The Complementary Relationship

Complementary relationships are the primary way that function-attitudes bond. A complementary pair contains two function-attitudes that are opposite in every way. For example, Introverted Feeling and Extraverted Intuition are a complementary pair because they have nothing in common:

• One is extraverted, the other is introverted.
• One is a Deciding function, the other is Perceiving.

Since they are so different, they attract each other; like magnets with opposite poles. Function-attitudes in a complementary relationship commonly have the effect of stabilizing and helping each other. There’s a greater sense of perspective that can be gained by two complementary function-attitudes working together that isn’t possible with a single function-attitude on it’s own.

When a function-attitude is not paired in a complementary relationship, it lacks stability. It could act like a runaway train as there’s no complementary force to serve as an anchor or provide context. The lone function-attitude careens off track in spectacular fashion, fully committed to its tragic course. We’ve all seen people go off track like this. There’s a look of panic or maybe hopelessness, yet they keep going on the same course, which seems to be the only choice.

We need all of our function-attitudes to help create balance and keep us on track. If we ignore or suppress any function-attitude too strongly, an off track situation can occur.

When we look at personality types according to the MBTI, each features a unique complementary pair that distinguishes it from other personalities.

Primary & Complementary Relationships by Type

Type	Primary	2nd (Complementary)	7th ( Also Complementary)
ENFJ	Extraverted Feeling	Introverted Intuition	Introverted Sensing
ESFJ	Extraverted Feeling	Introverted Sensing	Introverted Intuition
ENTJ	Extraverted Thinking	Introverted Intuition	Introverted Sensing
ESTJ	Extraverted Thinking	Introverted Sensing	Introverted Intuition
INFJ	Introverted Intuition	Extraverted Feeling	Extraverted Thinking
INTJ	Introverted Intuition	Extraverted Thinking	Extraverted Feeling
ISFJ	Introverted Sensing	Extraverted Feeling	Extraverted Thinking
ISTJ	Introverted Sensing	Extraverted Thinking	Extraverted Feeling
ENFP	Extraverted Intuition	Introverted Feeling	Introverted Thinking
ENTP	Extraverted Intuition	Introverted Thinking	Introverted Feeling
ESFP	Extraverted Sensing	Introverted Feeling	Introverted Thinking
ESTP	Extraverted Sensing	Introverted Thinking	Introverted Feeling
INFP	Introverted Feeling	Extraverted Intuition	Extraverted Sensing
ISFP	Introverted Feeling	Extraverted Sensing	Extraverted Intuition
INTP	Introverted Thinking	Extraverted Intuition	Extraverted Sensing
ISTP	Introverted Thinking	Extraverted Sensing	Extraverted Intuition

The primary and complementary function-attitudes for each personality tend to capture that person’s strengths. These two function-attitudes make up the most conscious parts of our personality; the parts we most commonly identify with. Going back to the discussion on ego and Self; The primary and complementary function-attitudes will commonly be included in that person’s ego. Most of us couldn’t imagine being who we are without these two function-attitudes being primary in our consciousness.

What About that 7th Function?

The fact that the 7th function also has a complementary relationship with the primary could explain why earlier Jungian analysts often considered our 3rd function to be what is now widely considered the 7th. For example, according to this earlier theory, an ISTPs functional stack would look like this:

1. Introverted Thinking
2. Extraverted Sensing
3. Extraverted Intuition
4. Extraverted Feeling

Instead of this:

1. Introverted Thinking
2. Extraverted Sensing
3. Introverted Intuition
4. Extraverted Feeling

They didn't think in terms of a functional stack containing all eight functions back then.

It could also be why John Beebe calls this function-attitude the Trickster. In our observations it can lead one to believe that it is the 2nd function, but we've also found that you can't quite lean on it as heavily as you can on the 2nd. It's like a tricky table leg that way. You think it's fine and then, wham, the whole table falls down. So, use this one carefully but do use it. There's a lot of fun to be had utilizing one's 7th.