Type Dynamics:
Order of the Mental Processes
More than just a shorthand designation for four preferences, each Myers-Briggs type represents the dynamic interaction of the preferences with one another.
Every person is more comfortable using some of the preferences than others. Those favorite preferences tend to become better developed and more relied on than the others. As explained below, it is possible to predict the order in which any individual will develop and use some of the preferences—the four preferences known as the mental processes. See the type grid below to see your type’s order.
The two middle letters of your Myers-Briggs personality type show the two mental processes that make your type unique. You use these processes in one of the two mental activities your mind is involved in whenever it is active: taking in information and coming to conclusions.
Taking In Information Sensing s or n Intuition Coming to Conclusions Thinking t or f FeelingFor each type, one of these mental processes takes the lead, or is the favorite process. An analogy may help illustrate the importance of the favorite process. No organization can operate well without a sense of direction and purpose. The same holds true with a personality: few people can be effective or consistent without one of the mental processes taking the lead.
People use their favorite process, also known as the dominant function, mostly in their favorite world. That is, if you are more energized by interacting in the outside world (Extraversion), then that is where you use your favorite process. If you are more energized by reflecting on your internal world (Introversion), then that is where you use your favorite process. So, Extraverts use their favorite process in their extraverted world, and Introverts use their favorite process in their introverted world.
For example, ESTJs have Thinking as their favorite process. Because they have a preference for Extraversion, ESTJs typically express their logical reasoning and conclusions out loud. On the other hand, ISTPs also have Thinking as their favorite process, but they use it primarily in their internal world (Introversion). Therefore, ISTPs have a logical framework mostly in their head ordering their thoughts. Other people may not always hear their reasons for coming to the conclusions they do.
The other of your middle two letters is your second process. It helps out and supports your favorite process. To continue the analogy, all organizations need at least two things to survive and be effective: good information and good decision making about that information. The same is true within each person. Thus if people use their favorite process to take in information (Sensing or Intuition), then they use their second process to come to conclusions about that information (Thinking or Feeling) and vice versa.
The second process, also known as the auxiliary function, helps provide balance to our personality in another manner—providing ways to both act (extravert) and reflect (introvert). The favorite and second processes are used in opposite ways. If the favorite process is extraverted, the second process will be introverted. If the favorite process is introverted, the second process will be extraverted. So, for ESTJs, the information for their decisions comes from their introverted Sensing, that is, from their past experiences, information about what others have done, and so on. For ISTPs, the information for their introverted Thinking decisions comes from extraverted Sensing, that is, from what their current experience is and what others are doing.
A way to think about this is to consider the leader of an organization. Some leaders focus primarily on the outer world (Extraversion). They concentrate on those people or things in the environment that might affect the organization. This kind of leader needs people to help maintain the internal (Introversion) functioning of the organization. Other leaders prefer to direct their energies primarily to the internal (Introversion) organization and delegate much of the external (Extraversion) monitoring to others.
Even though they aren’t listed in your four-letter type, you also use the other two mental processes at times. For example, if the two middle letters of your type are S and T, you also use N and F at least some of the time.
Your third process, or tertiary function, is the preference opposite your second process. For instance, if your second process is Sensing (S), your third process is Intuition (N). Your third process may appear in both introverted and extraverted forms. ESTJs use their third process, Intuition, both to see possibilities for the future of the organization and to develop an inner vision around that future.
Your fourth process, or inferior function, is the process opposite your favorite process. For example, if your favorite process is Feeling, your fourth process is Thinking. If the favorite process is extraverted, the fourth process will be introverted, and vice versa. It may be helpful to think about the fourth process as having two forms.
- The fourth process is a way to tap into a deeper awareness of yourself, likely to become more important to you at midlife. ESTJs, whose fourth process is introverted Feeling, will use the fourth process to tune into what is really important to them and others. They may become interested and involved in mentoring others and helping in the community. These actions tap into their introverted Feeling as they seek ways to live out their values.
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When people are under extreme stress, ill, or otherwise not acting like themselves, the fourth process may show up in negative or inferior ways.
This means that for ESTJs the characteristics of introverted Feeling, such as knowing what is really important, take over their personality, but with a negative twist. For example, ESTJs may suddenly become hypersensitive and take things too personally, forgetting their usual logic. See the type grid below for typical ways different types show their fourth process in these less-than-ideal circumstances.
Putting it all together, consider INFPs (the opposite to ESTJs). INFPs’ favorite process is Feeling. Because they prefer Introversion, they use their Feeling preference primarily in their inner world. Therefore, INFPs’ likely focus is on deciding about ideas related to people using their internal, people-centered values. INFPs’ second process is Intuition, which they use primarily in the outer world. Their Intuition provides ideas and possibilities to help them make decisions. INFPs’ third process is Sensing, and their fourth process is Thinking. INFPs might choose to delve into the logic of the situation, perhaps by getting involved in academic or scholarly pursuits. When under stress, INFPs may have difficulty identifying the applicable logical principles.
- Feeling (introverted)
- Intuition (extraverted)
- Sensing (extraverted or introverted)
- Thinking (extraverted)
Remember, people with a preference for Introversion are more likely to show their second process to others because their favorite process is used mainly inside, in their favored introverted world. What you see with those who prefer Introversion is not always what is most important to them. For example, INTJs often show others their extraverted Thinking, with its characteristics of logical structure and analysis. Others may not realize that INTJs’ favorite process, introverted Intuition, with its vision for future possibilities, is really in charge.
People may experience IJs (the top row in the type table) as having their minds made up because they use their decision-making process (Thinking or Feeling) in the external world. IPs (the second row in the type table) may seem more adaptable than they actually are on a given issue because they extravert the process they use for taking in information (Sensing or Intuition).
