Have you ever had this experience: at some moments, your behavior and attitude are completely different from your usual days, and you are even surprised and confused? Have you ever been troubled by some ideas and emotions that are contrary to inherent values and fall into contradictions and depression? If the answer is yes, then you may have touched your shadow function personality.
What exactly is the shadow function personality? How is it formed? What impact does it have on our personality development? How to explore and leverage its advantages? Next, this article will take INTP as an example to interpret these issues one by one from the professional perspective of Jung 8D and MBTI.
Before further discussion, if you do not understand the basic concepts of Jung 8D (MBTI cognitive function), it is recommended to read this article first, or search for relevant information by yourself to better understand the content of this article. In addition, if you are not sure about your MBTI personality type, or want to confirm whether your personality type has changed, you can use the free MBTI type 16 personality test provided by PsycTest. At the same time, if you want to further understand the INTP personality, it is recommended to read ‘INTP Advanced Personality File’ , which I believe will bring you more inspiration.
What is Shadow Function Personality?
The concept of shadow functional personality was proposed by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. It refers to the personality part that exists in the individual’s subconscious, suppressed or ignored, and is opposite to the main functional personality. Jung believes that everyone’s personality is complete, including two parts: sunny and shadow. The yang face is the main functional personality, which represents the individual’s consciousness and self-identity; the shadow is the secondary functional personality, which reflects the individual’s subconsciousness and self-negation.
Jung divided personality into eight basic psychological functions, namely Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, Feeling, Extraversion, Introversion, Judging, and Perceived. Everyone has these eight psychological functions, but one or several of them dominate, while the others are subordinate. The dominant psychological function constitutes the main functional personality, while the subordinate psychological function constitutes the secondary functional personality.
MBTI (Miles-Briggs Personality Type Indicator) is based on Jung’s personality theory and is a tool used to measure and describe individual psychological preferences and personality types. MBTI divides a person’s personality into 16 types, each type is represented by four letters, which represent the individual’s psychological preferences in four dimensions, including:
- Extroversion (E) and Introversion (I): Indicates whether the individual obtains energy, whether it is the external environment or the internal world.
- Sense (S) and Intuition (N): Reflecting the way an individual obtains information, whether it is through the five senses or intuition.
- Thinking (T) and Emotion (F): It reflects the basis for individuals to make decisions, whether they rely on logic or emotion.
- Judgement (J) and Perception (P): Shows a person’s attitude towards life, whether he tends to plan or be flexible.
According to Jung’s theory, each person’s personality type corresponds to a shadow functional personality. The specific transformation rule is: replace the first and fourth letters of a personality with opposite letters to obtain its shadow personality. For example, the shadow function of INTP is ENTJ. This is because a person’s shadow functional personality is composed of its secondary functional personality, and the secondary functional personality is composed of the opposite functions of the main functional personality.
Detailed explanation of INTP’s shadow function personality
Analysis of INTP’s main functions and personality
INTP is a personality type dominated by introversion, intuition, thinking and perception. They are experts in logical analysis, keen on exploring abstract theories and concepts, and tirelessly pursue knowledge and truth. They have an independent and innovative spirit and are not bound by tradition and authority. The main functions of INTP personality are composed of the following four psychological functions:
- Director function: Introverted thinking (Ti): INTP uses introverted thinking to deeply analyze and understand things and build its own unique logical system and principles. They pursue objective and precision, are picky and critical of themselves and others, and are not easily affected by external interference.
- Assistive function: Extrapolation Intuition (Ne): With the help of extrapolation intuition, INTP actively explores and discovers new possibilities and potentials. They love change and innovation, are rich in imagination and creativity, are curious about unknown things, and are willing to try and experiment.
- The third function: Introverted emotions (Fi): INTP establishes personal values and standards by introverted emotions and expresses one’s own emotions. They value personal meaning and purpose, respect and understand themselves and others, and do not like conflict and pressure.
- Fourth function: Extraverted Feeling (Se): Extraverted Feeling helps INTP perceive and enjoy the external world, paying attention to the current actual situation and details. They like excitement and adventure, seek fresh and fun experiences, act flexibly and randomly, and are disgusted with the limitations of rules.
INTP Shadow Function Personality Characteristics
The shadow function of INTP personality is ENTJ , which consists of the following four psychological functions:
- Directoral function: Extraverted thinking (Te): ENTJ uses Extraverted thinking to efficiently organize and manage things, set clear goals and plans, and pursue efficiency and results. They are strict with themselves and others, like to lead and command, and are easily motivated by external recognition and rewards.
- Addressing: Introverted Intuition (Ni): Introverted Intuition enables ENTJ to carefully conceive and accurately predict the future. They are good at strategic planning, have foresight and insight, are extremely confident and firm in their own ideas and beliefs, and are not easily shaken by external doubts and opposition.
- The third function: Extraverted Emotion (Fe): With the help of extraverted Emotion, ENTJ is good at communicating with others and exerting influence, and strives to establish his own social status and interpersonal relationships. They attach importance to team harmony and cooperation, treat themselves and others with enthusiasm, like to actively participate in various activities, and are easily infected by external emotions and atmosphere.
- Fourth function: Introverted Feeling (Si): Introverted Feeling helps ENTJ recall and organize the past, focusing on historical experiences and lessons. They tend to be stability and tradition, attach importance to their own habits and sense of security, do not like changes and risks, and are prone to burdens due to external pressure and responsibilities.
INTP shadow function personality emerges situation
The shadow function of INTP is usually manifested in the following situations:
- Stress or Crisis Situation: When faced with stress or crisis, INTP may show the characteristics of extraverted thinking (Te). At this point they become strong and like to blame, trying to solve the problem by controlling the situation, rather than calmly analyzing and understanding the problem as usual. This often leads them to ignore their own and others’ feelings and needs, and lose their usual calmness and objectivity.
- When a challenge or opportunity arises: When a challenge or opportunity occurs, INTP may show the characteristics of introverted intuition (Ni). They become arrogant and stubborn, and are determined to realize their own ideas and beliefs, and no longer actively explore new possibilities. In this state, they are prone to ignore their own and others’ feedback and lose their usual open and innovative thinking.
- When interpersonal or social problems occur: When dealing with interpersonal or social problems, INTP may exhibit the characteristics of extroverted emotions (Fe). They become hypocritical, trying to influence others through communication, but ignore real feelings and self-expression. At the same time, they are prone to ignore their own and others’ values and standards and lose their past respect and understanding.
- When facing changes or risks: When encountering changes or risks, INTP may show a tendency to feel introverted (Si). They become conservative and fearful, overly relying on recalling past experiences and unable to feel and enjoy the present as usual. This makes them ignore their and others’ pursuit of fresh and interesting things and lose their usual flexibility and randomness.
The influence of INTP shadow function personality
- Positive impact: INTP’s shadow function personality can make them more comprehensive and balanced and better adapt to different situations and environments. It helps to tap and develop one’s own potential, improve one’s abilities, and promote the growth and development of personality and personality.
- Negative effects: However, shadow function personality may also cause INTP to fall into contradiction and suppression, gradually losing its true characteristics. It leads to conflict with one’s own values and goals, and is lost in confusion and meaning.
How to use the advantages of shadow function personality
Although the shadow function personality of INTP may have some negative effects, it also has many positive effects and advantages, such as:
- Enhance self-knowledge and self-reflection: It helps INTP recognize its own shortcomings and blind spots, and improves self-awareness and self-control ability.
- Expanding vision thinking: Enable INTP to contact different information and perspectives, and improve adaptability and innovation capabilities.
- Balance emotional behavior: Help INTP to rationally express and release stress and emotions, and improve emotional intelligence and interpersonal relationship processing ability.
- Stimulate potential motivation: Promote INTP to challenge and exceed its own limits, improve efficiency and sense of accomplishment.
Therefore, INTP should learn to recognize and accept its shadow function personality rather than deny resistance, because it is an important part of personality and a valuable resource for growth and development. The following are some methods and techniques for leveraging the personality advantages of shadow functions:
- Observation and Record: Pay attention to the emergence of your shadow function personality and the reasons, analyze and reflect on its influence and effect. Clarify the advantages and disadvantages of your own shadow function personality, as well as the needs and motivations behind it.
- Adjustment and application: Flexible selection of appropriate psychological functions to deal with problems according to different situations and goals. Avoid excessive dependence or suppression of shadow functional personality, so that it can coordinate with the main functional personality rather than conflict and opposition.
- Learning and Reference: Find and contact people with the same or similar personalities as your shadow, observe and understand their performance and use. Actively ask them for advice and help, and learn from them to gain experience and skills.
- Challenge and Development: Actively try to participate in activities and tasks related to your own shadow functional personality. For example, INTP can try to lead projects, make plans, attend parties, review memories, etc., and exercise the ability to improve the shadow function personality.
Conclusion
Shadow Function Personality is an organic part of personality, not an enemy or a disadvantage, but a friend and advantage. It has unique value and potential, which can help us better understand and accept ourselves, promote our own development and improvement, and achieve growth and transformation. Taking INTP as an example, from the perspective of Jung 8D and MBTI, this paper elaborates in detail the definition and formation principle of shadow functional personality, deeply analyzes the characteristics and advantages of INTP shadow functional personality, as well as its emergence and influence in different situations, and provides a series of practical methods and techniques to help INTP understand and accept its own shadows, regulate its expression and application, so that it coexists harmoniously with the positive functional personality, and promotes self-growth and development. I hope this article will inspire you, let you understand and appreciate your shadow functional personality, give full play to its advantages, and become a more complete and balanced individual. Thanks for reading!
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