Understanding Cognitive Functions

Cognitive functions are the 8 fundamental information processing modes that combine to create personality. In the ReadingFace system, each person uses all 8 functions in a specific sequence called Model A, with different energy levels creating 32 distinct subtypes. The functions are: Ne, Ni, Se, Si, Te, Ti, Fe, and Fi.

The revolutionary insight of ReadingFace is that it's not just which functions you have, but their energy levels and positions that matter. Each of the 16 types has the same 8 functions, but in different positions. Then, subtype variations create different energy distributions - enhanced (+) or subdued (-) - across these functions, resulting in 32 unique personalities.

Model A: The 8-Function Stack

Every person has all 8 functions arranged in a specific order called Model A. These positions determine how we process information:

  1. Leading (Base): Your dominant perspective and strength
  2. Creative: Your flexible tool for implementation
  3. Role: Your facade for social situations
  4. Vulnerable (PoLR): Your blind spot and weakness
  5. Suggestive (Dual-seeking): What you crave from others
  6. Mobilizing (Activating): What energizes you to action
  7. Ignoring: What you understand but dismiss
  8. Demonstrative: Your unconscious strength

The 8 Cognitive Functions

Intuition Functions

Ne
Extraverted Intuition
Sees possibilities, connections, and potential. Explores "what could be" through divergent thinking. Generates ideas and alternatives.
Ni
Introverted Intuition
Perceives temporal flow, convergent trends, and inevitable outcomes. Sees "what will be" through pattern synthesis.

Sensing Functions

Se
Extraverted Sensing
Perceives force, power, and immediate impact. Responds to physical environment and asserts will through action.
Si
Introverted Sensing
Experiences comfort, harmony, and physical well-being. Maintains internal sensory balance and familiar routines.

Thinking Functions

Te
Extraverted Thinking
Organizes external efficiency, processes, and results. Creates practical systems and measures objective effectiveness.
Ti
Introverted Thinking
Analyzes logical consistency, structure, and principles. Builds precise frameworks and systematic understanding.

Feeling Functions

Fe
Extraverted Feeling
Manages emotional atmosphere and group dynamics. Creates social harmony and expresses emotions outwardly.
Fi
Introverted Feeling
Evaluates personal values and authentic relationships. Maintains internal ethical consistency and individual bonds.

The 8 Function Positions

Position Name Ring Strength Role in Personality
1 Leading (Base) Mental 4D Strong Core identity, natural strength, constant processing
2 Creative Mental 3D Strong Flexible tool, conscious application, problem-solving
3 Role Mental 2D Weak Social mask, try hard, conscious effort required
4 Vulnerable (PoLR) Mental 1D Weak Blind spot, source of anxiety, avoid when possible
5 Suggestive Vital 2D Weak What we crave, receptive to help, dual-seeking
6 Mobilizing Vital 1D Weak Energizing when supported, activation trigger
7 Ignoring Vital 4D Strong Understand but dismiss, background processing
8 Demonstrative Vital 3D Strong Unconscious competence, natural but unvalued

Mental vs Vital Rings

Mental Ring (1-4): Conscious processing, what we're aware of thinking about

Vital Ring (5-8): Unconscious processing, automatic responses and needs

Critical Function Dichotomies

Accepting vs Producing

Information Flow Direction

Accepting (1,3,5,7):

  • Continuously process information
  • Focus on obtaining picture of reality
  • Priority processing areas
  • Set the goals (what's important)

Producing (2,4,6,8):

  • Create products from accepted info
  • Generate new information
  • Feel like tools or compulsions
  • Provide the means (how to achieve)
Contact vs Inert

Environmental Interaction

Inert (1,4,6,7):

  • Don't integrate new information easily
  • Remain stable in strength
  • Core strengths and weaknesses
  • Less adaptive to environment

Contact (2,3,5,8):

  • Actively engage with environment
  • Adapt and integrate experiences
  • Can improve over time
  • Touch upon external world

The 4 Function Specializations

When we combine the accepting/producing and contact/inert dichotomies, we get 4 distinct function specializations:

Analytical Functions

Accepting + Inert

Positions 1 & 7

Constantly analyze and study their domain. Results visible indirectly through producing functions. Deep, imperceptible processing.

Examples: Leading Ne analyzes possibilities, Ignoring Ni dismisses time

Absorbing Functions

Accepting + Contact

Positions 3 & 5

Actively soak up information from environment without evaluation. Hunger for input. "Someone said..." justifications.

Examples: Role Se absorbs force, Suggestive Si seeks comfort

Formulaic Functions

Producing + Inert

Positions 4 & 6

Create rigid templates and imperatives. Personal conclusions kept internal. "You have to..." statements without flexibility.

Examples: Vulnerable Fi creates value rules, Mobilizing Te demands efficiency

Manipulative Functions

Producing + Contact

Positions 2 & 8

Most flexible and agile. Easily help others. Create what they want when they want. Most visible to observers.

Examples: Creative Ti builds any framework, Demonstrative Fe manages any atmosphere

How Functions Create 32 Subtypes

The ReadingFace breakthrough reveals that each of the 16 types splits into 2 subtypes based on which vertical block is energized:

Inert Block Enhancement

When functions 1, 4, 6, 7 are enhanced (+), you get the accepting subtype (e.g., ILE-Ne, SEI-Si)

  • Stronger analytical processing (positions 1 & 7)
  • More intense formulaic templates (positions 4 & 6)
  • Internal world emphasized over external expression

Contact Block Enhancement

When functions 2, 3, 5, 8 are enhanced (+), you get the producing subtype (e.g., ILE-Ti, SEI-Fe)

  • Stronger manipulative flexibility (positions 2 & 8)
  • More active absorption from environment (positions 3 & 5)
  • External engagement emphasized over internal processing

Example: ILE Subtypes

ILE-Ne (Inert Enhanced):

  • Ne+ (analytical) - Intense possibility analysis
  • Ti+ (formulaic) - Strong logical imperatives
  • Te+ (formulaic) - Rigid efficiency templates
  • Ni+ (analytical) - Background time processing

ILE-Ti (Contact Enhanced):

  • Ti+ (manipulative) - Flexible framework creation
  • Se+ (absorbing) - Active force absorption
  • Si+ (absorbing) - Comfort-seeking from environment
  • Fe+ (manipulative) - Natural atmosphere management

Duality Matching

The precision of ReadingFace matching comes from pairing complementary blocks:

  • Inert + Contact: ILE-Ne pairs with SEI-Fe (not SEI-Si)
  • Contact + Inert: ILE-Ti pairs with SEI-Si (not SEI-Fe)
  • This creates 78% energy increase vs 34% with wrong subtype

Practical Applications

Recognizing Functions in Action

Analytical functions show through:

  • Deep, constant reflection on their domain
  • Insights that seem to come from nowhere
  • Dismissal of their ignoring function despite understanding

Absorbing functions show through:

  • Uncritical acceptance of information
  • Hunger for input in suggestive area
  • Try-hard behavior in role function

Formulaic functions show through:

  • Rigid rules and imperatives
  • Anxiety when vulnerable area challenged
  • "Should" and "must" statements

Manipulative functions show through:

  • Easy, flexible application
  • Natural helping others in these areas
  • Most visible competencies to observers

Growth Through Understanding

Knowing your function stack helps you:

  • Leverage your analytical and manipulative strengths
  • Seek appropriate support for absorbing functions
  • Recognize formulaic rigidity and soften it
  • Find partners who complement your specific subtype