This episode describes your 8 cognitive functions, as well as what introversion and extraversion are - attitudes. These concepts form the basis for understanding and using Personality Type. The brain takes in information for us (perceiving) and then it helps us make decisions (judging). These are the 2 most basic, fundamental functions of the the brain, besides keeping us alive by telling us to eat and breathe. There are 4 totally different ways of perceiving and 4 totally different ways of judging. Together these are called the 8 cognitive functions. The differences in how we all perceive and judge accounts for the basic differences in personality. To a large extent, differences in perceiving and judging is why we are all so different. Personality type theory actually comes from an understanding of these 8 functions. Your 4 letter personality type is actually a code which will tell you which functions you are strongest in and which functions are probably weak and which will cause you all sorts of problems. Unfortunately, you can not be good at using all 8 of these functions. You will probably be very good with 2 of these cognitive functions and they will account for your strengths. 2 functions will be weak and will indicate what your blind spots might be. And, just to make things interesting, 4 of the 8 functions will be in the unconscious and out of your control. These "shadow functions" will usually pop up to cause you trouble when you are stressed.