The Inferior Function MYTH
There is some truth to the notion that to be good at one thing, we must de facto be inept at another – but to apply this to the process of thought as a whole? This is not how cognition, or even personality, operates.
In reality the brain is a remarkably adaptable organ that can change perspective on the fly according to the needs of the situation – no cognitive function is innately inferior to another.
In this video I break down not only why I consider the idea of a weak, ‘inferior’ function outdated, but also present the three important roles this oppositional function plays without our psyche.
Type ENFP- appreciate your description of this type. Fits me better than anyone else’s I’ve heard (such as CS Joseph’s). Re Si as 4th function, I’ve been dealing with bad memories before 14 years of age. Began doing this in Celebrate Recovery step study group then moved to city just as shut down shelter in place began so have to complete the process alone. I find the few memories I have before 14 are almost all significant to actual pathologies. I can then use reprogramming thinking techniques (Caroline Leaf’s brain detoxing, Diane Hawkins IBM-Truth Process). Re divergent functions Fi-Si I am most interested in studying basic, primal, right brain emotions. I have very bad memories of Catholic teaching and my reactions to it. What has been really healing is realizing how left brain those teachings are and how real life, our core identity, is in the right brain. If I focus on my right brain reality I am very phenomenological (like Jung) and psychological minded (like Jordan Peterson). I feel that is where I belong (getting actually mystical in my theology).
Thanks Marie! Oh yes, much Si processing is more stereotypically ‘left brain’ oriented 🙂