CENTER FOR APPLICATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPE
Eight Function-Attitudes
SE
TE
Extraverted Sensing
Extraverted Thinking
(Experiencing/Fact-Seeking)
(Systematizing/Objectifying)
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SI
TI
Introverted Sensing
Introverted Thinking
(Recalling/Clarifying)
(Analyzing/Problem-Solving)
FI
Introverted Feeling
(Valuing/Idealizing)
NI
Introverted Intuition
(Visioning/Symbolizing)
FE
NE
Extraverted Feeling
Extraverted Intuition
(Harmonizing/Expressing)
(Brainstorming/Patterning)
© 2002 Charles R. Martin, Ph.D. Published by CAPT.
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SE Extraverted Sensing (Experiencing/Fact-seeking): Outward and active focus on the objective world and on gathering and sharing factual data and sensual experiences. Characterized by:
quick responsiveness to the environment, realism, present-orientation, excitement at anything that
stimulates the senses, concrete language and factual speech.
SI Introverted Sensing (Recalling/Clarifying): Inward and reflective focus on subjective sensual
experiences and on the storing of factual historical data. Characterized by: clarifying of facts,
attention to past associations and experiential memory, recall of physical world memories as
“snapshots,” and attention to bodily sensations.
NE Extraverted Intuition (Brainstorming/Patterning): Outward and active focus on the new,
the possibilities, and meanings/patterns in the objective world. Characterized by: attention to the
world of ideas, symbols and possibilities, brainstorming activity, noticing and making “connections”
while watching the world or by talking out loud, adaptability and opportunity-seeking, and an
orientation to change.
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NI Introverted Intuition (Visioning/Symbolizing): Inward and reflective focus on the
subjective world of symbols, meanings, insight, and patterns that come up from the unconscious.
Characterized by: vision, attention to “psychic,” even mystical realities; metaphor in thought and
words; possibilities in the world of ideas; complexity; symbolic language; multiple perspectives;
and an orientation to the future.
TE Extraverted Thinking (Systematizing/Objectifying): Outward and active focus on applying
logical order to the objective world through building structure, organizing, and making decisions.
Characterized by: cause-and-effect thinking, establishing objectively defining and ruling principles,
planning, logical debate and critiquing, and analysis of pros and cons.
TI Introverted Thinking (Analyzing/Problem-solving): Inward and reflective focus on the
subjective world of reason that seeks understanding through finding the logical principles behind
phenomena. Characterized by: giving order to ideas (rather than objects), seeking the “truth,”
tough-minded (and often categorical) analysis, logical precision, making conceptual linkages,
reliance on and trust in own logic that may go against the “norm.”
FE Extraverted Feeling (Harmonizing/Expressing): Outward and active focus on bringing
order to the objective world through building and seeking harmony with others and alignment with
openly expressed values. Characterized by: expressing warmth and empathy, relationship-seeking,
emotional responsiveness, sensitivity to social mores, harmony in relationships, attention to
expectations in relationships, and consideration and acceptance of others.
FI Introverted Feeling (Valuing/Idealizing): Inward and reflective focus on the subjective world
of deeply felt values that seeks harmony through alignment of personal behavior with those values
and evaluation of phenomena in light of those values. Characterized by: attention to ethical
concerns, drive to fulfill deeply passionate ideals, seeking of abstract universal values, trust in
one’s own values and evaluations of right and wrong that may go against the “norm.”
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© 2002 Charles R. Martin, Ph.D. Published by CAPT.
800.777.2278
toll-free USA •
www.capt.org
Eight Function-Attitudes:What Are They?
Carl Jung originally identified four different kinds of extraverts and four different kinds of
introverts, eight types in all. What distinguished the different types of extraverts and introverts
was their emphasis on one of four mental functions, functions which could be understood as pairs of
opposites: two perceiving mental functions (sensing vs. intuition), and two judging mental functions
(thinking vs. feeling). Perceiving functions take in information, while judging functions weigh
information and decide.
Each of the eight types identified by Jung use their favorite of the four mental functions
(sensing, intuition, thinking, or feeling) in a particular attitude—that is, they use that favored
function in either an extraverted or introverted way. A function used in a particular attitude is
what we refer to as a function-attitude. The diagram of the eight function-attitudes in this handout
represents these functions in a visual way.
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Everyone uses all eight of these function-attitudes. What makes someone a type is that one of
the function-attitudes is dominant (the characteristics of that function show significantly in that
person’s life) and that one of them is auxiliary (that function supports and balances the dominant
function).
The favored—or dominant—function tends to be the individual’s most well-developed function
and the one that leads the personality. The second-favored—or auxiliary—function tends to be the
second most well-developed function and is given secondary weight to the dominant. Each of the
eight dominant function types have two variations (one of two auxiliary functions), leading to
sixteen different types.
The sixteen types, with their favored dominant function, their second-favored auxiliary
function, and their least preferred (inferior) function are listed on the next page.
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© 2002 Charles R. Martin, Ph.D. Published by CAPT.
800.777.2278
toll-free USA •
www.capt.org
DOMINANT
AUXILIARY
LEAST PREFERRED
ESTP
Extraverted Sensing (SE)
with
Introverted Thinking (TI)
Introverted Intuition (NI)
ESFP
Extraverted Sensing (SE)
with
Introverted Feeling (FI)
Introverted Intuition (NI)
ISTJ
Introverted Sensing (SI)
with
Extraverted Thinking (TE)
Extraverted Intuition (NE)
ISFJ
Introverted Sensing (SI)
with
Extraverted Feeling (FE)
Extraverted Intuition (NE)
ENTP
Extraverted Intuition (NE)
with
Introverted Thinking (TI)
Introverted Sensing (SI)
ENFP
Extraverted Intuition (NE)
with
Introverted Feeling (FI)
Introverted Sensing (SI)
INTJ
Introverted Intuition (NI)
with
Extraverted Thinking (TE)
Extraverted Sensing (SE)
INFJ
Introverted Intuition (NI)
with
Extraverted Feeling (FE)
Extraverted Sensing (SE)
ESTJ
Extraverted Thinking (TE)
with
Introverted Sensing (SI)
Introverted Feeling (FI)
ENTJ
Extraverted Thinking (TE)
with
Introverted Intuition (NI)
Introverted Feeling (FI)
ISTP
Introverted Thinking (TI)
with
Extraverted Sensing (SE)
Extraverted Feeling (FE)
INTP
Introverted Thinking (TI)
with
Extraverted Intuition (NE)
Extraverted Feeling (FE)
ESFJ
Extraverted Feeling (FE)
with
Introverted Sensing (SI)
Introverted Thinking (TI)
ENFJ
Extraverted Feeling (FE)
with
Introverted Intuition (NI)
Introverted Thinking (TI)
ISFP
Introverted Feeling (FI)
with
Extraverted Sensing (SE)
Extraverted Thinking (TE)
INFP
Introverted Feeling (FI)
with
Extraverted Intuition (NE)
Extraverted Thinking (TE)
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Additional Resources
◗ Lawrence, G. D. and, C. R. Martin 2001. Building people, building programs: Introducing the MBTI® to individuals
and organizations. Gainesville, FL: Center for Applications of Psychological Type.
◗ Myers, K. D., L. K. Kirby. 1994. Introduction to type™ dynamics and development: Exploring the next level of type.
Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
◗ Thompson, H. L. 1996. Jung’s function attitudes explained. Wormhole Publishing: Watkinsville, GA.
Center for Applications of Psychological Type
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© 2002 Charles R. Martin, Ph.D. Published by CAPT.
800.777.2278
toll-free USA •
www.capt.org