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Jung and Myers both found that a well balanced type had two of the four mental functions that they were skilled at using. One was used mainly in the outer world relating to objects and people; and the other was used mainly in the inner world of thoughts and ideas. Since an Introvert also has to live in the outer world, while the Extravert has to go inside to think things over, it would seem that one of the two functions identified in one's type need to be introverted while the other needs to be extraverted.

Since we prefer to use these functions, they get used more frequently and we become more skilled at using them. Thus over time, we find that one of the mental functions becomes our strongest. It would seem that our Type is an inborn pattern. We seem to have a 'natural' skill of using our Dominant function. Since we use it well, this encourages us to practise using it more. Thus, we become the most skilled at using our Dominant function.

The strongest mental function is called the Dominant. The second strongest is called the Auxiliary. These two functions appear in the four letter designation of one's type.

Since Extraverts prefer to deal mainly with the outer world, their strongest function, or Dominant, would also be extraverted and the other mental function, the Auxiliary, would be introverted. The opposite would be true for introverts. They prefer to deal mainly with their inner world and this function, the Dominant, would be their strongest and introverted. The other function. The Auxiliary, would be used to deal with the outer world, and while the most evident to other people, it would still be not quite as strong.

Even though we do not have all four functions in our type letters, we do use them at various times. We tend to use these other two functions less frequently and we are not as skilled in using them. The third in strength is called the Tertiary function and the weakest one is called the Inferior function. It is also found that our strongest function or Dominant is the one we have the most conscious use of. The weaker our skill at using a function, the more unconscious our use of it is. Thus under stress, when our use of the Dominant hasn't worked, we often flip into using our Inferior function, (i.e. being "in-the-grip") with sometimes disastrous consequences.

So it is useful to know the hierarchy of the functions of our type and to be able to identify it any of the other 16 types.
 

Sailboat: One way of getting a mental picture of Extraverts having their Dominant function on the outside and Introverts having their Dominant function on the inside, it to imagine a sailboat. It has to have a sail to catch the wind and a keel to keep it upright and moving in a straight line. Think of the sail as being the extraverted function and the keel as being the introverted function.

For an extraverted boat, the sail is large (Dominant) and the keel is small (Auxiliary). For an introverted boat, the sail is small (Auxiliary) and the keel is large (Dominant).

With the extraverted boat, the large sail catches every little breeze and moves the boat right along. But, because of the small keel, there is not much below the surface to keep the boat stable and in a straight line. Thus, the boat moves along quickly, changing direction as the winds change.

With the introverted boat, the large keel is more responsive to the below water currents and can stay in a straight line longer. Since the sail is small, the boat does not move as fast. The boat is controlled more by the underlying currents than the winds above.
 

Using the Type Table to Identify Type Dynamics

In Extraverts the Dominant function is also the function presented to the outer world. Look at the last letter of the type to tell which function is presented to the outer world. A "J" tells us that the Judging function (T or F) is the extraverted function and is, therefore, the Dominant function. The other middle letter (S or N) is the Auxiliary and, to give balance to the type, is introverted. A "P" tells us that the Perceiving function (S or N) is the extraverted function and is, therefore, the Dominant function. The other middle letter (T or F) is the Auxiliary and, to give balance, is introverted.

For Introverts the Auxiliary function is the one presented to the world. Their strongest function is hidden. For introverted types, a "J" at the end of the type tells us that the function presented to the world is a Judging function (T or F) but it is only the Auxiliary. The other middle letter (S or N) is their Dominant. A "P" at the end of an introverted type tells us that the Perceiving function (S or N) is the extraverted function and is, therefore, the Auxiliary function. The other middle letter (T or F) is the Dominant and, to give balance, is introverted.
 

The Judging Top and Bottom Rows

Begin by looking at the top and bottom rows of the Type Table. All eight of these types have a J at the end of the type. This tells us that the extraverted function is the Judging function (T or F).
 

Using the Bottom Row
 

ESTJ

ESFJ

ENFJ

ENTJ

EJ Types - Look at a Type Table. Find the bottom "J" row. Now go along each of the four types in bottom row and circle the Judging function (a Tor F). This is the extraverted function. For those four functions that start with an E, this is also the Dominant function. Put a small subscript _e beside the function letter to indicate that it is extraverted: T_e or F_e.

Now underline the other middle letter. This is the Auxiliary and put a small subscript _i beside it to indicate that it is introverted: S_i or N_i.
 

Using the Top row
 

ISTJ

ISFJ

INFJ

INTJ

IJ Types - Now for those four types in the top row that start with an I, underline the Judging function (T or F) as this is the Auxiliary function. Put a small subscript _e, to indicate that it is extraverted, beside the function letter: T_e or F_e.

Then circle the other middle letter or the Perceiving function as this is the Dominant for Introverts. Put a small subscript _i beside it to indicate that this function is introverted: S_i or N_i.

Thus for the top and bottom rows the same inner letters are introverted or extraverted. The differences is that the extraverted functions on the bottom row are also the Dominant function, while the introverted functions on the top row are the Dominant function.

The Perceiving Middle Two Rows
Now look at the middle two rows of the Type Table. All of these eight types have a P at the end of the type. This tells us that the extraverted function is the Perceiving function (S or N).

The Lower Middle row
 

ESTP

ESFP

ENFP

ENTP

EP Types - The bottom middle row has the extraverted types. The P at the end of the type tells us that the S or N are the extraverted functions and because the types are extraverted, the S or N is also the Dominant function. So go along the lower middle row and circle either the S or N. To show that it is also an extraverted function place a subscript _e beside it: S_e or N_e.

Next, on this same lower middle row, underline the other letter (T or F) as this is the Auxiliary function. Place a small subscript _i beside the letter to indicate that it is also an introverted function: T_i or F_i.

The Upper Middle Row
 

ISTP

ISFP

INFP

INTP

I P Type - The upper middle row has the introverted types. The P at the end of the type tells us that the S or N are the extraverted functions and because the types are introverted, the S or N is the Auxiliary function. So go along the upper middle row and underline either the S or N. To show that it is also an extraverted function place a subscript _e beside it: S_e or N_e.

Next, on this same lower middle row, circle the other letter (T or F) as this is the Dominant function. Place a small subscript _i beside the letter to indicate that it is also an introverted function: T_i or F_i.

As an example, you should have EN_eT_iP and IS_iF_eJ. (The larger letter represents the circled Dominant.)

Isabel Myers (Gifts Differing, 1980) made up this little rhyme to help you remember which is the Dominant function:

The Tertiary and Inferior Functions
Now that we know now to identify the Dominant and Auxiliary for any type using the type Table, let's look at how to identify the Tertiary and the Inferior functions. If we look on Jung's Compass of the Functions we see that the S is opposite the N, and T is opposite the F. These are considered the polar opposites. But when we are talking about opposites we are also identifying opposite attitudes. Thus, the polar opposite of S_i is N_e. The polar opposite of T_e is F_i.

For a type to have good balance there should be an equal number of extraverted and introverted functions. Thus if the Dominant is extraverted, and the Auxiliary is introverted, then the Tertiary is extraverted and the Inferior is introverted. They alternate extraversion-introversion. If the Dominant is introverted and the Auxiliary is extraverted, then the Tertiary is Extraverted and the Inferior is introverted. The Dominant and the Tertiary have the same attitude (extraverted or introverted), and so do the Auxiliary and the Inferior. (Jung and Myers lumped the Auxiliary, Tertiary and Inferior functions as all having the same attitude. Research and practical experience would seem to favour the alternating attitudes.)

For ENFJ Type, the Dominant is F_e, the Auxiliary is N_i, the Tertiary will be the polar opposite of Auxiliary or S_e, and the Inferior will be the polar opposite of the Dominant or T_i.

For the ISTP Type, the Dominant is T_i, the Auxiliary is S_e, the Tertiary will be the polar opposite of the Auxiliary or N_i. And the Inferior will be the polar opposite of the Dominant or T_e.

Fill in the rest of the Tertiary and Inferior functions on your Type Table. Compare your answers with the table below.

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