What are cognitive functions?
If you're new to MBTI you're probably familiar with letter-typing; it's when you type someone by the letters of MBTI types: e/i s/n f/t p/j.
That's an inaccurate way of typing as MBTI goes deeper than just the letters.
Cognitive functions are like the core of MBTI; it's what MBTI "consists" of.
Cognitive functions are something that we use to perceive and process information - some use some of them more than others, and that's what determines our MBTI types.

There are 8 cognitive functions and every MBTI type has 4 of them in their stack - they're more developed and valued - and the rest are shadow functions - undeveloped and unvalued. I'll explain it more in my next post.
There are perceiving functions that take in information and judging types that process the information and make decisions.
The types are either introverted or extroverted, which is not necessarily equivalent to social introversion/extroversion. Introverted functions take place in your head and extroverted functions interact with the outer world. More on that in the next slides where I'm going to explain all the functions.

Extroverted sensing (SE) & introverted sensing (SI)
Both sensing types are perceiving types, which means they take in information, the difference is of course in the introvert/extrovert axis:

Extroverted sensing (SE):
If you are a high SE user, you tend to use your 5 senses more than others. Of course,  everyone uses their senses, but you value them higher than others.
When you're outside, you tend to take in everything around you with your 5 senses; you see your surroundings, you hear the sounds around you, you touch things around you, and so on. You mostly focus on what you're sensing at the moment without filtering the information very much.
SE users can often adapt to new environments very fast and quickly sense the environment, they're good at handling emergencies and therefore would likely be good at careers like firefighters.
SE users tend to:
    - Like physical stuff more than theoretical ones; you would rather build something than listen to someone talking about building this thing.
    - Enjoy physical stimulants like extreme sports
    - Live in the now - dislike planning
    - Be good at adapting and improvising

Introverted sensing (SI):
High SI users tend to think back on past experiences and notice details others would fail to notice. They feel safer with a detailed plan and while planning you refer to pass experiences and what has worked (or hasn't) before - they feel safer using trusted methods than improvising.
SI focuses on inner bodily sensations like pain and hunger and can often describe them in detail after experiencing them; if you break a leg then you would be able to recall every part of the pain afterward.
If you're a SI user then you usually like repetition; you would order the same meal at the restaurant if you know it was good or you would have a favorite shirt that you put on often.
High SI users tend to:
    - Be good with details - they're precise and look back to see if it's correct

    - Like tradition
    - Have a good memory
    - Dislike change
    - Be uninterested in new things

Extroverted intuition (NE) & introverted intuition (NI)
Both sensing types are perceiving types, which means they take in information, the difference is of course in the introvert/extrovert axis
In my opinion, the intuition functions are the hardest to understand; I still struggle to understand them fully.

Extroverted intuition (NE):
NE is all about possibilities and ideas: What can I do with this? What if this happens? How can I view this from a different perspective?
High NE users can see one thing and expand it to lots of possibilities; if they're given an assignment they'll think of all the different ways they can complete it (actually completing it is a different story)
NE jumps quickly between different subjects and makes connections between them, for example, they often have a short attention span and have a hard time focusing on one subject for a longer time; something else will pop up in their mind and they'll think about that instead.
Because NE users are good at seeing possibilities, they're also good at
coming up with ideas and NE is one of the most creative functions.
High NE users tend to:
    - Be good at brainstorming
    - Be very creative
    - Live in their world; they can be absent-minded and be unaware of their surroundings
    - Have a hard time focusing
    - Be indecisive; Which one of my 100 ideas should I stick with?
    - Have many hobbies "jack of all trades, master at none"

Introverted intuition (NI):
If NE expands and comes up with possibilities, then NI is the function to narrow it down. NE sees something and comes up with possibilities and NI narrows down the possibilities and sticks with the best one, that's why - in my opinion - NE and NI would make a great team. If a NI user is given a choice with multiple possibilities they'll know which one is the best to choose.
NI processes things in the background, which means NI processes information in your subconscious while you're doing other things. For example, if you're having trouble solving a problem then maybe you'll realize the answer later out of nowhere when you're showering. That's why NI users often arrive at conclusions without knowing how they got there.
High NI users tend to:
    - Be very future-oriented and enjoy planning for the future

    - Have hunches about the future
    - Know what they want
    - Have one/a few hobbies that they've mastered
    - Obsess symbols and meanings
    - Have a strong gut feeling that often turns out to be right

Extroverted thinking (TE) & Introverted thinking (TI)
Both sensing types are judging types, which means they make decisions based on the information they've possessed, the difference is of course in the introvert/extrovert axis.

Extroverted thinking (TE):
TE users make decisions based on objective facts and logic from external sources like a book or Wikipedia. They usually set aside their feelings to only focus on objective facts.
TE is result-oriented, which means they focus more on the outcome than the process, as students, they'll strive for academic validation and as adults, they'll strive to be in a high position as possible in their workplace and get the highest salary.
TE is people-oriented and usually makes good leaders. In a group project, they'll prefer to be in a leadership position as they like to be in control. They can be very organized as they like to focus on the external world (especially combined with SI) and they are also great at planning - not only for themselves but also for other people.
Efficiency is highly valued: "Is this reliable/useful"?
High TI users tend to:
    - Appear bossy because they like to be in control
    - Be perfectionistic (especially together with SI)
    - Be hard on themselves and other people
    - Be systematic and analytical
    - Want to get things down and achieve things

Introverted thinking (TI):
TI users have an understanding of how the world works.
They are interested in logical systems and have their own system/framework aka things that make logical sense to them and how they work.
TI users are interested in figuring out how things work and they try to fit new information into their existing framework. If they see an unknown machine of some sort they'll be interested in figuring out how every part of it works (especially combined with SE)
Unlike TE, TI does not feel the need to share its logic with others, TI also values process+validity>outcome+usefulness.
Example: As a TI user I don't understand how TI works yet before I write about TI here I want to fully undertow it works instead of just trusting copying others' facts. (Sorry I don't know how to explain TI irl😭)

TI users tend to:
    - Question validity and accuracy - They often ask "why" and "how"
    - Only value things that make sense to them
    - Trust their logic rather than external sources
    - Be very curious

Extroverted feeling (FE) & Introverted feeling (FI)
Both sensing types are judging types, which means they make decisions based on the information they've possessed, the difference is of course in the introvert/extrovert axis.

Extroverted feeling (FE):
FE is a very people-oriented function; FE users tend to be very good at noticing other people's feelings and needs. They're also concerned with how other people see them (especially combined with SE) and how their behavior affects others.
Relationships and connections with people are highly valued, and FE users spend a lot of time maintaining relationships with people.
When you decide with FE you'll consider whether your decision follows social norms and how it will affect others, also what others will think of it.
FE users make good sympathetic leaders that will consider every individual's feelings and needs in the group and connect everyone.
FE users tend to:
    - Follow social norms
    - Have a strong moral of what is wrong and right, their ethics and morals are highly influenced by what others will think
    - Be very good at taking care of others
    - Feel great empathy and sympathy for others - they'll take others' problems as their own

Introverted feeling (FI):
FI users make decisions based on their value system, they have strong individual values and beliefs. They can often be uninterested in things they don't value emotionally. High FI users make decisions based on emotions and beliefs rather than objective facts and data, unlike high TE.
FI users can also be very empathic; if someone else goes through something negative they can often look into themselves and relate to them.
FI users want to figure out themselves; they want to figure out what's worth valuing and believing in and then they'll keep those beliefs in mind while making decisions. That makes them very self-aware of their identity.
FI users can be stubborn and reject new experiences that go against their values.
FI users tend to:
    - Strive to be true to themselves
    - Be highly sensitive and emotional
    - Feel strong if something is good/bad due to their strong values