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i'm thinking that it can't be divided solely into just j and p, and that a lot of this rides on the other functions (maybe temperaments would be useful here.)
There is alot more to these modalities than just words and pictures. There are ways that I can show why j types or p types act the way they do based on verbal/non-verbal processing. Plus, there are other facets to the functions that influence how this information gets analyzed/synthesized.
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cone, this makes sense, but what about Se types? When they get together and don't stop talking, are they accepting information or synthesizing it?
or do they accept information nonverbally, unless that information happens to be another person talking?
For p-types, speech is automatically converted into non-verbal cues. They analyze the visual image they get when you say the word, 'apple', for instance. Then verbal information is synthesized from there. The verbal modality deals with representing things by language, thus we can derive certain j-type characteristics from there.
The analysis process works by expectations. Since a j-type represents the world verbally, he will expect non-verbal elements to fall under his analysis. And what things are mainly verbal? Logic, rules, ethics, what one "should" or "shouldn't" do, what is "right" or "wrong", etc. So for a j-type, these verbal rules govern the non-verbal world. For a p-type then, he expects verbal elements to fall under non-verbal analysis, thus we get that "the rules apply here but not there." Non-verbal elements are visual/auditory thoughts (not physical sensations), description, illustration, spatial processing, etc.
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I find that I can understand words, concepts, etc. without actually putting any effort into thinking, but if I'm actyally doing something (synthesizing information?) my body, mind, or whatever will perform a lot better when I actually think to myself, in words, what I'm doing. Is this me in Te mode?
This is the understanding process. You will understand a concept better if you make verbal connections between your non-verbal elements. Note that IxTp types are experts in inventing methods. You know what do to, now you just need to make the rules that explain it.
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When I'm too lazy to think, and I sort of think without thinking (have an idea, know I have the idea, but not actually think it to myself, it's more of a picture or a memory or a audio/spatial thought, or some connection between any of the above) I'm assuming this comes from the Si function, and is still unmmolded clay.
:Ti: is just as much unmolded clay as the next function. What you are describing may be correct, but I'm not entirely sure.
Some more post-it notes, please.