The insecure attitude is characterized by an insecure and negative focus on the aspect that creates this third function. The function is aggressive in nature, focused on processing, and insufficient at involving itself in the details surrounding whatever aspect it holds. This function is generally skeptical, unsure, anxious, and unwilling to involve itself in the details of whatever aspect it holds.
Due to the aggressive nature of the third function, the owner often considers acting on it. This activity typically does not bring personal satisfaction because the process function is missing goals to determine its achievement. The owners looks to others to assess its progress because of lack of confidence in this area. This function influences the environment with great difficulty because outside criticism can reverse the owner’s direction of activity. This inconsistent behavior makes it the most problematic in the mind of the owner because progress is desired but is erratically influenced by negative perceptions from the self or others. The owner of the third function deals with this by suppressing the aspect or increasing activity for the purpose of gaining feedback, explained below:
Reactive – Willing to spend limitless time engaging with the aspect even if this will not produce useful results.
Dormant – Concealing the aspect within oneself and rejecting others’ input.
Either response can occur in a person for unpredictable reasons. When the owner of the third function consistently receives unfavorable feedback, there is most often a dormant reaction. The owner frequently manifests a reactive behavior when feedback reinforces the significance of their progress in the aspect. Dormant behaviors go away when the owner sees their progress as important and critical tendencies diminish.