Personality Type

The Eight-Process Model of Type

"Strictly speaking, there are no introverts and extraverts pure and simple, but only introverted and extraverted function-types."

C. G. Jung

Throughout most of its history, personality type has been viewed in terms of its four functions (Sensing, Intuiting, Thinking, and Feeling) and its four attitudes (Extraversion, Introversion, Perception, and Judgment). Although the relationships and interactions between these different facets of type have been imbedded in the model from the very beginning, most of the focus has been on the nature of the functions and attitudes themselves. In the past few decades, however, some type theorists have turned their attention to understanding the nature of the functions in their attitudes of Extraversion and Introversion. Since each individual's preferred mode of perceiving and judging must have either an external or internal orientation—and cannot have both at the same time; then we need to better understand these "mental processes" (a.k.a. "cognitive processes," "cognitive functions," or "function/attitudes").

To understand how the various elements of personality fit together, think of a person's life as being like an operetta, carried on by a cast of eight characters. The "functions" of type—Sensing, Intuiting, Thinking, and Feeling—are like the voice groupings; say sopranos, altos, tenors, and baritones. The main activity of the play is described, in general terms, by the Judging/Perceiving orientation. How the activities are carried out is described by the Extraversion/Introversion energy attitude. The eight individual actors—each with distinct characteristics that they bring to their role—are the eight mental processes. Each voice group includes two singer/actors. The Sensing sopranos, for example, share common characteristics. But at the same time, each of the sopranos—Extraverted Sensing and Introverted Sensing—brings a unique voice to the chorus.

The eight processes are, after all, really the basic units of personality. They are the approaches we engage to accomplish a task; and they are the naturally preferred "habits of mind" which we identify when we discover our true type. Although it is certainly still useful to think in terms of Sensing, Intuiting, Thinking, Feeling, Extraverting, Introverting, Perceiving, and Judging; we now realize that what is actually going on in a person's mind is Extraverted Sensing, Introverted Sensing, Extraverted Intuiting, Introverted Intuiting, Extraverted Thinking, Introverted Thinking Extraverted Feeling, and Introverted Feeling. This insight gives us a much more sophisticated and accurate understanding of personality.

An important aspect of the eight-process model is called the "sequence of eight." It is based on two observations. First, that each of us, regardless of our type preference, can potentially engage any of the eight mental processes even though we habitually use only a few. Second, that in typical type development, there is a hierarchy of preference. This "sequence of eight" is different for each type and it describes how comfortable or uncomfortable, easy or difficult, and energizing or draining it is likely to be for us to access any given mental process, depending on its position in the sequence. For a person with an ESFP type preference, for example, Extraverted Sensing is the dominant, most easily accessible, most conscious, most energizing, and most likely to be highly developed process; while Extraverted Intuiting probably is the least. The full sequence for ESFP is:

Extraverted Sensing (Se): Captures the breadth and detail of the present environment through the five senses
Introverted Feeling (Fi): Nonjudgmental serenity reflects a focus on internal harmony and deep, personal values
Extraverted Thinking (Te): Organizes the external world with analytical logic and accepted criteria to attain order and clarity
Introverted Intuiting (Ni): Combines "real world" and unconscious info to reveal abstract patterns and hidden meaning
Introverted Sensing (Si): Personalizes sensory experience through internal comparison to memories
Extraverted Feeling (Fe): Seeks harmony in the environment through shared, people-oriented values
Introverted Thinking (Ti): Precise and personal logical analysis within a subjective framework
Extraverted Intuiting (Ne): Generates practical options and possibilities by connecting info-bits to see the big picture

It is the eight-process model that led to the creation of Integrated Problem-Solving™. In fact, IPS is really simply an effective delivery system for teaching the powerful practical lessons of this enhanced view of personality type.

To learn more about the eight mental processes, we recommend reading Jung's Mental Processes: Building Blocks of Personality Type, Haas and Hunziker, 2006, Unite Business Press, available at www.16types.com.