How are “Sensors” and “Intuitives” Different?
Of the four dichotomies, the largest discrepancy lies in the difference between Sensors and Intuitives. Whereas there is an approximate 50/50 split in the population between the other preferences, a full 70% of the population prefers Sensing versus only 30% favoring Intuition.
When you distill it down, the difference between Sensors and Intuitives is this: Sensors prefer reliability of information, and Intuitives prefer speed and depth of insight. This ends up manifesting itself a couple of unique ways. First, Intuitives learn to trust pattern recognition to help them understand information quickly and see things that aren’t ‘there’. Basically, they extrapolate large amounts of information from only a few data points.
Sensors, of course, have this same ability. But they don’t trust it, and so they don’t hone it. Instead, they trust reliable information – things that can be verified in the Real World. Therefore, they become masters of historical information – their own history as well as other people’s. They also become fantastic at manipulating objects in real time. There is no need to question reality when it’s right there in front of you. Reality is reliable. Speculation isn’t.
Second, how they see information informs how both these preferences see time. If real, reliable, solid information is what you choose to focus upon, then the here-and-now context becomes far more important, as well as past information (which used to be the here-and-now context). Sensors can’t rely on what hasn’t happened yet, so the future becomes far less interesting. On the other hand, Intuitives are already comfortable seeing what ‘isn’t there’ – as in, they’re comfortable theorizing and speculating on what could be in both the here-and-now as well as into the future. The past doesn’t really hold their interest any more than a reference point for future predictions.
Third, these differences alter both values and basic interests. For Sensors, values surround things like family, tradition, getting into action, old friends, etc… these are all rooted in the known and knowable, and therefore can be trusted. For Intuitives, values focus more on the cerebral – possibilities, memes, paradigms, perspectives and concepts. Conversation will generally revolve around these things, with little interest in small talk.
Both Sensors and Intuitives have an important role. Sensors often “hold down the fort” – uphold infrastructures that keep us going as a society. Intuitives are generally the “trailblazers” – coming up with new ways of looking at and doing things which fashion new technologies and paradigms. It makes sense that fewer Intuitives would be needed – too much innovation and everything collapses. But without innovation, the world stagnates.
Understanding and appreciating these differences is how we cooperate to create both a stable system as well as pathways to whole new worlds.
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I would love to see some content about what Intuitives can learn from sensors. As an ENFJ I grew up in an exclusively intuitive family and I think there is a lot I missed out on which most people take for granted. Happy to give examples if that’s helpful but I would be super interested in content about this. 🙂 Jules
I’M AN INFJ , MY BOYFRIEND IS AN ISFJ, We are so very different and it frustrates me that he only focuses on the now never has he prepared anything for future. I’m always getting things done for future. He hates that I’m unable to tell him split second answers to a question especially when he asks me whats wrong. I feel if I tell him he won’t understand anyway. So I just remain silent and try to deal with the energies and things I feel constantly. I wish I could be more like him and able to just not let things get so close but if I wall off it is extremely bad and the the dark side isn’t a good place to have me go. I try to see and stay positive and I avoid negativity like the plague. Do you think INFJ & INSJ are compatible? What would you advise on some areas where we can find commonality?
Mary Ellen, I’m an INFJ and have been with an ISFJ for almost 30 years. For years — up until very recently — I was very frustrated by our communication. He and I do well with the concrete, day-to-day things, but anytime we talk about things outside of that, he shuts me down. I talk about the things I “see” (intuit) but to him it’s not real, so he pulls out all the data on why I am wrong. I stopped talking to him about anything that interested me, but it has made for a very listless, unfulfilling relationship where I tend to keep my distance emotionally. Not so healthy.
In the last year both he and I learned our MBTI types and it has made the past decades make so much more sense. I am learning to trust myself and really * become * myself, instead of believing that I’m stupid and always wrong, which is what I took away from him shutting me down with evidence and facts. He still can’t see what I see, naturally, so conversation is still hard, but it’s a little better. I’m able to argue my side and sometimes he shrugs and says “well I guess so…” but you can tell he’s fuzzy on it.
I do appreciate his grounded-in-reality perspective. His perception of the way things are helps pull me out of anxiety spirals. I have learned to trust his analysis of things. He has told me he appreciates the way I’ve pushed him to get out of his comfort zone and try new things and extend himself. I have been able to show him a different side of things with my perspective and he’s changed his mind/thinking about some issues.
I guess the answer to your question is — a relationship between INFJ and ISFJ is hard. We operate on different planes. It’s not all bad. I think we can be good for each other, but it’s really important that we work on the communication part.
INFJ and ISFJ can be friends. But in romance, it’s a No. Having relationship with an ENTP/ENFP is better choice.
AM and her ISFJ have been together for over 30 years, so I don’t think your statement holds.
I too am INFJ in a relationship with an ISFJ and have been for well over a year now. The most important thing that I have found is keeping the lines of communication open. Also helps in heaps that you have the same core values spiritual or whatever you believe in.
Intuitives, embrace who you are! You don’t need anybody’s approval or acceptance to be yourselves. Those who say that only few people stay by your side, rejoice – these are the real ones and worth keeping. You see the world in a unique way, and this is not a curse, it’s a blessing. Isn’t it more interesting and exciting to live like this? All is well. Accept and love yourselves. After all, you don’t have another you. Happiness to all 😉
Thank you for this. I’m an INFJ and after reading a few articles regarding this type I can really say that it accurately describes me. I understand now, why I suddenly loses interest in certain conversations, me zoning out. But, at times I tend to be more INTJ. Is it normal to ‘float’ between these two types, INFJ and INTJ ?
It can seem that way at times for you, perhaps, but INFJ and INTJ are way more different than it would seem. INFJ uses extraverted feeling and introverted thinking, while INTJ uses introverted feeling and extroverted thinking.
I could see how, when you may be stressed, you may use some of your shadow traits (opposite poles) but you are the type you are.
INTJ here. Honestly I stopped reading after about 5 posts, didn’t understand why people deny what they are :> Basically the only reason I scrolled to the bottom was to leave a post!
Guess I’ve lived up to my personality type!
Being in INTJ and INFJ mode? It’s normal.
Your Enneagram type plays the role on this. I’m a INTJ type 5. Well, 5w6 for exact.
Maybe your Enneagram is type 4. Would you like to find out?
The smartest person I know is a sensor and super genius (ESTJ). He is anything but dull.
-ISTP
I tested last week as an INFJ. I wasn’t sure, because some of the descriptions I could relate to, and others not so much. So, I took two other tests by other companies and got INFJ each time. So then, I thought, that maybe I was in denial about certain aspects of all of this. While I find all of this rather fascinating, I guess I’m still not 100% convinced. I do like backing stuff up with facts, or with multiple points of confirmation which I understand is not an INFJ characteristic at all. And although I do feel like I’m usually on a “different wavelength” from those around me, and I do “jump” to conclusions about things rather confidently when it is about others, I do not have that same certainty towards myself. Yes, I know that is typically an INFJ. However, I’m not sure that I can “read” peoples’ emotions automatically. Sometimes I’m good at it, far more perceptive than my husband, but other times I don’t pick up on other’s emotions at all. People have said that they might be in a good mood, then someone upset walks into a room, and they look around to see who it is because they all of a sudden feel upset for no reason. I cannot say that is me, because it is not. It has been suggested to me that perhaps I am really an INFP. And although I don’t feel like most people “get” me, I am generally well liked in most circles and can get along with many different types of people. However, I am not a chameleon, as the INFJ is described in some places. How accurate do you all feel this test is? Is it just a good introduction for some introspection, or do most of you feel it is accurate? I’m not trying to be negative or critical here, so please don’t take offense. I really want to know and feel like none of the personality types really fits me totally, at least the way they are described. Thank you.
Try this site: https://www.michaelcaloz.com/personality/
It tests your cognitive ability. Every other site I’ve tested on inaccurately said I was an INFP. I used this test and got ISFP which is definitely the closest to my cognitive abilities! I had other friends take this test too and they all got more accurate answers that they did for other tests. If not, then just look at the cognitive functions and decide which you most relate to!
You are not alone. I have taken multiple tests by multiple sources. Sometimes they say INFJ sometimes INTJ Sometimes INFP Sometimes INTP So I,m either a complete alien or type xxxx or depends on my mood or I broke the system
omg i feel the same way
3 weeks ago I knew nothing of these personality types, so I read them all and I came to identify with INFJ. I decide to read a few of the other sites description of INFJ, almost everything rang true. I took the test a few days ago and it said INFJ. I only mention this because, with anything that has a subjective element, it is easier to first agree with what it is not. This always leaves you with fewer possible answers for what it is.
ENTP here. I don’t mind sensors, at times they can be rather slow and dull, however I think they have more of a problem with me, but then again, who doesn’t with my type… ???
For years I’ve been testing and the results always comes up as an INTJ and the descriptions ring as true. However my closest friend (don’t have many of those) say that I am more emotional and closest to an INFJ. However I don’t believe that I understand people’s emotion or even my own most times. I do recognise emotional aspects though and I believe this is experience and pattern recognition, anticipating certain moods and reactions because I’ve seen them before and trying to behave better in social contexts because I am learning how to. I react more socially because I am expected to. It always feelslike I am wearing a mask. Then, I have been reading reviews that don’t favour the Mayer-Briggs Theory. It is believed that the Big5 Theory is more accurate and better suited to type personalities. There my results are closer to the INFJ type in comparison but I still struggle with myself. Do you study people so you can learn how to behave in order to have a more successful life? Or do continue living with how you feel comfortable despite the fact that you will always be on the fringes of society, never finding people who understand you, always alone?
INTJs are quite emotional, especially with those they are comfortable with. We aren’t robots. We just don’t wear our emotions on our sleeves and gush out in public or with those we don’t know and accept into our inner circles.
Reading these comments I kinda envy NT approach to Sensory World. While we NF types spending big amount of our life thinking “what’s wrong with us” the NT people usually thinking “what’s wrong with them” 😀
Learning about MBTI helped me gather perspective about Introverted Intuition and now even more I feel like this is something really cool, not weird at all. I believe Intuitives while aware where is their difference are better able to develop better communication with Ss.
I do love deep conversations, brainstorming, planning future talking about conceptions and outcomes but I still do enjoy talking with my S friends about every day stuff. I would say I have N people in my life and S and I can create connection with both of types just this connection is different. I would also say that it is still possible to have deep conversations with S types. They still have Intuition in 10 years old or 3 year old position and sometimes We could be for them kind of people they can have “deep talk” with.
I would like to also question if only Sensory world is a real one. I would say that if so many people trust intuition that it is something existing too. Maybe we just can’t measure or proof
INFJ
lmao
Thought it was just me!! I have taken several tests…On one it even showed the percentages and I was 100 % for INFJ/INFP…took an anneagram test and I was a 9w1..but so close I could be a 9w5..so confusing! Am I literally 2 people????I know I’m different, I know my ways are in a realm all their own…I know I may be needed everywhere by everyone yet known by very very few and never feel I fit in or belong…I just help then move along to help somewhere else..I am too confused from tests to take anymore so I better figure out who I am another way?
As an intj, I have wrongfully thought sensors are dull. But now I learnt the interesting qualities of sensors. Some of these qualities match with me. Is it possible to be both intuitive and sensor?
We both have Intuition and Sensing. You couldn’t make a sandwich with out both (or maybe you could, lol). But we have something from both
When I am in a balanced state of mind I can be intuitive, but as external pressures are applied to me (responsibilities at work or in the family), the defensive 10 year old in me drives me into my man cave, and become more reliant on my sensory side as a coping mechanism. So yes, it can be migrative.
Haha. That s true. I m INTJ and I find that a lot of typical sensor talk is really boring and I just start to think of other stuff. I ve gotten quiet good in pretending to go along when I really need to but especially small talk is unbearable to me.
It s difficult to find someone who is on the same wavelength.
I feel you.
I’m an INFJ and am 42yrs of age and have always struggled to make a friendship last. Nobody understands me and most of the time nobody likes me when they first meet me however, if they’re around me enough they will eventually like me, they just have to get to know me first.
I feel you! I just found out I’m a INFJ. I’ve wondered my whole life why I don’t connect with people and I fail to socially blending into my professional environment. My co-workers dislike me and I can never advance professionally or in my personal life even though I put 110%. I’m kind, I compassionate, try to make everyone feel welcome, That they are validated, feel like they have a voice and they matter as a professional and as a person. I just don’t fit in.
I am a male ENTJ n 90% of the people in my life are Sensors. I do find the 10% intuitive so in line with my worldview that I like discussing business ideas with them n not with the Sensors, this is because imagination is very key to me. My family is all sensor type n so r most of my friends(Esfp). As I have grown older(now 31), I just can’t seem to relate to this 90% in my life as they seem more interested in drama, parties, who did what n who is who. They are more concerned about the Now and the past that I find myself bothered by their approach to life. Recently I fell out with a friend(an ESTJ) of more than 16yrs, our values n approach to life had changed. We are clearly on different pages as our understandings have drifted. I couldn’t understand why he was willing to conform n yet there was much more to do n achieve. I could clearly ‘see’ where we needed to be bt he was more interested in the spirit of social indulgence. May be its the ENTJ in me n the ESTJ in him, either way such a small difference in life approach tore a brotherhood into pieces n being an ENTJ I can’t seem to shake the personality difference. This was before I got to understand that he was estj n I was entj. As for my family, it is always best for me to shut the mouth as 9/10 of conversations end with me being a villain. My point is that we shouldn’t take the conflicts n differences btwn sensors n intuitives lightly. As an intuitive, I can say that intuitives need to learn what’s best for them in the world of sensors n sensors need to be aware of what’s best for them in the world of intuitives. Intuitives do find challenges with coping with what sensors call reality n the opposite is true for sensors. We just need to know these differences exist n know that conflict is possible when it comes to personal views n values. Personally my complaint abt sensors is that I find them slow n very low on imagination n I could say the sensors in my life find me to be one with my head up in the clouds, that I oppose what is logic to them. Either way I think it is a matter of perspective. Advice to Intuitives, please withdraw where necessary n always make several attempts to get your abstract views understood. As for the Sensors, we hear you loud and clearly, it’s just we don’t know how best to make you “see” from our vantage. We ask that you are not quick to judge/percieve us as wierd or difficult, God knows we try so hard to relate with you on all personal levels.
-A proud Intuitive
Ham- I’d love to talk to your more about your discoveries. I’m 28, and I feel like I’m finally coming to the same realizations about life. Girls who I idealized growing up have become the other now that I have realized the scope of my intuitive nature.
But how do you convince a sensor to even care about learning about the intuition?
So tired of trying to understand sensors and not being allowed to explain myself and how I view the world. “You’re too sensitive” is basically the end of every discussion and attempt to be heard…
After every conflict I tend to study my personality types deeper. This time it’s this that I’m studying… thankfully I’m discovering some of my best friends are also INTJ and it definitely helps me feel like I can be heard…
But I dont know how to make the Ss in my life even care… but at least now I know why my mother and I can never agree on things…
Hello Thank You for your amazing work and for creating this wonderful site for sharing our uniqueness.
I’m an ENFJ and I love learning what makes us all different from each other. I now have a new and deeper understanding of myself. Feeling grateful.
Marlene
About intuitives and sensors; I’m intuitive, husband a sensor. We are sometimes the same person with the same exact ideas and one of us will come up with something and say it- a split second before the other one was going to say the same exact thing. And I am not talking about two people who finish each other’s sentences, they are complex thoughts or weird ass opinions on a wide range of subjects. He’s ESTJ, and even though I tested 4 times INFJ, I’m having a hard time accepting it. I’ll admit that he doesn’t think the way I do, and that if I need to explain something to him ~if it’s something imperative, or exciting, it just sounds like word vomit and leaves him with a puzzled look on his face. So I usually use metaphors to explain what I meant because I really, really want him to get me. With him though, he’s the most straightforward, logical, get-it-done-right, (wait, no, that’s not his way, it’s wrong, just let him do it), “I am Your Father” type person that I go a little crazy. He was also a Marine for 14 years and still acts like one. Total anal about almost everything. And then, there’s me. I’m a perfectionist but I’m also disorganized. He calls me a pain in the ass. We both have dark sarcastic humor, and we both push each other’s buttons like no other. The way he makes decisions sometimes seems so cold to me. On the surface, he seems like he doesn’t take anyone’s feelings into account. But he does. He’s more of a tough love person whereas my decisions and things I do are based off of making sure people’s feelings are taken into account first and foremost. We can both be philosophical and logical, BUT, when I’m going on and on about something I’m passionate about, or that I find interesting, I can tell he zones out, or when he has left the building! And he can talk to me about everything from the mundane, to the exciting, whatever, but I soon find myself in a kind of trance like state where I hear him talking but don’t understand what he was going on about. We don’t do that to each other on purpose, we’re just different and have polar interests in life. The only thing we’re both passionate about is each other. Lol. He still doesn’t fully get me, and my pet peeve is when he thinks I don’t get him. I can literally feel the negativity radiating from his skin when he’s in a bad mood. I have to leave the room, if not the house because I feel it in my bones. I often get a headache or nauseated. Anyways sorry so long. I just wish that we could all see the humor in each other (in a good way) nobody wants to feel left out or feel inferior. I’m still trying to fully understand the whole MBTI thing, but I always run into things I’m reading to be too contradictory, hence making me wonder what’s true and what’s not. The testing DID help me in an enormous way though- I thought something was wrong with me. Because whenever we have company, or I’ve been out all day around people, I get anxiety and I don’t even have to have been doing anything physically exerting, but I’m completely worn out, I’m talking 100% exhausted and drained mentally, physically, and emotionally. I’ll be in my room for 3 days or more after a big event if someone doesn’t pull me out. So knowing that it’s called introversion, and that I’m not some freak (well I kinda am) walking around made me feel so much better.
It’s OK. I’m INFJ too, and I’ve been working on myself for a while. What all those tests, and research I’ve done lately (read read read and watch videos) helped me with was filling in some blanks, and my self-acceptance. It’s important to accept your uniqueness (I believe we all are, and we’re all different) as is, and not see yourself as broken – you’re not. Learn also what ESTJs are like – as a baseline to understanding, and I’d recommend reading about compatibility. Take it with a grain of salt though, because people aren’t perfect, and like I said, unique. As for the long posts, that’s stereotypical for us INFJs, hehe :).
You might be capable of gathering lots facts or plenty of ideas, unless and until you find logical(T) ways to make them possible its all in vain..
Feelers can get things done with their intuition too. It’s not just F/T it’s also P/J. Because if you plan how you’re going to use the facts you’ve gathered then you can put them to action.
as an ISFP
I’d like to say I’m both idealistic and practical.
so i feel like I’m in the middle or something.
That’s true. Imma sensor and i cannot handle intuitives conversation. T.T i really get exhausted as fuck.
https://www.truity.com/blog/intuitives-guide-getting-along-sensors
The above link explains problems intuitives face. Because they are minority, they are expected to make majority understand them. Oh,the self righteous perspective majority uses to judge the few. It is a VERY HARD and time consuming work to get even few sensors not to misunderstand everything you say and do, even or especialy when they are close to you.
Honestly, what’s the deal with this Sensors vs. Intuitives battle? I don’t understand why there has to be a prejudice from one to the other. There’s nothing wrong with focusing on the here and now and the cold, hard facts every once in a while, just like there’s nothing wrong with having a good old philosophical discussion. Also, the stereotyping of Sensors and Intuitives that I’ve read so far is pretty extreme. If Sensors truly had no capability to understand abstract ideas every once in a while, it would make very little sense as to how they got this far in life. As for Intuitives, it’s not as if they never focus on the facts. It’s just stupid to say that one is superior over the other, or that Sensors can only talk to Sensors and Intuitives to Intuitives… It’s a matter of personal preference, but opposites attract sometimes, and every type can learn from the others. So don’t act like the world has to accommodate you more than the rest, or as if you are seriously unable to accommodate a Sensor or an Intuitive when you’re the opposite of them. Because what’s the point of using MBTI to justify a prejudice? You can choose to grow from your weaknesses, or you can focus on yourself and bring others down.
-ISFP
You just put into words what I haven’t yet had a chance to. Thank you!
–Another ISFP
GMN, yours is an excellent and much-needed point. I’ll piggy back on you and add the following. Type conflicts, and type harmonies, are comprised of much more than type. Type is a starting point, but it’s not the only card in play, or even the critical card. When I think of all my friendships, I can certainly see the type conflict and type harmonies. But ultimately, the relationship thrived or dived depending on the emotional maturity of both parties, and the willingness to take emotional risks, such as emotionally honest communication, or admitting one has overlooked something, or allowing we don’t share the same views but that is okay. It includes humility – like being able to cherish that, even if you’re not going to get your way or be understood, the other person has sincerely tried to understand you and sincerely means to do no harm. It is the sincere effort that counts the most, because sincere effort is the only thing any of us can control, it is the only thing any of us can offer under all circumstances. I truly might not understand you – our personalities and life experiences might be so different – but I can always offer you my sincere effort to try to bridge the gap. When you’re sincere, there’s no judgment, there’s receptivity to learning, to being corrected, there’s commitment to speaking with care so as not to hurt. That kind of sincerity is all we can give to each other, and it is the most important thing to receive. Because guess what? Even with between best friends, between loving family members, between your fellow N’s or fellow S’s, life goes on, and what you were harmonizing over today may be surpassed by tomorrow’s WTF moment. And even a wonderful relationship between spouses who are the best of friends is built not on compatibility, which is never complete, but on this kind of sincere effort when there are the inevitable differences and disappointments.
It’s the lack of sincere effort, and/or the appreciation of sincere effort, that brings us to N’s being judged by S’s, and S’s being judged by N’s. I feel that the conflicts described above are reflections of type conflict, but only in part. The worst outcome of sincere effort is to agree to disagree, which would be a vast improvement over the pain that both N and S have experienced.
Amen… and to realize that some of our IN “abilities” kind of freak other people out. So their “disinterest” can be a fear/anxiety response to a part of human cognition they’ve never experienced themselves. And for Sensors— well, enough said.
I don’t think anyone ever implies that one is better than the other, just that intuitives are outnumbered by sensors and a lot of us are “in hiding” around you because we know how sensors respond to our intuitive type conversations.
It might take for you to be the only sensor in A room of intuitives all day, every day for a week, For you to truly grasp the difference. It’s not about sensors talking philosophy once in a while with intuituvex exchanging data ….
For example, I am the only one in my family who is an intuitive. This means what they naturally prefer to discuss is work, the ins and outs of their day (traffic, happenings) the neighbours, what needs doing around the house, concrete plans Like what day they’ll meet to go to Costco and what they need to buy, sports stats, what flowers are going to go in the garden this year, the weather and how it compares to previous years, the stock market, their health or current diet, recent news events, who said what or went where and their opinion or judgement on it….thus is the majority of the flow of conversation. Yeah…I can hold my own. But if I ask a question like “do you remember your first alcoholic drink? What did it feel like?” Or “I saw a similarity in the blind character in that movie to how people going through life but who never realize their passion must feel” or “what if as a society we decided to completely restructure our relationship to time?” the conversation tends to peter out right after someone gives a polite response and then goes back to their baseline of comfortable communication content.
The fact that you think of intuitive conversations being akin to philosophy (people who philosophize usually have a point or argument they’re making) means I’m afraid you are not really being exposed to truly intuitive conversations which happen and go in for hours just for the fun of it. Like this one for example where two grown adult men talk about duck hot tubs because why not? https://youtu.be/BH3vAWRdhe0
Spot on
– an INFJ
This comment is super insightful to my world, thankfully I live in a family of intuitives, so random “what if” conversations come up a lot. My brother (an INTP) is a philosophy major and while that’s not my area of interest per say, I absolutely LOVE the random philosophical conversations we have, simply because it’s fun and makes me think (which I love to do) – an INTJ
in 100% agreement with you. I am an INTJ female and people don’t seem to understand there is a marked difference between just trading information they have studied from philosophers; scientific findings e.t.c and true intuitive discourse.
A lot of people are great knowledge machines- but they can’t extrapolate information they have learned to draw their own conclusions about the future- unless of course they have read someone else’s (credited and, in the sensor’s opinion, thoroughly supported) opinion on the future.
They can only understand it through past or present experiences- these experiences either lived personally or provided through the context of someone else’s knowledge. They usually can’t take that final step, using past information to pit it against varying potential future paths, before doing what I call “short-circuiting”: giving you a wishy-washy answer that barely answers the question, if it does at all, before changing topics to those that they feel more comfortable in.
questions I like asking : In your opinion, how soon will someone have to start insisting their child will need to learn mandarin in the upcoming decades. ex: 3 decades from now- should a person insist that their child should learn mandarin/ business Chinese in order to be competitive in the working world?
or
The most perfect form of Christian government would be anarchy- Discuss! (No one told me this nor did I read it elsewhere- I opined it myself. Sensors seem to be able to handle these types of questions more. But the discussions can still be quite short lived )
Great insight. I’m an intuitive in an extended family of sensors. They outwardly call me the hippy, the weird one, etc. I have become very quiet and put on an act to fit in. I get anxious before I get with any family. If I tried to explain the difference between us, they would say something snide or dismissive and go back to their conversation. I can certainly hold my own with them, having had lots of practice in the world around, but it often feels like I’m just marking time. I try to keep my side of one-on-one conversations short. If I get excited about a topic the other person zones out or cuts me off. It’s sad and I feel very much alone in my family. Always have.
exactly this statement right here ^
-INFJ
Why do people think sensors can’t have deep, philosophical, and meaningful conversations? How do you know what the MBTI is of your family members? Have you administered the test?
Sometimes deeper conversations have to happen in the right context with the right people. I’m an S-type and can sit and talk for hours on a philosophical topic or novel idea if it’s with the right person. I’m not interested in having that conversation with anyone, because some people don’t think like that.
It’s not “every once in a while”. When you’re having to associate yourself with them on a daily basis, it’s overwhelming and frustrating. You’re both at a loss of understanding.
It’s not “every once in a while”. When you’re having to associate yourself on a daily basis, it’s overwhelming and frustrating.
ive taken the myer briggs test many times and sometimes my results change. oddly my other 3 letters are almost 50/50 but my intuitive never budges. it’s always over 70%. after years of this and a very, very, very stressful experience at the airport yesterday while traveling with 2 sensors I decided to dig into this a little out of sheer confusion. The usual. The 2 of them are stressed out and pissed at me for wanting to plan ahead for a likely event while we are standing in the line at customs. The situation goes like this. Our flight to Atlanta was roughly an hour late because of fog. (lame). We arrived with less than an hour to go through, tsa, customs, get our bags, check our bags, scan passports at machines, of course one of the 3 of us gets the X. Last time 2 of us did and both of us went to a separate extra line and the 3rd went through. This time the 2 of them decided that all 3 of us would go to the extra line. While in line I wanted to know why. Sensors tell me to shut up. I look up the plane status on my phone while we are in the extra line. Plane status is now leaving earlier. I told them that they had given up on us and point out that it also says that the plane is boarding. We still have more lines to wait in and our flight is in another section of the airport. (Clearly a lost cause.). Sensors seem slightly interested in the phone but are quickly angered once I bring up that we may need to start thinking about where to stay in Atlanta. Afterall, there’s only one more already overbooked flight leaving tonight and a huge snowstorm on the way. To me this seems reasonable and common sense. Both sensors join together and shun me as usual. They pretend I’m not even there as I use our wasted quiet time in line to shoot out suggestions. One chats to the other about the line not moving which seems obvious and unimportant to me. I continue to try to plan an overnight. They continue ignoring me. We miss the flight but our airline offers 3 people that volunteer to give up their seats on the overbooked flight 1,000 sky miles. 3 people take the deal. I’m stressed out from being yelled at over what I feel was common sense. They’re calming down but still VERY impatient with me while waiting for the flight. On the flight I silently plan the quickest way out of my seat so that I won’t need to wait behind as many people getting out overhead bags. It works, I get off the flight before them despite being in a further back seat than one of them. I change my shoes for winter while waiting for them and go to the baggage while they head outside for a smoke break.
I was very unhappy to read stuff on other websites that made our kind sound irrational, dreamy, with our heads in the clouds. Just stupid and wrong. As if our strategies never worked and were based on no logic. I know what I am NOT and almost everything that the other websites said is what I am not. Literally, the one and only correct thing was pattern recognition but it would be written in such a way that sensors reading it would think that we take a split second and make a decision with no thought based on a pattern all the time. I think that’s what most of them already think and I’m sick of not understanding why what I say is so unimportant that I always get tuned out. I feel bullied and secretly feel like they’re the ones that are nuts.
Thank you for the 1st article that doesn’t make us sound like we spend all day thinking about the future and dreamy with our head in the clouds. I know that I think of the IMMEDIATE future mostly. When I spot a future road bump in the future planned by the sensors I keep an eye on it and if it becomes more likely than not I address it and other possibilities. I call this planning ahead. Yes, I like dislike small talk, it’s boring and often fake but sometimes necessary. However I don’t randomly go off into a conversation about why the heck a sphere was floating around in whatever existed before it blew up into a big bang or whether or not God created that sphere etc. while standing in line at the airport. I save those conversations for when we are on vacation, laying on the beach looking up at the stars. I like to be somewhat relevant and not completely random. I feel like those other sites make us look nuts and only confirm what they already think.
I thought I was doing this to learn about what they were thinking but when I saw what they wrote about us I was offended and this is what it turned to. Good thing the 2 sensors aren’t here right now. They would be pissed again ;).
I agree with you 100% and I wish we could be friends! – CN
I still have no idea which one I am. I have taken every personality test known to man and have gotten probably ever single result there is. So frustrating not knowing yourself. I think there must be a separate group for those like me who would literally be split 50 percent between every trait.
Try looking at the ways different types think and behave in extreme stress. The possible ways of acting out or the likely dangers they face when their functions start skipping over one another or just get stuck in the inferior. I had always typed the same since I was 19. Again at 26. Again at 37. Then my life splattered all over my lovely wall paper and guts were sliding down to rest on walnut floor. And I didn’t even know who I was anymore. So much of everything had changed or been lost forever or caught fire or simply died. I didn’t recognize my life or myself and the death spiral loop came upon me and then the rejection of my inferior, of which I had no idea at the time, no way to explain my compulsions or odd behaviors and stubborn ways. I just knew that is the only way I felt save enough to survive and so it is what I did. And it lingered and did not pass. For years it did not pass and I didn’t even really notice the time passing. I only knew that I could see no other options that I was capable of by myself and I did not know how to or want to burden anyone else by asking for help. And I wasn’t convinced, even after 2 years, that I even needed help. This was just who I was now. Everyone changes throughout life. Complete agoraphobia and isolation was just me and even though I wanted the resulting depression to go away, I could think of worse things to be than a hermit. So who can judge me. I made every excuse in the book to stay this shell of myself and my lower, devil functions were happy to help out by providing all kinds of self abusive whispers that kept me firmly attached to my prison. The prison of myself.
After finally being forced to look for answers and really wanting to know why because I had a daughter who couldn’t be affected by this acceptance of my own self hatred, blame, or lack of will to continue on in this life. I wouldn’t let her be. She did not deserve to be in this dark prison and I tried to fake joy and intensity but she didn’t deserve that either. She didn’t deserve fake anything. She deserved her one terrific life and I had no right to rob her of that because I didn’t have the energy or will to try and recapture who I used to be. So I read. And searched. And even though I had no idea where to start and no faith that a counselor could help me before she went to kindergarten, in beginning the thing some sort of magic happened and I started out with my type. I hadn’t thought about MBTI in years. It’s not the rage where I’m from and I majored in Poetry not Psychology. I don’t even remember why I started my search with type instead of depression or phobias or any number of other relative topics. In no time I had exact answers that I never thought I would have. Not to that extent. I even knew the thought processes that went haywire to protect me and compensate and read exactly the few ways that my death spiral loops and grips could manifest into my life from the small degree to the absolute worse. My life blew up then I blew it up again it seems. It was a large price to pay, I guess. I’m not sure I’d recommend it. It did, however, make me beyond certain of my type and has led to more than a few other epiphanies and insights that I am grateful for. I say a thank you to Jung and the rest of you lovely people who provide this information that can literally lead to miracles of the soul over and over.
Bless you— people don’t understand how we can actually feel like we’ve exploded when we have to face our ego deaths. I had a very similar experience to yours, trying and trying and trying to be understand and getting no where with my family. I ended up saying to my husband, “OK— just lay it on me— what am I not getting here?” And what he just kept kindly and patiently telling me, as I sat in front of him sobbing, was basically what this article says— They are Thinking Sensors. They’re great at what they do and who they are. You are an Intuitive Feeler… you seem weird and labile to them. The more they refuse to engage, the more “labile” I get. I have to STOP… accept them as they are… treasure myself. Be Patient. Don’t expect a horse to fly, a dog to sing, a bird to sit in your lap. See people as unique flowers (or deadly plants), but learn to nurture yourself! A shoutout here for the INFx program that Joel & Antonia have… these interviews with INFx types really makes you feel that you are legitimately wonderful and that there IS a place for you in the world. AND… you have to face your angers and resentments at “always” being the one to have to explain your inner world. Face your expectations, your grief, your anger, and then turn that energy around to build up the best life you can imagine. Yes— thanks to you all who read. This kind of info has saved my life, truly.
There’s a perception that Sensors get things done and Intuitives don’t. But, I think that’s mostly tied to the existing (and majority rules) shape of society’s framework, which is Sensor preferenced with all its moving parts and details — similar to what appears under a car’s hood.
An Intuitive preferenced society would most likely evolve such that it didn’t need all the moving parts and consequent labor intensity.
I am textbook INTP in most ways (for example, I’m an analytic philosopher but used to be a programmer). I have always tested INTP. But it never seemed to be the whole story. There are many aspects of my personality (that have always been there) that seem antithetical to an INTP type. Examples: I am extremely aware of my body. I get the correct “form” in various physical activities (like ballet, weight lifting, or martial arts) instinctively and on the first try, but I’m horrible at improvisational club or wedding dancing- just very very bad. But I’m good at sports. I am very sensitive to my environment- over time, I get very depressed in an office environment. I am also an accomplished painter (though only from a subject- I cannot “make something up”). Finally, I pick up on cultural cues very quickly, to the point where I am frequently mistaken for a local when I travel. I CRAVE both analytical AND these tangible physical activities. I’m in “flow” when I’m coding, doing analytic philosophy (or any systems analysis), cooking, painting, and doing ballet. Accuracy is definitely my driver, but I am reenergized by getting my hands dirty, so to speak. My ideal job would be resident philosopher at Yosemite National Park. Is there any way of making sense of this? If not, that’s ok. I’ll just keep doing my thing.
But you’re totally making sense. Ti-Ne-Si-Fe. I’m awkward when walking, but I’ve done martial arts, I play multiple instruments, and I dance (for fun, yet I also cannot dance well at weddings and such). People ask me for directions when I’m in their country/area, despite me not knowing where everything is, and once, my friends got lost in a new city when I didn’t go with them. I can figure out locations and things with a shoddy map (say a metro map), and take us to where we need to go.
Your “inconsistency” in the use of your body is due to your Si being tertiary; as in you think you’re really good at its use, when in reality, you have a certain area you focus it onto. Which is why you can list when and how you use Si. Si-Dom people use it everywhere, so they don’t even need a list. It’s their first filter. Just like Ti is something we use constantly, that we also don’t need a list in explaining how we analyze everything around us.
I wouldn’t say necessarily that your job defines you as typical INTP; anyone can do any job. I believe I read a statistic that said ISTJ types are the most frequent types in the world of coding… so… maybe what you think is “obvious,” may not actually be conclusive of anything, but just a correlation.
As for lacking improvisation, I think that’s because you sound like you’re in a Ti-Si loop of sorts (I’ve read that every INTP is likely dealing with some form of Ti-Si loop at any given time). Also, re-engaging in Ne development and trying out new styles will over time, help you figure out how to improvise better = Developing extraverted intuition.
This is so true and the pain to my existence in my relationship from trials and tribulations in the past. We still fail to connect at this level to create a stable system. If I bring up a topic from the past in a new way to see it differently. She right away puts up walls as she has stored that past in the closet. The things is, I see every aspect of life or in our relationship as plants. If something isn’t growing, it’s dead and will spend time understanding that plant and all the components to have that plant thrive enough where it isn’t dying. So if the topic is dying or hurting for her or myself. The conversation continues. I’m always gaining new insight and experimenting for the best results. For her, if the plant is dying. It is dying and moves on. So any time I bring anything up. I am “Revisiting something we talked about” but never solved in away where it doesn’t hurt. In the biggest example it hurts her and want her to move forward from it. The best way I found is to do my thing and not have a formal conversation about it as it ruffles feathers and causes extreme emotions. So I’ll experiment to achieve base hit results and lighten those areas. The thing is than, it sucks that we don’t have this well working part of our relationship. Sometimes I think she’s stubborn. And then, ask myself am I stubborn in achieving the best outcome. And found that this is true if it’s something that can be resolved. So when or how it that determined!? lol. If I am the one deciding what IS, than maybe Im the wrong person to judge. I digress.
You just explained my entire failed marriage. Today he tells me the divorce was final last Wednesday. News to me. Knowing for a long time I would be so much better off by myself than between all his rocks and hard places, and still, even now, sitting here seeing more than one easy way to tweak a few things and have a good shot if we tried it again. But I can’t be the only one tweaking or researching how our personalities clash and how to avoid it. It happens so fast that, as intuitive as I am, I could not see exactly who or what ignited the fire. Blazes. Just sudden blazes. So I searched and searched and found so many answers and understand him so much better. If he could do the same instead of assuming every time I grate his nerves or pull in another direction that I am purposely being selfish because I just don’t care then we could be a part of this amazing evolutionary process. He blows up every time I even hint at solutions. We have a toddler. She will be 2 in 6 days. I would humble myself and understand even the most horrible traits in someone for her. What ego? Who cares? He won’t even listen to me attempt to explain something he misunderstood. Even though it could and would make him see that in no way was my intention what he thought it was. Because it wasn’t!
But the commitment to his first and only perception of things must be a very strong. How terrible it would be for the cog to turn. The awful fear and insecurity of making the time and space in your being to truly comprehend that there could be some other truth present that you initially failed to see. That you couldn’t see because you were too scared to even consider it. There could be a pink elephant in the room that you just haven’t tuned your senses to yet, an elephant that could wipe away your anger, indignation, and your constant and exhausting need to defend your ego against an imaginary foe. But he would rather lose his family and no longer live with his 2 year old daughter than even think of another way to see. That might mean he was wrong the first time and everyone knows being wrong is the worst thing that can possibly happen to a person.
Feeling your pain, but slow down… how are you now? …It’s been a while.
…I´m an ENFP… and love an INTJ…
(but he´s too young) (and I´m Dutch, and he = Czech..)
N = great
ENFP and INTJ are a theoretical best match. I am INTJ and I was hoping to find a nice ENFP. As it turned out, I’m with a nice INFJ and it’s wonderful. We resonate.
The percentage of intuitives and sensors in the population isn’t a result of how much of each type is “needed”. It’s simply based on how much they reproduce. We aren’t born sensor or intuitive based on what society needs, but rather society is built to meet our needs.
I wonder what a society adjusted to accomodate a 70% intuitive population would look like? 🙂
It might look like England. ? I’ve been away for more than 20 years so it may have changed a little. However, I read an article a while ago that referenced research that suggested Britain had around 75% introverts, as the exact opposite of America’s 75% extroverts. It explained my sudden difficulty interacting with the general population here at first versus the little to no effort that was required back home.
I very much doubt that there is a population of 75% intuitives in Britain now. Most of them seem incapable of any kind of independent or critical thinking and seem to think the future is irrelevant! Luckily I am 97% introverted (INTJ-T) so don’t feel any need to waste my time with them!
I can’t imagine how anyone who is extrovert can be a good match for anyone who is introvert. But then I am 97% introvert, so maybe that’s truer for me than for some introverts!
Hmmm… I beg to differ on this, loads of people say that intuitives are rarer than sensors, but if you actually think about it, who would feel more alone in a conversation about philosophy, hmmm… probably sensors, and about trusting intuitions, well that really only encompasses NFs, NTs are notoriously agnostic, and SJs trust established authority, which is not real or concrete. I don’t think it’s about doubt, I think it is merely to do with how you naturally process information, adding your own interpretations (intuitives), or taking it at face-value (sensors), anyway that’s what I think:) By the way I really hate it when people say that sensors are inferior to intuitives, harboring a covert superiority but saying ‘I’m so misunderstood’, my natural perceptions may be different to others, (I am an INFP), but I still love people who think differently, hey, if you want people to accept intuitives, you should start accepting sensors, sometimes the simple warmness of a sensor can really cheer you up when you are over-thinking your life into self-destruction, so yeah thats what I think:)
I agree my fiance is a sensor and when she’s silly it can really lift my mood even though I’m thinking about all these existential things. I also sort of need her to kick me in the ass and get me to do the dishes and drink water. I am extremely grateful to her for that.
Lily, you write: “By the way I really hate it when people say that sensors are inferior to intuitives, harboring a covert superiority”.
I can tell you why: Intuitives can talk about any issue with Sensors, but NOT vice versa. Try sensors on philosophical or other abstract things – they are lost!
Try me (intuitive) on facts – this is no problem. We can acquire facts, but sensors cannot acquire philosophical way of thinking.
“Try me(intuitive) on facts- that is no problem. We can acquire facts, but sensors cannot acquire philosophical way of thinking.”
That’s a pretty big generalization to apply to 75% of the population.
If you have no problem with facts , ask yourself this: was that statement based on actual facts and experiences with real people,
or was that just based on your own personal opinion?
And by the way:
1) the tone of what you’re saying sounds a lot like the “covert secret superiority” that Lily said she hated.
2) it’s not just intuitives who visit this site, and if you don’t want to create conflict with other people reading this stuff you might not want to go posting statements like that.
Sincerely
– A Sensor
Ah how sensor-y. And conflicts don’t seem so bad to be honest. We will stagnate if we don’t, don’t you think?
cringe
Would it be fair, then, to say that sensors can acquire philosophies, but intuitives cannot acquire a factual way of thinking?
Amen!!!! (S)
But it’s the truth. i have never seen a sensor who is passionate about abstract ideas, that;s because that is the deffinition of sensing: gather information from the enviroment, where intutives like abstract thinking and posibilities managering: what if? So yeah you can not talk to a sensor about that kind of stuff, because: he/she will not understant or not care.
I just thought I’d give you guys a very sensing fact to consider. My adult son is an INTJ. I, on the other hand, am an ISFP. In spite of our differences, we have frequent meaningful discussions about a wide variety of abstract concepts. Some of his ideas I can understand better than others, but I do understand, and I also care. So my point is that a sensor is totally capable of understanding and even caring about abstract concepts, just maybe not on the same level as an intuitive. After all, we all have intuition somewhere in our functional stack, don’t we?
Hi Lisa, You may resonate well with the ISFP because you have exactly the same cognitive functions, both introverted and extroverted, just in different order… Just a thought.
Yeah, it really makes sense there are way less intuitives than sensors, but it’s kinda annoying nevertheless. I feel like I only get along with other intuitives and they’re harder to find among people. IMO sensors care too much about trivial shit I have absolutely no interest in, but still, I am glad they’re here since we do tend to never get shit done, don’t we?:) We’re too busy building our castles in clouds to care about eating and all that mundane boring stuff. So, thanks Mum for keeping me alive for all these years:)
Exactly! Sensors have other abilities and strengths that we as Intuitives lack. But… Intuitives reach levels that most Sensors just can’t, and so it’s very frustrating to have to put so much effort into finding other Intuitives who can better reach our level philosophically.
You forgot to add: “and intuitives cant stand sensors.”. 😉
And yet, without them, it would be the BEST SUMMER EVER until all the Intuitives died horribly that winter.
Yeah, for real!
There is a need for iNtuitivity as for Sensing, such things wouldn’t exist otherwise. We need each other.
Also I don’t think there is a person 100% Intuition or 100% Sensing, there is always both of them in a person, and that is what makes people understandable. Some of the people can be situated in a middle point, 50%/50%, and that is possible for all traits not only N ans S.
This is just a system to categorize them, but I think the reality is much more complex.
The difference between us are not to make war between us but to help each other acordingly. If a person would be capable of doing all the things by himself then he wouldn’t need anyone else do to anything, and he would problably be alone. But because we are different and not “perfect”/have different traits we need each other to live and that makes us being more toghether than distant with each other. Also we can love the others for what they are and respect what makes them unique. We need to cherish that.
Have a nice, happy day!
True, this. It takes a lot of effort to overcome myour run-away impulse, especially SJs
i did your test – found out i’m intuitive – always knew i saw the world differently –
your explanation video was GREAT to hear — and listened to another one too —
(don’t know if i already sent you this request, but)
my boyfriend would like to do your ‘are you an intuitive’ test -(i can’t find it on
your website) – i would like to find this out too – maybe then can both subscribe
to your $197. thing which seems like it would be very helpful – for me anyways
thanks
janet