Tired of Theory? Let's See These Functions in Action
It’s 1 AM, and you’re falling down the MBTI rabbit hole again. The screen glows, illuminating pages of text defining 'Introverted Intuition' versus 'Extraverted Sensing,' but the words start to blur. You've taken five different online tests, gotten three different results, and the frustration is starting to set in. It’s a familiar feeling of being stuck in a maze of abstract definitions.
We hear you. It's one thing to read that a function is 'subjective' or 'objective,' but it's another thing entirely to recognize it in the wild—in the way you decide what to eat for dinner, how you tell a story to a friend, or how you organize your desk. The goal isn't to get a four-letter label to put in your bio; it's to get a practical map to your own internal world.
So let's put the textbooks away for a moment. We're not going to give you more jargon. Instead, we're going to show you clear, real life examples of cognitive functions in a place you visit every week. This is about seeing the cognitive functions in practice, transforming confusing theory into a tool for genuine self-discovery.
The 8 Functions Go to the Grocery Store: A Scenario
Alright, let's cut the fluff. The best way to understand these functions is to see them under pressure. Our scenario: a simple trip to the grocery store. No grand life decisions, just a cart and a mission. Pay attention, because these aren't just shopping styles; they are real life examples of cognitive functions at their most raw and unfiltered.
Extraverted Thinking (Te): The Mission Commander. Te walks in with a list, not just written, but optimized. It’s organized by aisle to create the most efficient path through the store. They grab the items, check them off, and head to the self-checkout because it's statistically faster. The goal isn't enjoyment; it's mission completion. Time wasted is a system failure.
Introverted Thinking (Ti): The System Analyst. Ti also has a list, but it's a living document of hypotheses. They're standing in the aisle comparing the price-per-ounce of three different brands of olive oil, internally debating the logic of buying in bulk. They aren't just buying food; they're perfecting the system of buying food. The process must make perfect, logical sense from first principles.
Extraverted Feeling (Fe): The Harmonizer. Fe is acutely aware of the social atmosphere. They’re thinking about what their partner or kids would enjoy for dinner. They smile at the person whose cart they accidentally bumped, making sure everything is okay. Their choices are often filtered through the lens of group happiness and maintaining a pleasant, shared environment.
Introverted Feeling (Fi): The Authenticity Checker. Fi's cart reflects their inner values. Is this coffee fair-trade? Is this brand cruelty-free? The decision to buy something isn't based on efficiency or even what others want; it’s about whether the purchase feels right and aligns with their personal code. The shopping trip is an expression of identity.
Extraverted Sensing (Se): The Opportunist. List? What list? Se is drawn in by the immediate sensory experience. The vibrant red of a perfect tomato, the smell of the bakery, the free sample of a new cheese. Their cart is an eclectic mix of what looked, smelled, and felt good in the moment. This isn't chaos; it’s being fully present and responding to the environment as it is.
Introverted Sensing (Si): The Traditionalist. Si navigates the store on autopilot, heading for the same brand of cereal they've bought for years. The shopping list is a detailed replica of last week’s successful meals. The process is about comfort, reliability, and trusting what has worked before. As Heidi Priebe notes in her breakdown of the functions, Si relies on a vast internal library of past experiences to inform present decisions.
Extraverted Intuition (Ne): The Brainstormer. Ne sees the grocery store not as a collection of items, but as a web of possibilities. They see an interesting spice and immediately brainstorm five new, unrelated recipes. Their cart is a bizarre collection of things that could, maybe, possibly go together in an exciting new dish. This is one of the most vivid mbti functions scenarios for seeing the difference in examples of Ne vs Ni; Ne explores every potential path.
Introverted Intuition (Ni): The Visionary. Ni doesn't have a concrete list, but a vague, conceptual 'vision' for the week's meals. They move through the store with a quiet purpose, grabbing ingredients that fit an underlying pattern or theme they've already foreseen. They aren't shopping for 'tacos'; they're shopping for 'a night that feels warm and communal.' They buy the cilantro because it’s a key piece of the abstract puzzle, not because a list told them to.
Now You Try It: Spot the Functions in Your Own Day
Watching these functions in a hypothetical scenario is a good start, but the real power comes from identifying them in your own life. It’s time to move from passive reading to active strategizing. Here is the move to get clear, real life examples of cognitive functions from your own behavior.
Step 1: Choose Your Arena
Pick a simple, recurring activity from your day. Don't pick something huge like 'my career.' Choose a small, contained event. Good options include:
Planning a vacation
Organizing your workspace
Reacting to criticism from a friend or boss
Telling a story about your weekend
Step 2: Run the Diagnostics
For the scenario you chose, ask yourself these questions. Don't judge the answers; just observe the pattern.
What was my primary focus? Was it on the objective facts and efficiency (Te/Ti), the people and feelings involved (Fe/Fi), the tangible details and past experiences (Se/Si), or the future possibilities and underlying patterns (Ne/Ni)?
How did I gather information? When planning a vacation, did you focus on reviews and past trips (Si), or did you get excited by all the potential new destinations (Ne)? Did you dive into the sensory details of the place (Se), or did you have a single, clear vision of the feeling you wanted to achieve (Ni)?
* How did I make the decision? When reacting to criticism, did you first assess if it was logically true (Ti)? Did you check if it violated a core value (Fi)? Did you worry about how it affected your relationship with the person (Fe)? Or did you immediately try to implement a solution to fix it (Te)?
Step 3: Identify the Pattern
One action isn't enough to type yourself. The key is to look for the recurring cognitive preference across different mbti functions scenarios. If you consistently find yourself prioritizing objective logic and efficiency when organizing a workspace and planning a vacation, you're seeing a pattern of Te. This kind of self-observation is how you find real life examples of cognitive functions and finally gain clarity.
FAQ
1. What is the easiest way to understand MBTI cognitive functions?
The easiest way is to ignore abstract definitions at first and instead focus on real life examples of cognitive functions. Observing how different people approach a simple, universal task like grocery shopping or planning a trip makes the unique role of each function much clearer.
2. How do I know if I'm using Ne or Ni?
Think about how you approach a new project. Ne (Extraverted Intuition) is like brainstorming—it sees and explores ten different potential paths forward. Ni (Introverted Intuition) is like a lightning strike—it synthesizes information in the background and suddenly sees the one single, optimal path forward.
3. Can I develop my weaker cognitive functions?
Absolutely. This is a core part of personal growth within this framework. If you have weaker Se (Extraverted Sensing), you can develop it by consciously engaging in sensory activities like trying new foods, focusing on your breathing, or taking up a physical hobby like hiking or pottery.
4. Why do I get different results on MBTI tests?
Online tests often rely on self-reported behavior, which can be influenced by your mood, stress levels, or what you aspire to be versus how you naturally are. Understanding the cognitive functions in practice gives you a more reliable method for self-typing than behavioral quizzes.
References
thoughtcatalog.com — Here’s How Each Cognitive Function Tends to “Show Up” In Real Life