[Jungian Cognitive Functions] Function Development

[SearchingforPeace]

Is it typically easier for TJs incl. ISTJs? (This coming to terms with inner feelings etc.)




I see your idea, I just think it's easily possible that the JCF function model doesn't explain nuances like these you bring up. So I'm not sure if the idea of generalizing it to every type's shadow would work.

But let's see some more examples. How would ISTJ benefit turning towards Se space?

My father, a ISTJ, who around 60, suddenly became interested in biking, cooking, and painting. By combining Si with Se, he changed dramatically in his talents and interests.

It served as an extension of his previous talents and skills. He also went from being an efficiency and functional gardener to creating art out of his gardens, similar (though not to the same extent) as my ISFP BIL.

Likewise, his previously function oriented woodworking moved into more creative areas.

So his unconscious Se became effectively active and alive. He still sucks at Ne or anything like Ne. He has a strong tert Fi, but he has no real ability to express it.

Again, the inferior function is weak, not just in development but also in strength. We reject the inferior as we accept the dominant.

The unconscious side of the dominant function should be just as strong as our preferred dominant function. Our function preferrence is preferred in orientation.

 

[existence]

My father, a ISTJ, who around 60, suddenly became interested in biking, cooking, and painting. By combining Si with Se, he changed dramatically in his talents and interests.

It served as an extension of his previous talents and skills. He also went from being an efficiency and functional gardener to creating art out of his gardens, similar (though not to the same extent) as my ISFP BIL.

Likewise, his previously function oriented woodworking moved into more creative areas.

So his unconscious Se became effectively active and alive. He still sucks at Ne or anything like Ne. He has a strong tert Fi, but he has no real ability to express it.

Again, the inferior function is weak, not just in development but also in strength. We reject the inferior as we accept the dominant.

The unconscious side of the dominant function should be just as strong as our preferred dominant function. Our function preferrence is preferred in orientation.

I agree with the last line.

The inferior function however is supposed to be integrated with the dominant function (as claimed if we go beyond simplistic MBTI and more jungian, but it also personally makes sense to me). The dominant function isn't going to be at full capacity if the inferior function is not integrated with it.


As for the ISTJ example: from this much, I don't know if Se is his motivation for moving to those areas. With the creativity I'm thinking it could be his Ne inferior too.

 

[SearchingforPeace]

I agree with the last line.

The inferior function however is supposed to be integrated with the dominant function (as claimed if we go beyond simplistic MBTI and more jungian, but it also personally makes sense to me). The dominant function isn't going to be at full capacity if the inferior function is not integrated with it.


As for the ISTJ example: from this much, I don't know if Se is his motivation for moving to those areas. With the creativity I'm thinking it could be his Ne inferior too.

He became more action oriented, after being rather not action oriented for more most of his life. He never did any biking until he retired. His cooking went from being almost non-existent to creating elaborate meals (using recipes, not his own inventions, but still). His paintings are beautiful and are completely different from all his previous artistic endeavors.

He also went from hating to travel anywhere but to visit family to traveling the entire world, in all sorts of exotic trips. He was a person who absolutely hated doing anything outside his comfort zone.

So, in theory, it could be Ne-like, but it really isn't. He really started pursuing Se activities and engaging in life in a Se manner.

And again, he has no Ne and finds Ne type activities extremely frustrating.

So, beginning in his mid 50s, he embarked on 20 years of Se, seemingly contrary to all his Si world. And still is without much Ne (which must be so integrated into his Si as to be almost non-existent). His engaging in Se activities to the extent he has makes sense if his shadow Se became more a part of him.

Again, type development theory is that we develop our dominant and then our inferior and dominant fight it out for control until we hit 25 or so, when our frontal lobes are fully developed, by which time the inferior is integrated into the dominant.

As such, the inferior really can't be developed much and will never be very strong, especially compared to dominant and auxiliary functions. And the tertiary will always be over-estimated as to its strength.

But the shadow of the dominant, the unconscious side of the preferred, will be just as strong as the dominant, but only expressed unconsciously, until we start working on our shadow. Midlife is the time when such things should take place and why so many people have a midlife crisis. After navigating adulthood, suddenly we have the unconscious side start becoming more conscious and needing to be addressed.

 

[existence]

He became more action oriented, after being rather not action oriented for more most of his life. He never did any biking until he retired. His cooking went from being almost non-existent to creating elaborate meals (using recipes, not his own inventions, but still). His paintings are beautiful and are completely different from all his previous artistic endeavors.

He also went from hating to travel anywhere but to visit family to traveling the entire world, in all sorts of exotic trips. He was a person who absolutely hated doing anything outside his comfort zone.

So, in theory, it could be Ne-like, but it really isn't. He really started pursuing Se activities and engaging in life in a Se manner.

I believe you if you say you can see it as Se directly.

It's just that ISTJ profiles call exactly this stuff their Ne inferior, I did wonder before how one tells if it's Ne or Se lol. Because apparently doing things like the things you've listed here for him can be attributed both to Se and Ne in these MBTI type articles... So whatever.

I sometimes also find myself temporarily becoming like this, like you describe for your father. Though I'm in general a bit more action oriented anyway than how you described him before this change happened.

And again, he has no Ne and finds Ne type activities extremely frustrating.

Yeah, that sounds like proper ISTJ if he has no Ne by default and finds it very frustrating. (Same for me.)

Again, type development theory is that we develop our dominant and then our inferior and dominant fight it out for control until we hit 25 or so, when our frontal lobes are fully developed, by which time the inferior is integrated into the dominant.

As such, the inferior really can't be developed much and will never be very strong, especially compared to dominant and auxiliary functions. And the tertiary will always be over-estimated as to its strength.

But the shadow of the dominant, the unconscious side of the preferred, will be just as strong as the dominant, but only expressed unconsciously, until we start working on our shadow. Midlife is the time when such things should take place and why so many people have a midlife crisis. After navigating adulthood, suddenly we have the unconscious side start becoming more conscious and needing to be addressed.

The idea on function strength as you put it makes sense, but beyond that, I'm still skeptical of this Shadow theory. I'm sticking with how I don't believe these nuances are all necessarily explained by this generic framework Jung created or by additions to it.