INTP Cognitive Functions

Introverted Thinking bestows us with the gift of logic. Interrelated knowledge and patterns gear it up. Ti conquers life through an internal framework built by experiences and educated trial and error. It drives us to logically interlink everything we come across. Introverted thinking thrives in the act of rational troubleshooting. Ambiguity holds no place in it as it constantly pursues learning and growth. It empowers us to grasp how things work from the nitty-gritty to the most profound complexities.

The dominant cognitive function is the core of our ego and consciousness. Also called the ‘Hero or Heroine', the dominant function is our most natural and favorite mental process and primary mode of interacting with the world.

Introverted Thinking (Ti) in the dominant position endows INTPs with the gift of logic. It streamlines their thoughts and actions with logical consistency and rationalization rather than emotions. Dominant Ti drives them to seek the best-fit answers to their questions. It focuses on seeing the holistic truth from first principles amidst societal norms and facades. They naturally aim to be precise and impartial in everything they do.

Extroverted Intuition bestows us with the gift of imagination. It empowers our life visions and sets us free from our limiting beliefs and built-up boundaries. It utilizes patterns and trends to connect with the tangible reality. Extroverted intuition is sensitive to impression and ambiance rather than specific details. This function thrives on venturing into the world's awestruck mysteries. It leads us to intuitively flow through the stream of anticipation on what is yet to be unleashed.

The auxiliary cognitive function, known as the 'Mother' or 'Father', helps guide the dominant function in perceiving the world and is what we use when comforting others.

Extraverted Intuition (Ne) in the auxiliary position grants the dominant Ti the gift of imagination that balances their logical viewpoint in dealing with circumstances. It sparks boundless curiosity among INTPs, who typically confine themselves to logic and rational judgment. As Ne develops, they become more explorative with their ideas and more determined to break their limiting beliefs. It allows them to easily adapt and comfort others by becoming more open and accepting of differences. They may start to ask questions like "Am I missing out something in this situation?", "What else can I do with this?", or "Is there another way to handle this?"

Introverted Sensing bestows us with the gift of details. It consults the detailed past to gain wisdom while living in the present. We recall and revisit memories and acquired information through this function. It constantly stores sensory data to balance our current views and opinions. Introverted Sensing teaches us to credit proven facts and life experiences instead of mere instincts. It counsels us to avoid committing the same mistakes twice.

The tertiary cognitive function is what we enjoy using to relax, calm, and take the pressure off our overused dominant and auxiliary functions. Known as the ‘The Child or Relief,' it feels like taking a break from ourselves and is playful and child-like. It is what we use when feeling silly, natural, and accepted.

Introverted Sensing (Si) in the tertiary position grants INTPs the gift of detail, relaxing them from being straight-up logical and imaginative. Si refreshingly interlinks their present situations to their past experiences, revisiting their simple joys and learnings. Through this function, INTPs rest from rational troubleshooting to live outside their mind and simply rely on their acquired knowledge, honed skills, and talents. It rekindles them to their old favorites or once loved habits that bring comfort and familiarity to who they truly are. Si may spark their interest in learning more specific details about their family history, culture, or general history.

Extroverted Feeling bestows us with the gift of empathy. It advocates for the greater good than focusing on individual desires. It entrusts a strong sense of integrity and ethics. We instinctively tune in to moral and cultural values to maintain peace and harmony through this function. Fe enables us to feel for others even without fully experiencing their situations. It motivates us to keep and nurture our social connections and relationships.

The inferior cognitive function is our weakest and most suppressed cognitive function in the depths of our ego and consciousness. We hide this part of ourselves, embarrassed of our inability to wield it effectively. As we age and mature, we embrace and develop our inferior function, providing deep fulfillment from coming to the pinnacle of our personal growth and the end of our own hero's journey.

Extroverted Feeling (Fe) in the inferior position occupies the least space in the minds of INTPs. They have trouble showing empathy and maintaining social connections due to their impersonal and logical demeanor. They tend to get shy and caught in awkward interactions as inferior Fe stands opposite their most prominent function, Introverted Thinking. INTPs may feel unnatural as they extend their boundaries to socialize with others. These personalities may find it easier to understand car engines rather than tuning into the complex and highly-charged human emotions.

Extroverted Thinking bestows us with the gift of efficiency. It employs our analytical reasoning and objectivity. Te is forged in the supremacy of external systems, knowledge, and order. Extroverted thinking adheres to facts rather than fleeting emotions. It gives no time for silly chit-chats and focuses on purely significant matters. It boosts our passion and enthusiasm for informative discourse to expand our horizons of wisdom and knowledge.

The opposing shadow function, also known as the Nemesis, calls out our doubts and paranoia and acts in opposition to our dominant function, questioning the way it sees the world.

Extroverted Thinking (Te) in the opposing shadow position frustrates the individualistic INTPs as it contradicts their dominant Ti. They feel attacked and confused when other people enforce their ways on them. This function instills paranoia and doubt, maligning those who outwardly express their insights and opinions as needlessly oppositional. When they meet people who use Te, they tend to be stubborn and defiant against their rules or instructions. INTPs may frequently ask themselves these self-conflicting questions, "Are they purposely contradicting me?", "Why are they going against me?", or "Why are they complicating things?"

Introverted Intuition bestows us with the gift of intuition. The world of the unconscious is its working site. It is a forward-thinking function that intuitively knows without trying hard. It allows us to experience the unpredictable excitement of “eureka” moments through our unconscious processing. Ni also enables us to see beyond what meets the eye. It follows through an abstract pattern of how the world works and lingers on the whys of life.

The critical shadow function criticizes and belittles ourselves or others and thinks nothing of humiliating and ridiculing in its search for control.

Introverted Intuition (Ni) in the critical shadow position attacks the ego by casting negative intuition out of frustration or embarrassment. Their critical function leads INTPs to ridicule their vision and those around them. Ni belittles and inwardly casts doubts to paralyze them from materializing any of their goals. It discerns to directly insult their flaws. They may start to ask questions like "How could you fail to see this beforehand?", "Why could you not focus on one thing?", or "Why could you not simply walk the talk?". When others criticize INTPs, Ni also comes to the rescue by coming up with fault-finding patterns and counterarguments.

Extroverted Sensing bestows us with the gift of senses. Tangible reality is its default battleground. Se conquers life through sensory experiences, enhancing their sight, sound, smell, and bodily movements. It lets us adhere to the stimuli of the physical world. Extroverted sensing ignites courage to seize moments while they last. It urges us to act right instantly instead of staying idle in the what-ifs.

The trickster shadow function is sly, malicious, and deceptive, manipulating and snaring people into our traps.

Extroverted Sensing (Se) in the trickster shadow position irks INTPs with the gift of senses. They find ‘carpe diem' or spur-of-the-moment fun as fraud, silly, and childish. When they try to live in the present and tune in to their sensory experiences, they may feel overwhelmed for it seems to be out of their character. They also tend to project their frustrations with their trickster function to those who wield Se. INTPs may try to debunk the carefree and realistic insights of Se dominant wielders by trapping them into their own abstract theories just to stop their "nonsense".

Introverted Feeling bestows us with the gift of feeling. It navigates through the deepest corners of our thoughts and emotions. Fi flows through our values and seeks an in-depth meaning of life. It allows us to stay in the lane of our boundaries and identity amidst external pressure. This intensive cognitive function feels the pain of others and likes to be the knight for those in need.

The demon shadow function is our least developed function, deeply unconscious and far removed from our ego. Our relationship with this function is so strained that we struggle with relating to, and often demonize, people who use this as their dominant function.

Introverted Feeling (Fi) in the demon shadow position is the least developed function of INTPs. As they struggle relating to their feelings, they get lost in introspection and become critically harsh of themselves and their surroundings. For example, these personalities may become passionate in fighting for a certain cause but as they tap in to their Fi, they may appear to be self-righteous and insensitive instead of being genuinely persuasive. They tend to demonize dominant Fi users attuned with their inner emotions as they do not make sense to their analytical minds.