Unhealthy Versions of Each Cognitive Function

Unhealthy versions of every personality type exist, and how they manifest depends heavily on the individual’s preferred cognitive functions. Many people assume that someone will always use their dominant cognitive function in a healthy way, but that is incorrect. Some people are just generally unhealthy, for a variety of potential reasons.

To be clear, I’m not referring to grip or loop scenarios here. While someone who is gripping or looping on a function may manifest the unhealthy traits I’m going to describe, I’m specifically going to be describing what each cognitive function looks like when used in an extreme and unhealthy way, without the aid of the opposing, lower function to balance it out.

The Unhealthy Versions of Each Cognitive Function

My goal is to present each cognitive function in an equally negative light. I’m in no way trying to pick on any individual personality type. If you’ve never been extremely imbalanced or unhealthy, you may not relate to the description for your preferred cognitive function. That’s a good thing.

Also, the state I will be describing below does not account for scenarios where the individual struggles with low self-esteem. I’m assuming the individual is confident in their primary cognitive functions, but using them in an extreme, unhealthy way.

Introverted Thinking (Ti)

Dominant Users: ISTP, INTP
Auxiliary Users: ESTP, ENTP

Introverted Thinkers, when refusing to allow lower functions to bring balance, get overly critical and cynical. They mentally detach from not only the external world, but anything that adds emotional or personal value, because these things can’t be rationalized. Many get apathetic, viewing nothing as meaningful. Others get arrogant, rejecting anything that doesn’t fit into their personal understanding, even if it’s provable in the real world. These types become excessively difficult to get along with, because they look down on others as stupid or ignorant. They’ll argue or contradict anything that goes against their personal perspective without truly giving it a chance, because they believe themselves to be the ultimate source of truth and the smartest person in the room. If they didn’t figure it out themselves, it must be wrong. They make no effort to endear themselves to others, and eventually isolate themselves completely.

Extraverted Thinking (Te)

Dominant Users: ESTJ, ENTJ
Auxiliary Users: ISTJ, INTJ

Extraverted Thinkers, when refusing to allow lower functions to bring balance, view everyone as lazy and incompetent. They’re usually extreme workaholics, dumping all their energy into their work or their mission, because they have no sense of identity outside of it. Emotions, relationships, and attachment of any kind may be seen as weakness. These TJs believe they know what’s best for everyone, and strive to enforce it. Everyone must get in line and conform to their standards. They may be overeager to divvy out advice, some of which may be obvious advice because they view people as too stupid to solve their own problems effectively. These types can become excessively aggressive when it comes to achieving their goals, to the point that others are trampled in their path.

Introverted Sensing (Si)

Dominant Users: ISTJ, ISFJ
Auxiliary Users: ESTJ, ESFJ

Introverted Sensors, when refusing to allow lower functions to bring balance, approach life with a rigid desire to have everything a very specific way and keep everything exactly the same. Not only will they refuse to leave their comfort zone or try anything new, but they’ll be quick to shoot down or criticize any ideas presented to them. They hate change of any kind, and are enemies of progress and innovation. These types live in the past, and view change as not only undesirable, but impossible to actually achieve. People can’t change, and neither do they. They often have hyper-specific expectations and procedures for everything, and even the slightest failure to adhere to these (the tiniest missed detail) is met with extreme disapproval.

Extraverted Sensing (Se)

Dominant Users: ESFP, ESTP
Auxiliary Users: ISFP, ISTP

Extraverted Sensors, when refusing to allow lower functions to bring balance, are slaves to new experiences. They follow every compulsion and every whim, refusing to exert any degree of self-control or slow themselves down. They can’t stick with anything in the long term, possessing no visible sense of responsibility or commitment. Not only do these types, chase one experience after another, but they also fail to learn from said experiences. Failure after failure can occur, but they’ll just keep right on at it, burning bridges as they go. Of course, that’s assuming they survive. They view those who strategize or actually plan for the future with disdain. Such people will be accused of being overly passive, or even obstacles to forward progress.

Introverted Intuition (Ni)

Dominant Users: INTJ, INFJ
Auxiliary Users: ENTJ, ENFJ

Introverted Intuitives, when refusing to allow lower functions to bring balance, view their personal insight as gospel. They know what’s going to happen before it happens, just like they know what you’re thinking before you do. You can’t tell them otherwise, because their intuition can’t be wrong. Evidence after evidence can be presented to these types, but they’ll ignore it in favor of their subjective perspective. They view themselves a superior to others, and elite. They may get lost in their future plans and strategies, losing sight of the current moment and anyone in it. They’ll deny themselves the right to live (or simply forget to do so), because they’re so fixated on what will be. Some may get so disconnected from reality that they cease to make any real world sense.

Extraverted Intuition (Ne)

Dominant Users: ENFP, ENTP
Auxiliary Users: INFP, INTP

Extraverted Intuitives, when refusing to allow lower functions to bring balance, follow their every little whim, jumping rapidly from idea to idea. They’ll start dabbling in one idea, only to switch gears in barely any time at all, because they either lost interest or didn’t have the willpower to survive the inevitable monotony required in laying down the groundwork. They can’t stick to any idea long enough to see it come to fruition, or make any real world impact. These types may be unable to tell the difference between a dream and an actual, plausible possibility, since they’re mentally too far detached from day-to-day, physical reality. As a result, they may know a little about a lot of different subjects, but nothing of any practical value or depth. People will view them as flighty and irresponsible, while they’ll view others as narrow-minded, dull, or unimaginative.

Introverted Feeling (Fi)

Dominant Users: INFP, ISFP
Auxiliary Users: ENFP, ESFP

Introverted Feelers, when refusing to allow lower functions to bring balance, get so focused on their personal feelings and values that they fail to consider others. They can get high-minded and judgmental, believing that everything they think is right, and that anyone who thinks anything to the contrary is a villain. These types get constantly offended by opposing opinions, and extremely self-absorbed. They can grow callous and cold towards others, since villains aren’t worthy of empathy. They may adopt a “victim” complex, believing that no one can possibly understand them and everyone is out to get them. Slowly, they become unable to relate to the rest of the world, and thus unable to connect with others, unless they happen to cross paths with someone who agrees with their values absolutely.

Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

Dominant Users: ESFJ, ENFJ
Auxiliary Users: ISFJ, INFJ

Extraverted Feelers, when refusing to allow lower functions to bring balance, lose themselves and any sense of objectivity in their focus on others. Their need to belong and need to be needed can drive them to meddle in affairs that are none of their business. They’ll know all the gossip, and share it around behind people’s backs in an effort to appear important and seem “in the know”. These types will believe they know what’s best for you, and you’ll have no opportunity to disagree with them. If you try to disagree with them or ignore their advice, they’ll play the martyr, and act as if you’re intentionally aiming to hurt them or punish them for some reason. They can become intentionally manipulative, finding ways to emotionally compel you to do their bidding or follow their chosen path for you, because that’s what’s best for everyone else involved.