Today’s world is constantly changing, and extroverted thinking remains one of the essential tools for coping with the complex challenges of modern life.
But what exactly is Extroverted Thinking (Te)? How does it manifest? And how do you recognize an extroverted thinker? We explain it all!
What are the different types of MBTI cognitive functions?
Broadly speaking, cognitive functions are based on a structure of eight functions, organized into two main categories.
On the first hand, we have the judgmental functions, often referred to as rational, which embrace: :
- Extroverted Thinking (Te) and Introverted Thinking (Ti) ;
- Extroverted Feeling (Fe) and Introverted Feeling (Fi).
Source : typeschool
These functions are essential for decision-making. They directly influence how individuals interact with the outside world and their ability to make personal decisions.
On the other hand, the perception functions, considered irrational, include extraverted Intuition (Ne) and introverted Intuition (Ni), as well as extraverted Sensation (Se) and introverted Sensation (Si).
These functions are crucial for information gathering and the ability to perceive the environment.
Taken together, these eight functions form a complex picture of human behavior and motivation, which helps us to understand each personality type.
The interaction between judgment and perception shapes individual experiences. This leads us to witness a multitude of perspectives that enrich our understanding of human psychology.
What is Extroverted Thinking (Te) in MBTI?
Extroverted thinking manifests itself as a remarkable ability in a person to organize/structure everything in their environment in a logical and efficient way.
This type of thinking is characterized by a pragmatic temperament, where the individual makes decisions based on concrete information and tangible data.
The need for efficiency guides their actions, and they constantly seek for methods and systems that maximize results with the minimum error possible.
People with strong extroverted thinking are generally perceived as natural leaders with a strong sense of responsibility. Their ability to draw up detailed action plans and supervise enables them to take on ambitious challenges.
In the workplace, they often excel in environments where logic predominates, such as management, engineering or administration.
However, this pragmatic side can sometimes drift towards authoritarian behavior. Individuals with strong extroverted thinking may believe themselves to be the repository of truth and the right solution, which can create tensions with anyone who has different perceptions.
Their quest for efficiency can also lead to a neglect of emotions, both their own and those of others. They often come across as insensitive.
The strengths of extroverted thinking lie in its ability to establish good organization and develop relevant strategies.
On the other hand, its excesses can result in a tyrannical or brutal attitude, which is clearly harmful to relationships. A balance between efficiency and empathy is therefore highly recommended for healthy self-fulfillment.
The characteristics of extroverted thinking: how to recognize an extroverted thinker?
There are certain qualities that quickly distinguish an extroverted thinker
Frankness, bordering on insolence
One of the most striking traits of the extrovert thinker is his/her frankness, which can sometimes verge on insolence. This transparency can be explained by his/her ability to think and communicate simultaneously.
His/her thoughts are often expressed without him taking the time to chew over his words as an introvert would.
This “directness” can cause him difficulties at work and at home, as many people perceive him as being prone to provoke conflict. His way of expressing himself is often arrogant, with occasional words of mockery and sarcasm.
In extreme cases, this tendency towards insolence can develop into pathological traits, such as narcissism or megalomania.
This is why the extroverted thinker usually gives a bad first impression. However, by becoming aware of these different facets, they can work on himself and succeed in communicating more diplomatically, without losing their directness.
By learning to balance their personality, they can transform their communication style into something more respectful and relational, while remaining direct.
If they succeed in changing their insolence to a more constructive dialogue, this enables the extroverted thinker to strengthen and improve their relationships with others.
A little judgmental, but with good arguments
The extraverted thinker is also characterized by a propensity to pass judgment on his or her environment, be it colleagues, friends or even family.
They are deeply irritated by inefficiencies. So they do not hesitate to openly criticize decisions they deem inadequate.
Their tenacious nature makes them particularly argumentative. They don’t hesitate to open a debate when it comes to defending convictions with an intensity that can sometimes irritate their interlocutors.
Armed with factual data and concrete examples, they can engage in lively exchanges, intent on proving their point.
This facet of their personality can clearly lead to tense interactions, where their desire to convince comes across as domineering.
By learning to temper this impulse and value the opinions of others, he can improve the quality of their exchanges.
This process not only calms their judgments, but also directs their criticism towards constructive aspects. This is necessary for warmer dialogues.
Ultimately, this effort on one’s part enriches not only one’s relationships in society, but also one’s personal development.
The extroverted thinker is ambitious
Ambition is another undeniable characteristic of the extroverted thinker. It’s one of the traits that makes them particularly recognizable. . It’s rare to find a person with this psychological type who doesn’t have high aspirations.
They often set themselves long-term goals, whether they are fully accepted or not.. Extroverted thinkers are at ease discussing their ambitions, the projects they plan and the successes they hope to achieve.
They also enjoy talking about their past achievements, emphasizing their determination and ability to organize.
This enticement for ambition enables them not only to project themselves into the future, but also to motivate those around them.
Indeed, their enthusiasm and passion for success are highly contagious, helping to create a dynamic environment around them. Their ambition drives them to excel and inspire others to do the same.
Less sentimental
The extroverted thinker is distinguished by marked ambition, but it should be noted that, due to the presence of Introverted Feeling (Fi) in a lower degree, they may seem less favorable to express emotions warmly.
Unlike other types, such as introverts, they often appears unromantic or artistic. In relationships, both friendship and love, they are much more pragmatic.
However, this doesn’t mean they are totally devoid of emotions. Extraverted thinkers, though less sentimental, possess a great capacity to externalize intense emotions, whether positive, such as joy, or negative, such as anger.
This emotionality is particularly evident in their speeches, where they manage to captivate their audience with their expressiveness. By accepting their Introverted Feeling (even if it’s in low degree), these individuals enrich their emotional palette.
They develop an empathy that enables them to better understand others. A process that transforms the way they communicate.
Indeed, when they succeed in this personal balancing act, they become even more influential and inspiring leaders. It also enables them to build stronger relationships, both personally and professionally.
When Extroverted Thinking meets Introverted Thinking
Although they are contradictory, it is possible for the two forms of thinking to be found in the same person. When this happens, there are essentially 2 possibilities:
The INTJ case
In this first possible scenario, extroverted thinking plays an auxiliary role. Less developed than introverted thinking, it often remains discreet and really comes to the fore when the person is seen on a regular basis.
In these individuals, extroverted thinking manifests in a curiosity for experimentation and inductive reasoning, driving them to construct and validate ideas based on concrete facts.
Extroverted thinking can also translate into a passion for factual data, whether historical events or statistics.
However, unlike more extroverted personality types, INTJs are less organization-oriented.
When their extroverted thinking is sufficiently developed, they become true “masterminds”, thinkers capable of weaving complex systems that can link many ideas together.
Whether in science, literature or even less ethical contexts, their ability to make innovative connections is undeniable.
The case of ENTJ
Here, introverted intuition acts as an auxiliary function, tempering the impulsiveness of extroverted thinking with a touch of intuition.
However, this intuition is not always as well-developed as in INTJs, making ENTJs more action-oriented than introspective thinkers.
As a result, their interest in abstract concepts remains closely linked to concrete applications. They are therefore both pragmatic and creative.
When their introverted intuition is refined, these individuals can acquire a depth of analysis comparable to that of INTJs.
In this state, they may be able to draw generalizations from lived experience. They begin to understand the symbolism of situations and to formulate ideas with philosophical nuance.
However, due to the sometimes contradictory nature of these two functions, their synergy remains limited. Introverted intuition, with its ability to explore abstract concepts, often proves more compatible with introverted thinking, which organizes and structures these ideas in an inner universe.
Thus, it lets ENTJs navigate between intuition and pragmatism without fully integrating this introspective dimension.
Conclusion
Extroverted thinking (Te) is characterized by its ability to structure and rationalize the world around us.
It enables us to approach situations analytically and effectively. It’s an essential function today, making it easier to take the right decisions and carry out concrete projects.
Extraverted thinkers are often natural leaders in various fields. However, for optimal balance, it is essential to recognize the importance of other dimensions of thinking, such as intuition or empathy, which can enrich the pragmatic side of extroverted thinking and foster a better understanding of human issues.
