The Car Model of ESTJ Cognitive Stack in MBTI Personality Types
In the previous articles, we’ve discussed what are ESTJ and Cognitive Stacks. Now let’s learn about the car model of ESTJ Personality.
Our cognitive stacks have their own role and function. It affects how we see the world and how we transcribe the data from our sensory organs to help us in decision-making.
This can be described as a car model that consists of the driver (our dominant stack), Navigator (our second strongest talent), 3 years old passenger (mirror of your driver), and 10 years old passenger (mirror of your navigator)
First, let’s learn about this car model
Driver
This is your greatest talent and your flow state. Mostly you use this cognitive stack all the time and you will feel most like yourself if you are in this state. You will feel compelled to use this mental process, and if you can’t express it, you will feel depressed and lethargic.
Navigator
This is your second strongest talent and your growth state. You will feel fulfilled and content if you focus on exercising this stack. Different from the driver, you will not feel compelled to use this mental process. However, when you have it well developed, then you can be your best self.
3 Years Old Passenger
This is your biggest weakness. Mostly this also your blindspot. Something you don’t realize until someone mentions it to you. This cognitive stack usually expressed in a moment of extreme stress or overwhelm, when you feel you are not yourself. You should be careful when using this function.
10 Years Old Passenger
This is the opposite or mirror of your navigator therefore this also your weakness. Usually called upon when you feel defensive or when you don’t want to face something. This also can be an escape of cognitive dissonance. You should not let this function make major decisions. This cognitive stack is suitable for play, research, and moment of intimacy.
Now we already learned about what is the car model, let’s go into more details about the car model of ESTJ.
Driver: Te (Extraverted Thinking)
Te strives to make the external world and its operations more rational, employing precise definitions, policies, plans, and procedures. From the Te perspective, nothing can be optimized unless we work to objectively understand and control it with standard operating procedures. Such standards should always be clearly explicated to minimize ambiguity and the potential for interpretative error. It is characteristically impersonal, focused more on things and systems than people or feelings. ESTJs readily express their rational judgments; they literally think (i.e., make logical judgments, conclusions, and decisions) aloud. Their direct, “to the point” style is sometimes perceived by others as harsh, blunt, or tactless.
Te approaches and structures things in explicitly rational ways. It may do so for the sake of understanding (e.g., science), utility (e.g., technology), or maintaining external order (e.g., instating laws and rules). Unlike Ti, whose logic holistically consults both sides of the brain, Te hails squarely from the left hemisphere. The “left brain” is characteristically logical, analytical, systematic, and explicit in its workings. It takes the perceived world, carves it up into pieces, then proceeds to name and analyze each piece on its own terms.
Because of this, one of ESTJ’s most great talents is this extraverted thinking characteristic.
Navigator: Si (Intraverted Thinking)
We have all heard the phrase, “You learn through experience.” Si provides us access to our life history, as well as other sorts of acquired information, which hopefully prevents us from making the same mistakes twice. In ESTJ type, Si often translates into adherence to existing facts, traditions, worldviews, or methods. Introverted Sensing (Si), relates to inner bodily sensations such as pain, hunger, thirst, internal temperature, numbness, tingling, muscle tension, etc.
While Introverted Sensing can attune to immediate inner sensations (a role that, by the way, is commonly overlooked), it is also associated with remembering and preserving past ways of doing things. Introverted Sensing types are conservative with respect to the past. They prefer the “tried and true.” And since they don’t rely on novel sensory input from the environment to stimulate them, they tend to be less consumeristic or materialistic than Extraverted Sensors might be. When Si types are in need of something new, they frequently prefer to use Ne to cleverly fashion a makeshift solution from existing resources rather than running out to buy something premade. In this sense, Si (or Ne) types are frequently described as resourceful.
ESTJs use this cognitive stack as their navigator to help their driver in reaching the destination.
10 Years Old Passenger: Ne (Extraverted Intuition)
Ne prompts extraverted exploration in an open-ended fashion. This allows Perceiving types to readily adapt to and blend with their circumstances, rather than trying to change or control them. Extraverted Intuition goes beyond or looks behind sense data. This allows the user to discern otherwise hidden patterns, possibilities, and potentials. Extraverted Intuition scans for relationships or patterns within a pool of ideas, facts, or experiences.
Ne also contributes a sense of wonderment toward life’s mysteries and contingencies. Ne is also sensitive to the ambiance. When introduced to a new setting, Ne users typically do not attune to specific objects or details (Se) but are more aware of the vague feelings or impressions that emerge. They know almost immediately whether they like “the feel” of a given environment. Since they are not attuned to sensory details, they can be oblivious to things other types may consider blatantly obvious, causing them to appear naive, dreamy, or absent-minded.
Ne can contribute to a persistent sense of restlessness or dissatisfaction. They can find themselves wanting to escape certain situations or circumstances in order to experience more novelty, freedom, or autonomy. They might feel compelled to quit their job, break off a relationship, or ditch a lame party in hopes of discovering something more exciting or inspirational. Those who consistently act on these promptings can be perceived as fickle, irresponsible, or self-indulgent.
ESTJs should be careful when they use this cognitive function.
3 Years Old Passenger: Fi (Intraverted Feeling)
Introverted Feeling is an introverted Judging function. Like the other introverted functions, Fi is characteristically intensive rather than extensive. More specifically, it is focused on navigating and managing the FP’s personal feelings, tastes, and values. Rather than distributing its feelings and energies across a breadth of individuals (as Fe does), Fi concentrates its gaze on the self or the “subject.” This is why it is often described as “subjective.”
If Fi involves an inner intensity of feeling or attention to feelings, it is reasonable to ask what sorts of things are stimulating to Fi. Introverted Feeling also works to shape its own worldview — a personalized system of values — that can serve as a platform for self-understanding and decision-making. In this sense, it is similar to Ti, which also involves a process of building and modifying an inner structure.
Fi is not overly concerned with cultivating positive feelings or good morale in a social environment. Rather than focusing on general moral or interpersonal harmony, Fi is concerned with helping specific individuals who have personally moved or otherwise affected them.
I already know about my own car model, then what to do next?
The answer is easy. Feed your 3 years old and 10 years old passengers in a healthy way. Use your driver effectively and efficiently, and develop your navigator to achieve your best self.
Love,
Fristy
References:
Witt, J. M., & Dodge, A. (2020). Personality development tools: The car model — Personality type and personal growth. (2015, March 9). Personality Type and Personal Growth | Personality Hacker. https://personalityhacker.com/personality-development-tools-the-car-diagram/
Witt, J. M., & Dodge, A. (2020). Your personality type. Home — Personality Type and Personal Growth | Personality Hacker. https://personalityhacker.com/results-estj
Personality Junkie. (2022, January 21). The 8 cognitive functions. https://personalityjunkie.com/myers-briggs-functions-inferior-function/
