Course Section 13
Jung's Four Functions

Draft (Please do not distribute)

 

Consider the circle in the illustration to represent the Self in Jung's psychology. This Self has four psychological functions: Thinking (T), feeling (F), sensation (S) and intuition (I).

 

There are two decision making functions: thinking and feeling; and two perception functions: sensation and intuition.

 

In the above figure the decision functions are on a vertical axis. Thinking is on top; feeling is on the bottom. This is what I would call a "dominator" arrangement. Thinking is considered as dominant over feeling in terms of making decisions. This is the general attitude in our society, would you not agree. If the rational process is lionized and considered this way, then making decisions by feeling is not valued. 

 

So this vertical axis is the decision-making axis. 

 

In order to make decisions, one must have information.  That information comes from perceiving things and there are two perception functions. The most obvious one that we all work with and value the most, especially engineers and lawyers and thinkers, is sensation: the five senses  Unless I can see it, hear it, feel it, taste it or touch it, it is of little value in how one makes decisions in this materialistic society.. 

 

But, sensation is not the only way to perceive reality and gain useful information.  There is a non-sensory function that people who are primarily thinkers and sensation types do not value. That non sensory function is intuition.

 

Duke University psychologist J.B. Rhine called this function "extra-sensory perception" or ESP.  In terms of brain structure and functioning, feeling and intuition are located in the right brain hemisphere, whereas the thinking and sensation functions are located in the left brain hemisphere.

 

It isn't hard to locate which professions would use which psychological functions. Referring again to the figure, the professions of engineer, lawyer, and accountant would easily locate in the upper right quadrant, while nurses, and social workers would more likely be located in the lower right quadrant. Upper left quadrant types are typical research scientists, entrepreneurs and even healers.

 

Consider now shifting the paradigm from dominator to partnering. Turn the figure above in your mind 90 degrees clockwise. What do you find? Notice the thinking and feeling are now horizontal and on an equal status. Neither is dominating the other. Both decision making functions are now working in partnership. This is how the CREEI process works. The dream comes from feelings, analysis comes from thinking. By working together both decision-making functions value and support each other. Such a partnership prepares the individual to receive "aha" insights.