In the wonderful personality universe of Jung 8D and MBTI, everyone has a unique and complex personality composition. Are you curious whether those ESTJs who are very confident and strong on weekdays also have unknown ‘other side’ hidden personality? In fact, behind their seemingly indestructible personality, there is an existence called the Shadow Functional Personality.
Warm reminder: This article is for readers who have a basic understanding of the concept of Jung Eight Dimension (MBTI cognitive function). If you have not yet entered this field, you can click to read this article , or search for relevant information on the Internet to build a preliminary understanding.
If you are not sure about your MBTI personality type, or want to re-test whether your personality type has changed, PsycTest official provides you with free MBTI personality testing services. The test address is: Free MBTI test entrance , hoping to help you understand yourself more deeply.
What is Shadow Function Personality?
Shadow functional personality is an extremely important concept in the Jungian eight-dimensional + MBTI theoretical system. It represents a part of a person’s personality type that is completely opposite to the daily dominant personality, like a mysterious iceberg hidden under the deep sea of consciousness. Under normal circumstances, this part of personality is deeply hidden at the subconscious level and will only emerge quietly when it is stimulated in a specific situation.
The conversion of shadow function personality follows specific rules: by replacing the first letter of a personality type (representing introversion I or extraversion E) and the tail letter (representing judgment J or perceptual P) with opposite letters, you can get the corresponding shadow personality. For example, the first letter ‘E (extroversion)’ of ESTJ becomes ‘I (introversion)’ and the last letter ‘J (judgment)’ becomes ‘P (perception)’, which leads to the shadow function personality of ESTJ is ISTP .
What is the shadow function personality of ESTJ?
ESTJ is a typical personality type with outlook (E), feeling (S), thinking (T), and judgment (J). In daily life and work, they often show a strong sense of responsibility, have an almost persistent pursuit of order and efficiency, and are excellent leaders, good at organizing teams, managing affairs, and efficiently implementing plans.
In sharp contrast, ESTJ’s shadow function personality ISTP is dominated by introversion (I), feeling (S), thinking (T), and perception (P). ISTP usually has a strong spirit of adventure, flexible and changeable style, and pays attention to practical effects. It is a ’life explorer’ full of exploration and is unique in analyzing problems, solving problems, and innovating and creating.
ESTJ’s shadow function personality is actually a side that they try hard to avoid in their hearts because it is very different from the values and behavior patterns that ESTJ has always upheld. In the following situations, the shadow function personality of ESTJ is very likely to appear:
- Work projects are severely frustrated: When the important projects under the ESTJ are in a deadlock due to unforeseeable factors, the progress is severely lagging, and multiple efforts cannot save the situation, they will feel that they have lost control of the situation. At this time, ESTJ may become abnormal and no longer actively organize teams to discuss solutions. Instead, they escape to leisure and entertainment alone, like being addicted to electronic games all day long, throwing their work behind, showing ISTP’s random abandonment of established plans and pursuit of instant happiness in the present.
- Deterioration of interpersonal relationships in the workplace: In the workplace, if ESTJs are excluded by colleagues for a long time, unfairly treated by superiors, or their opinions are ignored many times in team decisions, their inner belief in maintaining order and justice will be impacted. In this case, ESTJ may become sarcastic, sarcastic about leaders who once respected, be indifferent to colleagues’ requests for help, and even deliberately provoke disputes in the team, which is similar to the ISTP’s characteristics that do not follow traditional social rules and pay more attention to their own emotional expression.
- Long-term repetitive work suppression: When ESTJs are engaged in monotonous, mechanical and unchallenging work for a long time, repeating the same process every day, and unable to exert their leadership and organizational abilities, they will feel extremely bored and depressed. At this time, ESTJ may suddenly and impulsively resign. Without sufficient planning, sign up for some extreme outdoor sports on a whim, such as bungee jumping, off-road adventure, etc., seeking strong sensory stimulation, reflecting the adventurous spirit of ISTP and rebellion towards routine life.
- Major family changes: When families encounter major changes such as serious illnesses of relatives or sudden economic crisis, the stable family order that ESTJ has always relied on is broken. Under tremendous mental stress, they may show impatientness and even speak ill of their family’s concern and help. For example, when facing the anxiety of family members, not only does not comfort them, but instead mocks their family members’ vulnerability and completely loses their past considerate and responsible sense, which is consistent with the behavioral pattern of ISTP being self-centered and ignoring others’ feelings under pressure.
- Social rules are changed: When major changes occur in the social environment, the original rules and regulations and codes of conduct are no longer applicable, and the new rules are not yet clear, ESTJ will fall into confusion and anxiety. For example, when industry policies are greatly adjusted, resulting in the original familiar work model completely invalid, ESTJ may try some unmarket-verified business models regardless of consequences, or blindly follow some popular but risky investments, showing the ISTP’s impulse to accept new things without thinking about new things and neglect unknown risks.
How does ESTJ live in harmony with her shadow function personality?
The shadow function of ESTJ is not harmful but has no benefits, it also contains positive meaning. For example, it can help ESTJ find ways to relax under high pressure, expand thinking horizons, and improve flexibility and creativity in dealing with things. If ESTJ can correctly understand and accept its own shadow functional personality, it can more effectively balance its own personality traits and promote personal growth. The following provides ESTJ with methods to coexist in harmony with the shadow functional personality:
- Stress Coping Strategy: When ESTJ feels overwhelmed with pressure, you might as well leave yourself exclusive space and time to release the introverted feeling function. For example, immersing in the soothing music world, following the ups and downs of the film, or focusing on hand creation, ESTJ can effectively relax tense emotions, relieve stress, and regain a positive working state and efficient execution.
- Emotional Regulation Path: When encountering difficulties of being ignored, misunderstood or criticized, ESTJ can express his feelings to close friends or close friends, thereby allowing the introverted thinking function to work. Writing a diary to record your mental journey, honest communication with friends, and seeking professional psychological counseling will help ESTJ sort out chaotic thoughts, rebuild self-confidence, enhance self-worth, and thus improve interpersonal relationships.
- The method of enriching life: When ESTJ feels that life is dull and lacks passion, boldly try new and interesting things to fully display the extraverted perception function. Register for new learning courses, embarking on an unknown journey, engaging in vibrant sports, participating in art appreciation or creative activities, etc., can greatly enrich ESTJ’s life, broaden your horizons, and inject a steady stream of flexibility and creativity into your life.
If you want to have a deep understanding of ESTJ’s personality secrets, you can click to read ‘ESTJ Advanced Personality Archives’ .
Summarize
ESTJ’s shadow function personality is an indispensable and important section in its personality puzzle. Only by correctly understanding and accepting this hidden personality can ESTJ fully utilize its own advantages, overcome personality shortcomings, tap into infinite potential, and grow into an individual with a more complete personality and happier heart.
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