The Myer Briggs functions form the foundation of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) — a psychological model that explains how people perceive the world and make decisions. While most people are familiar with the four-letter personality types (like INFP or ESTJ), the true depth of the MBTI lies in the eight cognitive functions that describe how each type thinks, feels, and interacts with the world.

Understanding the Myer Briggs functions allows you to look beyond your personality label and uncover the mental processes that guide your behavior and communication style. Whether you’re introspective and analytical or energetic and people-focused, these functions explain why you see and react to the world in a certain way.

What Are the Myer Briggs Functions?

The Myer Briggs functions are eight mental processes derived from Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types. Each function represents a unique way of processing information or making decisions. They are divided into two main categories:

  • Perceiving functions – How you take in and interpret information (Sensing and Intuition).
  • Judging functions – How you make decisions and evaluate information (Thinking and Feeling).

Each of these four core functions — Sensing (S), Intuition (N), Thinking (T), and Feeling (F) — can operate in either an introverted or extraverted way. This creates the eight Myer Briggs cognitive functions:

  • Extraverted Thinking (Te)
  • Introverted Thinking (Ti)
  • Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
  • Introverted Feeling (Fi)
  • Extraverted Sensing (Se)
  • Introverted Sensing (Si)
  • Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
  • Introverted Intuition (Ni)

Each of the 16 Myers-Briggs personality types uses a combination of four of these functions — one dominant, one auxiliary, one tertiary, and one inferior — creating a unique mental hierarchy that influences how they perceive and interact with the world.

The Eight Myer Briggs Cognitive Functions Explained

Here’s a breakdown of the eight Myer Briggs functions and how they operate within personality types:

1. Extraverted Thinking (Te)

Te focuses on efficiency, organization, and logic in the external world. People with strong Te value results, measurable outcomes, and clear systems. They make objective, fact-based decisions and often take leadership roles.

Common in: ENTJ, ESTJ, INTJ, ISTJ

2. Introverted Thinking (Ti)

Ti is concerned with internal logical consistency and precise understanding. It seeks to understand how things work on a fundamental level and values accuracy and structure in thought.

Common in: INTP, ISTP, ENTP, ESTP

3. Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

Fe prioritizes harmony, empathy, and connection in social interactions. People with strong Fe are attuned to others’ emotions and strive to maintain peace and mutual understanding in their environments.

Common in: ENFJ, ESFJ, INFJ, ISFJ

4. Introverted Feeling (Fi)

Fi focuses on authenticity, values, and emotional integrity. It evaluates experiences based on personal principles rather than external expectations, emphasizing individuality and inner moral alignment.

Common in: INFP, ISFP, ENFP, ESFP

5. Extraverted Sensing (Se)

Se engages directly with the present moment and the physical world. It notices details, sensations, and immediate opportunities, often leading to a love for action, adventure, and sensory experiences.

Common in: ESTP, ESFP, ISTP, ISFP

6. Introverted Sensing (Si)

Si stores and recalls past experiences, drawing on memory and tradition to make sense of the present. It values stability, consistency, and familiarity and helps create structure and reliability.

Common in: ISTJ, ISFJ, ESTJ, ESFJ

7. Extraverted Intuition (Ne)

Ne explores ideas, possibilities, and abstract patterns. It thrives on brainstorming and creative thinking, often making connections between seemingly unrelated concepts to generate innovation.

Common in: ENFP, ENTP, INFP, INTP

8. Introverted Intuition (Ni)

Ni focuses on insight, foresight, and underlying meaning. It seeks to understand deeper truths and future possibilities, often manifesting as strong vision and intuition about long-term outcomes.

Common in: INFJ, INTJ, ENFJ, ENTJ

How the Myer Briggs Functions Work Together

Each personality type in the MBTI has a unique order of four Myer Briggs functions — dominant, auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior. These determine the person’s strengths and growth areas.

  • Dominant function: The strongest and most natural way of interacting with the world.
  • Auxiliary function: Supports the dominant function and provides balance.
  • Tertiary function: Develops later in life and adds nuance to the personality.
  • Inferior function: The least developed and most challenging to manage but also a source of growth.

For example:

  • INTJ: Dominant Ni (Introverted Intuition), Auxiliary Te (Extraverted Thinking), Tertiary Fi (Introverted Feeling), Inferior Se (Extraverted Sensing).
  • ENFP: Dominant Ne (Extraverted Intuition), Auxiliary Fi (Introverted Feeling), Tertiary Te (Extraverted Thinking), Inferior Si (Introverted Sensing).

By understanding your function stack, you can identify how your mind naturally works — and why you think or behave differently from others.

The Importance of Myer Briggs Functions in Personal Growth

The Myer Briggs functions are not just theoretical — they provide practical insight into how people learn, decide, and relate to others. Recognizing your cognitive function preferences can help you:

  • Improve decision-making: Understand whether you rely more on logic (T) or emotion (F).
  • Enhance communication: Identify how you and others process information (S vs. N).
  • Build emotional intelligence: Balance your dominant and inferior functions for self-awareness and empathy.
  • Develop professionally: Leverage your cognitive strengths in leadership, creativity, or problem-solving.
  • Strengthen relationships: Appreciate different thinking styles and perspectives.

Examples of Myer Briggs Function Combinations

Each MBTI type expresses a distinct combination of Myer Briggs functions. Below are examples of how certain function stacks define common personality types:

  • INFJ: Ni–Fe–Ti–Se → Visionary and empathetic, focused on deep meaning and human connection.
  • ESTJ: Te–Si–Ne–Fi → Organized and pragmatic, excels in leadership and structure.
  • INFP: Fi–Ne–Si–Te → Idealistic and creative, guided by personal values and imagination.
  • ENTP: Ne–Ti–Fe–Si → Innovative and curious, thrives on debate and intellectual exploration.

Understanding your function combination helps explain the motivations, behaviors, and thought processes behind your four-letter type.

Final Thoughts

The Myer Briggs functions reveal the deeper psychological mechanisms that shape how you think, feel, and act. By exploring your cognitive functions, you move beyond surface-level personality descriptions and gain a clearer picture of your inner workings.

Whether you’re driven by intuition, guided by feeling, or anchored in logic and structure, each function contributes to the rich diversity of human personality. The key to personal growth lies in understanding your natural strengths — and developing balance among your Myer Briggs functions for a more harmonious and authentic life.