The Myers-Briggs Personality Types In a Loop, Part 2: The Introverts

Recently, we published an article called The Myers-Briggs Personality Types In a Loop, Part 1: The Extraverts. This article is the second and final installment of that series, focusing on the introverted loops. If you read the previous article, feel free to skip the next few introductory sections, since they will be exactly the same as in the part one.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Discussing loops requires discussing cognitive functions, and the cognitive function stack. If you’re unfamiliar with either, you may end up a bit confused. If that happens (or if you want to run this rabbit trail preemptively), be sure to check out What are the Cognitive Functions?

So, What Is a Loop?

One’s cognitive function stack is ordered in such a way that the attitude of each cognitive function alternates going down the function stack. In other words, if your dominant (or first) function is introverted, your auxiliary (or second) will be extraverted, and then your tertiary (or third) will return to being introverted. People argue about the validity and/or necessity of the function stack being that way, but practically speaking, having it that way depicts balance. Too much introversion is a bad thing, just like too much extraversion. We all need both.

So, with that being said, a loop is an imbalanced state in which an individual fixates on their tertiary function, and “loops” between it and their dominant function at the expense of their auxiliary function. In other words, the second function is being under-utilized, because the person is primarily utilizing their first and third functions. To be clear, a loop is an imbalanced state, which means that it’s an unhealthy state. You can exist in a loop for a substantial amount of time, but it will prevent you from being the best version of yourself. (For more information, check out Can a Loop Be Healthy?)

For the record, we want to clarify that the Myers-Briggs theory doesn’t actually define whether the tertiary function is introverted or extraverted, so the premise of a loop doesn’t exist within MBTI. In other words, we don’t think loops are actually a part of the Myers-Briggs theory/MBTI. If you have an official source that states otherwise, let me know. However, we at Practical Typing subscribe to the Grant Model, and see loop theory as a useful tool that describes common tendencies within the 16 personality types. 

What Causes Loops?

As stated above, in a loop, one’s auxiliary function is being avoided, or skipped over. This can happen for a couple of different reasons: (1) underdevelopment, or (2) stress/failure.

1. Sometimes, people have easier access to the cognitive functions that share the same attitude as their dominant function. In other words, an introvert might have an easier time using their tertiary function because it is also introverted. Typically, teenagers lean heavily on their first two functions, and don’t begin to develop their tertiary function until adulthood (around early 20s). However, in some instances, a teenager may develop their tertiary instead of their auxiliary, resulting in the need to develop their (underdeveloped) auxiliary function later on.

2. Stress is typically tied to grip states, but it can also cause loops. Looping can actually be a precursor to gripping, or even go hand-in-hand. So, if while in a state of stress, the auxiliary function fails to do its job well, the individual may lose faith in that function and choose to fall back on their tertiary instead, ultimately triggering a loop.

How Each Introverted Myers-Briggs Personality Type Acts In a Loop

Now, with all that information out of the way, we’re going to give a brief overview of what each introverted loop looks like, but with a cognitive function first approach in mind. In other words, we’re going to be grouping the overviews together by tertiary function or fixation, since the symptoms of a loop will be similar between those who share the same tertiary function. As mentioned earlier, we intend to cover individual types more in depth in future articles.

Tertiary Si Loops: INFP (Fi-Si) and INTP (Ti-Si)

In this loop, the INFP and INTP skip over auxiliary Ne, and fixate on Si instead. Fixating on Si often leads to a focus on the past, or on a past mental state. They may obsess over a specific past event, or retreat to a preferred internal world that they have built from their experiences and intuition. Whichever the route, looping INXPs will stop accepting new input, instead finding themselves trapped in that mental state of being.

Until they can escape the loop, they will lose all the benefits of Ne, resulting in an individual that’s likely to be mistaken for an unhealthy ISXJ. In other words, they will become close-minded, afraid of change, afraid to take action, unproductive, stuck in repetition or useless routines, never moving forward, and never leaving their comfort zone.

For an INTP, the loop will usually have a more analytical flavor to it, since IXTPs often avoid dwelling on their emotions. For instance, INTPs may obsess over understanding or troubleshooting whatever prompted the loop, but will find themselves lost in the flood of details, unable to make any headway.  They will keep replaying some faulty piece of logic or the moment that it all went wrong, over analyzing what happened. They will be frozen on some past moment, or moments, and will continue reliving and reanalyzing the old information without being able to take in anything new. Ironically, the stereotype of being stuck in the past that so frequently gets attributed to the ISXJs is actually applicable here. The focus will be on “if only I had done X, Y, or Z differently then I wouldn’t be like this” etc.

On the other hand, the INFP loop will focus much more on reliving the emotions of whatever they’re fixated on, evaluating those emotions and their actions. As a result, these types are often prone to melancholy. In addition, INFPs in a loop may idealize the past or their internal world, adding a fantastical flare to the experience. Like, the INTP the looping INFP will have a tendency to relive and over analyze a past point in time, feeling all of the emotions that it provoked over and over again. If it was something embarrassing, they will be stuck feelings those same negative emotions and feel as if they are experiencing it all over again. They will also loop on moments where it all went wrong, feeling trapped in any associated negative emotions.

Related Article: Explaining the INFP (Fi-Si) loop

Tertiary Ni Loops: ISFP (Fi-Ni) and ISTP (Ti-Ni)

In this loop, the ISFP and ISTP skip over auxiliary Se, and fixate on Ni instead. Fixating on Ni causes the user to overly focus on the future, often in a negative way. They’ll fixate on a specific future outcome that to them feels inevitable, or fixate on something more abstract, like failure to achieve a dream or goal. Either way, it’ll feel as if fate is funneling them to that outcome no matter what they do. Fear of this future event will prevent them from taking any significant steps forward in life. They may begin over-analyzing the greater implications behind every little thing that happens, overly reading into things and drawing negative or paranoid conclusions.

Until they can escape the loop, they will lose all the benefits of Se, resulting in an individual that’s likely to be mistaken for an unhealthy INXJ. In other words, they will become unproductive, stagnant, afraid to take action, unable to enjoy the present, paranoid, dismissive of external input, and close-minded.

For ISTPs, this loop will fixate on finding a solution to whatever outcome their Ni thinks is coming, resulting in obsessive overthinking. The dreaded outcome will likely be abstract in nature, or lacking in detail. For instance, it could simply be “I will fail” or perhaps “I will offend this person.” ISTPs in a loop will only be able to see a fixed amount of possible paths, and each one will seemingly lead to the same result, albeit through different means. They will keep analyzing each path over and over again, hoping to reach a new conclusion or find the correct answer. They’ll get trapped in this analysis paralysis, unable to move forward until they find a workaround but unable to broaden their perspective enough to find one. No matter how they try to rationalize it, they will continually land back on that same inevitable, dreaded outcome. This leads to stagnation and a sense of hopelessness since they are inescapably tied to whatever fate life has thrust upon them. No matter who tries to rationalize them past the point they are fixated on, the looping ISTP will struggle to move on from it, obsessing over its inevitable coming.

For ISFPs, this loop will fixate on the emotional repercussions of what’s coming, living in those feelings before they’ve even happened. ISFPs in a loop may fixate on their failure to achieve an imagined ideal. They’ll consider other options, but too readily dismiss them as not accomplishing exactly what they want, or not living up to their expectations. They will use past failures to predict future outcomes. They will reduce down all failures back to a single point, such as “I’ve been unable to hold down a job so I must be worthless,” without taking in the proper context and differences in the situations. They will then take the Ni conclusion of being worthless and apply it to all future possibilities before even making an attempt. No matter who tries to rationalize them away from the point that they are fixated on, the looping ISFP will always come back to it and they will struggle to get past that barrier.

Tertiary Ti Loops: INFJ (Ni-Ti) and ISFJ (Si-Ti)

In this loop, the INFJ and ISFJ skip over auxiliary Fe, and fixate on Ti instead. Fixating on Ti causes these types to fixate on their logical conclusions and way of thinking. They may begin to over-analyze their conclusions and principles, resulting in an IXFJ that is far more detached than usual. They will become dismissive of others, and narrow-minded as they focus solely on their own subjective perspective and subjective logic. This loop may lead them to become distrustful of their own conclusions, or stubbornly rationalize detrimental decisions at the expense of those around them.

Until they can escape the loop, they will lose all the benefits of Fe, resulting in an individual that’s likely to be mistaken for an unhealthy IXTP. In other words, they will become detached, hyper-critical, dismissive, unproductive, unable to connect with others, stuck in analysis paralysis, and unable to take meaningful action.

For the ISFJ, this loop will focus on the past, and how they’ve come to their conclusions. ISFJs in a loop may question everything they’ve learned up until this point, and/or find ways to rationalize not adapting any of these conclusions to align with their current environment or current reality. This loop often leads them to use circular logic. Everything will become so intertwined within itself that it will do little more than trap them within a back feeding system of reasoning. Their reasoning will assume that the very thing they are trying to prove is true.  Instead of offering evidence, they will repeat the conclusion, rendering the argument logically incoherent. (“We don’t change it, because it’s always been done this way, and it’s always been done this way so we don’t change it.”) ISFJs may fall into this trap unintentionally because they are convinced of their own assumptions and take them as given. Sometimes, circular reasoning is used deliberately to mask the ISFJs lack of understanding or lack of evidence due to not allowing external sources into their reasoning.

For the INFJ, this loop will cause them to detach from reality. INFJs in a loop will be prone to paranoia. They will over-analyze all of their conclusions, possibly forming them into predictions, theories, or “insights” that make no real world sense. They may stubbornly cling to specific ones, unable to recognize the inconsistencies. Like the ISFJs they will be prone to falling into circular reasoning, wanting to point to some conclusion as the reasoning for said conclusion without providing anything meaningful as explanation. Additionally, they will veil those inconsistencies behind vague or elusive answers. They will be dismissive of any conclusions made that do not align with what they see as being the end point. Because they are not allowing external sources to interact with their reasoning, they will be incapable of seeing alternative outcomes, and they will put all their effort into asserting that their reasoning is sound.

Tertiary Fi Loops: INTJ (Ni-Fi) and ISTJ (Si-Fi)

In this loop, the INTJ and ISTJ skip over auxiliary Te, and fixate on Fi instead. Fixating on Fi causes the these types to fixate on their character, or who they’ve become. Their fear will often center around whether they’re a bad person, or whether they’ve stayed true to their values. Looping IXTJs may start questioning who they are, and feel as if they are a fraud. As a result, they will begin to over-analyze who they are based on their subjective perspective and ideals, whilst struggling to remain objective and realistic. This may lead to distrusting themselves and their motives, or fixating on a specific ideal and stubbornly insisting upon it at the expense of progress. Either way, they will be frozen in inaction.

Until they can escape the loop, they will lose all the benefits of Te, resulting in an individual that’s likely to be mistaken for an unhealthy IXFP. In other words, they will become unproductive, overly-sensitive, too introspective, wallowing in melancholy, unable to form goals, and unable to take action.

For the INTJ, this loop will provoke them to read into their own actions, and what the implications of those are. INTJs in a loop also may try to envision themselves down the road, picturing who’d they become based on their current actions. This line of looping may lead the INTJ to feel as though they are irredeemable because of some self-identified moral deficiency. Focusing in on that point will further cause them to question all of their values and if they are who they think they are. Thus, the entire foundation of their identity gets pulled into question, leaving them in a state of paralysis. They will continually pour over what would make them (in their eyes) good. Then, they will proceed to identify how they are deficient and do not stack up to it, creating a self-sabotaging situation.

For the ISTJ, this loop will focus more on analyzing their past actions. ISTJs in a loop may be plagued with remembering all the times that they were inconsistent with their values. It will pull into question their very identity, as they begin to over analyze all the times that they failed to live up to their own standards. They may judge themselves as hypocrites or morally deficient in some way. This opens the door for them to start obsessing over every part of who and what they are based on their past actions. What used to be a set in stone (and something they preferred to give little thought to) becomes a flood of uncertainty. Losing the certainty of how they identify themselves will result in a state of paralysis, making them incapable of moving forward and making judgments.