Understanding yourself is a journey of intentionality. Gratification Typology introduces six cognitive functions that act as the "CPU" of your mind, processing and prioritizing information to shape how you experience and engage with the world. These functions are not about limiting you to a type—they are tools to empower you, helping you refine and align your biases with your values.
The cognitive functions in Gratification Typology fall into three core dichotomies: Gathering, Processing, and Biasing. Together, these functions guide how you collect information, organize and refine it, and use it to make intentional decisions.
The Six Cognitive Functions
Information Gathering
- Sensation
- Description: Information gained through your five-plus physical senses. Sensation connects you to your immediate surroundings, providing real-time input on the physical world.
- Principle: Heightened sensory awareness builds a reliable foundation for decision-making and fosters a grounded connection to reality.
- Conceptualization
- Description: Information that originates in your mind (ah-ha moments). Conceptualization allows you to generate new ideas by connecting seemingly unrelated concepts.
- Principle: Innovation emerges when your mind bridges gaps between ideas, synthesizing novel solutions.
Information Processing
- Categorizing
- Description: Organizing information into reliable, obvious categories (like sorting blocks by size and color). Categorizing creates order and consistency in how you perceive the world.
- Principle: Effective categorization ensures that information is easily retrieved and applied.
- Optimizing
- Description: Combining information into efficient patterns (like building a house with blocks). Optimizing refines raw data into streamlined systems and plans for achieving your goals.
- Principle: Efficiency and foresight turn scattered information into a cohesive whole, helping you focus on long-term outcomes.
Information Biasing
- Enterprising
- Description: Creating results-oriented biases that prioritize logical outcomes. These biases can be ethical or malicious but focus on achieving measurable results.
- Principle: Enterprising biases help you eliminate distractions and stay focused on practical objectives.
- Advocating
- Description: Creating intention-oriented biases that prioritize demonstrations of character. These biases can be ethical or malicious but focus on aligning with values or ideals.
- Principle: Advocating biases ensure your actions are guided by internal motivations or social ideals.