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If you want to design your perfect life, you need to start by really understanding yourself—your preferences, personality, values, how your brain works, everything! One of these first steps is learning how you perceive and determine your actions within the world or understanding your cognitive functions.
For today, let's begin with understanding your Sensing function! I'm going to start with a major generalization and a little joke (that isn't very good). Here we go...
How do you tell the difference between an Extroverted Sensor (Se) and an Introverted Sensor (Si)? The Se user will notice everything around them but won't remember any of it, while the Si user will remember everything, as long as they notice it in the first place.
Again, this is a joke, but every joke has a bit of truth to it. Like this one...
Okay, enough joking around! Let's dive into the Sensing function and discuss how it affects us all!
The Misconceptions
First things first—I have written about cognitive functions and cognitive stacks elsewhere, so if you need an introduction or a refresher, check those posts out first because we are getting into the weeds.
Let's start by getting rid of some misconceptions. The first one is that if it isn't listed in your profile, you don't use it. If you have a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) profile or a similar system that doesn't list Sensing as a function (like INTJ or ENFP), you still use Sensing! This is the biggest issue with anything that looks like an MBTI result - we think because it isn't in our four letters, we can't or don't use it. Wrong! We all use a Sensing function; we just might not default to it as easily as others.
Here is another misconception - if Extroverted Sensing (Se) is listed in your cognitive stack, then you don't use Introverted Sensing (Si). Wrong! You also use both function attitudes (such as Introverted Sensing and Extroverted Sensing). Just because a function isn't in your cognitive stack doesn't mean you don't use it - you simply don't use it as often or as easily.
Last misconception - MBTI, 16Personalities, and anything based on Carl Jung's cognitive functions explains everything about your personality. Nope! Jung developed these cognitive functions as an explanation for the different ways of perceiving and making decisions in the world; they are not behaviors or skill sets - they are preferences. This is why two ISTJs could meet and be two very different people. They will have a lot of overlap, but they won't be the same person.
So...What Is a Sensing Function? Extroverted Sensing vs. Introverted Sensing
All right, great, now let's talk about the Sensing function and its function attitudes (introversion vs. extroversion). First, Sensing functions are all about how we perceive the world around us. This is the world as brought into our mind through our five senses. If there is one generalization I can make about people with a Sensing function in their top two cognitive functions, it is that they are IN the physical world around them (and I think they all like or wish they were into gardening). This is the first point where we realize that we all use Sensing functions to some extent - you have to experience the world in some way to think about it. Simple enough. Now you know we all using Sensing in some way.
Every cognitive function can be Introverted or Extroverted. We call this the "function attitude." A brief crash course on the difference (you can read a more in-depth dive here) is that an introverted attitude focuses more on the self, while an extroverted attitude focuses more on how others are experiencing things. Introverted functions tend to focus energy on the individual's experience (the "subject" in Jung's writing), while Extroverted functions tend to focus outward toward others and the current moment (the "object" in Jung's writing). So what does this mean for the Sensing function and its function attitudes? Here it is in a nutshell:
Extraverted Sensing (Se) is experiencing the world around you as it is happening through your five senses (an awareness of material reality in the environment as it is happening now).
Introverted Sensing (Si) is more focused on the memory of past events and how the current event relates to past experiences (material reality filtered by individual knowledge from fact and experience).
Another of my favorite explanations of the difference is this:
Se keeps you from running into walls by saying, "There's a wall in front of you now!" Si keeps you from running into walls by saying, "Hey, remember a few years ago you ran into this wall? Don't do it again!"
I mean, pretty much!
Sensing in the Real World - How We Observe the Sensing Functions and Our Cognitive Stack
Now, we have established that everyone uses a Sensing function (either Se or Si). You can't escape this fact - it is your reality. But who uses Se vs. Si, and where does it land in their cognitive stack? I got you. Here is a breakdown of every type and where their Sensing function lands in their cognitive stack.
Extroverted Sensors (Se)
ESTP: Se-Ti-Fe-Ni
ESFP: Se-Fi-Te-Ni
ISTP: Ti-Se-Ni-Fe
ISFP: Fi-Se-Ni-Te
ENTJ: Te-Ni-Se-Fi
ENFJ: Fe-Ni-Se-Ti
INTJ: Ni-Te-Fi-Se
INFJ: Ni-Fe-Ti-Se
Introverted Sensors (Si)
ISFJ: Si-Fe-Ti-Ne
ISTJ: Si-Te-Fi-Ne
ESTJ: Te-Si-Ne-Fi
ESFJ: Fe-Si-Ne-Ti
INTP: Ti-Ne-Si-Fe
INFP: Fi-Ne-Si-Te
ENTP: Ne-Ti-Fe-Si
ENFP: Ne-Fi-Te-Si
Based on this list, we can assume that we will see similarities among personalities that share Sensing attitudes. The amount that you will see these behaviors in individuals depends on where the function lands in their cognitive stack. So, while an ISTJ and ENFP will both use Si, an ISTJ will exhibit Si stronger than an ENFP. These are just generalities, but here we go....
Extroverted Sensing
Seem to be living in the moment - the past doesn't matter
Aware of the experiences of those around them
Tend to like to perform in front of audiences - can be the life of the party (yes, even the introverts like ISFP and INTJ)
Restless and on the move
Current experiences guide them to the next experience
Love a life lived to the full
Can be impulsive and react in the moment - great improvisers
Often struggle to remember small details or past experiences
Introverted Sensing
Aware of how new experiences relate to previous experiences
Seem to remember everything that ever happened to them
An orientation toward what has worked before
Develop very strong habits and stick to them (don't always have to be good or productive habits either)
A touch of nostalgia in a lot of what they do
Appear unbothered by external events, even if sometimes they really are ("It is what it is")
Risk-averse - likes stability and predictability
They run into things, and if someone moves an object on them, they'll run into it again (my ISTJ and ISFJ friends are covered in bruises)
Keep Making Art and Playing Sports
Now, a quick note before I move on. Based on this list, it sounds like Si users are not great performers and would make poor artists or athletes. This is not true. Si users are often very creative and artistic, but their art is often for their own benefit and enjoyment while Se users like to have an audience. Keep creating, Si users!
Neat!... What Do I Do With This?!
Okay, cool. I see this—now what? How do I use it? Great question! What follows are some simple suggestions and are neither universal nor complete. If you want to get really in-depth, reach out, and let's start working together.
Let's go one function attitude at a time, starting with Se. Se users - look for a job or activities where you get to perform! Presentations, leadership, politics, advocacy, debate, theater, music, sports - find a way to perform out loud! Also, try to avoid careers where there is a lot of sitting. Nobody likes sitting all day, but Se users will really struggle with it. Seek action-oriented roles where you are doing things. Find a position that offers variety and flexibility. Find things that are interactive (introverts seek out your people and who make you comfortable). Last, ensure you have a high degree of autonomy, independence, and, depending on your comfort level, a fast-paced environment.
All right, Si users - your turn! First things first, predictability. This doesn't mean seeking a boring job, but Si users like to know the expectations upfront. Find careers and activities that have established practices and that respect established protocols, procedures, and standards (Do we really need to experiment all the time?! Not everything needs to be innovative!). Seek structure and a place where you can exercise your attention to detail (attention to detail is why Si users make great artists, musicians, and athletes). Look for activities and careers with a high level of consistency and reliability. Seek out opportunities to pursue long-term projects where you can see the results of your sustained efforts (Gardening? Building a business? Cosplay? Project management?).
Thanks for joining me on this one - I had a lot of fun writing it! I kept sharing things with my wife (an ISTJ) and it must be right because she would look at me like I just saw through her soul. Plus, this post explains why I struggle to remember things as a Se user. Last night, I forgot the band name Green Day, and I have been listening to them since I was 12! At least I don't run into physical objects a lot...
We'll see you in the next post where we dive into the Intuitive cognitive function!
With love,
Tom Chapman, TruePath Discovery Coaching
Ready to learn more? Check out these other popular blog posts!
But I'm An Ambivert! Clearing Up The Introvert/Extrovert Confusion
Noticing the World Around Us: Perceiving Cognitive Functions and How They Work
But That Doesn't Sound Like Me? - The Downsides of Stereotypes in Personality Typing
Navigating Grief with Understanding: Perspectives from MBTI and the Enneagram
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