Introverted Sensing (Si) and Extraverted Sensing (Se) are cognitive functions that help make up the building blocks for the 16 personality types. Introverted sensing and extraverted sensing are, more specifically, perceiving functions, but with opposite orientations (introverted vs. extraverted). Introverted sensing is the dominant (first) function for the ISFJ and ISTJ, the auxiliary (second) function for the ESFJ and ESTJ, the tertiary (third) function for the INTP and INFP, and the inferior (fourth) function for the ENTP and ENFP. On the other hand, extraverted sensing is the dominant (first) function for the ESFP and ESTP, the auxiliary (second) function for the ISFP and ISTP, the tertiary (third) function for the ENTJ and ENFJ, and the inferior (fourth) function for the INTJ and INFJ.
Introverted Sensing (Si) introverts sensory data.
Introverted Sensing (Si) controls your internal perception of the sensory (physical) world around you. Si takes note of its surroundings and internally recreates the world for the user, in a detailed manner. However, it is always colored by personal experiences. For an Si user, all of reality is being overlayed with the user’s subjective impressions about people, things, events, and etc. It is not the observation of objective reality like Se, but rather it will provide extra context to normal everyday items and cause them to hold meaning for the Si user beyond the face value meaning. Si provides the imagery for one’s internal world, whether that sticks closely to reality or veers into the fantastical. The higher the Si, the closer their internal recreation should match up to reality. Si is not memory storage, but Si users tend to have detail-oriented minds because Si is striving to create a detailed version of reality inside their minds (whether accurate or not). This can create a propensity for remembering tons of random information.
Extraverted Sensing (Se) extraverts with the senses.
Extraverted Sensing (Se) is probably the quietest form of extraversion, because it is not about exchanging ideas, feelings, and judgements. Instead, Se users desire to experience life with all of their senses. They want to taste, feel, smell, hear, and see new things. This is an objective, impersonal function, as all extraverted functions are, meaning Se users are not concerned with absorbing and remembering every little painful detail like many Si users are. They’re just observing, experiencing and reacting. In addition, Se users will focus on remembering only information that is deemed relevant and useful. Se users will know a lot about what they do, or a hobby, or some topic that specifically catches their interest; however, they won’t typically be a well of “random” trivia facts like an Si user might, since they are not “introverting” sensory data. They’re using sensory data to react and respond in the external world.
