8 Extraverted Sensing (Se) Stereotypes

Ahhh, Se stereotypes. The adrenaline junkies with inhuman observation skills. The impulsive risk-takers who never worry about anything beyond the present moment. The dumb jocks with amazing reflexes that are good at every sport they attempt.

Ok. Now on to reality.

Many ESFPs, ISFPs, ESTPs, and ISTPs read their type description and end up confused, because the above stereotypes are rampant in most descriptions. Now, we all know that stereotypes end up popularized because to someone out there (or possibly even the majority) the stereotype does apply. However, I’m not here to present statistics as to how common it is for each of the four high Se users to have certain personality quirks or hobbies. I’m just writing to separate the symptoms from the disease, so to speak.

The Definition of Se

At its core, Se (or Extraverted Sensing) is about interacting with the world through one’s senses. Se users like to see, to taste, to touch, and etcetera. They’re usually very hands-on in their approach to life. Se gives someone a general preference toward indulging in the physical realm, and focusing on what is, rather than fantasizing about what can never be. (Although, “Yes, Sensors Dream.”) Basically, Se users like to “do” and strive to make the ideas and dreams in their head tangible. An idea without an application is pointless. So, if it can’t become tangible, it’s rarely worth spending excess thought on.

Why the Stereotypes?

Based on the definition, it’s easy to see how the misconceptions surrounding Se form. After all, sports are very hands-on, physical, and tangible activities. Se does give one a preference for the current moment, so it’s also easy to see how that can lead to a failure to consider the future, impulsiveness, risk-taking, and adrenaline addiction (when coupled with a sports preference). This version of Se has certainly been popularized and even idolized. However, people fail to consider the different outlets for Se.

The Extraverted Sensing (Se) Stereotypes

Se Stereotype #1. All SFPs and STPs enjoy nature and the outdoors

The outdoors can certainly be an outlet for Se. I’m not denying that. However, that doesn’t mean it’ll be the outlet that every Se user chooses. I once spoke to an ESFP female who was struggling with her type and one of her comments was that she hated sweating and she wasn’t really an outdoorsy person. Gender can be a factor here. Please don’t take that the wrong way. I’m a female that loves the outdoors and couldn’t care less if I’m sweating. However, I’ve met a lot of females who just aren’t like me, and would rather remain in a climate controlled environment, away from all of the bugs, the heat, the humidity, and etc. (To be fair, I’ve run into guys like that as well, but it seems to be more common in females.) My point is: you don’t need to love the outdoors to have high Se.

Se Stereotype #2. All SFPs and STPs enjoy extreme sports or adrenaline rushes

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, there are many different outlets for Se. In fact, it’s foolish to think that playing extreme sports is the most common way to exercise Se. This particular stereotype has popularized Se users to a certain degree and anyone who chooses the hobby certainly attracts a lot of attention and ends up in the spotlight, but not wanting to skydive out of an airplane doesn’t mean you can’t be an Se user. Now, is it possible that the majority of the people who do that stuff are high Se users? Maybe. Or maybe not. But even if they are, saying all skydivers are Se users is not the same as saying all Se users are skydivers. That’s just basic logic. We all have our own phobias, fears, and preferences. Not everyone needs to resort to an extreme sport to get their Se fix.

Se Stereotype #3. All SFPs and STPs are great at sports and athletics

We are what we make of ourselves. Regardless of your natural ability, if you never pick up a basketball a day in your life, guess what? You’re going to suck at basketball. It doesn’t matter what your personality type is. Sure, you can get all nit picky here and say that a lot of athletes are good at picking up other sports because they’re just generally athletic. Yes yes, I know. That’s not the point. The point is that if someone chooses to spend the majority of their time doing something other than sports or athletics, they can’t expect to just pick up a ball and be instantly amazing at whatever sport they’re attempting. That’s incredibly naive, regardless of one’s personality type. Many high Se users may feel naturally drawn toward sports or athletics, and as a result, they get really good them, but that’s not the same thing as saying that Se made them good at sports. Having a preference toward something doesn’t make you good at it, and doesn’t mean you’ll want to do it. Preference does not equal skill, and personality type does not determine skill.

Se Stereotype #4. All the best athletes are high Se users

I’m not sure how common this thought mentality is, but let me just say that it is incredibly arrogant to think that only high Se users can be skilled at athletics. As previously stated, practice makes perfect. Sure, some people just downright suck at certain things, but the average person that does the same thing over and over again, will eventually get really good at it, regardless of personality type. No one can be great without practice, regardless of natural talent. Se users just happen to be naturally oriented toward the tangible realm, so it may be more common for them to choose something like sports. Maybe. However, that doesn’t mean all Se users play sports, or that all Se users are good at sports, or that all sports players are Se users.

Se Stereotype #5. All SFPs and STPs have awesome reflexes

Reflexes tend to be developed over time as well, like a skill. Some people start out naturally better or worse than others, but any type can have good reflexes. I will share a thought on the matter though… Don’t take this too seriously, but I sometimes wonder if the difference between Se reflexes and other types is more of an on-or-off type difference. Se users live in the here and now, and as a result, tend to react quicker to their environment, rather than ending up delayed by observation mode like high Ni or Si. So, I sometimes speculate that the only thing that makes Se user reflexes supposedly “better” is more related to them never turning their reflexes off, whereas other types might have to put themselves into reflex awareness mode. But once all types have their reflexes “on” (essentially when they all step into the arena prepared), I think it’s foolish to say that an Se user has a greater advantage than any other type.

Se Stereotype #6. All SFPs and STPs have above average physical awareness

Think hand-eye coordination, clumsiness.. that sort of thing. It’s possible that Se users have a natural leg up in this area because they tend to be more present in the moment. However, Se users can get distracted and lost in thought and miss the step down as they walk out the door. It happens to us all. If someone is doing it constantly and is known for being air-headed, that can indicate an Ne user rather than an Se user. However, tall people who are in the middle of a growth spurt tend to be clumsy. It’s an unfortunate side effect. Just be aware that factors other then personality exist. Hand-eye coordination is also a skill like any other. It’s possible, for instance, that since Ne users are oriented toward the abstract realm of possibilities, maybe it’s less common for them to choose to develop this skill. Maybe. Be cautious though about making blanket statements like “all types are good at X” or “all types suck at X”. Just because they don’t usually, doesn’t mean they can’t. Once again, you can’t really attribute skill to personality type.

Se Stereotype #7. SFPs and STPs live perfectly carefree lives and never worry about the future

Se users are fully capable of worrying and experiencing anxiety. For starters, sometimes anxiety is the result of a physical health issue which is completely independent of personality. But beyond that, a looping SXP (so an ISTP or an ISFP) will skip over their Se and lean unhealthily on Ni, causing them to worry about the future, resulting in a failure to act or step outside of their comfort zone. Likewise, an Se dominant (the ESFP or ESTP) can fall into the grip of inferior Ni, which can have a similar result. Ergo, claiming anxiety as proof that someone is not an Se user is shaky evidence at best. There are other factors to consider… like maturity, for instance.

Se Stereotype #8. All SFPs and STPs are hyper aware of their surroundings

Apparently all Se users are supposed to hyper aware of everything going on in their environment….? Or so I’ve read. This is only true if they haven’t honed in on something very specific within their environment. I’ve seen plenty of Se users get so focused on the one thing that they’re doing or watching that they miss nearly everything else going on around them. In addition, their detailed memory recall, especially for STPs, is not all that great… and I’m speaking as an ISTP. The Si users are the ones that tend to be good at recalling detailed observations.

Some closing thoughts…

High Se users tend to prefer the here and now. They enjoy the present moment, and like to indulge their senses. Some of the stereotypes above have been popularized as Se characteristics and preferences, but in reality, there are far more common ways to exercise Se. For instance, some of the much more common sensory indulgences are food and sleep. An Se user may simply choose to be a foodie or a master chef, rather than rock climbing. Or perhaps, an Se chooses drawing or painting as opposed to sky diving. The options are endless, and don’t have to include a physically strenuous activity.

If you made it this far, thanks for reading and I hope you found something useful in my wall of text.