Inferior Fi vs Inferior Fe: Which Thinking Dominant Am I?

Thus far, we’ve written several inferior function comparison articles, but we have yet to specifically cover inferior Fi vs. Fe. In the previous comparison articles, we didn’t compare the functions directly, per say. Those articles were focused on using the logic of the dominant function to determine and define how that same function would manifest in the inferior position. In this article, I want to write it more like a typing dilemma, directly comparing inferior Fi and inferior Fe. In other words, which thinking dominant are you? An ISTP/INTP or an ENTJ/ESTJ?

Why Write About Inferior Fi vs Inferior Fe?

Right about now, you might be thinking: why write about this typing dilemma at all? Is it even common?

Yes. In fact, it happens relatively frequently. See, ESTJs and ENTJs get an unfair reputation. They’re described as hyper-aggressive, bossy, and overly ambitious. If they’re not successful CEOs or army commanders, they’re hated villains or narcissists. Believe it or not, that isn’t reality. Most people are simply average, the EXTJs included.

Why The Confusion?

To put it simply, EXTJs are more perceiver-like than people give them credit for. Perceivers are known for being relaxed, go with the flow, spontaneous, and adaptable. However, what many people fail to realize is that there are two things that make someone adaptable. Extraversion makes someone adaptable, and high extraverted perceiving (Se or Ne) makes someone adaptable. So, the types who meet both of those qualifications, like the ESFPs (with dominant Se), are known for being extremely adaptable and spontaneous. However, both the IXTPs and the EXTJs sit solidly in a middle ground. Introversion makes someone less adaptable, as with the IXTPs, and low extraverted perceiving makes someone less adaptable, as with the EXTJs. So, both the EXTJs and the IXTPs have a foot on both sides of the fence.

In other words, EXTJs frequently mistake themselves as perceivers, because their level of adaptability can be the same as a perceiver’s level of adaptability; the EXTJs will just adapt in a different way (which will be elaborated on later).

Inferior Fi vs Inferior Fe: Comparing and Contrasting

1. Both inferior Fi and inferior Fe can manifest as emotional detachment

Inferior Fe users have a reputation for being detached from their emotions. Many describe experiencing delayed emotional reactions, and emotional “blankness”. However, inferior Fi  users actually describe something similar, which is the result of inferior feeling in general, rather than a specific inferior feeling function. Inferior feelers are generally out of touch with their emotions, whether due to immaturity or suppression. They often struggle to understand what they’re feeling in the immediate moment, or they may not feel anything at all. (Of course, they’re not robots; the emotion will hit them eventually. And, there can be exceptions, such as a grip state, where the thinker is unusually fixated on feelings. Plus, maturity and growth can teach them to better understand and process their emotions.)

2. Both inferior Fi and inferior Fe can manifest as a struggle with interpersonal relationships

Feeling functions play a major role in connecting with other people. Some people mistakenly assume that forming connections is primarily based on one’s level of extraversion, when in fact, feelers typically feel the greatest drive to form intimate connections. (I’m not saying thinkers don’t want human connection, but they’re more likely to suppress this want, due to a tenuous relationship with their feeling function.) A bad feeling function can make it a significant struggle to connect with others, because intimate bonds are formed through shared feelings. Thinkers often feel emotionally inadequate, and out of touch, which can cause them to shy away from forming deep connections. Many struggle to express their feelings, and even at times, scare others way due to unintentional harshness. (In my experience, females are more prone to express this struggle, typically citing that it’s hard to find other unemotional females.)

3. Inferior Fi manifests as an insecurity concerning identity or self-expression

Each cognitive function has two roles, or facets. For instance, Extraverted Thinking, or Te, is both an extraverted judging function and a thinking function. Introverted Thinking, or Ti, is both an introverted judging function and a thinking function. To be clear, introverted judging functions are identity functions. The other “identity” function is Fi.

Why did I say all that?

Well, the ENTJs and ESTJs have inferior Fi, which means that they have an inferior identity function. The ISTPs and INTPs do not have an inferior identity function. They have an inferior extraverted judging function. This is an important difference.

Fi is concerned with forming an identity based on values and feelings. Fi is the function that is most concerned with self-expression, in the way we typically think of self-expression. (Ti self-expression is a bit different.) So, a big struggle I see manifest in the EXTJs is their self-perceived inability to express who they are. Even when it goes against their Fi identity, they’ll feel duty bound or obligated to their Te logic, which is practical, actionable logic. Te has a natural knack for real world problem-solving. It excels as recognizing cause and effect, and using any and all available tools. This can include physical products, social connections, and things like credentials to place them into a position of authority. However, in the process of ensuring an ideal external environment, these types may suppress their individuality, and fail to flesh out who they are beyond their externally recognized worth.

Some EXTJs describe oscillating between avoiding thinking about themselves, and thinking about themselves too much. They may view it as a waste of time to think about their feelings, because it doesn’t accomplish anything beyond getting them stuck. However, when they do choose to fixate on their Fi, EXTJs typically feel a desire to be able to express themselves, and insecurity surrounding the fact that they can’t. They may envy FPs for their natural ability to follow their feelings, and portray a unique, authentic identity to the world.

4. Inferior Fi users are adaptable because their identity is adaptable

Not only does extraversion make EXTJs more responsive in the immediate moment, but having an inferior identity function makes them more willing to shift who they are based on the circumstances. I’m not saying they’re hypocrites. Rather, they recognize the value of adhering to external standards, in order to keep things running smoothly and efficiently. In addition, EXTJs define themselves and their value by their external capabilities, which is why success is often important to them. As a result, they’ll excel at recognizing the power dynamics and the standards of their current environment. To them, typically, the most logical thing to do is to adapt themselves to that external system, to ensure their success. After all, what’s the point of an ideal or a goal if you don’t do what’s necessary to achieve it? Of course, the movies love to show extreme situations, like EXTJs overthrowing entire organizations or trying to take over the world, but life isn’t always like the movies. It’s typically far simpler to work your way up the ranks, and overhaul once you’re in a position of power.

So, bottom line, dominant Te and inferior Fi manifests as a struggle between effectiveness and authenticity.

To further explore this subject, check out The Dual Nature of Extraverted Thinking (Te).

5. Inferior Fe users struggle to adapt their ideas (and themselves) enough to be successful

Extraverted judging is concerned with externally accepted standards and structure. These types prioritize the external impact of their decisions (FJs with feeling, and TJs with thinking). IXTPs have inferior extraverted judging, which means that if they’re not careful, their internal system of “logic” will be formed inside of a bubble, lacking in real world efficacy and accuracy. Ultimately, Ti’s purpose is not to be externally effective, or practical, but rather to make personal judgements.

Ti is essentially internal “logical” rules, built upon more internal rules, built upon more internal rules, with each layer adding further nuance and context to the base rule. (This is why TP types may look like they’ve contradicted their own principles, even when they haven’t. – Certain variables moved them out of the base rule, into an exception scenario.) Their ideas form from this same interwoven, interdependent logic, ultimately becoming their identity. The IXTPs, with dominant Ti, inherently struggle to adapt their internal system to external standards, partly because they feel like they shouldn’t have to.

IXTPs believe that their ideas (built on their logic) should stand on their own merit. Credentials and connections (ie: Te and Fe) should be irrelevant, and as such, the IXTP will be prone to discrediting the value of such things. In addition, with inferior feeling added to the mix, IXTPs often fail to infuse emotional value into their ideas , meaning that others may not even find their work to be useful or relatable. It’s like the stereotype of the brilliant inventor that requires a business manager to see potential in his invention and market it to the world. Without the savvy business manager, that invention may never have seen the light of day.

To further explore this subject, check out Real Inferior Fe based on Carl Jung.

6. Inferior Fe can manifest as a secret desire to provide value to a community

Since Ti is identity based on logical ideas, TPs don’t typically give much thought to identity or self-expression, because they express who they are through their logic. It’s not a duty or an obligation. It’s fully in sync with who they are. Many TPs report that they don’t have much of a sense of self, and they don’t care about the concept of identity, because the way those subjects are typically thought of don’t resonate with TPs.

Read more: Do Ti Users Lack Identity?

Instead, IXTPs secretly desire to find a community that they will be able to contribute to. However, they feel insecure about their ability to find such belonging, because of the nature of Ti and their tenuous relationship with Fe. (Note: this isn’t just about social anxiety or their fear of being unable to manage other people’s emotions enough to maintain positive relationships. That can be both inferior feeling types.)

Ti logic is often confusing for others to understand. IXTPs not only struggle to simplify or streamline their logic, but they fear that in doing so, it will remove it’s accuracy and “purity”. Although, IXTPs do secretly want others to understand their ideas or reasoning, because they want others to see it’s value and their value. Unfortunately, that’s where their resistance to Fe comes into play. In order to get people to understand, they often have to yield to their inferior Fe, and package it in a way that relays an actionable objective, or infuses it with emotion, or backs it with credentials, etc. They instinctively resist doing this, because Ti is inherently only concerned with relaying the core reasoning. Those other things distract from that, and shouldn’t be necessary to begin with.

Ultimately, IXTPs want to be able to adhere to their internal system of logic (which dictate their actions) and make an external impact, without having to package it into an externally acceptable or recognized format. Therefore, they will, by default, seek to place themselves in a position of complete independence or detachment from others, in spite of feeling an internal pull toward finding a community to support.

So, bottom line, dominant Ti and inferior Fe manifests as a struggle between independence and community.

In Conclusion…

I hope you found this article to be at least somewhat informative. We eventually intend to write more individual comparisons, like ENTJ vs INTP, ENTJ vs ISTP, ESTJ vs ISTP, and ESTJ vs INTP. Until then, if you’re interested in exploring this subject further, check out 5 Similarities Between the EXTJs and IXTPs, which further expands on what these types have in common, in spite of people associating certain traits with one or the other.

Let me know what you think in the comments!