INTJ/INFJ: Inferior Se Grip

I came across an amusing inferior Se grip example the other day, while watching a television show. Since inferior functions are often a subject of interest, I thought I’d share.

So many people look to their inferior function to finally settle their personality type confusion. After all, if you can’t settle on your dominant function, or your greatest strength, perhaps you can settle on your greatest weakness. However, states like grips and loops are often described generally, without clear or realistic examples.

Inferior Se, in my opinion, is often described inaccurately, because of all the misconceptions surrounding Se itself. Since this article’s purpose is to focus specifically on the inferior Se grip state, I will only be providing a brief overview of Se. I’ll provide relevant links if you wish to explore the subject further. Anyway, let’s start by going over the basics.

What is a “grip” state?

A grip is the result of one’s dominant function being overwhelmed. This is often caused by an attempt to suppress your inferior function for an extended period of time. After all, the inferior function is supposed to balance out the dominant, accounting for its weaknesses or blind spots. Once the inferior function takes over, the result is an extreme and unhealthy overuse of that inferior function.

It’s important to note that periodically dipping into negative use of your inferior function is not the same thing as being in a grip. By nature of a function being inferior, we often struggle to use it well. Ergo, our standard use of the function will be weak, and oftentimes, bad. Grip states are usually provoked by a sudden event that is significant enough to throw the person into an unhealthy state. Some examples are death of a loved one, divorce, depression, major life change, emerging health issue, trauma, etc. The individual might initially try to deal with the event via their dominant function, but then end up failing (for whatever the reason) and falling into a grip state once the dominant has been exhausted.

Given the extreme nature of a grip state, the longer it goes, the more catastrophic it should be. I highly doubt a grip state can truly be long term, without having a very clear, detrimental effect on the person.

What is Se?

Se stands for Extraverted Sensing. In short, it is a focus on the objective sensory world as it currently is. Many personality types allow stored sensory impressions to heavily filter what they see, or project into the future based on what they see. However, Se isolated from other functions does not filter reality, which is why high Se users are often focused on the present, desiring to live every moment to its fullest and take action now. Se does not guarantee physical ability, appreciation for aesthetics, good sense of style/fashion, popularity, etc.

READ MORE: What Extraverted Sensing (Se) Really Is and What Extraverted Sensing (Se) Isn’t.

Who has inferior Se?

There are only two personality types with inferior Se, and thus only two personality types can be subject to Inferior Se grip. Of course, bear in mind, that what I’m going to describe as Inferior Se grip might be semiregular Se use for someone with Se in a higher placement. The key difference in a grip state is that it’s extreme, sudden, and wildly uncontrolled.

Anyway, the two personality types with inferior Se are INTJ and INFJ. Their cognitive function stacks are the following:
INTJ = Ni-Te-Fi-Se
INFJ = Ni-Fe-Ti-Se

How does inferior Se grip manifest?

Combining everything I just explained above, an inferior Se grip will manifest as sudden and extreme impulsive behavior. The INTJ or INFJ will decide to throw out all concern for the future, and indulge purely in the now. This can surface in many ways, because every individual will have their own preferred indulgences. Either way, the behavior should seem contrary to their typical pattern. In other words, the ordinarily cautious and purposeful INXJ will have become something more akin to an unbridled ESFP or ESTP.

An Example of Inferior Se Grip

Okay. Now that I’ve laid all the groundwork, I’ll go over the example that I happened across. Ryan and I were watching an older show called Frasier. There is this character named Niles Crane in the show, whom I believe to be an INTJ. I think Personality Database has him listed as an INFJ, so either way, that’s still inferior Se.

For your reference, the exact episode is Season 3, Episode 8. Niles’ wife has gone off on a random shopping expedition out of state, without leaving any kind of note. After a few days, Niles realizes that she’s gone, gets concerned, and gathers the family together to figure out what to do. Fortunately, she contacts him before they waste their time and energy searching. Niles feels instantly relieved. However, Niles’ brother, Frasier, feels like Niles should be angry. Frasier specifically tries to convince Niles that he has every right to be angry, and that he should express this anger to his wife immediately.

Niles actually starts to feel angry, and begins to express this via his inferior Se. He starts throwing and breaking expensive items around the room, enjoying the thrill that he feels from it. (This isn’t the grip state yet – He’s just dipping into the function.) Eventually, shortly after his wife returns, he bursts into her room to tell her how he feels. He tries to do a dramatic door slam, but the doors are too heavy, so he needs the servants to help, resulting in an exit that lacks the spontaneity he wanted. Later, while relaying all of this to Frasier, his wife calls to tell him that she wants a divorce.

Now, the inferior Se grip state begins.

Distraught, Niles spends one night at his brother’s house. One single night. Early the next morning, he slips out quietly, without saying a word, leaving everyone somewhat confused by his absence. However, he returns later, proclaiming that he had rented a bachelor pad. He had also gone on a shopping spree. One of the items he had bought is a pair of jeans, which is relevant because this character exclusively wears suits and ties. He is excited by the prospect of trying out this new thing. He is also talking about growing a goatee, and joining a gym.

Remember, this all happens in 24 hours or less. He tries to completely transform his life and his physical person within 24 hours of finding out about the divorce. Niles doesn’t take hardly any time to process. Instead, he gets suddenly impulsive, and starts making hasty decisions. Luckily, he doesn’t sit in this state very long, otherwise who knows what else he might have done.

In Conclusion…

Remember, what exactly someone does in a grip state can vary from person to person, even within the same type, but the basic premise should remain the same. The episode above struck me as a practical and realistic example of what an inferior Se grip might look. I’m going to keep an eye out for other grip examples as well, to share with you all in the future.

I hope you found this helpful, and of course, I welcome any thoughts you might have!