Extraverted sensation says, “There is a tree. It exists. Next.”
Introverted intuition says, “Yes, there is a tree, but, what is the significance of the tree? How did it come to be? Why is it in this particular spot? What is the inner life of this tree? Why does it exist? What does it mean to exist?” And so on.
Extraverted sensation is the inferior function of the INFJ and INTJ types. I will discuss how extraverted sensation manifests for these two types as an inferior function. In order to do so, I will briefly outline what extraverted sensation is and what the inferior function is, then move on into how INFJ and INTJ types experience the primal dilemma that this function represents for them, some possible answers to this dilemma, and finally, give some instances from literature for the further exploration of this theme of inferior extraverted sensation in the INFJ and INTJ types.
What is extraverted sensation?
- World of appearance and surfaces. To look impressive, either by being beautiful or strong.
- Sense of territoriality. “This is my space. I claim this as mine.” Reason: “I have the strength to do so.”
- Natural law of bigger and stronger over smaller and weaker. Strengthening the body in the competition for resources and mating opportunities in the environment.
- Will to exist as a physical entity. Anything that helps to further this existence is viewed as desirable.
- Material goods. Material space. Related to competing for resources.
- Distrust of thought, hesitation, reflection, which are viewed as anti-natural. Can’t be vigorously engaged in action and thinking deeply at same time.
- Being in the moment, aware, poised, ready for whatever may come (See quotation in next article from the play Hamlet. This is Hamlet’s final answer and realization about the whole Se inferior function dilemma).
- The immediate satisfaction of one’s desires in action. “What is at hand? What is going on now that I can immediately use opportunity-wise to satisfy my desires?” Introverted intuition is the buildup of all these forestalled actions and desires in thought, hesitation, and reflection.
Extraverted sensation is very simple to understand because there is nothing really to understand. It is the function of the world as it is. What’s the big mystery?
Extraverted sensation encompasses the laws of the natural world. Look to Biology to understand some of this. It is the law that all animals live by. Animals that are bigger and stronger preys upon animals that are smaller and weaker. Extraverted sensation is the biological drive to survive. Anything that aids in this drive is viewed as desirable to it.
The philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer probably nailed it best when he called this fundamental aspect of nature, Will. It is just the will to exercise one’s will. There is no morality to it. No right or wrong. An entity in nature just wants to survive and grow stronger and if possible exercise its will over other wills that aren’t as strong as it.
The ways nature does this is through competition between entities for resources and selection of the fittest mates for reproduction of oneself in offspring.
The general introverted intuitive reaction to this is that it is unable to accept any of this at face value. Why is it this way? How did it come to be this way? What is this existence as physical entities really?
Introverted intuition also has a delay in direct action because it is too busy pondering the world of action and trying to find a primary cause for the arising of this whole world. What is behind all of this natural world? In its drive to do this it builds up realms of thought and inquiry, which by its natural activity, take it farther and farther away from the primal grounds of action and appearance.
What is inferior function?
- Direct threat to the ego-orienting dominant function.
- Function that is forever lost as a point of inhabitation.
- We can see it but not be it, whereas the dominant function is something we can be but not see.
- The primal dilemma of any type. In Ni dominant types, the loss of reality, the break with reality.
- The other side of the same coin to the dominant function. This means that to the degree we possess our dominant function, in the exact opposite and negative potential we possess the inferior. We are primarily aware of the inferior as a lack. We see the things of the inferior mostly in the negative sense.
The inferior function is experienced as the primary dilemma for any type. It is the primary schism that prevents the lack of wholeness in any type and is probably the primary function that causes the impetus towards relating and relationships.
At any rate, it is experienced as the most critical dilemma or question of existence and lies as a primary problem that demands resolution in any type. For INFJ and INTJ this problem is the quandary of existence itself, the existential conflict, the “to be or not to be” question.
“And if I am to exist, what should I exist as? Who am I?”
In the part two of this article, I will be discussing specifically how the INFJ and INTJ Myers-Briggs types experience this primal dilemma of the function of extraverted sensation. Stay tuned.
And send money if you want it to happen sooner rather than later. You hear that INFJs and INTJs? You can start exercising your inferior function right now by sending funds. Donate a dollar. It all helps. You want me to help you? Help me. I can’t live on your golden praises alone.
3/10/15 update: $25 was sent following the release of this article, so I release the next installment now. Isn’t that wonderful?
Next Article in Series:
Extraverted Sensation in INFJ and INTJ: Part 2
reminds me of the objet petit a of the Lacanians
very interesting: I’ve never seen it explained in this way (on the other hand, I’ve been into mbti for just over a month now). can you write sth. about Si as inferior function, please? (or did you already?)
Hi Blake, reading back through all 4 posts on extraverted sensation in INFJs and INTJs, I noticed you did not actually present your ideas on possible answers to the “primal dilemma” between introverted intuition and extraverted sensation. I may have missed it but am interested in hearing what you have to say on this topic.
In my opinion, I would say that extraverted sensation to an INFJ is like a wild horse. It cannot be tamed, but it exists nonetheless, and it is extremely powerful. INFJs can deal with their introverted intuition skillfully, but extraverted sensation is inexplicable to us. So I would say that we can do two things to deal with the wild horse; one is to build a fence around it, and one is to feed it from time to time. By building a fence I mean INFJs can train themselves to deal with money, food, alcohol, even power, basically anything that has to do with the world of extraverted sensation. By feeding it from time to time means to acknowledge that we have these primal desires, such as wanting to have social influence, wanting more money, wanting to be more beautiful, basically things that introverted intuition tells us are shallow and meaningless, but we want anyways. Just indulge on a regular basis.
By the way, I find your view on extraverted sensation original and very enlightening. Most MBTI sites will explain this function simply as a experiencing the world through the five senses, which really doesn’t explain much at all. Seeing it as a primal force, or instinct, really brings in to focus what the huge struggle between it and introverted intuition is all about.
Thanks again, I really enjoyed all 4 posts.
It may be helpful (or at least I’v found it helpful) to think of the relationship between Ni and Se as between knowing and doing, or between understanding and being.
I think of Se as being like the naturally gifted athlete. This person has never put an ounce of thought into HOW they perform at such a high level – they just do it, and in fact they so wholly inhabit their athletic pursuit that it’s not that far out to say they don’t even do it, they simply ARE it. This is the person you never want to ask for advice on how you should improve – they have no idea how they do it.
Ni then can be understood to be the athlete who is not naturally gifted, but who performs at a high level through conscious, intentional study, training, and effort. Ni is the athlete who’s a bit shorter, or a bit skinnier, but spends extra time in the batting cage with the hitting coach. Ni studies video, takes supplements, reads up on technique and theory of their event, and comes to possess a deep, conscious knowledge of their event, which they can then turn around and translate into performance. This is the person you want to ask for advice, no matter how naturally gifted you might be. Their lack of natural ability has forced them to work through every step consciously, and this allows them to communicate it to you in a usable manner.
Now obviously, these polar binaries are artificial for the sake of describing Se and Ni. It ought to be clear to most people that there is no such thing as a purely unthinking, unconscious high performing athlete. They generally don’t get past high school level athletics. At some point the natural grace and unselfconscious state of flow has to be accompanied by conscious study and intentional practice in order to continue doing well.
The same is true of the scrappy athlete. Study and practice and coach all you like, at some point the brain has to turn off and all those hours of practice and intentional focus have to turn into natural, unthinking, unaware action and reflex.
My point being that Ni and Se are not at odds with one another, they are two aspects of the same experience or practice of human existence. I haven’t found a nice summary word to wrap up what, precisely, Ni and Se both have in common, but they shouldn’t be seen as being in opposition. Ni without Se is worthless intellectualization or fantasy ideas about how the world ought to be “in a perfect world”. You see this in immature INFJ’s and their utterly romantic but unrealistic ideas about social justice. You see this in immature INTJ’s who are far too confident in their competence based only on their sense of knowing. Se without Ni is just animal instinct. All fire, no light. You see this at most clubs and bars any given weekend. But if you combine equal parts Ni and Se, then you get real magic.
And this is, generally speaking, the solution for unbalanced Ni or Se dominant types, I think. The best Ni doms are the ones who are able to, at some point, just shut up their brain and observe without judgment. The best Se doms are the ones who turn off the ADHD habit of jumping attention to whatever’s shiniest and start to apply themselves intellectually. Seriously, some of the best theological or philosophical thinkers I’ve known have been ESTP’s and ESFP’s. I mean, even listen to Miley Cyrus for more than a second and you hear her Ni peeking out all over the place (I think she’s very ESFP).
Just my two cents, hope it’s helpful.
“Seriously, some of the best theological or philosophical thinkers I’ve known have been ESTP’s and ESFP’s.”
This math chick (math professor) that I know, she is for sure either estp or esfp, I can’t believe I still can’t figure which one yet, leaning towards esfp. She was so amazingly se. I imagine she would be more mellow now (we’re no longer in touch). She was really a delightful flirty tease. Anyhow she was amazing in her tastes in movies, music, etc. Really refined. She wan’t into being all girly girly but she was really fashionable in her own crazy way. One of the simply most interesting people I’ve ever known. Could create an ambience out of nothing and with really introverted folks. Could get really interesting conversations started. Intelligent chick. Anyhow her Se helped her figure out right away what area of math to pick:) Go for the hot trend. Worked well:)
“Seriously, some of the best theological or philosophical thinkers I’ve known have been ESTP’s and ESFP’s.”
Mark,…. I know what you mean…. and you are tickling my brain because there is this lingering nagging inkling in my mind leftover from a Colbert thread (ENFP thread). So…. Colbert is endlessly fascinating. I’ve been wondering if perhaps he is one of these brilliant ESXP type philosophers. There is this sheer lovability alongside the awesome brilliance.
“Seriously, some of the best theological or philosophical thinkers I’ve known have been ESTP’s and ESFP’s.”
Um, name me one…
because the ESTP/ESFP type is pretty much about as far as you can get from philosophical thinking, especially the ESFP. The ESFP type would be the type least likely to be a “great” philosophical thinker in my book.
So, I’m waiting for the names of these great philosophical thinkers who were of the ESFP/ESTP type.
Because without actual offered instances of who you are talking about we can’t really get into further discussion on this topic.
And Lunar, your math teacher doesn’t count because I have no way of seeing her for myself in some capacity. Nor does anyone else.
Unless you can upload a video of her 🙂
Hi Blake, I’d like to send you a video actually of my math chick:):) I actually have one. But privately. It seems too crazy to do publicly. This was like the most fascinating person to me for years way back when. Well …. you have made me see the light on Ne versus Se via your earlier message, and actually after that I trust very little what I see in people mbti-wise!!
It’s like the divide between S and N is larger than I thought.
I’ll look up the video:) It would be a huge help to me actually to see what you see in her.
Sense of territoriality. “This is my space. I claim this as mine.” Reason: “I have the strength to do so.”
Lol.
Infps would not relate easily I’m guessing.
“Seriously, some of the best theological or philosophical thinkers I’ve known have been ESTP’s and ESFP’s.”
I think this guy EJArendee on youtube kind of illustrates the ESTP style philosopher. It’s kind of a life code type philosophy. And it has some refinement in my eye.