Roles Of The 8 Cognitive Functions

ROLES OF THE 8 COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS

In each of the sixteen types, each of the eight processes plays a different "role" in the personality. The type code lets you know what role each process plays for each type. This is called "type dynamics."

It is also referred to as the "hierarchy of functions": Dominant, Auxiliary, Tertiary, and Inferior. The roles are explained below to help you better understand the patterns. In most of what we do we rely on two of the processes—a preferred way of accessing information and a preferred way of organizing and evaluating that information.

As we look more closely we can see that one process takes a leading role and the other takes a supporting role. In truth, we all have access to all eight cognitive processes—the other six are often in the background, playing other kinds of roles. Each has a positive and a negative way of expressing itself. Each bears a different energy cost when we use it.

The Four Primary Functions

The primary processes are those used in the first four roles. Each process tends to emerge and develop at different times in our lives. During these times we are drawn to activities that use these processes.

Then, learning the content and the skills that engage these processes is often nearly effortless. We find our interest is drawn to them and our interest is pulled away from things we were drawn to before.

THE LEADING ROLE

(Often referred to as the 1st, dominant or hero function)

The dominant function that plays the leading role is the one that usually develops early in childhood. We tend to engage in this process first, trusting it to solve our problems and help us be successful. Being the most trusted and most used, it usually has an adult, mature quality to it. While we are likely to engage in it rather automatically and effortlessly, we have much more conscious control over it.

The energy cost for using it is very low. Much like in the movies, the leading role has a heroic quality as using it can get us out of difficult situations. However, we can sometimes "turn up the volume" on this process and become overbearing and domineering. Then it takes on a negative dominating quality.

THE SUPPORTING ROLE

(Often referred to as the 2nd, auxiliary or growth function)

The supporting role or auxiliary function is how we are helpful to others as well as supportive of ourselves. This function is also referred to as our growth function since developing it is usually necessary for our personal growth.

Once we have mastered our dominant function as our leading role process, we are more likely to feel comfortable engaging in our supporting/auxiliary cognitive process. In its most positive form, this can be quite like a nurturing parent. In its more negative aspect, it can be overprotective and stunting rather than helpful.

When the leading role process is an extraverted one, the supporting role process is introverted.
When the leading role process is an introverted one, the supporting role process is then extraverted. This function may be quite active and the part of us that is visible to the world, as it is the way in which we relate with the outer world.

THE RELIEF ROLE

(Often referred to as the 3rd, tertiary or relief function)
The relief role gives us a way to energize and recharge ourselves. It serves as a backup to the supporting role and often works in tandem with it. When we are younger, we might not engage in the process that plays this role very much unless our life circumstances require it, or if we are finding it hard to use the supporting role process.

Usually, in young adulthood, we are attracted to activities that draw upon this process. The relief role often is how we express our creativity. It is how we are playful and childlike. In its most negative expression, this is how we become childish. Then it has an unsettling quality, and we can use this process to distract ourselves and others, getting us off target.

THE ASPIRATIONAL ROLE

(Often referred to as the 4th, inferior or aspirational function)

The aspirational role usually doesn't develop until around midlife. We often experience it first in its negative aspect of projecting our doubts, fears, and negativities onto others. The qualities of these fears reflect the process that plays this role, and we are more likely to look immature when we engage in the process that plays this role. 

There is often a fairly high energy cost for using it—even when we acquire the skill to do so. As we learn to trust it and develop it, the aspirational role process provides a bridge to balance in our lives. It is by exploring and developing this function that we gain our sense of purpose, inspiration, and hope to actualize our ideals.

The Unconscious/Shadow Functions

The other four cognitive processes operate more on the boundaries of our awareness. It is as if they are in the shadows and only come forward under certain circumstances. We usually experience these processes in a negative way, yet when we are open to them, they can be quite positive.

THE OPPOSING ROLE

(Often referred to as the 5th, opposite function)

The opposing role is often how we get stubborn and argumentative—refusing to “play” and join in whatever is going on at the time. It might be easy for us to develop skill in the process that plays this role, but we are likely to be more narrow in our application of this skill, and it will likely take more energy to use it extensively.

In its positive aspect, it provides a shadow or depth to our leading role process, backing it up and enabling us to be more persistent in pursuit of our goals.

THE CRITICAL PARENT ROLE

(Often referred to as the 6th, critical function)

The critical parent role is how we find weak spots and can immobilize and demoralize others.
We can also feel this way when others use the process that plays this role. It is often used sporadically and emerges more often under stressful conditions when something important is at risk. When we engage it, we can go on and on.

To access its positive side of discovery, we must learn to appreciate and be open to it. Then it has an almost magical quality and can provide a profound sense of wisdom.

THE DECEIVING ROLE

(Often referred to as the 7th, trickster function)

The deceiving role fools us into thinking something is important to do or pay attention to.
The process that fills this role is often not trusted or seen as worthy of attention, for when we do engage it, we may make mistakes in perception or in decision making. Then we feel double-bound—trapped between two bad options.

Yet this role can have a positive side as it provides comic relief. Then we can laugh at ourselves. It can be refreshing and join with the relief role as we recharge ourselves through play.

THE DEVIL ROLE

(Often referred to as the 8th, demonic function)

The devilish role can be quite negative. Using the process that plays this role, we might become destructive of ourselves or others. Actions (or inactions) taken when we engage in the process that plays this role are often regretted later.

Usually, we are unaware of how to use the process that fills this role and feel like it just erupts and imposes itself rather unconsciously. Yet when we are open to the process that plays the devilish role, it becomes transformative. 

It can be developed over time to become the impetus to create something new—to explore new ways of experiencing life and to fully actualize our full potential. This function is aspirational for us and through its development, we can become fully balanced and whole. This is because within it lies our ability to bring our most treasured dreams into reality.