Patterns, Possibilities, Connected Dots, and Imagined Scenarios
I suggested to a group recently that if we think about the four “portals” of perceiving as outlined by psychological type, we have four unique ways of “seeing experience.” In one blog entry on the Sensing functions, I suggested that Extraverted and Introverted Sensing are by design “portals” on the tangible, concrete, and consensually verifiable in very different ways. I want to explore the other “portals” related to the role of Intuiting in Extraverted and Introverted modalities. As Jung noted, our type pattern has a way of being one-sided and prompting us to pay attention in one particular way. Further, he pointed out that our challenge is to learn more about the other modes of perceiving and to learn to access them more consciously—which is what I hope the Pearman Integrator invites individuals to consider.
Jung called perceiving mental functions “irrational” by which he meant these just operate without too much conscious interference. We don’t go walking around saying, “I’m now Sensing or Intuiting such and such…” Information just “comes to us” on which we then make decisions that we consider rational choices. But we know that the choice we consider rational is greatly affected by the kind of information on which the choice is based. This alone is reason enough to learn more about the four perceiving mental functions as it will enrich our judgments the more we learn to use them.
I refer to perceiving functions as non-rational processes. This is in part why I’m use the metaphor of a portal on experience. These are ways of seeing things. Some want to argue that “Sensing functions are always first” but I’m not so sure. (I’ll take this issue up in detail in a later blog.) Over the years I’ve come to appreciate that for many people they have Intuitive perceptions and awareness which does not appear to be associated with any direct stimuli, any recent content in recent consciousness which seem to be out of sequence in time and not related to Sensing information. The idea that everyone always Senses before he or she Intuits simply may not be true; as one individual noted, “it isn’t that seeing is believing, it is what we believe, we then see.”
Intuiting is about identifying patterns, themes, following hunches which are based on linking information points. This function in an overall perspective tends to quickly go from experience such as a sensory awareness to linkages to possible uses of the object at hand. While Sensing types find concrete information and specific details of natural interest, Intuiting types by-pass the facts and move immediately potentials and possibilities. It is as if the possible uses or concepts in a situation stimulate interest and a strong need to consider how information is potentially used rather than how it is actually used.
Stimulated by novel thoughts and insights, Intuitive types are easily pulled into future oriented conversation and exploring complex possibilities associated with thoughts about a situation. A love for the abstract, conceptual, complex information pulls the intuitive into exploring “what if” and generating scenarios on few if any facts in a situation. Those who prefer Intuiting in its various forms are attracted to words like concepts, metaphors, meaning, complexity, themes, patterns, curious, autonomous, independent, creative, innovative, spontaneous, idealistic, ambiguity, paradox, and novel.
For years I have used a simple exercise in which everyone has two minutes to “write a paragraph about a river.” This ambiguous instruction calls on the default mode of perceiving and after everyone has completed the exercise, depending on the size of the group, I sort the paragraphs into Si, Se, Ni, Ne or simply S and N. Overwhelmingly, the language and focus of the paragraphs differ as you would expect by type. Most of the Sensing inclined will typically describe a particular river while the Intuiting inclined will use a metaphor such as “a river is like time moving…” We can’t help it; our perceiving modes are threaded through our choices.
Ne – Extraverted iNtuiting
Seeing linkages, generating ideas, and finding patterns
When Ne is a preferred process, individuals see possibilities and linkages in situations which seem to just “come to awareness.” The driving principle for this kind of perceiving is that Ne exposes potential options and identifies novel paths and patterns in whatever situation being dealt with. Ne seems perpetually aware of emerging and novel possibilities, and gets energized by finding new patterns when none are apparent to others. Their time horizon seems to be considerably in the future as there are often no clear linkages between what is the current situation and what they see as a distant possible solution to a problem. Attuned to underlying dynamics in ideas and information, Ne enables awareness of contextual elements that are invisible to many others. Adaptable, spontaneous, restless, questioning, expressive attributes all serve to provide energy for the urge to innovate and find an original solution to a situation.
Individuals with this as a strong process enjoy careers which involve the creation of ideas and strategies such as Marketing, Facilitation/Training, Entrepreneurial activities, Strategic planning, Broadcast Journalism, Management Consultant, and roles where the creation of ideas or processes are rewarded.
As a general rule for those individuals for whom Ne is not preferred but activated, this mental process enables a “just in time” awareness of possible options and pathways. The strong sense you have of the interconnectedness of things is driven by this function. When an idea seems to “just appear” when talking or sharing with others, you are using this function. Acting in a versatile and unexpected way, often with an original perspective is a natural way for this perceiving process to show itself.
Ni – Introverted iNtuiting
Imagining scenarios for future action, becoming aware of a trend or symbol, a hunch
When Ni is a preferred process, individuals see scenarios and the interplay of symbolic elements with practical choices. Nothing is just as it seems for Ni; there are layers of information and meaning in whatever has engaged this perceiving mode. The driving principle of Ni is to imagine what is possible—especially when there doesn’t seem to be options—that is aligned with contextual and preferred choices. Ni promotes an internal awareness of patterns that lead to comprehensive visions of what can be and how these visions align with what is important to those in a situation. Often complexity is energizing for Ni as it means potentially finding what is of universal importance.
Individuals with this as a strong process enjoy careers that involve creative activities such as Journalism, Art Instruction, Art related roles such as photographer or graphic artist, Writer or language related positions, Fashion or Design related careers that require the generation of new ideas that are creatively expressed.
As a general rule for those individuals for whom Ni is not preferred but activated, this mental process makes an individual aware of possibilities and a hunch of what to do in a situation which often proves to be right. Ni quickly integrates disparate data, finding a pattern of practical importance, and opening a door of understanding which was absent the moment before.
It seems that Intuition gives us information unavailable in other ways. It lets us know where something is potentially going in the future and what layers of meaning may be associated with the experience. If Ni and Ne are not mental functions with which you are comfortable, getting to know them within the integrity of your own psychology would be a good thing. If these are perceiving functions about which you are very comfortable, recognizing their limits may well help you from going off one cliff or the other that was outside of your awareness.
My next exploration is in the thicket of discerning the nature of judging processes.
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