169 lines
16 KiB
Markdown
169 lines
16 KiB
Markdown
# 06 - The Roles of the Functions
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**Objective:** To provide a deep, practical analysis of how each of the eight cognitive functions changes its expression, role, and "flavor" depending on its position within a personality's cognitive stack (Dominant, Auxiliary, Tertiary, or Inferior).
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---
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## Introduction: A Function's Four Flavors
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A cognitive function is not a monolithic entity. Its expression is profoundly shaped by its position in the hierarchy. The same function, for example `Ni`, will feel and look very different for a type who uses it as their Dominant "Hero" versus a type who struggles with it as their Inferior "Aspiration."
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Understanding these four "flavors" is the key to moving from simply identifying a type to deeply understanding their internal world, their strengths, their insecurities, and their path for growth.
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- **Dominant (1st):** The "Hero." The core of the ego. Effortless, unconscious competence. The lens through which everything is seen.
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- **Auxiliary (2nd):** The "Parent." A supportive, responsible tool used to interact with the world. Consciously developed and applied.
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- **Tertiary (3rd):** The "Child." A source of play, relief, and creativity. Can be immature and indulgent, especially under mild stress.
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- **Inferior (4th):** The "Aspiration." The greatest weakness. A source of deep insecurity and stress, but also the primary gateway to long-term growth and balance.
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---
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## The Perceiving Functions
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### Ni - Introverted Intuition (The Forecaster)
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- **As Dominant (Hero):** (INFJ, INTJ)
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Ni is the very core of their being, manifesting as a constant, background processing of patterns that results in a clear, singular vision of the future. It's not a guess; it's a certainty that arises from deep synthesis. They live slightly ahead of the present, navigating toward the future they "just know" will happen.
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*Example:* An INTJ, after weeks of observing a company's workflow, suddenly has a complete, unshakable vision of a new, hyper-efficient system and knows the exact steps to implement it over the next five years.
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- **As Auxiliary (Parent):** (ENFJ, ENTJ)
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Ni is a responsible tool used to support their extraverted goals. They use it to give their plans and actions strategic depth. It provides the long-range vision and "why" for their Fe or Te. It's a consciously wielded "gut feeling" about the future of a plan or a person.
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*Example:* An ENTJ, while building a project plan (Te), gets a "gut feeling" (Ni) that a particular market trend will disrupt their timeline in six months and adjusts the strategy accordingly.
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- **As Tertiary (Child):** (ISFP, ISTP)
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Ni is a source of playful insights and creative "Aha!" moments. It provides a sudden, sometimes mystical, gut feeling that adds a touch of depth to their hands-on nature. It can also manifest as a childish attachment to a pet theory.
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*Example:* An ISTP, while fixing an engine (Ti-Se), suddenly has a creative hunch (Ni) about a non-obvious, future problem and adds a small, preventative modification that others wouldn't think of.
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- **As Inferior (Aspiration):** (ESFP, ESTP)
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Ni is a source of deep anxiety, manifesting as a fear of the unknown, a paranoia about hidden meanings, or a dread of long-term consequences. They may get stuck in "what does it all mean?" loops or become uncharacteristically superstitious.
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*Example:* Under stress, an ESTP becomes uncharacteristically paranoid (Ni), convinced that their friends are secretly plotting against them with no concrete evidence, misinterpreting simple actions as having deep, negative meaning.
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### Ne - Extraverted Intuition (The Brainstormer)
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- **As Dominant (Hero):** (ENFP, ENTP)
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Ne is their natural state of being. The world is an endless web of exciting possibilities and connections to be explored. They are energized by new ideas and thrive on brainstorming, jumping from idea to idea with infectious enthusiasm.
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*Example:* In a conversation about cats, an ENTP will connect it to Egyptian history, the physics of string theory, a new business idea for a cat cafe, and a funny YouTube video they saw, all within a minute.
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- **As Auxiliary (Parent):** (INFP, INTP)
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Ne is a responsible tool used to serve their introverted world. They use it to gather new information and possibilities to feed their internal Fi values or Ti logical frameworks. It's a more deliberate exploration, seeking new ideas to bring back home for analysis.
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*Example:* An INTP reads articles on a dozen different subjects, from biology to philosophy (Ne), not for immediate action, but to find new data to refine their internal model of the world (Ti).
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- **As Tertiary (Child):** (ESFJ, ESTJ)
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Ne is a source of playful creativity and relief. It can manifest as brainstorming new ideas for a party, seeing a creative solution to a practical problem, or a silly, pun-filled sense of humor. Under stress, it can also lead to catastrophizing.
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*Example:* An ESTJ, whose project is failing, uses a burst of playful Ne to brainstorm a completely unconventional "what if" solution that ends up working, surprising everyone.
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- **As Inferior (Aspiration):** (ISFJ, ISTJ)
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Ne is a source of deep anxiety, manifesting as a fear of the unknown, a dread of change, and a tendency to imagine all the ways a situation could go horribly wrong. They may become paralyzed by too many choices or dismiss new ideas as frivolous and dangerous.
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*Example:* An ISFJ, when their boss announces a "restructuring," immediately spirals into imagining dozens of negative possibilities (Ne)—"What if I lose my job? What if my new team is awful? What if the whole company goes under?"
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### Si - Introverted Sensing (The Librarian)
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- **As Dominant (Hero):** (ISFJ, ISTJ)
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Si is the very foundation of their world. Their mind is a vast, detailed library of past experiences, facts, and sensory impressions. They experience the present by comparing it to the rich tapestry of the past, providing immense stability and practical knowledge.
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*Example:* An ISTJ can recall the exact wording of a contract clause from five years ago, using that precise memory to solve a current dispute.
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- **As Auxiliary (Parent):** (ESFJ, ESTJ)
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Si is a responsible tool used to ground their extraverted goals. They use their database of past experiences to inform their decisions, ensuring that their actions are reliable and based on proven methods.
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*Example:* An ESFJ planning a party (Fe) will meticulously consult their memory (Si) of what foods people enjoyed and what activities were successful at previous gatherings to ensure the current one is a success.
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- **As Tertiary (Child):** (INFP, INTP)
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Si is a source of comfort, nostalgia, and relief. It can manifest as a love for familiar foods, re-watching favorite movies, or getting lost in a cherished memory. It provides a comforting anchor for their often chaotic Ne.
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*Example:* An INTP, exhausted from exploring abstract theories all day (Ti-Ne), relaxes by playing a favorite childhood video game, enjoying the comforting and predictable sensory experience (Si).
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- **As Inferior (Aspiration):** (ENFP, ENTP)
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Si is a source of deep insecurity. It manifests as a fear of being boring, a poor memory for important details, and a neglect of bodily needs. They may worry that they are unreliable or lack substance.
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*Example:* An ENTP, after missing a crucial deadline because they forgot, becomes uncharacteristically obsessed (Si) with creating a hyper-detailed, color-coded calendar system that they abandon a week later.
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### Se - Extraverted Sensing (The Realist)
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- **As Dominant (Hero):** (ESFP, ESTP)
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Se is their natural state of being. They are masters of the present moment, viscerally connected to the physical world through their five senses. They are energized by action, new experiences, and making a tangible impact on their environment.
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*Example:* An ESFP walks into a party and immediately notices the music, the quality of the food, who is talking to whom, and the overall vibe, adjusting their energy to enhance the experience for everyone.
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- **As Auxiliary (Parent):** (ISFP, ISTP)
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Se is a responsible tool used to express their introverted world. They use it to bring their internal Fi values or Ti frameworks into reality through hands-on, tangible action. It's the artist's brush or the mechanic's wrench.
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*Example:* An ISFP feels a deep sense of injustice (Fi), so they go out and create a powerful piece of protest art (Se) to express that feeling tangibly.
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- **As Tertiary (Child):** (ENFJ, ENTJ)
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Se is a source of playful, opportunistic fun. It can manifest as a love for luxury, a sudden desire for a physical adventure, or a charismatic, "in the room" presence. It's a way to blow off steam.
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*Example:* An ENTJ, after closing a major business deal (Te-Ni), celebrates by impulsively buying an expensive, stylish watch or going for a thrilling drive (Se).
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- **As Inferior (Aspiration):** (INFJ, INTJ)
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Se is a source of deep anxiety. It manifests as a feeling of being clumsy or disconnected from their bodies, and a tendency to either neglect or over-indulge in sensory pleasures.
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*Example:* An INFJ under extreme stress might binge-watch TV for 10 hours straight or compulsively eat junk food (Se grip), completely losing touch with their normal, future-focused Ni.
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---
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## The Judging Functions
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### Te - Extraverted Thinking (The Commander)
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- **As Dominant (Hero):** (ENTJ, ESTJ)
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Te is their default mode. The world is a system to be organized, and they are the ones to do it. They are constantly focused on efficiency, productivity, and achieving measurable results.
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*Example:* An ESTJ walks into a chaotic, inefficient office and immediately starts delegating tasks and creating a new workflow chart to improve productivity.
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- **As Auxiliary (Parent):** (INTJ, ISTJ)
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Te is a responsible tool used to bring their introverted perceptions into the world. It provides the structure, planning, and execution needed to make their Ni vision or Si data a reality.
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*Example:* An INTJ has a vision for a novel (Ni), so they create a detailed outline, set a daily word count goal, and track their progress on a spreadsheet (Te).
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- **As Tertiary (Child):** (ENFP, INFP)
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Te is a source of satisfaction and occasional immaturity. It can manifest as a sudden burst of organization or a desire to take charge of a project. Under stress, it can come out as uncharacteristically blunt or bossy.
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*Example:* An INFP, passionate about a cause (Fi), suddenly uses a burst of Te to organize a protest, surprising everyone with their command of logistics, before retreating back into their quieter self.
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- **As Inferior (Aspiration):** (INFP, ISFP)
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Te is a source of deep insecurity, manifesting as a fear of being incompetent, an anxiety about managing their own lives, or a resistance to being controlled.
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*Example:* An ISFP, when criticized for being disorganized, might have an outburst of "grip" Te, becoming uncharacteristically harsh and shouting, "Fine, I'll make a spreadsheet for everything! Are you happy now?!"
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### Ti - Introverted Thinking (The Logician)
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- **As Dominant (Hero):** (INTP, ISTP)
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Ti is the core of their being. Their mind is a constantly running logical framework, seeking to understand the precise, underlying principles of a system. They value accuracy and internal consistency above all.
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*Example:* An INTP will spend hours deconstructing a philosophical argument to find a single logical flaw that invalidates the entire premise, for the pure satisfaction of achieving accuracy.
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- **As Auxiliary (Parent):** (ENTP, ESTP)
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Ti is a responsible tool used to analyze data from their extraverted perception. It's their internal "truth-checker," ensuring their Ne ideas or Se actions are logically sound.
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*Example:* An ESTP, sizing up a physical challenge (Se), uses their Ti to instantly analyze the physics of the situation and find the most efficient leverage point.
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- **As Tertiary (Child):** (ENFJ, INFJ)
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Ti is a source of relief and private analysis. It can manifest as an interest in puzzles, a desire to categorize their insights into a personal model, or a moment of detached, critical analysis.
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*Example:* An INFJ, after a long day of counseling others (Fe), relaxes by reading about a complex logical system like computer programming (Ti), finding comfort in its objectivity.
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- **As Inferior (Aspiration):** (ESFJ, ENFJ)
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Ti is a source of deep anxiety, manifesting as a fear of being illogical, an insecurity about their own reasoning, or a hypersensitivity to impersonal criticism.
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*Example:* An ESFJ, when their deeply-held belief is challenged with cold data, might get stuck in a "grip" of Ti, becoming uncharacteristically pedantic and critical, trying to find flaws in the data rather than addressing the main point.
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### Fe - Extraverted Feeling (The Harmonizer)
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- **As Dominant (Hero):** (ENFJ, ESFJ)
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Fe is their natural state. They are constantly attuned to the emotional atmosphere around them, and their primary drive is to maintain social harmony and meet the needs of the group.
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*Example:* An ESFJ at a dinner party notices one person is quiet and being left out, so they actively change the topic of conversation to something the quiet person is an expert in, drawing them into the group.
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- **As Auxiliary (Parent):** (INFJ, ISFJ)
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Fe is a responsible tool used to express their introverted world. It takes their Ni insights or Si experiences and uses them to connect with, nurture, and support others.
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*Example:* An ISFJ remembers from a past conversation (Si) that a friend loves a certain type of pastry, so they go out of their way to bring them that exact pastry as a way of showing care (Fe).
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- **As Tertiary (Child):** (ENTP, ESTP)
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Fe is a source of playful charm and social engagement. It can manifest as a witty sense of humor, a desire to be liked, or an ability to read and charm a room.
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*Example:* An ENTP, in a debate, realizes they are losing on logic (Ti), so they switch to using their playful Fe charm and humor to win the crowd over to their side.
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- **As Inferior (Aspiration):** (INTP, ISTP)
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Fe is a source of deep insecurity, manifesting as a fear of social rejection, an awkwardness in emotionally charged situations, and an anxiety about their place within a group.
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*Example:* An ISTP, needing to comfort a grieving friend, feels completely out of their depth. Instead of using words, they awkwardly pat their friend's back and then offer a practical solution like "I can fix your leaky faucet for you" (retreating to Ti-Se).
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### Fi - Introverted Feeling (The Ethicist)
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- **As Dominant (Hero):** (INFP, ISFP)
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Fi is the core of their identity. Their world is filtered through a rich, complex set of personal values and a drive for authenticity. They are constantly assessing whether a situation aligns with their moral compass.
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*Example:* An INFP refuses to work on a project they feel is morally compromised, even if it means risking their job, because to do so would violate their core sense of self.
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- **As Auxiliary (Parent):** (ENFP, ESFP)
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Fi is a responsible tool used to guide their extraverted exploration. It's their internal "moral compass" that helps them decide which Ne possibilities or Se experiences are worthwhile and authentic.
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*Example:* An ESFP is invited to a party (Se) but gets a bad "vibe" from the host, so their Fi tells them "this isn't right for me," and they decide not to go.
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- **As Tertiary (Child):** (INTJ, ISTJ)
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Fi is a source of private, deeply-held values. It can manifest as a secret soft spot, a strong but unspoken moral code, or a sudden, passionate defense of something they believe in.
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*Example:* An ISTJ, who normally adheres strictly to company policy (Si-Te), will suddenly refuse an order if it violates a deeply-held, personal principle of fairness (Fi) they've never spoken about.
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- **As Inferior (Aspiration):** (ENTJ, ESTJ)
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Fi is a source of deep insecurity, manifesting as a fear of their own emotions, an awkwardness with intimacy, and an anxiety about their own moral character.
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*Example:* An ENTJ, who is normally confident and logical, becomes uncharacteristically emotional and sensitive after receiving negative feedback about their "people skills," worrying that they might secretly be a "bad person" (Fi grip).
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