NF Types and Shadow Functions

I've noticed something recently that I thought I'd share.



Beebe's theories on shadow functions work like this: All of your standard functions reverse themselves when you are stressed. This is the mind's way of adapting to not being able to solve a problem normally. For INFJs this means becoming an ENFP. Ni, Fe, Ti, Se become Ne, Fi, Te, Si.

According to the model for how we develop capacity in any given function, simply by learning as we use them, this explains how many of us NF types have capacity in our 'opposite' functions and in proportion to them. For example, some of the INFJs here have an Ne almost as strong as their Ni, an Fi almost as strong as their Fe, and so on. I had been assuming that this was due to an individual's ability to drop to the next function when a favored function isn't working, but if that where the case, then everyone would have higher inferior function than their dominant shadow function. For example, an INFJ would always have a higher Se than Ne or Fi, and that's just not the case.

This really lends credit to Beebe's theory that the shadow mode is the first mode an individual goes to when stressed, possibly the only mode.

But, what this means is that over time and with enough stress, all of the NF types develop Ni, Ne, Fi, and Fe, creating an overall NF type that almost seems to defy more specific typing. There are a lot of us here who have had a lot of trouble typing ourselves due to this, and I really think this might explain it.

Now, for the advanced logic...

I've noticed that this happens less in the INFJs, most likely becuase their initial cognitive function set keeps them from flipping into stressed mode as often as other NF types. This makes sense because INFJs have a very solid function set to deal with the stresses of modern world (believe it or not) because their cognitive functions are designed to maintain internal harmony.

I've also noticed that INFPs tend to have extremely balanced Ni, Ne, Fi, and Fe values. This implies that INFPs are the most likely of the NF types to get stressed enough to switch to their shadow mode, which makes sense that INFPs have the least favorable set to deal with the stresses of the modern world, as their cognitive functions are designed to maintain external harmony but internal strife - which causes them to step up into ENFJ mode much more often than INFJs let themselves loose into ENFP mode.

What this means, ironically, is that there is a great deal of connection between INFJs and ENFPs, as well as ENFJs and INFPs. Effectively, these types are appearing to be two sides of the same coins, each being able to manifest into the other.

But, the really interesting part of this is that once a person flips back and forth often enough, they begin to learn how to switch into the other NF types as well, making them ambiguously NF, able to choose which role they prefer for any given situation. In this regard, the INFPs have the advantage because while they have a more difficult time in life, their toils produce much faster cognitive development. But, eventually an INFJ can catch up. Meanwhile the ENFPs and ENFJs seems to be somewhere in between with respect to developing their overall NF type.

The end result is that all NF types may eventually become an overall NF type, losing their I/E and J/P preferences.

 

Thanks. It's certainly given my Ni and Ne something to think about today.

The more I think about it, the more I have to admit that depending on my mood, I am more INFJ, ENFJ, INFP, or ENFP. This theory would explain all of that. The only thing not in question about my type is that I'm an NF.

I don't know why, but despite this seeming to muddy the waters of which type I really am, I think this theory will end up helping me come to a better conclusion. I may need to figure out if I'm more ENFJ/INFP, or INFJ/ENFP. The descriptions I've read say the former, but my test results imply the latter.

 

It means one is a shadow and the other is a reflection.

 

Here are the shadow pairs (according to Beebe's model) where cognitive function are completely inverted with respect to introverted and extroverted:

INFJ - ENFP
ENFJ - INFP
INTJ - ENTP
ENTJ - INTP
ISFJ - ESFP
ESFJ - ISFP
ISTJ - ESTP
ESTJ - ISTP

Here are the reflection pairs according to the model where it is assumed that people skip to the next function order:

INFJ - ESTP
ENFJ - ISTP
INTJ - ESFP
ENTJ - ISFP
ISFJ - ENTP
ESFJ - INTP
ISTJ - ENFP
ESTJ - INFP

The assumption here is that both models have some degree of efficacy. For example, an INFJ may go INFJ > ENFJ > ISTP > ESTP when stressed but still attempting to overcome the stress, but go INFJ > ENFP when they are so stressed that they 'give up'. By stressed, I simply mean 'external or internal stressors that force the cognitive functions to work to overcome them'.