Perspective on Demonstrative Function
I have begin to think that Demonstrative function really is more like a "creative" function as Gulenko has suggested than we traditionally recognize here. The demonstrative function is a 4D function, like your base, but it is primarily reactive. It is part of your strongest mental chain, as It and your base function essentially completely provide for your dual's weakness on these aspects.
I have spent a great deal of time analyzing myself (ILI), My father and another very close friend (SLE), several of my male and female friends (SEE, LIE) and my current girlfriend (IEI) to see these effects in action and I'd like to explain. I have noticed, especially with SLE's for example, that they can not be told how to be efficient at anything. You could offer advice if they know literally nothing, but general Te advice gets an arrogant shrug. At first this bothered me, but then I began to realize, as ILI, I do EXACTLY the same thing, but only when people try to over-explain or point out their flawed understanding of something. I have always maintained that I do not require anyone's help to understand something, and in general my ability in this regard is quite high. Occasionally I am wrong of course, but not often and NEVER in important areas (at least in my judgement). I always feel an uneasiness when I don't understand something that I have deemed important, but I do not feel this is anyones job to handle but my own. I expect and want no help here. I believe that is because my dual could never help me here anyway and subconsciously relies on me to do so.
I've noticed people always act as though the two ego functions are the strongest, but I truly think the second function (currently called Creative) is more like a manipulative function designed to push through the holes or avenues you see as static or unchangeable in the demonstrative. In my case I think Te is used to find approaches, GIVEN the understanding I possess. It can not contradict that understanding. Reinin called the Creative function the Zone of Risk, and I think that is a much better name, because you do not really care if you fail on this front. I think in my case, the manipulative Te is designed to hit my dual in their zone of problems while only proposing Te methods filtered through Ti, which they severely lack in.
On the reverse I think SEEs do the same with Fe for me. I suspect that SEEs have some of the strongest momentary emotions (Fe), and combined with Se as the strongest functions I suspect leads to an inclination to think that the way they are feeling is the most important, and they exert that pressure on the environment.
Anyways what I've begun to think is that the two strongest functions are what really identify a type and not the two ego functions. For ILI I think this means Ni-Ti, the recognition development of logical systems over time. Thus the whole "predicting people's actions" ability. Makes more sense this way. Also the reason Quasi-identicals are so similar and have mistypes.
In the LIE for example I have noticed the guys I know are literally genius at seeing and using opportunities (Ne). My close LIE friend literally asked the dean of the law school in his first semester to be a reference on his Resume (he had spoken to her once) through email, argues relentlessly to get returns on the phone or refunds, checks literally every source for a possible externship, etc. I could go on and on, but what I have come to realize is that where people's true genius comes through is in their almost effortless use of their demonstrative function. All the LIEs I know are damn near genius at finding opportunity for gain (Te-Ne), though the ignored Ti and desire to risk their future (zone of risk Ni) leads to sometimes gambling-like results. I could see many of them becoming rich-broke-rich in their lifetime.
It is similar with SLE. Se-Te. Maximum gain from the environment. These guys don't miss an opportunity to get that $$. They manipulate through Ti (adjust understanding or even confuse others) but never forget their Money based (Te) actions. They do need Fe and all that but it is super interesting that they always seem to have superior "right off the bat" Te solutions to problems than I do. And they do not like to be questioned on Te terms. They will tell you what to do, Just do IT. The Ti exists to help them form a structure that allows them to be or become the Shot called (Se-Te).
I could go on and on. I would love to hear IEI's perception on this as I think their mechanism Ni-Fi is like development of relations over time. My girlfriend cannot be told on this respect. She knows how to keep people's positive disposition in any situation, especially if she has known them long. There is a preoccupation with being liked without being ridiculous about it. It's very interesting to me. Sh uses manipulative Fe to adjust people positively to her. She keeps SLE's attention (her best friend) by doing exactly this. Honestly the most impressive part to me about this is how weak our activating functions are and how open they are to peoples manipulation.
I suppose this could simply be considered a re-statement of the current facts, but I think the idea of the current creative function gets too much play as people's primary motivation. I think the demonstrative is much more purposeful in the psyche and deserves more attention.
Thoughts? I'd love to hear everybody's take on this subject, its very fascinating to me!
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Originally Posted by niffer
