How Each Myers-Briggs Personality Type Uses Their Inferior Function Ineffectively

The Myers-Briggs types are each made up of a specific series of cognitive functions. The inferior function, or the fourth function, is a source of insecurity or weakness for most people. There are different ways someone can use their inferior function, some more healthy than others. (See 5 Relationships With The Inferior Function). In this article, I specifically want to focus on how each Myers-Briggs type uses their inferior function ineffectively. Naturally, people tend to choose low risk ways to outlet their inferior function. (Of course, this is all subconscious). In doing so, they can make themselves feel effective at using their inferior function, because of the safe and seemingly successful ways they choose to outlet it. However, unbeknownst to them, they may not only be using their inferior function ineffectively, but also in a way that is counterproductive to its dominant drive. So, without further ado…

How Each Myers-Briggs Personality Type Uses Their Inferior Function Ineffectively

To be clear, I won’t be discussing grip states in the content below. These will be average, common, or even every day uses, that each personality type will indulge in. (Of course, we can all grow beyond our inferior function. I’m not trying to limit anyone or claim otherwise.) Feel free to share any feedback you have in the comments!

INFP and ISFP

Inferior Function: Extraverted Thinking (Te)

INFPs and ISFPs frequently struggle with translating their ideals and dreams into actionable plans. They can be insecure about their ability to be effective in the real world. This can make them avoid taking meaningful action. However, inferior Te will periodically give them a need to structure or organize something in their life. So, instead of using it to navigate or tackle important tasks, they might instead focus it on minor things, to make them feel accomplished and in control. For instance, an INFP or ISFP with an intimidating task or impending to-do list may instead decide to reorganize their closet, or update their anime watch list (with a visual layout, flow chart, descriptions, etc.) Essentially, they’ll ineffectively use their inferior function by choosing a fairly insignificant task to complete or an unnecessary process to optimize, all the while ignoring what actually needs to be accomplished.

INTP and ISTP

Inferior Function: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

INTPs and ISTPs enjoy logically condensing things down into their individual components in order to form a core understanding. Their approach is systematic and detached, which is the opposite of what their inferior function, Fe, requires. Because of this detached approach to everything, they can feel incapable of forming authentic connections, or understanding others on an actionable level. However, deep down, they will desire to connect with others and make a meaningful impact on their community. So, in order to feel accomplished in their Fe, they may utilize it in meaningless or risk-free ways, that allow them to stay unattached. For instance, they may analyze the relationships of those around them, or recreationally predict people’s behavior. They may enjoy strategy games with an element of social deduction, or find themselves hooked on personality theory. Essentially, they’ll fixate on gaining a theoretical, detached understanding of people, instead of investing any time and energy into building real relationships of their own.

ENFP and ENTP

Inferior Function: Introverted Sensing (Si)

The ENTPs and ENFPs enjoy chasing one idea after the next, exploring and speculating. Consequently, this means they have less of a focus on refining and getting every detail of that idea or process nailed down. They often don’t want to be bothered by the daily grind, and chained to routine. However, what will they will do is fixate on something relatively minor (in the grand scheme of things), and decide that it is important and necessary to be specific and detailed about it. This could mean there’s one or two rituals that they cling to, such as what time lunch has to be at or how exactly a cup of coffee should be made. Maybe they have a perfectly tidy and precisely organized bookshelf, or perhaps it is their computer desk or gaming system. Alternatively, it’s possble they become overly specific and pedantic about a certain topic they are currently passionate about. Either way, there is something they are being hyper-consistent with and hyper-specific about, while failing to be consistent with more serious things that have actual long term value.

ESFP and ESTP

Inferior Function: Introverted Intuition (Ni)

As sensing dominants, ESFPs and ESTPs are often observant individuals, that are tuned into the details of their immediate environment. This can make them good at responding quickly to things as they occur. However, Ni is the opposite, focusing on internalizing information into patterns in order to perceive long term implications, or the ripple effect. As inferior Ni users, ESFPs and ESTPs may feel insecure about envisioning the future that far out, and locking themselves into a singular path. As a result, they may avoid thinking about the implications of anything personal or meaningful. Instead, they might fixate on tiny, observable details within their environment, and try to derive an elaborate or significant meaning when there is none. For instance, they may jump to premature conclusions, like assuming someone is pregnant because they’re “glowing”. Or, they may make surprisingly accurate deductions or predictions that have no value beyond the immediate moment. The predictions, when accurate, are more akin to a party trick than a profound insight that you could enact any meaningful change on top of.

ISFJ and ISTJ

Inferior Function: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)

ISFJs and ISTJs are cautious individuals, determined to ensure that their reality is maintained in a specific way. They use what has happened to predict what will happen in order to guarantee their preferred outcome. In the process, they’ll use inferior Ne to generate possible outcomes that they need to be prepared for. However, these possibilities are typically negative. While high Ne generates open-ended possibilities, low Ne is subservient to Si’s standard for reality, being used for maintenance rather than exploration. So, ISFJs and ISTJs will ineffectively use their inferior function by only seeing how many ways they might fail, so that they can combat all of those possibilities. Essentially, inferior Ne users often fall prey to only seeing one way to succeed, while having to wade through a mountain of possible failures. This is the opposite of healthy, dominant Ne, which entertains multiple possible paths to take in life or routes to explore, each with their own advantages.

INFJ and INTJ

Inferior Function: Extraverted Sensing (Se)

As inferior Se users, INFJs and INTJs struggle to truly live in the moment. These types like to envision the future, and have things planned out well in advance. In a sense, they’re already living in the future long before it ever arrives. As such, they’ll struggle to use Se in any significant way. High Se excels at living in the moment, seeing reality as it is, and responding immediately. Those with inferior Se may spend so much time thinking about the future, that they’ll fail to notice or seize opportunities right in front of them. They may hesitate, worry that they’re missing something, and then watch that opportunity fly right by because they couldn’t act fast enough. However, in order to outlet their Se, they will find safe, risk-free ways to be spontaneous, such as indulging in unnecessary commodities or luxuries. They may get a rush from finding a deal or discount ‘seizing the moment’ to ‘save money’ on something they didn’t need. Essentially, they’ll fall back on using Se in purely recreational ways, rather than using it to actually impact their future by shifting quickly onto a more ideal path.

ENTJ and ESTJ

Inferior Function: Introverted Feeling (Fi)

As externally applied “logic”, Te focuses on cause and effect. Thus, ENTJs and ESTJs find capability and structure to be very important. Their inferior function, Fi, when left undeveloped, is typically given minimal effort. Therefore, while Fi dominants are forming nuanced identities, value systems, and connections to their emotions, ENTJs and ESTJs simply attach their Fi to something external, like a capability, skill, association, or achievement. They’ll get very possessive of whatever they’ve locked onto, even if that thing is minor or insubstantial in the grand scheme of things. As a result, they can be very sensitive to criticism or easily threatened in that regard, because their self-definition is too simplistic. If that identity attachment is overturned, they have nothing left. So, while a Te dominant is striving to appear confident, secure, and capable, their failure to form a complex sense of self and subsequent value system (on which to base their identity) can make them hyper-defensive and internally insecure in the long run.

ENFJ and ESFJ

Inferior Function: Introverted Thinking (Ti)

Contrary to popular belief, Ti is not logic; it is an introverted judging function that bases one’s identity on internal logical systems, or logical rules. TPs have a base internal system that is constantly tweaked, expanded, and updated with further context and nuance. ENFJs and ESFJs may value logic highly, but where they struggle will be in forming a logical identity that is entirely independent from external factors. As inferior Ti users, they will attach their identity to a role or a position within their community, and build their internal logical system around that external factor. As a result, they will be prone to losing objectivity and becoming hyper-defensive when they perceive a threat to their community or position within it. (After all, their identity is now under attack, and their entire logical system is at risk.) Therefore, these types use Ti ineffectively, because it must be filtered through what is acceptable and safe within their community. For instance, they may avoid facing certain underlying issues, and label anyone as a threat who merely points these issues out (shooting the messanger, so to speak). They may only accept ideas or criticisms that help maintain the status quo, or don’t overturn any goals or ideas that the group has united around. Essentially, their Ti logic may miss the bigger picture, being pigeon-holed into protecting a fragile identity, which may in the long run cause greater disharmony or even community-collapse.