The functions at war /dreams Part 1
In this article I would like to continue to talk about the war between the functions in order to bring some new evidence which supports the original idea expressed in my posts (and my article about ISTP type on the www.the 16types.info) that for the rational/judging types it will be more difficult to decide about the dominance of feeling vs. thinking and the opposite will be true for perceiving/rational types. This idea is in disagreement with the Ganin’s article, who suggests the opposite- that for the rational type it will be the greater difficulty to decide about the dominance of their sensing /intuition because according to Ganin, those functions are at war for rational types. I suggested that the opposite is true and would like to argue the point that the real war is not between Auxiliary and Tertiary functions (the second/creative and the third/weakest functions which is also represents hidden agenda in the Ganin’s article) but between the first/base/dominant function and the fourth/role/inferior function. I would like also to share my ideas/thoughts about the opposition between rational/judging and irrational/perceiving functions.
If by any chance I repeat something what has been already known or said by somebody regarding this topic of discussion, I would like apologize in advance. My intention is to share my thoughts and ideas which has not been translated from any book. However, if you find my thoughts as old and well known ones, you are welcome to criticise me or better give me the reference to any particular article….
Before I move to discussion I would like to explain that the talk here will be mainly about the first four functions and the blocs of EGO and SUPEREGO. For example, for INTJ it will be:![]()
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Where
1 -.- is introverted thinking/ structural logic
2.-- is extraverted intuition/intuition of hidden abilities
3.-- is extraverted sensing/ willpower/power to push
4.-- is introverted ethics/ ethics of relationships/morality
In Ganin’s article they are named as Dominant (1), Auxiliary (2), Tertiary (3) and Inferior (4). The article written by Ganin can be found on: http://www.socionincs.com/advan/howto.htm):
In the model A, the third weakest function is number 4, that is probably why it is called tertiary. However, I am not going to consider the model A here so I will refer to the weakest function as a third/weakest/hidden agenda.
According to Ganin, if a person's Auxiliary and Tertiary functions are Feeling![]()
and Thinking
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(or Thinking and Feeling), then such person find it hard to keep these two in peace and may find it difficult to decide whether they are F or T. For example, consider INTP
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or ISFP
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type. The Dominant and Inferior in this case would be Sensing
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and Intuition
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(or Intuition and Sensing), and should be quite easy to separate. Further, Ganin suggests that if a person's Auxiliary and Tertiary functions are Sensing and Intuition (or Intuition and Sensing), for example, rational types like ISFJ
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or ENTJ
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, then such person may find it difficult to keep these two in friendship and may find it hard to decide whether they are S or N. The Dominant and Inferior in this case would be Feeling and Thinking (or Thinking and Feeling), and should be quite easy to divide.
I disagree with this position and suggest the opposite.
Functions which are easier to separate should be Auxiliary and Tertiary. Why? Because, I believe that it is easier to say what you are definetly not that what you actually are. The weakest function should be evident more than your dominant one. The problem is with the way the functions defined in the test when you try to determine your type. May be it is easier firstly to offer a good definition of what each function means and to ask them to rate themselves - how strongly they feel on those functions instead of asking numerous questions?
For example, for those who have intuition as a weakest function the concern will be about time, development in time, prediction, potential abilities of objects/people, the six sense, poetic/composing creativity and etc…or to ask something like: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? How quickly you decide about what the person /object can or cannot do/offer? How often you buy/guess things on a spur of the moment and the are good/right?
On the other hand, it should be more difficult to say about functions that are obviously evident and strongly represented in the type. While traditionally the first two functions (base/first and creative/second functions) are considered as strong ones, I would argue that the fourth (third in socionincs)/role function can be in reality not less stronger than the first/dominant and is strong enough to make a war to the first one. Why? Because this is a function of your highest ambition which is directly associated with the interest of the first function and directed/limited by it (e.g. ISTP functions: http://the16types.info/forums/viewtopic-1793.html)
For example, INTJ is thinking/logical type but the morals/relationships extremely important for him/her, although they do not rush to show it off. They are devoted friends and partners. However, due to their first function - logical thinking their morals will be qualitatively different from the morals of the ethical types. Logical morals can be associated with theoretical relativism while ethical morals with the theory defining principles. The difference in the morals between the logical type A and the ethical type B can be found in the books written by Dr. J.Gibbs, L.Kohlberg and other prominent psychologists.
The fourth function, I will call it function of ambition, can be as weak as we allow it to be or as strong as we wish it to be. This is the function of learning process by free will. Something which was not given to you for granted and you have to put enough effort if you want to achieve a lot. I would suggest, that it is important for your happiness and spiritual growth. It is a direction of development and improvement. If you don’t work on this function - you stagnate or get depressed. The task is to achieve balance and agreement between the first and the fourth function, but not the war between them.
The fourth function is directed and limited by the first function but is driven by the third/weakest function. The weakest function is the area of your major concerns and fears. For example, if you are worried about time, being at time, future , predictions…that could be a sign of weakest intuition. Your weakest intuition needs support and direction of the support is not towards the second or first function but towards the fourth function. As if the weakest function activates the fourth/ambition/role function: Come on, do something about it, I am worried! Depending on what the fourth function is the person tries to excel in that area.
Why the third/weakest function demands support from the fourth/role function but not the others?
To explain this, we shall consider only two first of the four blocs: EGO, SUPEREGO, SUPERID, ID. The first and the second functions constitute the bloc EGO, the weakest and the role functions SUPEREGO. Functions work in teams. Superego is responsible for your hard work in life, something you have to do and this is not a surprise that you fears of failure will be in this block. However, here is also the direction to take - your fourt/role function.
The failures you fear will be specific and associated with the interest of your dominant function or EGO block - it will be not any fears but in areas which are most important for you. This is easy to demonstrate by considering the topics of your fearful re -occuring dreams/nightmares (if you have some?). Reoccuring nightmares, in my opinion, should be associated with something you do/care a lot in your counshious/real life.
For example, INTJ might dream about the failure at work/business, he is in embarrassing situation and feels powerless to do anything. He wakes up, feeling stressed, he wants to get rid of these disturbing feelings, needs reassurance and wants to feel good and happy about himself. He feels weak and needs to strenghen his psychological stamina. His weak will sensing drives his spirit to be stronger - that’s the way to success! Does he need anything else, any failures with intellectual power? Of course not, brain are working well, the dominant and creative functions (block EGO)take responsibility that intellectual functioning is in a good order and the work on them is more fun than hard work. Just don’t allow yourself to get carry away with it…..there are more powerful reasons for you to be here - work on your weak points and create balancing between EGO and SUPEREGO.
This is the end of part 1. More dream ananlysis come in the part 2.
Critics are much appreciated!
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