Have you ever had the experience that sometimes you show some behaviors and attitudes that are different from usual, even surprising or confusing yourself or others? Have you ever wondered where these unusual performances come from, and what is their significance and value? If you are an ISTP, then you may be interested in your shadow function personality, because it can help you better understand yourself, discover your potential, and achieve your own growth and development.
In this article, we will explore the following questions:
- What is a shadow functional personality?
- What is the shadow function personality of ISTP?
- How to take advantage of the shadow functional personality?
We will analyze the shadow functional personality of ISTP based on MBTI and Jung’s eight-dimensional theory.
PS This article is suitable for readers who already have a basic understanding of the concept of Jung’s Eight Dimensions (MBTI Cognitive Function). If you have not yet understood the related concepts, you can read this article, or search for relevant information by yourself.
What is shadow functional personality?
MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) is a widely used personality test that divides people into 16 different types, each consisting of four letters representing four preference dimensions. :
- Extroversion (E) or introversion (I): Indicates whether a person prefers to interact with the external world or with his or her inner world.
- Sensing (S) or intuition (N): Indicates whether a person prefers to obtain concrete facts through the five senses, or whether he prefers to obtain abstract possibilities through intuition.
- Thinking (T) or Feeling (F): Indicates whether a person prefers to make decisions through logic and principles, or whether a person prefers to make decisions through emotions and values.
- Judgment (J) or Perception (P): Indicates whether a person prefers a planned and organized lifestyle or a flexible and open-minded lifestyle.
Jungian Cognitive Functions is the theoretical basis of MBTI. It believes that everyone has eight different psychological functions, which are:
- Extraverted Sensing (Se): Interacting with the external world through the five senses, paying attention to the actual situation at the moment, and seeking stimulation and change.
- Introverted Sensing (Si): Interacting with the internal world through the five senses, focusing on past experiences and memories, seeking stability and security.
- Extraverted intuition (Ne): Interact with the external world through intuition, focus on future possibilities and potential, and seek innovation and diversity.
- Introverted intuition (Ni): Interacting with the inner world through intuition, focusing on deep insights and meanings, seeking insights and foresight.
- Extraverted Thinking (Te): Interacting with the external world through logic, focusing on objective facts and rules, and seeking efficiency and results.
- Introverted Thinking (Ti): Interacting with the inner world through logic, focusing on subjective theory and analysis, seeking accuracy and understanding.
- Extraverted Feeling (Fe): Interacting with the external world through emotions, paying attention to the feelings and needs of others, and seeking harmony and cooperation.
- Introverted Feeling (Fi): Interacting with the internal world through emotions, paying attention to one’s own feelings and values, and seeking truth and self.
Everyone has these eight functions, but with different priorities and levels of development. MBTI believes that everyone has a dominant function (Dominant Function), an auxiliary function (Auxiliary Function), a tertiary function (Tertiary Function), and an inferior function (Inferior Function). These four functions constitute a person’s Yang-side functional personality (Ego Personality) is the personality that a person most commonly uses and is most familiar with. For example, the yang functional personality of an ISTP type person is:
- Dominant function: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
- Auxiliary function: Extraverted Sensing (Se)
- Tertiary function: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
- Disadvantage function: Extraverted intuition (Ne)
So, besides the yang-side functional personality, are there any other functional personalities? The answer is yes. Everyone also has a shadow personality (Shadow Personality), which is a personality that is not commonly used and unfamiliar to a person. It is the opposite of the yang functional personality and consists of four other functions. Their order is the same as the yang side. Functional personalities are opposite, and the direction of each function is also opposite. For example, the shadow function personality of an ISTP type person is:
- Opposite of Dominant Function: Extraverted Thinking (Te)
- The opposite of accessibility: Introverted Sensing (Si)
- The opposite of tertiary function: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
- The opposite of the inferior function: Introverted intuition (Ni)
Shadow functional personality is usually hidden in the subconscious mind. They do not often appear in a person’s daily life, but in some special circumstances, they will surface, affect a person’s behavior and attitude, and even lead to some conflicts and question. The emergence of shadow functional personality is usually caused by the following reasons:
- Stress: When a person faces great pressure or crisis, he may not be able to effectively use his yang functional personality, and will turn to his shadow functional personality to cope with and escape from difficulties. At this time, he may show some inappropriate or extreme behaviors, such as becoming emotional, stubborn, impulsive, negative, etc.
- Growth: When a person wants to achieve his own growth and development, he may actively try to use his shadow function personality to expand his vision and abilities. At this time, he may show some new or different behaviors, such as becoming active, open, cooperative, creative, etc.
- Balance: When a person wants to achieve his own balance and harmony, he may naturally adjust his shadow function personality to supplement his yang function personality. At this time, he may show some appropriate or beneficial behaviors, such as becoming rational, stable, caring, insightful, etc.
The shadow functional personality is not a person’s enemy, but a person’s friend. It can help a person understand himself more comprehensively.
What is the shadow function personality of ISTP?
ISTP’s shadow function personality is ESTJ, which is a combination of extroverted thinking (Te) - introverted feeling (Si) - extroverted feeling (Fe) - introverted intuition (Ni). This personality is opposite to the yang functional personality of ISTP. Their relationship is as follows:
- The dominant function of ISTP is introverted thinking (Ti), which is a function of analysis and understanding. It allows ISTP to independently construct and verify their own theories and models, and solve problems and challenges. The dominant function of ISTP’s shadow function personality is extraverted thinking (Te), which is an executive and managerial function that can effectively organize and guide oneself and others to achieve goals and results.
- The auxiliary function of ISTP is Extraverted Sensing (Se), which is a function of perception and action. It allows ISTP to flexibly adapt to and master the external environment and enjoy stimulation and changes. The auxiliary function of ISTP’s shadow function personality is introverted sensing (Si), which is a function of reviewing and maintaining, able to steadily rely on and maintain one’s own experiences and habits, and pursue security and comfort.
- The third function of ISTP is introverted feeling (Fi), which is a function of evaluation and expression. It allows ISTP to adhere to and realize their own values and beliefs, and express their own feelings and wishes. The third function of ISTP’s shadow function personality is Extraverted Feeling (Fe), which is a coordination and caring function that can adapt to and meet the expectations and needs of others, and maintain the feelings and relationships of others.
- The ISTP’s inferior function is Extraverted Intuition (Ne), which is an exploratory and creative function that allows the ISTP to be open to accepting and trying the possibilities and potential of the external world, seeking innovation and diversity. The inferior function of ISTP’s shadow function personality is introverted intuition (Ni), which is a function of insight and foresight that can deeply understand and predict the insights and meanings of the internal world, and seek insights and foresight.
The characteristics and strengths of the ISTP’s Shadow Function personality are:
- Methodical and organized: good at formulating and executing plans, arranging and assigning tasks, ensuring that things are done according to established goals and standards, and avoiding chaos and waste.
- Responsible and reliable: value one’s own and others’ responsibilities, abide by one’s commitments, fulfill one’s obligations, live up to the trust of others, and never let others down.
- Leading and influential: good at managing and guiding yourself and others, exerting your authority and professionalism, winning the respect and support of others, and achieving your goals and vision.
- Adaptable and cooperative: able to adjust one’s behavior and attitude according to changes in the external environment, establish and maintain good relationships with others, and promote team harmony and collaboration.
The emergence and influence of ISTP’s shadow function personality are:
- When ISTPs face great pressure or crisis, they may not be able to effectively use their introverted thinking (Ti) and extraverted feeling (Se), and will instead use their extraverted thinking (Te) and introverted feeling (Si), to cope with and escape from difficult situations. At this time, they may show some inappropriate or extreme behaviors, such as becoming too strong, stubborn, rigid, negative, etc.
- When ISTPs want to achieve their own growth and development, they may actively try to use their extraverted feeling (Fe) and introverted intuition (Ni) to expand their horizons and abilities. At this time, they may show some new or different behaviors, such as becoming more active, open, cooperative, creative, etc.
- When ISTPs want to achieve their own balance and harmony, they may naturally regulate their Extraverted Thinking (Te) and Introverted Feeling (Si) to supplement their Introverted Thinking (Ti) and Extraverted Feeling (Se) . At this time, they may show some appropriate or beneficial behaviors, such as becoming more rational, stable, caring, insightful, etc.
How to take advantage of the shadow functional personality?
Shadow functional personality is not a person’s enemy, but a person’s friend. It can help a person understand himself more comprehensively, discover his own potential, and realize his own growth and development. However, it is not easy to take advantage of the shadow function personality. It requires a person to have enough courage and willingness to face and accept his own shadow, understand its characteristics and advantages, and observe its emergence. and reasons, regulate its expression and application so that it is in harmony with, rather than in conflict with, the yang functional personality. Here are some methods and techniques to help ISTPs take advantage of their shadow-function personality:
- Recognize and accept your own shadow: ISTP should realize that your shadow functional personality is part of yourself. It is not bad or wrong, it is just different or unfamiliar. ISTP should accept their shadow function personality instead of denying or suppressing it, because it can bring them some new perspectives and abilities, making themselves more complete and balanced.
- Understand the characteristics and strengths of your own shadow functional personality: ISTP should learn and study the characteristics and strengths of your own shadow functional personality, understand their role and value, and their differences and connections with your own yang functional personality. ISTP can acquire more information and knowledge by reading some relevant books, articles, websites, etc., or attending some relevant courses, lectures, workshops, etc.
- Observe the emergence and reasons of your own shadow function personality: ISTP should pay attention to the emergence and reasons of your own shadow function personality, analyze what kind of pressure, growth, balance and other factors they are caused by, and their behavior on themselves and what is the impact of attitude. ISTPs can improve their self-awareness and understanding by recording their own diaries, reflections, moods, etc., or by communicating, sharing, discussing, etc. with some trusted people.
- Adjust the expression and application of your own shadow function personality: ISTP should adjust the expression and application of your shadow function personality so that it is in harmony with, rather than in conflict with, your yang function personality. ISTPs can achieve this goal in the following ways:
- When ISTPs face great pressure or crisis, they should avoid overusing their Extraverted Thinking (Te) and Introverted Feeling (Si), but should try to restore and enhance their Introverted Thinking (Ti) and Extraverted Feeling (Se), to effectively solve problems and challenges. ISTPs can reduce their own stress and sense of crisis by relaxing their body and mind, seeking help from others, and looking at problems from a different perspective.
- When ISTPs want to achieve their own growth and development, they should actively use their Extraverted Feeling (Fe) and Introverted Intuition (Ni) to expand their horizons and abilities. ISTPs can improve their Extraverted Feeling (Fe) and Introverted Intuition (Ni) by participating in some meaningful and interesting activities, projects, societies, etc., or by communicating, cooperating, learning, etc. with people who have common interests and goals. level and confidence.
- When ISTPs want to achieve their own balance and harmony, they should naturally regulate their Extraverted Thinking (Te) and Introverted Feeling (Si) to supplement their Introverted Thinking (Ti) and Extraverted Feeling (Se). ISTPs can achieve the balance of their extraverted thinking (Te) and introverted feeling (Si) by finding some interests, hobbies, habits, etc. that suit them, or by getting along, interacting, sharing, etc. with people who can understand and support them. and harmony.
in conclusion
Shadow functional personality is a person’s potential personality, which can help a person better understand himself, discover his potential, and realize his own growth and development. The ISTP’s shadow functional personality is ESTJ, which has characteristics and advantages that are opposite to the ISTP’s yang functional personality. It can emerge in some special situations and affect the ISTP’s behavior and attitude. ISTP should recognize and accept their own shadow functional personality, understand its characteristics and advantages, observe its emergence and reasons, adjust its expression and use, and make it coordinate with the yang functional personality instead of conflicting with it, so as to achieve self-realization. Growth and development.
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