Theories of Personality 9th Edition

126 Part II Psychodynamic Theories

raw material for thinking and feeling. Intuiting differs from sensing in that it is

more creative, often adding or subtracting elements from conscious sensation.

Extraverted intuitive people are oriented toward facts in the external world.

Rather than fully sensing them, however, they merely perceive them subliminally.

Because strong sensory stimuli interfere with intuition, intuitive people suppress

many of their sensations and are guided by hunches and guesses contrary to sensory

data. An example of an extraverted intuitive type might be inventors who must

inhibit distracting sensory data and concentrate on unconscious solutions to objec-

tive problems. They may create things that fill a need few other people realized

existed.

Introverted intuitive people are guided by unconscious perception of facts

that are basically subjective and have little or no resemblance to external real-

ity. Their subjective intuitive perceptions are often remarkably strong and

capable of motivating decisions of monumental magnitude. Introverted intuitive

people, such as mystics, prophets, surrealistic artists, or religious fanatics, often

appear peculiar to people of other types who have little comprehension of their

motives. Actually, Jung (1921/1971) believed that introverted intuitive people

may not clearly understand their own motivations, yet they are deeply moved

by them. (See Table 4.1 for the eight Jungian types with some possible exam-

ples of each.)

The four functions usually appear in a hierarchy, with one occupying a supe-

rior position, another a secondary position, and the other two inferior positions.

Most people cultivate only one function, so they characteristically approach a

situation relying on the one dominant or superior function. Some people develop

two functions, and a few very mature individuals have cultivated three. A person

who has theoretically achieved self-realization or individuation would have all four

functions highly developed.

TABLE 4.1

Examples of the Eight Jungian Types

Thinking

Feeling

Sensation

Intuition

Philosophers, theoretical

scientists, some inventors

Subjective movie critics, art

appraisers

Artists, classical musicians

Prophets, mystics, religious

fanatics

Research scientists, accountants,

mathematicians

Real estate appraisers, objective

movie critics

Wine tasters, proofreaders,

popular musicians, house

painters

Some inventors, religious

reformers

Functions Attitudes

Introversion Extraversion