Extraverted Sensing or Se, is one of the eight cognitive functions in Jung's theory.
It is a Perceiving function, meaning that it is a source of gathering information.
Since it is a sensing function, it gathers data from what is experienced through the 5 senses. Being an extraverted function, it looks outwards and accumulates.
As with all extraverted functions, it's more objective than subjective.
Se in a nutshell: What is happening and what can I do, right now?
Se is all about being, experiencing, living in the moment for the moment and exerting influence over their here-and-now surroundings in some way. This isn't just limited to the strictly physical either, it can be: "I'm going to do something to impact this person emotionally right now", whether it be charm them, entertain them, prank them or insult them. It is the immediate feedback of action that Se is interested in.
As an extraverted function, Se seeks to accumulate sensory experiences. If it had its way it would just 'do' and experience limitlessly, only being very temporarily satisfied.
It's objective because reality is pretty much as objective as you can get. Its focus is on the immediate results in reality that come from an action taken, whether that be one's own action or someone else's.
But Se also extends beyond this into an awareness of all things grounded and concrete, a finger-on-the-pulse of the everyday world, the goings on and the trends and the direction of the society around them. They can go with the flow, and keep up with - or even outpace - that flow, attuned to the fickleness of the material world in a way that allows them to stay on top of it, i.e. in regards to fashion.
Because it is sensory and extraverted, Se can manifest in a sense of 'presence', when immature this can be boisterousness or bravado, when mature it's an air of confidence and grounded assuredness.
The counter-balance points of Se
Symbiotic Introverted Sensing - Both Perceiving functions, both concrete, but since Si is introverted, it looks inward and refines, which means it is trying to push back against Se's constant desire for exciting experiences. They align in what they focus on but have very different approaches. This dynamic is Symbiotic because Se needs something to slow down its force or it would burn the candle at both ends until the light goes out for good. Si serves to show that some things are more enjoyable and beneficial than others in a real and sensory way that can't be dismissed. It also keeps a backlog of past data that proves this as well as pushing for some semblance of routine or comfort.
Distorted | Balanced |
Within self, this results in essentially chaos. No sense of routine or order at all, Se will just seek more and more experiences without any ability to notice patterns in its behaviour by using hindsight. The notion of comfort will be tossed aside in favour of excitement born of risk-taking. Details are considered annoying and irrelevant. | Healthy Se will work with Si to use their past experiences or others past experiences to infer whether an action taken will produce a similar result, eg. Drinking too much has proven to lead to a hangover > hangover is undesirable > drink less? > benefit! It will also be able to respect the benefits of routine, mundane comfort and the systems that are in place to maintain these aspects. |
Towards others, it results in a judgement and dismissal of Si as ‘boring’ and disregard customs, rules and other people’s comfort for the sake of its immediate satisfaction. | Healthy Se will respect and appreciate the way Si can slow down, keep an eye on important details and hold things together so that everything isn't just chaos. |
Action Points
Exploring past experiences with a focus on what can be learned from them.
Train the 'Si muscle' by establishing small, easily-manageable routines.
Exploration of respecting one's own body and its limits.
Explore and become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of Si, either theoretical, or practical via direct interaction if possible.
Learn from the Si philosophies.
Challenging Introverted Intuition - Both Perceiving functions, but Se has a concrete focus while Ni has an abstract focus. In addition, Se is extraverted so it has an outward focus and seeks to accumulate. Se wants to 'do' right now and experience immediate physical feedback while Ni is focused on the implied future outcomes beyond the immediate result. Opposing motivations but with different areas of focus that can align.
Distorted | Balanced |
Within self this results in a disregard of consequences and deeper meanings in favour of here-and-now experiences as well as disinterest in any abstract sense of importance. | Healthy Se will work with Ni to recognise that meaning can enhance the lived experience dramatically and that their own lives have meaning enough that the consequences of their actions are worth taking into account. |
Towards others, it results in a judgement of Ni as unrealistic and its focus on consequences being seen as a restriction on Se's desire to experience the moment. "Meaning" is viewed as something not real and therefore not important. | Healthy Se will respect and appreciate the way Ni can cultivate wisdom and help it inform its actions with a little more clarity and purpose. |
Action Points
Exploration of scenarios in which the abstract is relevant to their actions
Train the 'Ni muscle' by looking at the importance and meaning behind things and beyond the obvious. For example, a relationship isn’t merely two people interacting and enjoying each other’s company, it’s an emotional contract with implications and consequences.
Explore and become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of Ni, either theoretical, or practical via direct interaction if possible.
Learn from the Ni philosophies.
Dichotomous Extraverted Sensing - The most difficult dynamic, because they are fighting for the same space, so to speak. Both are extraverted and so are outward-focused and trying to accumulate. Se is concrete, more forceful and focused on what is, while Ne is conceptual, more passive and focused on potential.
Distorted | Balanced |
Within self, this results in an inability to perceive the potential outcomes of its actions. It cannot or will not stop to think of the branching paths that are formed through an action taken and if this is brought up to Se, these possibilities will be dismissed as ‘unlikely’ or unimportant and it will carry on anyway. | Healthy Se will work with Ne to recognise that any action is an inception point of multiple possibilities, and that even if they are unable to infer these possibilities, they still exist despite not being tangible, and should be respected. |
Towards others, it results in a judgement of Ne as unrealistic, scatter-brained, too 'random' etc. | Healthy Se will respect and appreicate the way Ne can innovate and create multiple new avenues that would never have come into being if everything was 'realistic'. |
Action Points
Train the 'Se muscle' by brainstorming possible outcomes from a single action.
Developing a sense of awareness and understanding of the abstract.
Explore and become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of Ne, either theoretical, or practical via direct interaction if possible.
Learn from the Ne philosophies.
The 8 attitudes of Se
Hero - ESFP | ESTP - Dynamic, spontaneous and energetic, Se Hero lives for the moment and enjoys it to the fullest, doing their best to make the lives of everyone around them a little more exciting. ESXPs are the ones who take action and make their presence known, whether its by performing or diving fearlessly into whatever they've set their sights on. Risk of becoming tyrannical and enslaving all other functions in service of its pursuit of pleasure and excitement. Se Hero requires no conscious input, it is first nature.
Parent - ISFP | ISTP - The Parent function keeps the Hero responsible. Se Parent will support Fi or Ti Hero by urging them to take quick action on their judgements. It won't be as forceful or visible as Se Hero. Risk of becoming authoritarian and helicopter-y, demanding and expecting others to be as responsible in their aspect, i.e. "You should do more and be capable of doing more."
Child - ENFJ | ENTJ - The Child function wants to play, it's where we like to defer to when we're at ease. Se Child wants to impact on its external surroundings, it wants to be spontaneous and it wants to be recognised for those things. Developed Se child can excel in these areas, but is unlikely to have the same reliability of Hero/Parent types. Risk of becoming bratty, using the aspects of Se in immature ways and getting easily upset in matters that concern Se. ENXJs have a tendency towards being too forceful in their actions and imposing their judgements onto others. We tend to feel deep shame when we fail in this function and this may lead to further defensiveness.
Inferior/Aspirational - INFJ | INTJ - Se tries to bring INXJs back into reality, where they typically want to spend as little time as possible. If left unchecked, can sink into the unconscious and become deep-rooted insecurity. Se inferior types can become even more cautious and unwilling to act because they imagine unwanted outcomes from an action and then live as though those outcomes are certain, thus not doing anything. They also can become deeply insecure in this area, feeling constrained by the perceived consequences of any action while assuring themselves that actually Se is just thoughtless and irresponsible anyway. Can also become a source of jealousy when others display ease in this aspect.
Nemesis ISFJ | ISTJ - Se relentless urges Si to get out of its comfort zone and live a little. This can become a source of irritation and stress, internally and externally and can also become a source of jealousy when others display prowess in the gifts of Se.
Critic ESFJ | ESTJ - Se acts as the superintendant to Si, making sure its being responsible in its role. The Critic is sort of like an overzealous advocate for its correspoding function so it treats its own associated function as trouble. So in this case it's saying: "Si has an important job, its important to keep an eye on the details and establish/maintain stability, but that pesky Se keeps getting in the way, I must prevent this as much as possible by making sure Si is behaving properly and by pointing out Se's flaws." This applies within self and towards others.
Trickster INFP | INTP - The Child wants to play, and whatever function is in the Trickster position interferes with that play by its nature of opposition. Therefore, the Child wants nothing to do with it. The Child will roll its eyes, stick out its tongue, ridicule the Trickster function, devalue it. So the Trickster will treat everything Se values as a rebellious child would. "Go out and do things? Be active and spontaneous? No thanks, I'm comfortable where I am."
Demon ENFP | ENTP - The Demon function is the most suppressed aspect of the 8. It's deep in the unconscious and is the least comfortable aspect of life for us to interact with. Having to interact with it makes us unhappy and stressed, especially for long periods of time. However, the Demon is also akin to an over-protective guard dog and becomes our ally in times when we are being unfairly treated. It is actually the function that cares most about our well-being, a little too much even. It's extremely pessimistic and ultimately not very helpful usually unless directly addressed, but it is protective of our own psyche to a fault. One really important thing about that: it's not weak. Not at all. It's almost as strong as the Hero in whatever function it presents as, but we don't like that function, and so we suppress it, but when it does come out, it can wield its gifts like a weapon you might never expect. Se Demon may get pretty violent when threatened, or less severely, point out physical aspects to shame or belittle their aggressor.
Se Demon sees how things are right now as a source of stress and irritation. Ne doesn't want to 'accept' and live in the now, it wants to imagine how things can be different or better or simply explore their conceptualisations. For ENXPs, the fact that reality constantly gets in the way of how they hope things will be is just disappointing and infuriating. They mostly view its only positive as a supplement to their fantasies and can lean way too hard into this, almost spitefully indulging in hedonistic pursuits, as if to say "If things can't be the way I imagine they could be, I have to make them enjoyable somehow." The last thing to note about the Demon is its important relationship to the Hero. When the Demon takes over, it will use the Hero's own gifts to reinforce its negative outlook. Se Demon will pull Ne Hero down and say "Look at all the ways reality sucks, we've got to escape!"
Common traits in high Se types (ESFP| ESTP | ISFP | ISTP)
They live in the present moment
They take action
Quick decison-makers
Often skilled at manipulating their physical environment for desirable results eg. woodwork, playing an instrument, painting/drawing etc.
They often enjoy the outdoors
Often enjoy sports
Resourceful
Grounded
Thrive on having something to occupy them such as hobbies
Think on their feet
Notable Se Philosophies/Worldviews
Hedonism | ESFP
Seichō no le | ISFP
Critical Realism | ESTP
Stoicism | ISTP
Black Nationalism | ESFP
Epicureanism | ISTP
Female Dating Strategy | ESFP
Santería | ESFP
Cynicism | ISTP (not the kind that probably comes to mind)
Libertinism | ESFP
Trans-identity | ISFP
Sentientism | ISFP
Animalism | ISFP
Individualism | ISTP
Speciesism | ESTP
Anarchoprimitivism | ISTP
Notable Figures with High Se (Real)
Dave Grohl | ESFP
PJ Harvey | ISFP
Epicurus | ESTP
Joshua Homme | ISTP
Iggy Pop | ESFP
Marilyn Monroe | ISFP
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson | ESTP
Amy Winehouse | ISFP
Eminem | ISTP
Freddie Mercury | ESFP
Diogenes the Cynic | ISTP
Donald Trump | ESTP
Michael Jackson | ISFP
Angelina Jolie | ESTP
Kristen Stewart | ISTP
Alexander the Great | ESTP
Leonardo DiCaprio | ESFP
Bruce Lee | ISTP
Jimi Hendrix | ISFP
Joe Rogan | ESTP
Musashi Miyamoto | ISTP
Charles Bukowski | ISFP
Henry VIII | ESFP
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | ESFP
Clint Eastwood | ISTP
Amber Heard | ESTP
Madonna | ESTP
Steven Spielberg | ISFP
Tom Hardy | ISTP
John F. Kennedy | ESFP
Alfred Hitchcock | ESTP
Scarlet Johansson | ISTP
Marie Antoinette | ESFP
Theodore Rosevelt | ESTP
Wayne Gretsky | ISTP
Vladimir Putin | ISTP
Samuel L. Jackson | ESTP
Mick Jagger | ESFP
Bob Dylan | ISFP
Harrison Ford | ISTP
Johnny Cash | ISTP
Notable Figures with High Se (Fictional)
Monkey D. Luffy | One Piece | ESFP
Dante | Devil May Cry | ESTP
Toph Beifong | Avatar: The Last Airbender | ISTP
Eren Jaeger | Attack on Titan | ISFP
Anakin Skywalker | Star Wars | ESFP
Levi Ackerman | Attack on Titan | ISTP
Thor Odinson | MCU | ESTP
Zuko | Avatar: The Last Airbender | ISFP
Tsunade Senju | Naruto | ESTP
Billy Butcher | The Boys | ESTP
Son Gokū | Dragonball | ESFP
Natasha Romanov "Black Widow" | MCU | ISTP
Katniss Everdeen | The Hunger Games | ISTP
Tyler Durden | Fight Club | ESTP
Denji | Chainsaw Man | ESTP
Rue Bennett | Euphoria | ISTP
Jesse Pinkman | Breaking Bad | ESFP
Daryl Dickson | The Walking Dead | ISTP
Roronoa Zoro | One Piece | ISTP
Rocket Raccoon | MCU | ESTP
Harry Potter | Harry Potter | ISFP
Fa Mulan | Mulan | ISTP
Vi | Arcane | ESTP
Jotaro Kujo | Jojo's Bizarre Adventure | ISTP
Shrek | Shrek | ISTP
Jon Snow | Game of Thrones | ISFP
Joey Tribbiani | Friends | ESFP
John Wick | John Wick | ISTP
Guts | Berserk | ISTP
Han Solo | Star Wars | ESTP
Miles Morales | Spider-verse | ISFP
Korra | Avatar: The Legend of Korra | ESFP
Thorfinn | Vinland Saga | ISFP
Eugene Fitzherbert "Flynn Rider" | Tangled | ESTP
Ron Weasley | Harry Potter | ESFP
Peter Quill "Starlord" | MCU | ESFP
Ichigo Kurosaki | Bleach | ISFP
Andrew Neiman | Whiplash | ISFP
Rachel Green | Friends | ESFP
Wendy Corduroy | Gravity Falls | ESTP
Puss in Boots | Shrek | ESTP
Donkey | Shrek | ESFP
Bart Simpson | The Simpsons | ESTP
Homer Simpson | The Simpsons | ESFP
Beast Boy | Teen Titans (Cartoon) | ESFP
Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog | ESTP
Marceline the Vampire Queen | Adventure Time | ISFP
Ron Swanson | Parks and Recreation | ISTP
Arya Stark | Game of Thrones | ISTP
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