Have you ever had the experience as an ENFJ: At some point, the behaviors or thoughts you exhibit are very different from your daily personality traits, which confuses or surprises you? Have you ever thought about where these behaviors and ideas come from, and what significance and effect do they have for you? If you are interested in these issues, this article may give you some inspiration.
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This article focuses on the fusion of Jung’s eight-dimensional and MBTI, especially the analysis of the shadow function personality of ENFJ. It aims to help you understand what a shadow functional personality is, how it is formed, what characteristics and advantages it has, and how to give full play to its advantages to achieve self-growth and development.
Jung’s eight-dimensionality and MBTI are both common personality theories. They are based on the concept of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, and believe that human psychological functions can be classified into four basic types: thinking, feeling, intuition and emotion. Each type can be divided into two directions: external and introverted, and then derive eight psychological functions. As a personality test, MBTI divides people into 16 personality types based on the priority order and direction of the four psychological functions of a person, each type is represented by four letters, such as ENFJ.
Shadow function personality is hidden deep in people’s consciousness, contrary to the main personality, but it is also an indispensable part of itself. It sometimes makes its mark in specific situations, affecting people’s behaviors and ideas. The existence of shadow functional personality helps people recognize and accept their own imperfections and diversity, and can also provide a new perspective and possibilities to promote self-balancing and development.
PS This article is for readers who have a basic understanding of the concept of Jung 8D (MBTI cognitive function). If you have not yet understood the relevant concepts, you can read this article on MBTI cognitive function introduction , or search for relevant information by yourself.
What is Shadow Function Personality?
The concept of shadow function personality originates from Jung’s shadow theory. Jung proposed that human psychological structure can be divided into two parts: consciousness and unconsciousness. Consciousness is the part that people actively control and identify with, while unconsciousness is the part that passively accepts and rejects. Unconsciousness covers many elements such as human instinct, desire, impulse, fear, depression, potential, etc. Some of them are opposite to consciousness, which is the shadow.
The shadow is like a mirror of a person, reflecting the other side of a person, which is both a supplement and a challenge. It sometimes shows people its existence through dreams, fantasies, projections, etc., and attracts attention and reactions. Jung believed that if a person wants to achieve self-integration and harmony, he must face and integrate his own shadow, otherwise, the shadow will become an enemy and bring pain and trouble to people.
Based on Jung’s 8D and MBTI, the shadow function personality believes that among the four psychological functions of a person, one is the dominant function, which is the most natural and outstanding function; one is the auxiliary function, which is the most commonly used and skilled function; one is the third function, which is weak but has development potential; and the other is the disadvantage function, which is the weakest and often overlooked function. These four functions constitute the main personality of a person, namely the personality type of MBTI. For example, the dominant function of ENFJ is extroverted emotion, the auxiliary function is introverted intuition, the third function is extroverted thinking, and the disadvantage function is introverted feeling.
Among the four psychological functions of a person, there are another four hidden in the unconscious. They are opposite to the function of the main personality, namely the shadow function, which constitute the shadow function personality of the person, that is, the shadow personality type of MBTI. For example, ENFJ’s shadow function personality is INFP, whose shadow functions include introverted emotions, extroverted intuition, introverted thinking and extroverted feeling.
Shadow function personality is the other side of a person, and it complements and conflicts with the main personality. It sometimes emerges in specific situations, affecting people’s behavior and thoughts. For example, in situations such as stress, crisis, conflict, creation, etc., a person’s shadow function personality may be more active, showing characteristics that are inconsistent with the main personality. These characteristics can sometimes make people confused or get into trouble, and sometimes bring surprises or inspiration.
What is the shadow function personality of ENFJ?
ENFJ is a passionate, ideal, charming and leadership traits. Its main personality traits are extroverted emotions and introverted intuition, good at communicating and collaborating with others, caring about other people’s feelings and needs, having a strong sense of values and goals, being keen on creating and realizing meaningful things, and being full of confidence and expectations for the future.
The shadow function personality of ENFJ is INFP, and its shadow personality characteristics are manifested as introverted emotions and extroverted intuition. Inclined to be independent, pay attention to one’s own feelings and needs, have unique values and rich imagination, like to explore and experience interesting things, and are full of curiosity and desire to explore the future.
The ENFJ’s positive surface function and shadow function have the following corresponding relationship:
| Bolster function | Shadow function | describe |
|---|---|---|
| Extravagant emotions | Introverted emotions | Emotional function is the way people deal with emotions and values. Extravagant emotions are referenced by society and the environment, while introverted emotions are referenced by individuals and the heart. |
| Introverted intuition | Extravagant intuition | Intuitive function is the way people deal with abstract and potential things. Introverted intuition is referenced by the inner and deep, and extroverted intuition is referenced by the outer and broad. |
| Extraordinary thinking | Introverted thinking | The thinking function is the way people deal with logic and analysis. Extraordinary thinking takes objective and standards as reference, and introverted thinking takes subjective and standards as reference. |
| Introverted feeling | Extravagant feeling | Sensory function is the way people deal with specific and practical things. Introverted sensations refer to details and precision, while extroverted sensations refer to the whole and senses. |
ENFJ’s shadow function personality has different characteristics and advantages from the main personality, such as:
- Introverted emotions can help ENFJ pay more attention to their own inner feelings and needs, avoid over-care and sacrifice themselves; it also helps ENFJ better understand and respect other people’s personality differences rather than over-guidance and control others.
- Extraverted intuition can make ENFJ more open and flexible, avoid being too stubborn and domineering; it can also help ENFJ be more innovative and diverse, rather than being too conservative and single.
- Introverted thinking can make ENFJ more objective and rational, avoid being too subjective and emotional; at the same time, it makes ENFJ more critical and analytical, rather than being too credulous and fully accepted.
- Extraverted feeling can make ENFJ more practical, avoid being too idealistic and only looking at the future; it can also help ENFJ enjoy life better and relax yourself, rather than always being in a state of tension and excessive effort.
The shadow function of ENFJ sometimes appears in specific situations, affecting its behavior and thoughts, such as:
- When ENFJ feels stressed or exhausted, they may show the characteristics of introverted emotions, become silent and withdrawn, unwilling to communicate and cooperate with others, and even feel resentment and dissatisfaction with others, feeling that they are being ignored and exploited.
- When ENFJ is bored or curious, he may show the characteristics of an extraverted intuition, become brave enough to take risks, be willing to try new and interesting things, and even feel dissatisfied and bored with existing things, thinking that he is bound and restricted.
- When ENFJ feels confused or faces challenges, they may show the characteristics of introverted thinking, become calm and logical, like to think and solve complex problems, and even have doubts and refutations about simple and obvious things, feeling that they are misled and deceived.
- When ENFJ feels relaxed or happy, he may reveal the qualities of the feeling of extrovert, become lively and sensual, like to observe and experience beautiful and pleasant things, and even show indifference and neglect of serious and important things, believing that he is suppressed and burdened.
How to give full play to the advantages of shadow function personality?
Shadow Function Personality is a part of a person, not an enemy, but a friend. It can help people recognize and accept their own imperfections and diversity, provide new perspectives and possibilities, and promote self-balancing and development. Therefore, we should not ignore or suppress our shadow functional personality, but should try to establish good relationships with them, give full play to their advantages, and realize our potential. Here are some methods and techniques to help ENFJ play the personal advantages of shadow functions:
- Recognize your own shadow function personality: ENFJ can understand your own shadow function personality in many ways, such as conducting personality tests, reading related books or articles, observing your behaviors and thoughts in different situations, reflecting on the emergence and impact of shadow function personality, etc.
- Accept your own shadow functional personality: ENFJ should not deny or resist your own shadow functional personality, but should accept and respect it, regard it as a part of itself and a resource. It has its own value and significance, and also has unique characteristics and advantages, which can help it become more complete and harmonious.
- ** Understand the characteristics and advantages of your own shadow function personality**: ENFJ can learn the characteristics and advantages of your own shadow function personality by reading books or articles about INFP, observing INFP type people or characters, communicating and interacting with INFP type people, and trying activities that are of interest to INFP.
- Observe the emergence and reasons of your own shadow function personality: ENFJ can observe the emergence and reasons by recording when, where and under what circumstances you show the characteristics of your shadow function personality, as well as the impact of these characteristics on yourself and others, and analyzing the motivation and purpose of the emergence of your shadow function personality, etc.
- ** Adjust the expression and application of your own shadow function personality**: ENFJ can adjust it by choosing the right time, place, object and method to avoid excessive or insufficient, prevent conflict or misunderstanding, seek balance and coordination.
Conclusion
This article introduces the concept and formation principle of shadow functional personality, analyzes the characteristics and advantages of ENFJ’s shadow functional personality, and how to give full play to its advantages to achieve self-growth and development. Shadow Function Personality is a part of human beings, not enemies, but friends. It can help people recognize and accept their own imperfections and diversity, provide new perspectives and possibilities, and promote self-balancing and development. Therefore, we should face up to and integrate our shadow functional personality, rather than ignore or suppress it, give full play to its advantages and realize our potential.
I hope this article will bring you inspiration and advice, help you better understand yourself and others, better develop yourself and others, and live and work better.
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