Education of the Feeling Function

Developing Jungian Cognitive Functions

'The Lady of Shalott' by John William Waterhouse

Lately, I've been noticing a recurrent pattern that surrounds me; something seems to collide into my psyche, leaving me with a sense of disorientation. It feels shadowy. My attempts to grasp at its shape, to catch hold and see it with clear eyes seems to fail. I’m left with the emotions that accompany it — frustration, uncertainty, confusion.

In times such as these, I find it helpful to draw connections to psychological concepts that provide containment and a loose map for making sense of the mysteries of the psyche. Not for the ease of a prescriptive approach to one’s unique challenges. Rather, this method supports our ability to have space from the intensely subjective and emotionally charged experiences we are likely having.

As I considered my shadowy pattern, I began to notice that it came up in areas of my life when I was forced to confront or be in touch with my own needs, desires, or to meaningfully evaluate and express how I felt about certain situations. Naturally my mind jumped to Jung’s theory of psychological types as these areas constellate under the feeling function. This is the psychological process in us that helps us relate and assess how things impact us based on their significance to our values, beliefs, and personal (or collective) sense of harmony.

Extraverted vs Introverted Feeling

“Jung has said that the hardest thing to understand is not your opposite type—if you have an introverted feeling it is very difficult to understand an extraverted thinking type—but the same functional type with the other attitude! It would be most difficult for an introverted feeling type to understand an extraverted feeling type. There one feels that one does not know how the wheels go round in that person’s head; one cannot feel one’s way into it.”

- Marie Louise von Franz, Lectures on Jung’s Typology

I utilize the feeling function in its extraverted attitude¹. This means I have a strong adherence to external social cues and the environment. What is right, what is good, what should be is instinctually dictated by the collective (or even just one other person — whatever exists outwardly is where the attention first goes). Extraverted feeling (Fe) is mercurial in nature. The threads of the feeling vines reach out into the world, informing me how I can best merge or shape shift into it with ease. To strengthen the combined energy by knowing just what to add or what to hold back.

It is an incredible psychological tool that supports authentic expressions of empathy and coherence. That champions connection and diplomacy. And yet, it casts a large shadow. One that I have felt more and more as of late. It is not so much that my Fe has become rigid or unyielding. It is that it feels nearly impossible, as von Franz says above, to locate where my inward expressions of feeling are. It’s as if my psyche short circuits and I can no longer operate when I cross into this region.

Introverted feeling (Fi) anchors into the heart of one’s own needs, what they appreciate most, what fills them with a sense of meaning, dread or delight. Those who lead with this function are well versed in their core principles and how it informs a strong (and often unyielding) ethical backbone to their life. It is a profound self-awareness that allows their individuality to shine through.

This is the thorn in my side I have been noticing. The dark abyss that I do not know how to navigate is my own inner feeling space. I have too long existed in the outer world and so the shadow leads me inward; a descent I am uncertain of how to take. This is where we can be held in the theoretical vessel of psychological type. We do not have to journey alone. We can meet the psychopomp that rises from these ideas as we orient ourselves within it.

Consider:

• Where on the typological map am I? (What is your personality type and the main functions utilized?)

• How do my present struggles fit into the typical developmental dynamics of these functions? (Consider your 4 main functions but also the other 4 that lie in greater shadow².)

• What opportunities and strengths come from my differentiated functions? How can those be utilized here?

Developing Introverted Feeling

“A first step in the education of feeling is lifting the repression of fear. The feelings must first be caught and held in consciousness and recognized as feelings.”

- James Hillman, Lectures on Jung’s Typology

Small pieces of my inner feeling world do make their way to the surface at times. I may find myself in a situation amongst friends where we are attempting to make plans on what to do, where to eat or go. I notice spontaneous feelings, “I don’t want to go to that restaurant,” “I like that idea,” “I would prefer to do something else,” — but if these tender feeling parts of myself seem to stand in contrast to where the general energy is flowing, I often hold back, never sharing these sentiments.

Alternatively, when I strongly believe that my ideas would benefit everyone involved, I am more than willing to share or lead with conviction. In such instances, while my voice is being acknowledged, it is more of an advocacy for the group rather than solely driven by my personal desires. The internal factor continues to be diminished. But life requires all functions of consciousness. At some point, I am faced with looking inward and letting my own feeling-states be known in more profound and explicit ways.

This is where Hillman’s advice rings true. Underlying the emotions I mentioned before — frustration, uncertainty, confusion — there is fear. When you extravert so strongly in a certain area of life, it feels wrong to do the opposite. It feels alien and unnatural. I believe in most cases other people would appreciate knowing where I really stand, what I really desire. But it is difficult to ward off the dread that comes with being disagreeable and uncooperative in these social situations.

Hillman continues,

“The education begins when I begin to trust my own spontaneous first feeling…regardless of whether or not this first feeling is generally admissible and acceptable in the collective system of values. When I repress the simplest feeling reactions, I prevent the feeling function from developing these contents into discriminated evaluations.”

So the first step is to acknowledge the fear and discomfort. To look the shadowy force in the eye and choose to move through it. To trust what comes from our own depths; to value it with equal standing to the feeling-states of others. As with all practices, it gets easier with repetition. It does feel clumsy initially. So I am finding it helpful, when I notice the soft whispers of my feelings, to acknowledge my uncertainty in the action.

• “I’m not sure how I’m feeling right now, can you give me a moment to check-in?”

• “This makes me uncomfortable to say, but I want to share that I feel…”

• “I realize that I didn’t give my opinion but I would like to now.”

Once we catch our feelings and give them space for expression, we can go deeper. I am finding it helpful to further identify the nuances of my feeling function. To explore the core principles and values that lie at the heart of the feeling states of my psyche.

Here’s an example of prompts I’ve been working with:

1. What are my core beliefs and principles?

2. What experiences in life have played a significant role in shaping and reinforcing these core beliefs and principles?

3. What brings me a sense of fulfillment and meaning?

4. Are there any areas where I feel my values are being compromised or neglected?

5. How do I maintain a balance between my own needs and the needs of others?

A connection can also be made by linking the experience of other functions (with the same attitude) to ones we are struggling with. I lead with introverted intuition, the function that utilizes abstract perception via the unconscious to generate insight, connections and patterns of meaning.

Its introverted tendency means that I have a steadfast connection to the inner knowing that rises via the unconscious and archetypes. Regardless of whether external reality aligns with my gut feeling or vision of the future, I firmly hold onto it with unwavering assurance.

Intuition moves through me with ease, is spoken into my life with excitement and faith. How can the essence of that be overlayed onto the feeling world? It is not an easy task. There is something about introverted intuition that feels impersonal. It awakens quickly, like a flash of awareness that shoots through my psyche. It can feel all encompassing, transcendent, numinous. I don’t have an intuition because I like it, value it, appreciate it or even desire it. The intuition just is. It is given. And I am its messenger.

Despite these differences, I can look at the general pattern for assistance. Something that originates from within is brought forth into the external world. There is a lack of fear and resistance. The pathway is there. I just need to trust that the process will unfold naturally if I allow it.

1. Click here to read more about my personality type.

2. Referencing Jungian Analyst John Beebe’s 8 Function Model.