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Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the world’s most popular personality frameworks, designed to help you understand how you perceive the world and make decisions. The MBTI identifies 16 unique personality types, each with a specific pattern of preferences and cognitive functions.

What Are the 16 MBTI Types?

Each MBTI type is defined by four preferences:

  • Introversion (I) or Extraversion (E)
  • Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)
  • Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
  • Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

These preferences combine to form 16 personality types, each with a unique “cognitive function stack” that influences how you process information and interact with the world.


Click on any MBTI type below for a detailed breakdown, or click on a cognitive function to learn how it operates in the stack.

Keep in mind the last four functions in each function stack are the shadow functions, if you are that MBTI type you are not meant to lean on your shadow functions. Although you may find yourself using these cognitive funcitons from time to time, they should never be your first instinct.

INFP – Fi, Ne, Si, Te, Fe, Ni, Se, Ti

Ne supports Fi, Si supports Ne, and Te supports Si. You may not fully develop your Si and Te functions until you get older, in general they are less mature when you are younger and you lean towards your Fi-Ne functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

ISFP – Fi, Se, Ni, Te, Fe, Si, Ne, Ti

Se supports Se, Ni supports Se, Te supports Ni. You may not fully develop your Ni and Te until you get a little bit older, in general they are less mature when you are younger and you lean towards your Fi-Se functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

ESTP – Se, Ti, Fe, Ni, Si, Te, Fi, Ne

Ti supports Se, Fe supports Ti, Ni supports Fe. You may not develop your Fe and Ni until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean towards your Se-Ti functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

ESFP – Se, Fi, Te, Ni, Si, Fe, Ti, Ne

Fi supports Se, Te supports Fi, Ni supports Te. You may not develop your Te or Ni functions until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean more towards your Se-Fi functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

INTP – Ti, Ne, Si, Fe, Te, Ni, Se, Fi

Ne supports Ti, Si supports Ne, Fe supports Si. You may not develop your Si or Fe until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean more towards your Ti-Ne functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

ISTP – Ti, Se, Ni, Fe, Te, Si, Ne, Fi

Se supports Ti, Ni supports Se, Fe supports Ni. You may not develop your Fe or Ni until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean more towards your Ti-Se functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

ENTJ – Te, Ni, Se, Fi, Ti, Ne, Si, Fe

Ni supports Te, Se supports Ni, Fi supports Se. You may not develop your Se or Fi until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean more towards your Te-Ni functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

ESTJ – Te, Si, Ne, Fi, Ti, Se, Ni, Fe

Si supports Te, Ne supports Si, Fi supports Ne. You may not develop your Ne or Fi functions until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean more towards your Te-Si functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

ISFJ – Si, Fe, Ti, Ne, Se, Fi, Te, Ni

Fe supports Si, Ti supports Fe, Ne supports Ti. You may not develop your Ti or Ne functions until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean more towards your Si-Fe functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

ISTJ – Si, Te, Fi, Ne, Se, Ti, Fe, Ni

Te supports Si, Fi supports Te, Ne supports Fi. You may not develop your Fi or Ne functions until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean more towards your Si-Te functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

INTJ – Ni, Te, Fi, Se, Ne, Ti, Fe, Si

Te supports Ni, Fi supports Te, Se supports Fi. You may not develop your Fi or Se functions until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean more towards your Ni-Te functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

INFJ – Ni, Fe, Ti, Se, Ne, Fi, Te, Si

Fe supports Ni, Ti supports Fe, Se supports Ti. You may not develop your Ti or Se until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean more towards your Ni-Fe functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

ENFJ – Fe, Ni, Se, Ti, Fi, Ne, Si, Te

Ni supports Fe, Se supports Ni, Ti supports Se. You may not develop your Se or Ti until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean more towards your Fe-Ni functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

ESFJ – Fe, Si, Ne, Ti, Fi, Se, Ni, Te

Si supports Fe, Ne supports Si, Ti Supports Ne. You may not develop your Ne or Ti until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean more towards your Fe-Si functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

ENFP – Ne, Fi, Te, Si, Ni, Fe, Ti, Se

Fi supports Ne, Te supports Fi, Si supports Te. You may not develop your Te or Si until later in life. In general, they are less mature when you are younger and you lean more towards your Ne-Fi functions. The last four functions are your shadow functions, these are used in times of stress or personal change. Click on the MBTI type for more detailed information about that type. Click on the cognitive function for a breakdown of the cognitive function based on where it falls in the stack.

The first four functions are your primary cognitive functions. The last four are considered “shadow functions,” which may emerge during stress or personal change but are not your natural strengths.

How Cognitive Functions Work

Each type’s function stack determines how you:

  • Gather information (Sensing or Intuition)
  • Make decisions (Thinking or Feeling)
  • Express yourself (Introversion or Extraversion)
  • Organize your world (Judging or Perceiving)

You may find that your dominant functions are more developed when you’re younger, while your auxiliary and tertiary functions mature with age. Shadow functions may appear in stressful situations or major life transitions.

Why Take the MBTI?

  • Self-Awareness: Understand your strengths, blind spots, and natural preferences.
  • Personal Growth: Use insights to improve relationships, communication, and decision-making.
  • Career Guidance: Identify work environments and roles where you’ll thrive.
  • Team Dynamics: Appreciate different perspectives and work styles.

Limitations & Criticisms

While the MBTI is widely used, it has limitations:

  • Scientific Validity: Some psychologists question its reliability and predictive power.
  • Over-Simplification: Real personalities are more complex than 16 types.
  • Not Diagnostic: MBTI is not a clinical tool and shouldn’t be used for mental health diagnosis.

Despite these criticisms, many people find the MBTI helpful for self-reflection and understanding others.

Ready to Go Deeper?

Curious how MBTI and other personality frameworks can help you on your self-discovery journey?
Join the Free Ofi Alignment™ Challenge or Explore More Self-Discovery Tools.