The Weaknesses of Each Dominant Function

The dominant function surfaces early in the life of each individual, helping them to navigate the world with their natural understanding of that cognitive function.

However, as you grow older, you are supposed to develop the other functions you have, to reach individuation. However, some choose to rely excessively on their dominant function throughout their lives. The people who overuse the dominant function often show signs of immaturity while the people who overcome the dominant function, show a propensity for deeper understanding.

Everyone must learn to let go of the ego of the dominant function if they eventually want to grow to their fullest potential and these are the 8 pitfalls of excessive reliance on the dominant function. 

Note: If you show one of these characteristics of excessive reliance on the dominant function, it does not necessarily mean that you are necessarily that MBTI type. For example, it could be that your workplace forces to be such a way or that the social culture you are in affects what you do (NYC culture encourages workaholism, so dominant Te use is often rampant).

The Pitfalls of Excessive Reliance on the Dominant Function

Extroverted Sensing (ESTP/ESFP) :

Pitfall: Focuses too much on appearances and society’s values.

Action: Needs to evaluate what’s important to them personally, communicate their needs more honestly and trust their instincts.

Extroverted Intuition (ENTP/ENFP) : 

Pitfall: Does not stay centered within self and loses self within the outside world.

Action: Needs to channel their feelings/thoughts towards goals, communicate their needs more honestly and stick to plans.

Extroverted Thinking (ENTJ/ESTJ) :

Pitfall: Working too hard and not living life to the fullest. 

Action: Needs to examine the meaning behind why they work, spend more time experiencing all that life has to offer and give more time to the people that matter in their lives.

Extroverted Feeling (ENFJ/ESFJ) : 

Pitfall: Excessively relying on the help of other people to meet needs.

Action: Must be more honest with self and personal feelings, be less strict with what is “acceptable” and aim to be more interdependent.

Introverted Sensing (ISTJ/ISFJ) :

Pitfall: Blindly protecting what they learned from authority figures.

Action: Needs to get out of their comfort zones, examine their beliefs/feelings thoroughly and explore the non-typical sides of life.

Introverted Intuition (INTJ/INFJ) :

Pitfall: Assuming their models of understanding the world is adequate without exploring further by testing in real world.

Action: Needs to test their beliefs in the real world, examine their beliefs/feelings thoroughly and spend more time experiencing all that life has to offer.

Introverted Thinking (INTP/ISTP) : 

Pitfall: Not factoring more items into the considerations of their judgements.

Action: Needs to explore more, focus on building good habits/intuition and remember to consider people’s feelings.

Introverted Feeling (INFP/ISFP) : 

Pitfall: Becomes inwardly focused on feelings to the exclusion of outside reality.

Action: Needs to explore different views, develop good intuitions/habits and work on doing more without burning self out.