you remember which functions an individual can have.

Cognitive functions. This is the part of mbti that is most important. In fact, FORGET THE LETTERS. It's all about the functions. There are 8 functions. Every one has all 8, but they preference four for everyday life. To learn more about the functions you can read #fun functions posts. The way the functions interact is important.

Cognitive Functions????

There are two directions for functions - internal (intraverted) and externally (Extraverted). There's no such thing as an ambivert, because it's not about socialness. It's about how your mind is working.

There are perceiving functions - how you take in information - and there are judging functions - how you filter information.

Perceiving functions

You can either be a sensor or an intuitive. Don't think about this in the way the terms are generally used, sensors don't go around rubbing things do understand the world around them.

Short explanation: Extraverted perceiving functions seek possibilities, and intraverted perceiving functions create an internal framework.

Put simply, sensors perceive the world around them through physical things, and intuitives perceive the world around them through... Vibes.

Intraverted sensing (Si) notices small details in its world (body, house, etc) and creates an internal framework based on these details. It favours past experience, and methods that it knows have worked before.

Extraverted sensing (Se) notices bigger details in the world around them (subtle details, like who's looking at who and who might like each other). It favours learning through experience and being present in the moment.

Intraverted intuition (Ni) picks up on vibes. Some say this isn't possible, and Ni can't really explain how it is. It creates a framework of the world internally, and tries to predict the future based off past behaviours and current vibes. It can get weird.

Extraverted intuition (Ne) can get weirder 😂. It gets vibes, but instead of creating a framework it creates possibilities. Did the vibe mean x, y, or z?

Judging Functions

You can either filter your perceptions through thinking or feeling. No, this is no emotion vs logic. Many feelers are very good thinkers. I'll explain it in a minute.

Short explanation: intraverted judging functions filter their perceptions through their own internal thoughts/logic (Ti) or feeling/morality (Fi). Extraverted judging functions filter their perceptions through other's thoughts/logic (Te) or feelings/morality (Fe).

Intraverted thinking (Ti) isn't too bothered if you disagree with its logic. They care that things make sense to them personally, and won't think something just because everyone else does. They're the reasons the rule 'thinkers speak of thoughts and feelers speak of feelings/people' DOESN'T WORK. Ti is intraverted. It doesn't often share its thoughts. This doesn't mean Ti users don't care what anyone thinks, but it does leave them vulnerable to that weakness.

Extraverted thinking (Te) is bothered if you disagree with its logic, and will try to convince you it's correct. This is why Te users often speak of ideas. This doesn't mean Te users will think anything the majority of people do, but it does leave them vulnerable to that weakness.

Intraverted feeling (Fi) is kind of the opposite of Ti in a way. Fi users don't need your approval to believe they're right. But they still want you to agree with them. They want you to share their morality, because they believe it is right. Fi is more about a feeling of morality than emotions. This doesn't mean Fi users are self righteous, but it leaves them vulnerable to that weakness.

Extraverted feeling (Fe) is about other people's feelings and ideas of morality. Fe users often don't know how they're actually feeling, so the idea they talk about their own emotions is WRONG. They talk about other's emotions. This doesn't mean Fe users are pushovers, but it does leave them vulnerable to that weakness.

Function stacks

Every person preferences four functions. Their first function determines if they're an intraverted or Extravert (nothing to do with people!). The direction of the functions is the opposite of the one before (I, e, I, e). The two middle functions are either two judging functions or two perceiving functions.

If you lead with an Extraverted judging function, you are called an E**J. So no,

Judgers are not judgy

Depending on whether you have Si/Se or Ni/Ne in your first two functions, you are either an S or an N type. And depending on whether you have a T function or an F function first, you are called a T or an F.

The list of types

Enfj - Fe Ni Se Ti

Infj - Ni Fe Ti Se

Entj - Te Ni Se Fi

Intj - Ni Te Fi Se

Enfp - Ne Fi Te Si

Infp - Fi Ne Si Te

Entp - Ne Ti Fe Si

Intp - Ti Ne Si Fe

Esfj - Fe Si Ne Ti

Isfj - Si Fe Ti Ne

Estj - Te Si Ne Fi

Istj - Si Te Fi Ne

Esfp - Se Fi Te Ni

Isfp - Fi Se Ni Te

Estp - Se Ti Fe Ni

Istp - Ti Se Ni Fe

How you use the functions

You use the first function (primary function) without even really realising it.

You use the second function (auxillary function) when making a basic decision. It supports your first function.

You use this function (Tertiary Function) when making a tougher decision. If you get too stressed and get in a loop between your first and third function, you'll probably start doing dumb stuff or inventing conspiracy theories.

You use the fourth function (Inferior function) when you're a little stressed or sad. You don't really have much control over it. You probably find it hard to relate to people who lead with your inferior Function.

Shadow functions

Like I said, everyone has all 8 functions, but the final four are barely used, and are like the shadow of your personality. They're the opposite direction of your first four. (So for an Enfj (Fe Ni Se Ti) their shadow is Fi Ne Si Te).

You use the first Shadow Function when you feel stuck, to consider new options. You probably like people who lead with this function.

The second shadow function is your critical parent. You use it to tell yourself and others off. You may feel like people who lead with this function are always having a go at you.

This is the function you use to spite people, and make sure neither of you are happy. You probably think people who lead with this function are mean or manipulative.

This is your Demon function. If you go here you're severely depressed. You may mind people who lead with this function simultaneously boring and hard to connect with, and attractive and ideal.

Personal Twist

I personally believe you can see the first function in someone's eyes, as well as the difference between Fi and Fe. I have some posts about that #mbti eyes. It's hard to explain, but from experience it works. You're looking at how the brain works after all 😉

Anyway

If you made it to the end of this and like it, enjoy my blog. Otherwise, I'm not really looking for an internet fight 😂 Pls don't kill me for my stupid Ni-Ti ideas. Just laugh and go on your merry way.

I have noticed that in most individuals I know, they all seem very affected by their tertiary function.  

Many MBTI sources say that the third function isn’t “discovered” until later in life.  I personally don’t believe that to be true.  

I have noticed however that the third function is the one that seems to be tied to the feeling of personal comfort and safety in most cases.  

When the third function is imbalanced or “upset” in an individual, it seems to affect their ability to use their first and second functions negatively.  

Overview

Leading Function:

most used, i.e. overused

determines if the type is extraverted E, or introverted I

determines if the type is feeling F, or thinking T, or, if it is a perceiving function, if the type is sensing S, or intuiting N

Auxiliary Function:

in support, i.e. under control of the leading function

different direction ( i, e ) than leading

different nature ( perceiving, judging) than leading

Tertiary Function:

further supports leading

diametral to auxiliary, yet in a supportive manner

same direction as leading

same nature as auxiliary

Repressed, Inferior Function:

diametral to leading

contradicts, inhibits leading function

same direction as auxiliary

same nature as leading

Interpretation

To understand any type, it should be enough to know its function stack and what each function in it represents. As every MBTI type consists of two specific function axes in a particular order, it is most useful to know how to interpret these axes.

One axis always connects the types leading and auxiliary function. With these two functions, the one being on the one side, what you might call the strongest function, while on the other, the weakest function of the type, the interaction of these poles is a key-part to understand the inner processes of a specific type.

The leading is actually not the most used function because we like it the most. It is the other way around: We like it the most, because we use it the most. There is no real consensus in the MBTI-community, why most human beings tend to prioritize one cognitive function over all others, but the most common answer here is: because we tend to stick with what has worked.

So in fact, one could imagine, that we all got used to our leading function over the course of our lives, in a need for inner stability, as well as simply pragmatism paired with human laziness. Most likely there may have been not even any talent: We just got better at interacting with the world through a continuing experience.

However, once a certain gap in skill was reached between the most used leading function and it’s opponents, it sounds just natural one unconsciously avoids risking his/her inner stability, by using a function that is not trained as well as the lead. This behavior isn’t something unique to cognitive functions; a decent proportion of psychological problems start with the overuse of one certain area forcing the avoidance of others.

C.G. Jung, the psychologist who originally came up with the idea of psychological types, and who’s work made the base for Myers and Briggs typology model, had certain assumptions about the interaction of the consciousness with the subconscious. Simplifying: As we only have certain control over conscious things, the subconscious is the place where all things get equalled — whether we like it or not.

So, as one overuses the leading function on and on, one also gets into a state of dependence on this cognitive process. From this point on, everything that seems to hinder the leading function is unconsciously suppressed. However, the power of the repressed function grows ever so slightly in the subconscious, while the dependence on the leading function intensifies.

This dynamic is vastly important to understand the repressed function. It might be even lower than the tertiary function, but this does represent neither it’s value nor it’s power. The way how any type reacts with the world is characterized by this tension between the first and the fourth function. The leading function indeed leads — most of the time! If the tension gets too big, the individual experiences a breakdown, colored by fears, doubts or even impulses, that might seem to directly contradict the nature of a given type.

Life actually seems to be, for each and anybody, after all, nothing but a dance on a tightrope, where left and right could be imagined as one’s type leading and inferior function. These specific characteristics might be hard to detect at times, however, they exist as a core part of our personality.

(I think I’ll write an extra chapter on C.G. Jung’s work Psychological Types, as I can see it assisting to get behind the nature of each cognitive function, as well as in what way they were intended originally.)

This is very different for the auxiliary and tertiary function, which also represent two poles on one function axis. There is no power left to force this pair into an unhealthy overuse-compensation dynamic. They simply coexist next to each other in the grip of the leading function.

While the auxiliary is still above the tertiary, there is almost a notion of balance between these two and their kinds of uses. As their natures still contradict each other, there aren’t even that much scenarios, where both had the ability to contribute the same amount to the situation.

Thank you for this question. A healthy and balanced Fi would manifest in INTJs as: 

- A strong and unwavering set of morals. In a healthy INTJ and due to the constant questioning approach of the type, these morals would probably be the final conclusions of a well-thought mental process in which different perspectives and angles have been taken into consideration. 

- A strong connection with the inner self. INTJs are individuals with a rich and deep inner world, however unhealthy individuals will perceive this depth as a constant source of deep melancholy, uneasiness and even sorrow. A healthy INTJ will use their balanced Fi to stay in sync with their personal truth.