My Virtual Physician is now offering pediatric behavioral health services. If you are concerned about your child's mental health needs, please book appointment with our pediatric cognitive-behavioral coach, Dr. Dalson: BOOK HERE
As parents, nurturing your children's cognitive-behavioral development is a priority. However, being proactive requires having a proper framework of understanding for how cognition works.
According to Jungian psychology and evidence-based theories about cognition and personality (link to Harry’s book), we can understand our cognition through 8 categories of “cognitive functions.” In the previous article, we discussed 4 of the 8 functions. Here, we will focus on the remaining 4.
Let's explore how parents can support their children in developing the healthy versions of these 4 cognitive functions while mitigating the risks associated with their unhealthy manifestations:
Definition: judging internal logical order.
Healthy Ti: logical reasoning, problem-solving skills, and a penchant for critical analysis.
Unhealthy Ti: overthinking everything, becoming overly detached or dismissive of emotions, overestimating personal intelligence
Healthy Ti involves logical reasoning, problem-solving skills, and a penchant for critical analysis. Parents can foster this by encouraging their children to ask questions, explore ideas independently, and engage in activities that stimulate their analytical thinking, such as puzzles and logic games. However, it's crucial to prevent Ti from becoming overly detached or dismissive of emotions. Encourage open communication and validate your child's feelings to prevent them from retreating into intellectualization as a coping mechanism.
Definition: judging outer logical order.
Healthy version: organization, efficiency, and effective decision-making.
Unhealthy version: bossy, gives unsolicited advice, overworks oneself
Te in its healthy form is characterized by organization, efficiency, and effective decision-making. Parents can support this by providing structure and routines, encouraging responsibility, and involving children in planning and problem-solving activities. However, beware of fostering an overly rigid or authoritarian mindset. Encourage flexibility, creativity, and empathy to ensure that Te is balanced with consideration for others' perspectives and feelings.
Definition: judging internal emotional order.
Healthy version: authentic, self-expressive, passionate about their values
Unhealthy version: overly sensitive, emotionally volatile or pessimistic, unrealistically idealistic
Healthy Fi involves a strong sense of values, authenticity, and empathy. Parents can nurture this by encouraging their children to explore and express their emotions, validating their feelings, and teaching them to stand up for their beliefs. However, be mindful of the tendency for Fi to become overly self-absorbed or judgmental. Encourage your child to consider others' perspectives, practice active listening, and cultivate compassion and understanding towards others.
Definition: judging external emotional order.
Healthy version: harmonizing, charismatic, great at emotionally interacting with others
Unhealthy version: emotionally manipulative, desperate for social approval, overly dependent on relationships with others
Fe in its healthy expression involves empathy, diplomacy, and harmonious interpersonal relationships. Parents can support this by teaching their children to be considerate of others' feelings, fostering cooperation and teamwork, and modeling positive social behaviors. However, be cautious of Fe becoming excessively people-pleasing or sacrificing one's own needs for the sake of harmony. Encourage assertiveness, boundary-setting, and self-care to ensure that your child's emotional well-being is prioritized alongside their relationships with others.
In conclusion, being proactive with your child's cognitive development involves understanding and nurturing each of the eight Jungian cognitive functions in their healthy forms while mitigating the risks associated with their unhealthy manifestations. By providing a supportive and enriching environment that balances structure with flexibility, empathy with critical thinking, and curiosity with discipline, parents can empower their children to navigate the complexities of the world with confidence, resilience, and creativity.
My Virtual Physician is now offering pediatric behavioral health services. If you are concerned about your child's mental health needs, please book appointment with our pediatric cognitive-behavioral coach, Dr. Dalson: BOOK HERE
