Thoughts on functions and function order

I'm not sure really follow your theory. The one that I have always held is that your type as a core set order for your type based on four of the cognitive functions, and then the other four can be placed any which way in between (except all in front) by "shadowing" i.e. two different functions working together and fusing to create a new function.

 

Yeah, that's one way to look at it, based on some prerequisites:
1. Man has fixed MBTI type (i.e. INTP), so the whole flexibility of character should be possible within this type.
2. The cognitive function test (i.e. Ti Ne Ni Si Se Fe Fi Te) works well to represent people.

Another way to look at it would be to give up the idea that man has fixed type, and to look at the mechanics that allow the character to switch between some of the types, thus effectively reordering functionality. Like a transformer robot, if you will.

I think there is reason for the usual order of cognitive functions "in the book", because each extrovert tension is motivated by introvert and so on, a sequence; and vice-versa. Like push-pull mechanism. It seems logical that these tensions don't just appear out of nowhere, they interact and cause each other. But who knows.

 

Here's how I look at it: everyone uses every function. Type does not dictate that function order is solidly true for everyone of that type; what it does describe is the natural pattern in which people naturally develop their functions, i.e. primary first, then secondary, etc. However, with external influences, at a certain level of development it becomes easy for a person to strengthen other functions out of order, depending on what function needs to be used.

I don't put much into function order after adolescence. People learn how to develop beyond it; the main thing would be the first two functions to determine main type.

 

Well, I'm going by the assumption that type is the way a child naturally develops cognitively; so, in other words, they're born with their type. A MBTI professional that is on staff at my school has told me that twin studies have supported this theory. However, I also believe that no one is constricted to their type alone -- anyone can develop and master any function. It's just a question whether or not it's easy to develop those functions -- it's much more natural for an ENTJ to develop Te, for instance, than it would be for an ISFP.
But I digress. Function order is naturally more on-track before adolescence because they generally develop more in order: primary first, then secondary, etc. They may not have all the traits of the personality profile because they may not have developed their tertiary or inferior functions yet, but their function order is usually more intact, and they don't usually deviate from that order until later.

So, an INFJ who is younger may have a clearer Ni Fe Ti Se order than someone who is older or has a wider body of experiences to develop different functions. It's more normal for older INFJs than younger ones to have a function order such as Ni Fi Fe Ne Ti etc. even though that is not the cookie-cutter INFJ order. Naturally, there are exceptions, and that's a personal theory, though I am fairly confident in it.

Well, type order is just another way to describe type in more detail. The description is how the functions work together in a general way. As to which comes first, that depends -- the theory applies generalizations to certain ways of thinking and processing information. As far as the theory goes, the way they gauge certain actions determines what personality traits they find to be uniform for that type, but the theory was based around patterns between individuals...so I'd say, in some ways, it's both. The traits obviously come first, but the theory is what pulled them together in a way that created a personality profile for that function order.

 

The way I look at it is how comfortable one feels with either Ti or Te mode. For example people who think out loudly, had always irritated me. I strongly prefer "think for yourself before you speak" attitude. If I'm forced to come with an answer on the spot, I'm very uncomfortable . But I know that there are people who claim it's better for them to think in a presence of the group because they rely on corrective feedback from them.