Theory
Jungian Typology
Psychological type theory as founded by Carl Jung and later systematized by Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs.
Historical Foundation
Carl Jung introduced the theory of psychological types in 1921, proposing that individuals differ in their preferred modes of perception and judgment. His work defined two core attitudes—introversion and extraversion—and four psychological functions: sensation, intuition, thinking, and feeling.
Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs later expanded Jung’s framework into a structured typology system. Their contribution was organizational rather than theoretical: clarifying preferences, formalizing type descriptions, and arranging Jung’s functions into a consistent 16-type model.
Terminology
- Subject: Conscious entity which perceives the object.
- Object: Content of consciousness which is being perceived by the subject.
- Ego: Center of consciousness which selects, integrates, organizes, and identifies experience.
- Suppressed: Consciously holding back something.
- Repressed: Unconsciously blocked from awareness.
Jung’s Definitions
Solo Functions
| Function | Jung’s Definition | Simplification |
|---|---|---|
| Sensation (S) | “Sensation is that psychological function which transmits the physical stimulus to perception... It is the function which registers the concrete reality of the object.” | Sensing is the psychological function which perceives the reality through 5 senses. It understands object in concrete form. |
| Intuition (N) | “Intuition is that psychological function which transmits perceptions in an unconscious way... It is the function which sees around the corners and anticipates the future.” | Intuition is the psychological function which perceives in an unconscious way. It sees indirect patterns and predicts the future. |
| Thinking (T) | “Thinking, in so far as it is a conscious activity, is a process of perception and judgement by means of concepts... It is the function which arranges the contents of consciousness in an orderly series and connects them by logical relations.” | Thinking is the psychological function that perceives and judges through concepts. It arranges contents of consciousness in a logical manner. |
| Feeling (F) | “Feeling is a process of valuation... It is the function which assigns values to the contents of consciousness... It says 'pleasant' or 'unpleasant', 'good' or 'bad', 'beautiful' or 'ugly'.” | Feeling is the psychological function that perceives and judges through values. It assigns values to contents of consciousness. |
Directed Functions
| Function | Jung’s Definition | Simplification |
|---|---|---|
| Introverted Sensing (Si) | “Introverted sensation is oriented by the intensity of the subjective sensation factor… It is a sensation which perceives the object through the medium of the subject… It is impressionistic and reproduces the object in a subjective form.” | Introverted sensation is concerned with subjective sensation, perceiving the object with personal sensation & impression. |
| Extraverted Sensing (Se) | “Extraverted sensation is oriented by the intensity of the objective influence… It is a sensation which seeks the strongest possible sensation… It is absorbed in the object and lives in the moment.” | Extraverted sensation is concerned with objective sensation. It seeks the strongest sensation, understands object's sensation without prior impression, and lives in the moment. |
| Introverted Intuition (Ni) | “Introverted intuition is directed to the inner object, a subjective image… It perceives the images which arise from the a priori, inherited foundations of the unconscious… It sees behind the scenes and anticipates the future in a symbolic form.” | Introverted intuition focuses on subjective image. It perceives the images that come from indirect patterns or pure unconscious realm. It predicts the future in symbolic form. |
| Extraverted Intuition (Ne) | “Extraverted intuition is oriented by the object and by objective happenings… It is a perception of possibilities… It is always on the lookout for new possibilities and seeks to realize them.” | Extraverted intuition is concerned with object and its effects. It looks for new possibilities, and seeks to understand them. |
| Introverted Thinking (Ti) | “Introverted thinking is primarily oriented by the subjective factor… It does not adapt to the object, but tries to subordinate the object to its own subjective formula… It is a thinking which is directed inward and seeks to fathom the depths of its own ideas.” | Introverted thinking is concerned with subjective logic. It doesn't adapt to objective logic, but tries to make sense of object through its subjective logic. Also it seeks to make deeper sense of its logic. |
| Extraverted Thinking (Te) | “The extraverted thinking type… orients itself by objective data… The judgment always accords with objective conditions… It is a thinking which is directed to the external world and adapts itself to the objective facts.” | Extraverted thinking is concerned with objective facts. It adapts to objective conditions, and focused on external world. |
| Introverted Feeling (Fi) | “Introverted feeling is determined principally by the subjective factor… It is a feeling which seems cold to the outside observer… It is intensely personal and seeks to realize its own inner values.” | Introverted feeling considers personal values for judgement and seems cold from the outside. It is very personal and seeks to understand its subjective values. |
| Extraverted Feeling (Fe) | “Extraverted feeling is oriented by objective data… It is a feeling which adapts itself to the object… It is dependent on the general emotional atmosphere and seeks to establish harmony with it.” | Extraverted feeling is concerned with objective values. It adapts its values to match with the object, and it seeks to adjust its values with the external emotional atmosphere. |
Function Positions
| Position | Jung's Definition | Simplification |
|---|---|---|
| Superior (Dominant) | “Experience shows that the superior function is always in the most differentiated form, while the inferior function is in an archaic, primitive, and undifferentiated state.” | Dominant function is the primary mode through which the ego relates to reality and performs its job. |
| Auxiliary | “As a rule the second function is of a different nature from the first, and therefore cannot be antagonistic to it. Thus thinking may be assisted by intuition, or intuition by feeling, but never by another thinking function.” | Auxiliary function can't be opposing to dominant function, rather it assists it. |
| Unnamed (Tertiary) | “One function is consciously differentiated, another is less so, the third is only slightly differentiated, and the fourth is entirely unconscious.” | Tertiary function is given a very little priority by the ego to relate with reality. |
| Inferior | “The inferior function is practically identical with the unconscious, and in so far as it is conscious at all, it is always contaminated by unconscious elements.” | Inferior function is unconsciously repressed and contaminated by the dominant function to protect the ego (identity). |
As any type could have 4 functions in their stack, rest of the 4 could be used but they aren't ego-aligned, linear, or natural preference.
Quantitative Evidence (Correlational)
The following studies do not validate Jungian functions directly, but provide correlational evidence for cognitive processes aligned with their descriptions.
- Si — Hippocampal activation and autobiographical memory research: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2689362/
- Se — Sensory cortex and real-time perception: https://www.jneurosci.org/content/42/3/435
- Ni — Default Mode Network and future simulation: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4751480/
- Ne — Divergent thinking and associative networks: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289624000229
- Ti — Analytical reasoning and prefrontal cortex: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15178381/
- Te — Executive function and DLPFC: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-021-01132-0
- Fi — Value-based judgment and vmPFC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6608126/
- Fe — Empathy, mirror neurons, and insula: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3840169/