Introverted Thinking (Ti) Explained
By Michael T. Robinson
Founder
CareerPlanner.com Inc.
| Ni | Ne | Si | Se | Ti | Te | Fi | Fe | Overview |
Introverted Thinking (Ti) is one of your 8 cognitive functions. How you experience it and how useful it is for you depends on how well it is developed and that depends on mostly your age and what your 4 letter personality type is.
Click here for a simple explanation of cognitive functions
Introverted Thinking (Ti) is one of the 4 judging / decision making processes in the brain. The other judging functions are: Extraverted Thinking, Extraverted Feeling, and Introverted Feeling.
People whose dominant function is Ti are known for being very analytical, very logical and very objective. Their brains are wired to for that.
Introverted Thinkers develop complex systems and models in their heads. These models explain how things work. Whenever a dominant Ti comes across new information, they test it against their internal models to see if it fits. If it does, they store the new information in the correct category. If it does not fit, but they think it still might be correct information, they will completely re-evaluate their mental model to understand why it does not accommodate the new information.
People with dominant Ti tend to use precise language, and they dislike it if you use words and terminology incorrectly. As such, Ti's tend to have a strong vocabulary and they excel at remembering terminology.
Dominant Introverted Thinkers have been known for creating or inventing entirely new systems, models and theories.
They have a need to know how things work, down at the deepest level.
If you wanted help coming up with a fresh new name for something, like a new product, or a new company name, a person with Introverted Thinking in their dominant or auxiliary position would be the best to help you. Their brains are wired for coming up with fresh new names.
Same for new theories and new inventions, and even just new words and new ways of saying things. Introverted Thinking is the cognitive functions that does this the best.
If you want help thinking through a problem you have, and you want very clear, logical and emotion free analysis, use someone with either dominant or auxiliary Introverted Thinking.
One place you will see a lot of people with a strong Introverted Thinking function is the people who design analog electronic circuits. These folks study electrical engineering where they learn the theories about how electronic circuits work. Then, with the model of how things work firmly in their minds, they go out an apply it to the real world. People with a strong Ti function can learn the complex theories and then apply them.
Personality Types where Ti is the dominant function are: INTP, ISTP.
Personality Types where Ti is the auxiliary function are: ENTP, ESTP.
- Albert Einstein (INTP) scientist
- Charles Darwin (INTP) scientist
- Larry Page (INTP) Google co-founder
- Tina Fey (INTP) comedy writer and actress
- Simon Cowell (ISTP) Judge on American Idol
- Bruce Lee (ISTP) Martial arts expert and actor
- Tom Cruze (ISTP) action movie star
For more examples of famous people and their personality types, go to www.celebritytypes.com