Distinguishing Mirror Functions

Introverted Perceiving Functions: Both Si and Ni feel insecure about the external world and can easily feel overwhelmed by rapid changes in the environment. In order to combat this chronic insecurity, both Si and Ni create a personalized store of foundational knowledge to fall back on for making sense of new information. They first need to establish a sense of internal stability in order to feel confident about acting effectively in the external world.

Si scans the world for familiar sensory facts and details, categorizing them according to one’s previous experiences, thereby integrating new details in a methodical, sequential, or incremental manner. In this way, Si builds up a database of personally meaningful facts and details that can be used as a practical comparison for understanding a new situation. Si feels insecure because inferior Ne produces intuitions about negative possibilities in the external world, thus, Si feels compelled to prepare for those negative possibilities by carefully sorting through incoming details, but it is impossible to be fully prepared because there are simply too many ways in which things can go wrong. In other words, at its worst, Si feels chronically unprepared for all the things that might happen in the future - it does not know how to predict the future and skews towards negative interpretations. Si can feel paralyzed about decision making or too risk averse because of this.

Ni scans the world for patterns of contextual factors, remembering vague connections between objects and events (and not necessarily the objects/details in themselves), thereby integrating new knowledge into a vast subconscious web of interconnected abstract relationships. In this way, Ni builds up a network of personally meaningful symbolic patterns that can spark intuitive predictions about how a new situation will turn out. Ni feels insecure because inferior Se produces a chaotic mass of incoming data regarding how the external world is constantly shifting and changing, thus, Ni feels compelled to look for meaningful patterns for predicting what might happen, but this means that it tends to overlook important concrete facts and details that do not fit into those conceptual patterns. In other words, at its worst, Ni feels as though it is chronically overthinking about what things mean, trying to extract clues about the “one true future” that will come into being - it does not know how to deal with changing facts in the world until some abstract meaning/pattern can be applied to them. Ni can become rigid and unrealistic in its future outlook or become too protective of one’s personalized conceptual vision.

Si and Ni gather a lot of data but, without adequate judging functions, they are prone to misusing that data to justify their rigidity of mind or detachment from the outside world.

Extraverted Perceiving Functions: Both Se and Ne desire the utmost freedom to actively explore opportunities in the external world and, as a result, they tend to lack a sense of inner stability. In order to maintain freedom, both Se and Ne eschew internal experiences or inner reflection in favor of engaging immediately with the external environment. They need to maintain personal passion/interest through being completely open to whatever variety of things happen in the external world moment to moment.

Se scans the world for new or unique sensory facts and details, interacting with them as quickly as possible, maximizing positive feedback from the environment through making the most of changing circumstances. In this way, Se is highly flexible and adapts very quickly to whatever happens, learning fast and efficiently on the fly by adjusting behavior according to the feedback received. Se feels compelled to chase after sensory stimulation as soon as positive opportunities arise moment to moment but, because of inferior Ni, fails to accurately envision how such actions will be meaningful for personal future development. In other words, at its worst, Se becomes addicted to environmental stimulation and feedback - it does not know how to properly attribute meaning and sorely miscalculates the potential of new situations to produce (long term) positive/negative outcomes. Se can become overactive or try to avoid any situation that is perceived as negative or having no immediate impact/resolution.

Ne scans the world for abstract patterns/connections that spark new and interesting potential to pursue, wanting to realize change/progress as quickly as possible, thereby making the most of favorable environmental conditions. In this way, Ne is highly flexible and adapts very quickly, efficiently taking advantage of ideas to make improvements and move up/forward in the world. Ne feels compelled to chase after interesting ideas and possibilities as soon as they arise moment to moment but, because of inferior Si, neglects personal priorities and physical well-being, undervaluing the need for past knowledge or incremental learning. In other words, at its worst, Ne overextends itself because of being addicted to chasing external possibilities, too easily distracted and not following through with ideas to their conclusion - it does not know how to categorize and piece together concrete details in a manner that produces depth of expertise thus creating too many gaps in knowledge. Ne can become too scattered, unrealistic, or absurd in the ideas/possibilities that it entertains, unable to achieve real tangible progress.

Introverted Judging Functions: Both Ti and Fi desire a certain degree of independence from outside influences and, as a result, they prefer to use their own personal understanding of the world to guide their behaviors. In order to maintain the individual freedom to act according to personal beliefs, both Ti and Fi tend to see themselves as existing quite separately from the external environment, comfortably coming and going as they please. They need to have the space and freedom to formulate their own personalized response to whatever is happening in the external world.

Ti analyzes incoming data for precise cause and effect relationships, using formulaic knowledge to navigate the world coherently, thereby constructing a highly detached and systematic point of view. In this way, Ti can feel comfortably confident and self-sufficient in its own knowledge of the world. Ti feels compelled to remain detached because it erroneously believes that factual knowledge should and can be separated from human perspective and thus perceives inferior Fe to be threatening or meddlesome because people’s “perspectives” are inherently “biased” and considered to be “irrelevant” knowledge. In other words, at its worst, Ti becomes disconnected from people and the world - it does not understand the ways in which things are fundamentally connected and influence each other, unable to acknowledge its own role in social dynamics and thus failing to establish intimacy or proper reciprocation in relationships. Ti can become too narrow in its worldview, arrogant in its knowledge, or reject the necessity of social responsibility.

Fi analyzes incoming data to see how it impacts personal experience, using its own state of inner harmony/discord to judge the acceptability of situations, thereby constructing a personal set of unconditional values to guide behavior. In this way, Fi can act in accordance with its own conscience, trying to minimize suffering for oneself (or other people who are perceived to experience similar suffering). Fi feels compelled to follow its own values because it erroneously perceives inferior Te to be threatening and invasive in applying unreasonably impersonal standards and not treating people as truly unique individuals. In other words, at its worst, Fi becomes excessively defensive of its own individuality - it does not know how to fit comfortably into the system of impersonal rules and standards that all individuals are expected to adhere to. Fi can become overly sensitive to anything that might impinge upon individual rights or boundaries.

Ti and Fi tend to make judgments quickly because of having a relatively well-defined set of personal standards but, without adequate perceiving functions, they are prone to reflexively and indiscriminately using those standards to justify excessively isolative or self-centered behaviors.

Extraverted Judging Functions: Both Te and Fe rely upon “universal” principles as a means to integrate oneself as seamlessly as possible into the external world and, as a result, they can have difficulty recognizing the importance of personal or individual factors that set people apart. In order to maintain a sense of existential stability, both Te and Fe prefer to use objectively or collectively agreed upon standards for making decisions and tend to dislike when situations/people do not abide by those standards. They need the entire world to seem stable in order to feel stable within.

Te analyzes the world for clear-cut and reliable causal relationships, using them to create universal standards of operation/conduct to achieve the best possible outcomes. In this way, Te can feel confident in being an integral part of the world by efficiently achieving goals or competently solving problems. Te feels compelled to maintain, enforce, or improve upon those standards because it wants to avoid the inner turmoil that can be sparked when inferior Fi perceives a situation to be nonsensical or unpredictable. In other words, at its worst, Te overrides individual or personal needs/feelings in order to maintain structural order - it does not know how to incorporate irrational, idiosyncratic, or unpredictable elements into its plans or conception of the world. Te can become insensitive in its treatment of individuals or too driven to define the sense of self through conforming with external standards of success or achievement.

Fe analyzes the world for customary and reliable social values or codes of etiquette, using them to maintain or improve interpersonal harmony, garnering desirable social rewards whenever possible. In this way, Fe can feel like a well-integrated member of social groups, knowing one’s exact place within the social order and drawing personal strength from a firm sense of unity and cooperation with others. Fe feels compelled to maintain, enforce, or improve upon social values because it wants to avoid the inner turmoil that can be sparked when inferior Ti judgments lead to feelings of rejection or personal inadequacy or existential separation/distance from others. In other words, at its worst, Fe overrides individual or personal needs/feelings in order to maintain surface level social cohesion - it does not know how to incorporate the fundamental human need to be independent and self-sufficient into its conception of the world. Fe can become overly accommodating or dependent upon others’ opinions or signs of social status to define the sense of self.

Te and Fe tend to make judgments quickly because of having a relatively well-defined set of objective standards to adhere to but, without adequate perceiving functions, they are prone to overgeneralizing and using those standards to justify ignoring their own or other people’s internal needs/feelings in favor of maintaining external order, harmony, and stability.