The Personalities Within

Each of the personalities within consists of a pair of deciding and perceiving functions that are different in every way. We call these pairs complementary pairs because like good partners they cover each other's blind spots. They also attract each other like opposite magnetic poles because of their complementary nature.

Ego Identity

Our Ego Identity is composed of the first and second functions of our best fit personality type. We naturally elevate these functions in our consciousness and oppress the rest to some degree. The Ego Identity is not our true Self, yet it serves as the seat of our functional ego. In a healthy self concept, the Ego Identity serves as a home base from which we explore the other aspects of ourselves. Our aim in personal growth is to integrate the other sub-personalities (listed below) in our psyche to the standpoint of a healthy Ego Identity. In an unhealthy personality the Ego Identity is either held rigidly or might be abandoned for another personality due to social pressures or survival needs.

In John Beebe's theory the first function in our Ego Identity is called the Hero because it tends to be the function that we identify with the very most and the one where we possess the strongest natural ability. The Hero acts as the center point of one's consciousness. It's in charge, whether you want it to be or not. All other functions go the through the Hero.

You could also call the Hero the CEO of your functional organization. When the Hero is not in charge, the rest of the organization easily goes into chaos.

The second function-attitude is called the Helpful Parent in Beebe's theory because it tends to be the one we use to help other people. The Hero/Helper pair as everyone's dynamic duo: picture Batman and Robin, or maybe Xena (Warrior Princess) and Gabriella. They are both quite capable and when they learn to work together they can expand each other's abilities.

Functions of the Ego Identity by Type

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

Opposite Personality

The Opposite Personality has the same functions as our Ego Identity but with opposite attitudes. This makes for a personality with a different attitude and a different P/J preference. For instance, the Opposite Personality for an ESTJ would be an ISTP. These personalities both use thinking as their primary function and sensing as their second.

We observe that people can be dismissive of their Opposite Personality yet kind of in awe of it at the same time. It is foreign yet familiar, and can provide a doorway into important insights. When one is able to access their own Opposite Personality in a healthy way, it can be like entering into a whole different dimension of consciousness. We've also found there can be a sacred quality when accessing this personality.

When meeting people of the Opposite Personality, there may be a sense of completion in their presence because they naturally use the functions you identify with the most but with different introverted/extraverted attitudes. Therefore, they are capable with those functions in the very same ways you struggle with them. They may come across as holding similar core values to your own or not.

Functions of the Opposite Personality by Type

Type	Opposite Type	Opposite Primary	Opposite Complementary
ENFJ	INFP	Introverted Feeling	Extraverted Intuition
ESFJ	ISFP	Introverted Feeling	Extraverted Sensing
ENTJ	INTP	Introverted Thinking	Extraverted Intuition
ESTJ	ISTP	Introverted Thinking	Extraverted Sensing
INFJ	ENFP	Extraverted Intuition	Introverted Feeling
INTJ	ENTP	Extraverted Intuition	Introverted Thinking
ISFJ	ESFP	Extraverted Sensing	Introverted Feeling
ISTJ	ESTP	Extraverted Sensing	Introverted Thinking
ENFP	INFJ	Introverted Intuition	Extraverted Feeling
ENTP	INTJ	Introverted Intuition	Extraverted Thinking
ESFP	ISFJ	Introverted Sensing	Extraverted Feeling
ESTP	ISTJ	Introverted Sensing	Extraverted Thinking
INFP	ENFJ	Extraverted Feeling	Introverted Intuition
ISFP	ESFJ	Extraverted Feeling	Introverted Sensing
INTP	ENTJ	Extraverted Thinking	Introverted Intuition
ISTP	ESTJ	Extraverted Thinking	Introverted Sensing

Shadow Personality

The Shadow Personality can seem somewhat agreeable to our Ego Identity since it has the same introverted/extraverted attitude and J/P preference. But it uses completely different functions than our Ego Identity (see table below). For instance, the Shadow Personality of an ISFP would an INTP.

The Shadow Personality tends to be murky, dim, ephemeral, hard to reach, and therefore somewhat easy to forget that it even exists. But it actually serves as an important checkpoint, usually in the background, to our normal ways of deciding and perceiving. The values of the Shadow Personality often seem extremely foreign to those values we identify as our own. Under extreme stress a person could flip into the Shadow Personality in an unhealthy way, which is commonly called Demon mode. In this mode, a person is truly in an anti-life state of mind. It's really about doing someone in, whether it's oneself or someone else. But there are ways to reach this personality in healthy ways as well.

When in the presence of people who embody your shadow personality, you may feel like you have nothing in common as they are most conscious of the very functions you have the hardest time grasping. It can almost be like meeting someone from a different planet. This might be awkward, threatening or fascinating. Much of it depends on the mindset on those involved.

Functions of the Shadow Personality by Type

Type	Shadow Type	Shadow Primary	Shadow Complementary
ENFJ	ESTJ	Extraverted Thinking	Introverted Sensing
ESFJ	ENTJ	Extraverted Thinking	Introverted Intuition
ENTJ	ESFJ	Extraverted Feeling	Introverted Sensing
ESTJ	ENFJ	Extraverted Feeling	Introverted Sensing
INFJ	ISTJ	Introverted Sensing	Extraverted Thinking
INTJ	ISFJ	Introverted Sensing	Extraverted Feeling
ISFJ	INTJ	Introverted Intuition	Extraverted Thinking
ISTJ	INFJ	Introverted Intuition	Extraverted Feeling
ENFP	ESTP	Extraverted Sensing	Introverted Thinking
ENTP	ESFP	Extraverted Sensing	Introverted Feeling
ESFP	ENTP	Extraverted Intuition	Introverted Thinking
ESTP	ENFP	Extraverted Intuition	Introverted Feeling
INFP	ISTP	Introverted Thinking	Extraverted Sensing
ISFP	INTP	Introverted Thinking	Extraverted Intuition
INTP	ISFP	Introverted Feeling	Extraverted Sensing
ISTP	INFP	Introverted Feeling	Extraverted Intuition

 

Antagonist Personality

Seems completely at odds with our normal ways of being. It is often most actively oppressed by our Ego Identity and, at the same time, is higher in our consciousness than the oppositional or shadow personality. This condition makes it highly problematic; kind of like a sore that keeps on itching. As it presents inner conflict, it also presents opportunities for redemption, wholeness, and integrity.

Functions of the Antagonist Personality by Type

Type	Antagonist Type	Antagonist Primary	Antagonist Complementary
ENFJ	ISTP	Introverted Thinking	Extraverted Sensing
ESFJ	INTP	Introverted Thinking	Extraverted Intuition
ENTJ	ISFP	Introverted Feeling	Extraverted Feeling
ESTJ	INFP	Introverted Feeling	Extraverted Intuition
INFJ	ESTP	Extraverted Sensing	Introverted Thinking
INTJ	ESFP	Extraverted Sensing	Introverted Feeling
ISFJ	ENTP	Extraverted Intuition	Introverted Thinking
ISTJ	ENFP	Extraverted Intuition	Introverted Feeling
ENFP	ISTJ	Introverted Sensing	Extraverted Thinking
ENTP	ISFJ	Introverted Sensing	Extraverted Feeling
ESFP	INTJ	Introverted Intuition	Extraverted Thinking
ESTP	INFJ	Introverted Intuition	Extraverted Feeling
INFP	ESTJ	Extraverted Thinking	Introverted Sensing
ISFP	ENTJ	Extraverted Thinking	Introverted Intuition
INTP	ESFJ	Extraverted Feeling	Introverted Sensing
ISTP	ENFJ	Extraverted Feeling	Introverted Intuition

 

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We tend to use our most familiar functions (like Thinking, Feeling, Sensing, and Intuition). For example someone who has both Feeling and Intuition in their ego identity would have the hardest time using both Sensing and Thinking for any length of time. Another way to say this is that we’re going to predictably orient toward our innate brain styles and grow out into less familiar territory from there.

Therefore, it’s very difficult to go directly to a personality that is purely opposite, shadow, or antagonistic to our ego identity. It’s much easier to stretch out from our more conscious functions into less conscious areas of our psyche using complementary relationships.   

See the example below which illustrates how the ENFJ personality type might flex into different types.

The ego identity, ENFJ in the example above, heavily influences the personalities within. So any personality within is not likely to be expressed in its pure form. In the case of this example, every sub personality is highly ENFJ influenced. Since, as mention earlier, the shadow, opposite, and antagonistic sub personalities are difficult to access and utilize. An ENFJ, in our estimation, would likely go to the following four sub-personalities first:

Reality Check

Using the complementary bond between their 1st and 7th function-attitudes, an ENFJ could still lead with Extraverted Feeling, but flex into Introverted Sensing in order to work with past precedent. In this way the ENFJ flexes quite naturally into a more ESFJ type role for a short time. This provides an ENFJ type with an alternate way of Perceiving - an important reality check. This also allows an Idealist ENFJ to access their inner Guardian. 

Functions of the Reality Check Personality by Type

Type	Shield Type	Shield Primary	Shield Complementary
ENFJ	ESFJ	Extraverted Feeling	Introverted Sensing
ESFJ	ENFJ	Extraverted Feeling	Introverted Intuition
ENTJ	ESTJ	Extraverted Thinking	Introverted Sensing
ESTJ	ENTJ	Extraverted Thinking	Introverted Intuition
INFJ	INTJ	Introverted Intuition	Extraverted Thinking
INTJ	INFJ	Introverted Intuition	Extraverted Feeling
ISFJ	ISTJ	Introverted Sensing	Extraverted Thinking
ISTJ	ISFJ	Introverted Sensing	Extraverted Feeling
ENFP	ENTP	Extraverted Intuition	Introverted Thinking
ENTP	ENFP	Extraverted Intuition	Introverted Feeling
ESFP	ESTP	Extraverted Sensing	Introverted Thinking
ESTP	ESFP	Introverted Sensing	Introverted Feeling
INFP	ISFP	Introverted Feeling	Extraverted Sensing
ISFP	INFP	Introverted Feeling	Extraverted Intuition
INTP	ISTP	Introverted Thinking	Extraverted Sensing
ISTP	INTP	Introverted Thinking	Extraverted Intuition

 

Conscience

Using the complementary bond between their 2nd and 8th function-attitudes, an ENFJ could lead with Introverted Intuition, which forms a complementary relationship with their least conscious Extroverted Thinking, in order to make plans and get tasks done in an INTJ type role. This strategy provides an alternate and supportive way of Deciding (logic) to take place while still using their favored Introverted Intuition, and allows Idealist ENFJ to access their inner Rational.

By using their Reality Check and Conscience sub-personalities, an ENFJ accesses both functions of the Shadow sub-personality, but does not engage it directly. Since flexing into the Reality Check (ESFJ) and Conscience (INTJ) partly use an ENFJ's preferred functions (Extraverted Feeling and Introverted Intuition) as well as their least conscious functions (Extraverted Thinking and Introverted Sensing), the shifts will likely go unnoticed and they will still feel like they are able to be themselves.

Functions of the Conscience Personality by Type

Type	Shadow Type	Conscience Primary	Conscience Complementary
ENFJ	INTJ	Introverted Intuition	Extraverted Thinking
ESFJ	ISTJ	Introverted Sensing	Extraverted Thinking
ENTJ	INFJ	Introverted Intuition	Extraverted Feeling
ESTJ	ISFJ	Introverted Sensing	Extraverted Feeling
INFJ	ESFJ	Extraverted Feeling	Introverted Sensing
INTJ	ESTJ	Extraverted Thinking	Introverted Sensing
ISFJ	ENFJ	Extraverted Feeling	Introverted Intuition
ISTJ	ENTJ	Extraverted Thinking	Introverted Intuition
ENFP	ISFP	Introverted Feeling	Extraverted Sensing
ENTP	ISTP	Introverted Thinking	Extraverted Sensing
ESFP	INFP	Introverted Feeling	Extraverted Intuition
ESTP	INTP	Introverted Thinking	Extraverted Intuition
INFP	ENTP	Extraverted Intuition	Introverted Thinking
ISFP	ESTP	Extraverted Sensing	Introverted Thinking
INTP	ENFP	Extraverted Intuition	Introverted Feeling
ISTP	ESFP	Extraverted Sensing	Introverted Feeling

The Sword and the Shield

These two are so named because together they provide a way to utilize the functions in the Antagonist Personality which are difficult to take on directly. It’s based on the legend of Perseus and his antagonist Medusa. Anyone who looked at Medusa would instantly turn to stone, so Perseus only looked at Medusa via the reflection in his shield, and thus was able to defeat her with both sword and shield. 

The Shield

Using the complementary bond between their 3rd and 5th function-attitudes, an ENFJ is still able to utilize Feeling, though in an opposite way, and still maintains the preferred extraverted attitude as it takes on a more spontaneous ESFP type mode. In its reactive mode, the Shield can be defensive in nature, partly because the 3rd function-attitude, for all of us, can show up as helpless and childlike (according to John Beebe). Its non-reactive response helps us get in touch with our child-like innocence. For the ENFJ, the Shield also helps them get in touch with the inner Artisan.

The Sword

Using the complementary bond between their 4th and 6th function-attitudes, an ENFJ can access an INTP sub-personality. An ENFJ is still able to utilize Intuition, though now in an extraverted way, and now must use their Introverted Thinking inferior function. Insecurity might be the hallmark of the inferior function. In its reactive mode, an ENFJ might wield their incisive INTP sub-personality offensively like a sword. In its non-reactive state, this complementary pair helps complete the personality in an elegant way, allowing the ENFJ to wield functions that lie well outside their comfort zone. Here, again, an ENFJ is accessing their inner Rational temperament.

By using the Reality Check, Conscience, Shield, and Sword combinations, all personality types are able to use all function-attitudes and all temperaments in their own unique way that draw most powerfully from their strengths. On the other hand, if an ENFJ were to directly enter into the Shadow, Opposite, or Antagonistic sub-personalities, it would likely result in an extreme and harmful reaction of one kind or another.