Suppressing certain functions?

[Fedayeen]

Is it possible to suppress certain functions? I can remember a time when my F used to be much stronger then it is now.

I remember when I used to care for others. Now I feel nothing for anyone, not even my family or friends.

This (I think) is due to some things that have happened in the past. I don't want to get into details about that though.

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

It might be part suppression and part developing our primary functions to a point that they become entrenched into our psyches. Leaving the others behind.

 

[echoplex]

You can suppress all functions when you die. This is why dead cartoon characters have Xs for eyes, to show that they no longer have perceiving OR judging functions.

But yeah, I think environment can cause functions to be suppressed or further developed. For example, if I was forced to constantly be around people, I imagine my Te and/or Fe would develop more quickly, although I would still prefer to use Ti as usual. And being alone might cause an extrovert to suppress extroverted functions, since they might seem of little use at that time.

 

[Fukyo]

I don't know if they are suppressed or not,but my Fe,Si and Se are practically dead.

 

[Fedayeen]

It might be part suppression and part developing our primary functions to a point that they become entrenched into our psyches. Leaving the others behind.

You can suppress all functions when you die. This is why dead cartoon characters have Xs for eyes, to show that they no longer have perceiving OR judging functions.

But yeah, I think environment can cause functions to be suppressed or further developed. For example, if I was forced to constantly be around people, I imagine my Te and/or Fe would develop more quickly, although I would still prefer to use Ti as usual. And being alone might cause an extrovert to suppress extroverted functions, since they might seem of little use at that time.

I'm not talking about developing other functions more then others basically dwarfing certain functions. I mean an individual function becoming weaker and weaker. As in I used to care to some degree for others, but not anymore. There is almost a total lack of F.

 

[echoplex]

I'm not talking about developing other functions more then others basically dwarfing certain functions. I mean an individual function becoming weaker and weaker. As in I used to care to some degree for others, but not anymore. There is almost a total lack of F.

I wouldn't say that they get weaker, but you can certainly choose to not use them as often, which I suppose would make them appear to be weaker over time. I also think stress can cause certain functions to "go away" for a while.

As for lack of F, this could just be the result of a very strong T preference, even though you said your F was more prevalent before.

 

[Fedayeen]

I wouldn't say that they get weaker, but you can certainly choose to not use them as often, which I suppose would make them appear to be weaker over time.

Thats what i was talking about when I mentioned dwarfing.

As for lack of F, this could just be the result of a very strong T preference, even though you said your F was more prevalent before.

I am not talking choosing T over F. I mean specifically trying to use F. I have tried to care about other people, but honestly I don't give a shit about anyone.

This is slightly unrelated to my point, but very recently I was grabbed by the throat, and pinned against a wall by someone much bigger and stronger then I am with no one else around, and threatened. Now typically that would be a time where fear would kick in. It didn't. I didn't feel any sort of emotion what so ever. The main thing I thought of was the results of what would happen to the other person if they did indeed go through with that course of action.

Also that was the 1s time I had experienced something like that in my life, so it wasn't because I was used to it.

 

[sagewolf]

To be honest, thinking of the consequences of being beaten up from your assailant's point of view sounds a lot like Fe to me-- you were putting yourself in his shoes. Of course, it could also be Ti, examining a situation from every possible angle. Fe is more than just caring about people, too-- it's the function that allows us to connect with or disconnect from people. So if you've completely retreated from interactions with people you used to feel close to, that's also a use of Fe-- albeit a negative one, in most situations.

I know it's possible to develop certain functions, so, conversely, perhaps it's possibly for them to atrophy with disuse-- especially if you deliberately don't use them, even subconsciously, which is what I think you're talking about.

 

[Fedayeen]

To be honest, thinking of the consequences of being beaten up from your assailant's point of view sounds a lot like Fe to me-- you were putting yourself in his shoes. Of course, it could also be Ti, examining a situation from every possible angle. Fe is more than just caring about people, too-- it's the function that allows us to connect with or disconnect from people. So if you've completely retreated from interactions with people you used to feel close to, that's also a use of Fe-- albeit a negative one, in most situations.

I know it's possible to develop certain functions, so, conversely, perhaps it's possibly for them to atrophy with disuse-- especially if you deliberately don't use them, even subconsciously, which is what I think you're talking about.

I think about things from other peoples perspectives all the time. I perceive almost any situation, from many different angles.

For example I was reading an article on another forum about someone who killed there family then suicided, and everyone else was saying how awful that was, and how could you do that. While I was thinking about possible scenarios that might drive someone to do that. Everyone assumes that it was that individuals thought, but maybe both parents came to that conclusion.

Another example is when watching a movie. Every time I watch Bruce almighty that scene where he is hearing all those voices in the restaurant I always immediately think of what the other people in the restaurant are thinking. in regards to all the ruckus he is making. (as well as other times in other moves when they make a big scene in a public place)

 

[Concojones]

@Nobody: I doubt you'll get any sensible replies to your question, unless somebody here is in a similar situation. The first thing that crossed my mind was 'depression?', but then I realized it's crazy to try to reply with no further context. I understand you're not eager to talk about that. It's entirely your call. Maybe you could make up a different-but-analogous story, about 'a friend'...

 

[Da Blob]

Suppression is actually a fairly mental powerful force. One tends to suppress memories and attitudes that have generated pain. It is a question, that perhaps has different answers for each individual. What causes them to be strong in some areas and 'weak' in others?
Cognitive development is a life-long process. I do not believe that any of our personality traits are 'set in stone', but rather, those that are effected by our environment change to adapt to that environment (not only the external, but also the internal environment) over a long period of time.

There is also the matter of relativity. Some of us might have perfectly normal levels of Fe but our Ti might be extraordinarily superior to most. On the other hand we might actually experience a total void of Fe which would seemingly make our average Ti to be of a greater scale... After all, the MBTI is just a list of preferences, not an actual measure...

 

[Fedayeen]

@Nobody: I doubt you'll get any sensible replies to your question, unless somebody here is in a similar situation. The first thing that crossed my mind was 'depression?', but then I realized it's crazy to try to reply with no further context. I understand you're not eager to talk about that. It's entirely your call. Maybe you could make up a different-but-analogous story, about 'a friend'...

To clarify, I have noticed it going away before the major thing I said.

Basically what it is is I feel (not like F feel, just figure of speech feel) like I have been betrayed by those close to me, not anything major, just minor stuff, over and over and over again. If I were to explain it I don't think others would consider it betrayal, but I do perceive it that way, and that is what is relevant. Right?

 

[Da Blob]

To clarify, I have noticed it going away before the major thing I said.

Basically what it is is I feel (not like F feel, just figure of speech feel) like I have been betrayed by those close to me, not anything major, just minor stuff, over and over and over again. If I were to explain it I don't think others would consider it betrayal, but I do perceive it that way, and that is what is relevant. Right?

http://intpforum.com/showthread.php?t=2484 ?

It is difficult to 'rely' on a function one can't 'Trust'...

 

[Concojones]

To clarify, I have noticed it going away before the major thing I said.

Basically what it is is I feel (not like F feel, just figure of speech feel) like I have been betrayed by those close to me, not anything major, just minor stuff, over and over and over again. If I were to explain it I don't think others would consider it betrayal, but I do perceive it that way, and that is what is relevant. Right?

I'm not sure I got that first sentence, but I can relate to the rest (we INTP are fragile!). I can perfectly understand that you begin to care less & less, and irreversibly so, about those who disappointed you. But what I find very hard to grasp is that this indifference to them apparently grew into an indifference to the rest of humanity. I would expect that, after perhaps a mourning period, your F would rear its head.

edit: speaking of a mourning period, maybe it's not over yet (have another look at my first 'diagnosis'; I know it's not a nice label, but forget about that; firstly those that I know who've had it are some of the most interesting people I know; secondly I did once check its symptoms because I wondered whether I had it)

 

[Fedayeen]

I'm not sure I got that first sentence, but I can relate to the rest (we INTP are fragile!). I can perfectly understand that you begin to care less & less, and irreversibly so, about those who disappointed you. But what I find very hard to grasp is that this indifference to them apparently grew into an indifference to the rest of humanity. I would expect that, after perhaps a mourning period, your F would rear its head.

edit: speaking of a mourning period, maybe it's not over yet (have another look at my first 'diagnosis'; I know it's not a nice label, but forget about that; firstly those that I know who've had it are some of the most interesting people I know; secondly I did once check its symptoms because I wondered whether I had it)

1st line I am referring to me F going away.

It has been disappearing for almost 3 years now.

As for the indifference towards one becoming an indifference for all, the fact that it was always my closest friends might have something to do with that.

 

[Da Blob]

1st line I am referring to me F going away.

It has been disappearing for almost 3 years now.

As for the indifference towards one becoming an indifference for all, the fact that it was always my closest friends might have something to do with that.

Sometimes people just 'grow' apart, even loved ones. I have some of my closest friends from my youth on my list of facebook friends, but we rarely address each other, not because of any decrease. It is just that we no longer have much in common - as we once did. I do not feel 'guilty' about it - it just happened as a part of life...

 

[Fedayeen]

Sometimes people just 'grow' apart, even loved ones. I have some of my closest friends from my youth on my list of facebook friends, but we rarely address each other, not because of any decrease. It is just that we no longer have much in common - as we once did. I do not feel 'guilty' about it - it just happened as a part of life...

I still live with my brother, mother and father.

 

[Da Blob]

I still live with my brother, mother and father.

Human relationships are not static 'things', so that they lack the dependability of Objects. Good relationships are often the result of times spent together engaged in mutually enjoyable activities. As one grows one finds certain activities less enjoyable, so one has to constantly rebuild relationships based upon the changes of the individuals involved...

Even the relationships with parents change. It has been said with a degree of truth that one can not truly know one's parents until after becoming a parent oneself...

However, if one is truly bothered by a general loss of affect, it can't hurt to seek professional guidance. If nothing else it can be an educational experience...