Recently, I've been developing a theory that I've been referring to as ghosting to describe how some people develop strong capacity in cognitive functions not normally associated with their type. I decided to make some graphics to better clarify.
Below are the graphed results of my past three cognitive function evaluation tests over the past month or so. The blue graph displays the ranges of my Perception functions, while the red graph displays the ranges of my Judging functions. Unto themselves, they seem rather innocuous. My Ni and Se are my strongest Perception functions, as are my Fe and Ti the strongest Judging functions. These are quite typical of an INFJ.
However, take a look at the combined graph, and suddenly, we begin to see how the Perception functions pull the Judging function ranges out into Fi and Te. We also see how the Judging functions pull the Perception function ranges out into Ne and Si.
This phenomenon is what I am referring to when I am mentioning 'ghosting'. The strongest functions pull the weaker functions into better capacity by combining with their partner functions. Ni + Fe can create stronger Fi and Ne. Se + Ti can create stronger Te and Si. Whether or not these effects are inherent due to all cognitive functions being interrelated, or a by product of tandem use of paired functions is the question. However, the answer is less relevent than the fact that this phenomenon exists and is highly common.
Personally, I believe that the explanation is a combination of both hypothesis. The more a function pair works in tandem, the more another function develops on its own because the mind is not compartmentalized internally into 8 distinct areas with walls between them, but rather a gradiant set of areas that blend into one another, most likely resembling the graphs we see below.
This would imply that the MBTI really is valid in that it is simply assessing preference, and not overall function. Some people lean more into one quadrant than another, and are therefore more distinct as a type than others who are closer to the zero point of cognitive balance.
Below are the graphed results of my past three cognitive function evaluation tests over the past month or so. The blue graph displays the ranges of my Perception functions, while the red graph displays the ranges of my Judging functions. Unto themselves, they seem rather innocuous. My Ni and Se are my strongest Perception functions, as are my Fe and Ti the strongest Judging functions. These are quite typical of an INFJ.
However, take a look at the combined graph, and suddenly, we begin to see how the Perception functions pull the Judging function ranges out into Fi and Te. We also see how the Judging functions pull the Perception function ranges out into Ne and Si.
This phenomenon is what I am referring to when I am mentioning 'ghosting'. The strongest functions pull the weaker functions into better capacity by combining with their partner functions. Ni + Fe can create stronger Fi and Ne. Se + Ti can create stronger Te and Si. Whether or not these effects are inherent due to all cognitive functions being interrelated, or a by product of tandem use of paired functions is the question. However, the answer is less relevent than the fact that this phenomenon exists and is highly common.
Personally, I believe that the explanation is a combination of both hypothesis. The more a function pair works in tandem, the more another function develops on its own because the mind is not compartmentalized internally into 8 distinct areas with walls between them, but rather a gradiant set of areas that blend into one another, most likely resembling the graphs we see below.
This would imply that the MBTI really is valid in that it is simply assessing preference, and not overall function. Some people lean more into one quadrant than another, and are therefore more distinct as a type than others who are closer to the zero point of cognitive balance.
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