Introverted Sensing or Si, 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 introverted function, it looks inwards and refines. As with all introverted functions, it's more subjective than objective.
Si in a nutshell: What is safe, stable, familiar and comfortable?
Si is all about refining the sensory experience until it's the most comfortable, grounded, mundane and routine it can be. It looks at concrete data that is already established - so, from the past in other words - in great detail to ascertain what is most likely to maintain stability and safety.
It uses the past to form what the future might realistically look like and uses practical and detail-oriented methods like spreadsheets, accounts and information logs that record prior data that can be relied upon when needed to navigate what might happen next.
Because Si is sensory and introverted, there is a connection to being attuned to and aware of one's own body.
Si is subjective because much of its focus is on the Si user's past experiences, or those of trusted friends and family, and because familiarity is of major importance to Si. It enjoys simplicity and consistency.
Although Si and memory are not directly linked, there is a noticeable pattern of high-Si types having strong memory as well as a penchant for the nostalgic.
The counter-balance points of Si
Symbiotic Extraverted Sensing - Both Perceiving functions, both concrete, but since Se is extraverted, it is expansive and accumulative. They align in what they focus on but have very different approaches. This dynamic is Symbiotic because what if there's an experience the Si user would find ideal that they just haven't tried yet? They also need to know what they don't like in order to have the most comfort possible. For example, what if adding 10 minutes of stretches to a daily routine turns out to make the rest of the day much more comfortable and enjoyable? You try several different regimens and find the one that's just right, refining via process of elimination.
Distorted | Balanced |
Within self, this results in an inability to adapt, improvise or be spontaneous due to a fixation on the comfort zone of what has already been tried and tested and is familiar. | Si will work with Se to 'live a little' and get outside the rigidity of their comfort zone so that they might find new ways of increasing the comfort in their lives or at the very least find even more surety that their current way is in fact the most comfortable. |
Towards others it is a judgement that Se brings too much 'excitement' and disruption. | Si will respect and appreciate the way Se can nudge them out of their comfort zone and bring a little exceitement here and there, now and then. But still, not too much, or too often. |
Action Points
Encouragement to make slight deviations in routine as a practice.
Encouragement and support to identify mild risks and take them.
Train the 'Se muscle' by trying increasingly more exciting things.
Explore and become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of Se, either theoretical, or practical via direct interaction if possible.
Learn from the Se philosophies.
Challenging Extraverted Intuition - Both Perceiving functions, but Ne has an abstract focus while Si has a concrete focus. In addition, Ne is extraverted and therefore expansive and accumulative. Si wants to focus on refining the sensory experience, while Ne wants to explore new potentials and ideas. Opposing motivations but with different areas of focus that can align.
Distorted | Balanced |
Within self, this results in a difficulty with ‘thinking outside the box’ so to speak. If the sensory experience has been suitably refined and comfort is sufficient, what would be the need for 'unwarranted' creativity or 'unrealistic' new ideas? | Healthy Si will work with Ne to acknowledge the positive novelty of new ideas, and that these ideas could potentially be beneficial for the overall sensory experience of themselves and others. |
Towards others it is the judgement that Ne is a disruptive nuisance with its wild ideas and head-in-the-clouds tendencies. | Si will respect and appreciate the way Ne can provide innovation; after all, the new ideas of today might just be the tried-and-true practices of tomorrow. |
Action Points
An exploration of personal and worldly historical contexts to identify the previously proven value in deviation from what is established and comfortable
Train the 'Ne muscle' by making small deviations in routine as a practice, trying slightly different approaches.
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.
Dichotomous Introverted Sensing - The most difficult dynamic, because they are fighting for the same space, so to speak. Both are introverted and so are trying to refine from a subjective, inward place. Si is small details and past-focused, while Ni is big picture and future focused. Si cherishes the mundane, while Ni seeks the exceptional.
Distorted | Balanced |
Within self, this results in a disregard of any deeper meaning beyond daily comfort and stability. It also sees no value in 'grandiose', 'lofty' and 'not-sensible' long-term visions. The phrase: "can't see the forest for the trees" is apt here. | Healthy Si will work with Ni to recognise that all the details they put so much focus on are parts of a far greater whole and it can see the value in looking at things from that higher perspective, whilst maintaining the details. It can also see that the vision of a better future could in fact be worth the risk and that change is an inevitability. They can see that the comfort zone is in many ways a luxury-padded prison. |
Towards others, it is the judgement that Ni is unrealistic and even dangerous, threatenting to uproot the comfort they have refined and settled themselves in. | Healthy Si will respect and appreciate the way Ni pieces the details together to provide an overview or long-term and introduce deeper meaning to the mundane. |
Action Points
Explore how Ni has made huge positive impact in the world historically.
Train the 'Ni muscle' by practicing piecing together the details of a situation to form the implied bigger picture, like a jigsaw puzzle.
Explore deeper meanings and how this can enhance the sensory experience.
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.
The 8 attitudes of Si
Hero - ISFJ | ISTJ - Dependable and meticulous, Si Hero will be the ones doing the upkeep that stabilises things. ISXJs are the glue that holds entire systems together. At risk of becoming tyrannical and enslaving all other functions to its will, demanding that things change as little as possible because it's accustomed to them. Si Hero requires no conscious input, it is first nature.
Parent - ESFJ | ESTJ - The Parent function keeps the Hero responsible. Si Parent will support Fe or Te Hero by providing direction on what to focus on, how the details are essential to keeping things working as they have proven to already. It won't be as concerned with its own comfort as Si Hero. Risk of becoming authoritarian and helicopter-y, demanding and expecting others to be as responsible in their aspect, i.e. "You should be paying attention to all the details and keeping everything in order and comfortable."
Child - INFP | INTP - The Child function wants to play, it's where we like to defer to when we're at ease. Si Child wants to live comfortably, it wants to appreciate small details and revel in nostalgia it's just childish in the way it does so and is also strongly affected by the influence of the Hero and Parent. Developed Si 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 Si in immature ways and getting easily upset in matters that concern Si. IXFPs have a a tendency towards becoming far too attached to their comfort zones and being defensive in matters of nostalgia. We tend to feel deep shame when we fail in this function and this may lead to further defensiveness.
Inferior/Aspirational - ENFP | ENTP - Si becomes the obstruction to Ne's desire to explore possibilities and live in the abstract. If left unchecked, can sink into the unconscious and become deep-rooted insecurity. Si inferior types can become even more obsessed with novelty and options and develop hositility towards the status quo in order to rebel against Si influence. They also can become deeply insecure in this area, haunted by the vague sense that nothing they do is ever sustainable and all their efforts are a waste, even though they will simultaneously assure themselves that Si actually makes life boring and miserable. It may manifest as a tendency for ENXPs to disregard/neglect their bodily wellbeing too. Can also become a source of jealousy when others display ease in this aspect.
Nemesis ESFP | ESTP - Si tries wrestle control from Se to stop it from going out of control in its lust for life and desire for new sensory experiences. 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 Si.
Critic ISFP | ISTP - Si acts as the superintendant to Se, 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: "Se has an important job, it's important to take affirmative action and enjoy life in the moment, but that pesky Si keeps getting in the way, I must prevent this as much as possible by making sure Se is behaving properly and by pointing out Si's flaws." This applies within self and towards others.
Trickster ENFJ | ENTJ - 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 Si values as a rebellious child would. Stay at home? Relax?! Hell no! I want to go and do things and influence people/events.
Demon INFJ | INTJ - 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. Si Demon will store details about a person so that the Ni user can use those details to enact a tailor-made perfect revenge, or less severely, point out details that have been missed to derail their aggressor.
Si Demon can get frustrated and overwhelmed easily when there are too many 'little things' to consider or do as part of a larger vision, it also has a tendency to become obsessed with past failings and embarrassments and to see the past only in a negative light; as something to flee from into the 'better' future. INXJs can also sometimes completely ignore their own bodily needs ie. forgetting to eat because they're so engrossed in their vision. 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. Si Demon will pull Ni Hero down and say "Look at these negative patterns that your past experiences indicate, it's inevitable that this will continue!"
Common traits in high Si types (ISFJ | ISTJ | ESFJ | ESTJ)
Reliable
Trust what is tried-and-true
Can effectively manage meticulous details
They tend to enjoy nostalgia
Down-to-earth, practical and realistic
Thrive on routine and stability
Keenly attuned to bodily sensations
Good with language and memory
A respect for history and tradition
Typically very good employees/managers
Are often conservative (in their nature, not necessarily in a political sense, though there does seem to be a trend there)
Notable Si Philosophies/Worldviews
Judaism | ISFJ
Stoicism | ISTJ
Empiricism | ESTJ
Collectivism | ESFJ
Confucianism | ISFJ
Catholicism | ESFJ
Natalism | ESFJ
Facism | ESTJ
The Men's Rights Movement | ISTJ
Mormonism | ESFJ
Agriculturalism | ISFJ
Zionism | ESTJ
White Nationalism | ISTJ
Anti-theism | ISTJ
Positivism | ESTJ
Philosophical Pessimism | ISTJ
Logical Positivism | ISTJ
Malthusianism | ESTJ
Fraternity/Sorority | ESFJ
Protestant Christanity | ISTJ
Centrism | ISTJ
Republicanism | ESFJ
Knight's Templar | ISTJ
Pelagianism | ISTJ
Neoconservatism | ESTJ
Legalism | ESTJ
Communitarianism | ESFJ
Notable Figures with High Si (Real)
Confucius | ISFJ
Terry Crews | ESFJ
Sigmund Freud | ISTJ
Gordon Ramsey | ESTJ
Henry Cavill | ISFJ
Christopher Lee | ISTJ
Ben Shapiro | ESTJ
Paul McCartney | ESFJ
Queen Elizabeth II | ISTJ
Thomas Hobbes | ISTJ
Jamie Lee Curtis | ESTJ
Beyoncé | ISFJ
Chris Evans | ESFJ
Hillary Clinton | ESTJ
Kim Kardashian | ISTJ
John D. Rockefeller | ESTJ
Mother Teresa | ISFJ
Jimmy Carter | ISFJ
George Washington | ISTJ
Margaret Thatcher | ESTJ
Joe Biden | ESFJ
Anthony Hopkins | ISFJ
Bruce Willis | ISFJ
Ariana Grande | ESFJ
Taylor Swift | ESFJ
Jeremy Kyle | ESTJ
Michelle Obama | ESTJ
Morgan Freeman | ISTJ
John Cena | ESFJ
Phil Collins | ISFJ
Piers Morgan | ESTJ
Sharon Osbourne | ESTJ
Jeff Bezos | ISTJ
Diana Ross | ISFJ
Richard Nixon | ISTJ
Queen Victoria | ISTJ
Notable Figures with High Si (Fictional)
Angel | Buffy The Vampire Slayer/Angel | ISFJ
Amy Santiago | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | ISTJ
Sora | Kingdom Hearts | ESFJ
Sokka | Avatar: The Last Airbender | ESTJ
Reiner Braun | Attack on Titan | ESFJ
Vegeta | Dragonball | ESTJ
Clark Kent/Superman | DC | ISFJ
Geralt of Rivia | The Witcher | ISTJ
Samwise Gamgee | The Lord of the Rings | ISFJ
King Theoden | The Lord of the Rings | ESTJ
Hinata Hyuuga | Naruto | ISFJ
Hermione Granger | Harry Potter | ISTJ in the books, ESTJ in the movies
Draco Malfoy | Harry Potter | ESTJ
Starfire | Teen Titans (Cartoon) | ESFJ
Steve Rogers | MCU | ISFJ
Morty Smith | Rick and Morty | ISFJ
Megumi Fushigiro | Jujutsu Kaisen | ISTJ
Nami | One Piece | ESTJ
Dr. John Watson | Sherlock | ISFJ
Mr. Peanutbutter | Bojack Horseman | ESFJ
Cordelia Chase | Buffy The Vampire Slayer/Angel | ESTJ
Sansa Stark | ESFJ
Woody | Toy Story | ESFJ
Ross Geller | Friends | ISTJ
Aziraphale | Good Omens | ISFJ
Skyler White | Breaking Bad | ESFJ
Dexter Morgan | Dexter | ISTJ
Guinevere Beck | You | ESFJ
Jean Kirstein | Attack on Titan | ESTJ
Alison Hargreeves | The Umbrella Academy | ESFJ
Retsuko | Aggretsuko | ISFJ
Monica Geller | Friends | ESTJ
Leslie Knope | Parks and Recreation | ESFJ
Nobara Kugisaki | Jujutsu Kaisen | ESTJ
Charles Boyle | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | ESFJ
Gamora | MCU | ISTJ
King Theoden | The Lord of the Rings | ESTJ
Yoshikage Kira | Jojo's Bizzare Adventure | ISTJ
Rick Grimes | The Walking Dead | ISTJ
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