Of the four dichotomies, the largest discrepancy lies in the difference between Sensors and Intuitives. Whereas there is an approximate 50/50 split in the population between the other preferences, a full 70% of the population prefers Sensing versus only 30% favoring Intuition.
When you distill it down, the difference between Sensors and Intuitives is this: Sensors prefer reliability of information, and Intuitives prefer speed and depth of insight. This ends up manifesting itself a couple of unique ways. First, Intuitives learn to trust pattern recognition to help them understand information quickly and see things that aren’t ‘there’. Basically, they extrapolate large amounts of information from only a few data points.
Sensors, of course, have this same ability. But they don’t trust it, and so they don’t hone it. Instead, they trust reliable information – things that can be verified in the Real World. Therefore, they become masters of historical information – their own history as well as other people’s. They also become fantastic at manipulating objects in real time. There is no need to question reality when it’s right there in front of you. Reality is reliable. Speculation isn’t.
Second, how they see information informs how both these preferences see time. If real, reliable, solid information is what you choose to focus upon, then the here-and-now context becomes far more important, as well as past information (which used to be the here-and-now context). Sensors can’t rely on what hasn’t happened yet, so the future becomes far less interesting. On the other hand, Intuitives are already comfortable seeing what ‘isn’t there’ – as in, they’re comfortable theorizing and speculating on what could be in both the here-and-now as well as into the future. The past doesn’t really hold their interest any more than a reference point for future predictions.
Third, these differences alter both values and basic interests. For Sensors, values surround things like family, tradition, getting into action, old friends, etc… these are all rooted in the known and knowable, and therefore can be trusted. For Intuitives, values focus more on the cerebral – possibilities, memes, paradigms, perspectives and concepts. Conversation will generally revolve around these things, with little interest in small talk.
Both Sensors and Intuitives have an important role. Sensors often “hold down the fort” – uphold infrastructures that keep us going as a society. Intuitives are generally the “trailblazers” – coming up with new ways of looking at and doing things which fashion new technologies and paradigms. It makes sense that fewer Intuitives would be needed – too much innovation and everything collapses. But without innovation, the world stagnates.
Understanding and appreciating these differences is how we cooperate to create both a stable system as well as pathways to whole new worlds.
Share:
What's the REAL difference between "Introverts" and "Extraverts?"
Are "Thinkers" Rational, and "Feelers" Irrational?
90 comments
I am textbook INTP in most ways (for example, I’m an analytic philosopher but used to be a programmer). I have always tested INTP. But it never seemed to be the whole story. There are many aspects of my personality (that have always been there) that seem antithetical to an INTP type. Examples: I am extremely aware of my body. I get the correct “form” in various physical activities (like ballet, weight lifting, or martial arts) instinctively and on the first try, but I’m horrible at improvisational club or wedding dancing- just very very bad. But I’m good at sports. I am very sensitive to my environment- over time, I get very depressed in an office environment. I am also an accomplished painter (though only from a subject- I cannot “make something up”). Finally, I pick up on cultural cues very quickly, to the point where I am frequently mistaken for a local when I travel. I CRAVE both analytical AND these tangible physical activities. I’m in “flow” when I’m coding, doing analytic philosophy (or any systems analysis), cooking, painting, and doing ballet. Accuracy is definitely my driver, but I am reenergized by getting my hands dirty, so to speak. My ideal job would be resident philosopher at Yosemite National Park. Is there any way of making sense of this? If not, that’s ok. I’ll just keep doing my thing.
Yeah, for real!
This is so true and the pain to my existence in my relationship from trials and tribulations in the past. We still fail to connect at this level to create a stable system. If I bring up a topic from the past in a new way to see it differently. She right away puts up walls as she has stored that past in the closet. The things is, I see every aspect of life or in our relationship as plants. If something isn’t growing, it’s dead and will spend time understanding that plant and all the components to have that plant thrive enough where it isn’t dying. So if the topic is dying or hurting for her or myself. The conversation continues. I’m always gaining new insight and experimenting for the best results. For her, if the plant is dying. It is dying and moves on. So any time I bring anything up. I am “Revisiting something we talked about” but never solved in away where it doesn’t hurt. In the biggest example it hurts her and want her to move forward from it. The best way I found is to do my thing and not have a formal conversation about it as it ruffles feathers and causes extreme emotions. So I’ll experiment to achieve base hit results and lighten those areas. The thing is than, it sucks that we don’t have this well working part of our relationship. Sometimes I think she’s stubborn. And then, ask myself am I stubborn in achieving the best outcome. And found that this is true if it’s something that can be resolved. So when or how it that determined!? lol. If I am the one deciding what IS, than maybe Im the wrong person to judge. I digress.
…I´m an ENFP… and love an INTJ…
(but he´s too young) (and I´m Dutch, and he = Czech..)
N = great
The percentage of intuitives and sensors in the population isn’t a result of how much of each type is “needed”. It’s simply based on how much they reproduce. We aren’t born sensor or intuitive based on what society needs, but rather society is built to meet our needs.
I wonder what a society adjusted to accomodate a 70% intuitive population would look like? :)