INFJ

INFJs’ Fourth/Inferior Function: Extraverted Sensing (Se)

For those unfamiliar with the powerful influence of the inferior function in personality, as well as common strategies for dealing with it, I strongly encourage you to explore my post, Understanding the Inferior Function.

Like INTJs, INFJs struggle to reconcile their dominant Ni with their inferior Se. Even highly perceptive INFJs can be blinded by the influence of their Se on their decisions and behavior. Without sufficient awareness and integration of their inferior, INFJs will continue to feel unsatisfied and prone to unwise decision-making. INFJs seeking self-knowledge and personal growth must work to understand the ways in which their inferior function, Extraverted Sensing (Se), manifests itself in their personality.

Disembodiment

Of all types, INFJs (and INTJs) are the most detached and disconnected from their own bodies. Not only is their S function inferior, but INFJs do not have Si in their functional stack (Or, more technically, Si might be considered their last/eighth function), which is the function that contributes an internal sense of one’s body. INFJs commonly report being plagued by the sense that their body is not really a part of them. In his book, Jung’s Four and Some Philosophers, Thomas King writes of the Introverted Intuitive: “his hands are alien to him and his body unfamiliar.”

Because of their detachment from their physicality, INFJs may have nightmares about unexpected declines in their health. One INFJ, for instance, recounted to me his recurrent dreams of his teeth falling out. Another reported her fear that she might develop a disease and be unaware or ignorant of the symptoms until it was too late. Other INFJs report worrying that their obliviousness to physical reality might compromise the safety or well-being of their children. INFJs may forget to eat regularly and appear undernourished, or they may overeat because of lack of attention to how much they are eating. To compensate for this mind-body disconnect, they may subject themselves to overly strict, even obsessive, regimens of diet and exercise. Like other types, when trying deal with inferior-related issues, they are wont to go to extremes.

Sensory Novelty & Material Security

Despite being the most otherworldly and abstract of the types, INFJs have a curious thirst for sensory novelty, material comforts, and physical thrills (Se). They may drive expensive cars, purchase luxurious homes, or arrange for the exclusive accommodations when travelling. INFJs often develop refined and expensive tastes for food, art, design, architecture, and the like. Not only do they love the pretty things that money can buy, but also the experiences. INFJs love to travel, to attend the opera or symphony, or to savor a fine meal. While ENPs, whose Sensing function is also inferior, may display some similarities here, ENPs rely on the outside world to stimulate their Intuitive faculties (Ne) more than their senses.

When caught in the grip of their inferior Se, even the most responsible INFJs may lose control. They may turn to drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, extravagant vacations, desserts, or shopping binges to indulge their Se. Again, to guard against such extremes, INFJs may attempt to impose severe restrictions on their behavior.

Because of their inferior’s concern for all things physical/material, INFJs also tend to struggle with subsistence-related fears. They may worry excessively about losing their jobs, being forced to relocate, or not having enough money. ENPs, in contrast, tend to be more relaxed when it comes to money, potentially even viewing physical displacement as more of an adventure than a threat.

Despite their love for the material treasures and pleasures the world has to offer, INFJs have a commensurate propensity to discount or downplay the importance of “things” in their lives. After all, INFJs tell themselves that they are supposed to be concerned with the metaphysical (Ni) rather than the physical (Se). They can be quick to criticize Sensing types for their materialism while surreptitiously envying them for having it. INFJs may also balk at the idea of getting married, seeing the S marriage contract as superfluous to their metaphysical union with their partner.

This tug-of-war between their dominant N and inferior S often surfaces when making decisions about careers or relationships. The INFJ may struggle with choosing a job or partner that promises material security (S) versus one who connects with them on a metaphysical plane. INFJs’ need to see themselves as unique and unconventional also plays into this struggle. S This love-hate relationship is representative of the struggle INFJs have within themselves, the battle between their dominant and inferior function.

Ideal (Ni) vs. Actual (Se); Perfectionism

Envisioning  a more ideal world is inherently bad or unhealthy for INFJs. The fact is that they wouldn’t be INFJs if they didn’t routinely manufacture new visions or novel ideas. The issue is not with their dreaming per se, but with the degree to which they become attached to or insistent on the perfect materialization (Se) of their dreams. This is where INFJs’ perfectionism comes to the fore.

All dominant Intuitives can be perfectionistic. They are driven to see their N ideals perfectly translated into S reality. This partly explains INFJs’ penchant for the finer things in life. Not only do INFJs seek sensory novelty, but also goods and experiences of the highest quality. This issue of quality is extremely important to INFJs, which is why they can be so particular about the things they buy and the way things are done. It is worth noting that their perfectionism does not extend to all facets of their lives, but is generally limited to those areas they really care about, namely, the artistic and human domains.

Some INFJs may be willing to sacrifice everything, even their own health or sanity, to ensure that their vision finds a perfect incarnation; no detail is overlooked. In so doing, they can become restless and obsessive, locked into a narrow mode of existence they cannot readily escape. Any deviation from their ideal can feel like the end of the world, an irreparable marring of their perfect ideal. It is therefore unsurprising that their perfectionism can be destructive if left unchecked.

INFJs are also perfectionistic when it comes to themselves. They are harder on themselves than they are on others. Their Fe makes them more than willing to forgive the offenses and shortcomings of others. But since they see themselves as more insightful and wise when it comes to human behavior, they often fail to grant themselves the same degree of grace. They figure that if they are unable to perfectly embody their theories and ideals, then why should they expect anyone else to. And if their ideals have no chance of being actualized, then why even bother? Without the ability to maintain hope in their ideals, INFJs may feel they have no reason for living. This is why it feels so important for them to act perfectly. This notion is well-captured in the words of Jesus: But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48, NIV) INFJs know they have been entrusted with much, so they expect much more from themselves than they do from others.

Dealing with N-S Discrepancies

In attempt to temper their perfectionism, some INFJs may try to content themselves with being mere producers of ideas without direct involvement in their actualization. In typological terms, they focus on N while downplaying the importance of S. This may be why some INFJs are drawn to academics, since the academy allows them develop their theories more or less independently of their application. INFJ writers also enjoy the opportunity of expressing their ideals without direct concern for their application.

Other INFJs may opt to involve themselves with actualizing their ideals while trying to be content with something less than perfection. This option, while frustrating to their Ni, may be more enticing to their Se, which pushes for a tangible end result or product. But this introduces a new set of concerns. Namely, once an Se product deviates from the N ideal, at what point is it no longer acceptable? INFJs may face this question in both their work and their relationships. They are forced to grapple with whether the product or relationship is acceptable or whether they should just cut their losses and start over.

The problem with INFJs acting (Se) is it displaces them from their natural role as abstract perceivers (Ni). This, in combination with their relative disembodiment, is why action feels so strange and foreign to INFJs. As I discuss in this post, integrating the inferior function is more about enhancing the conditions for functioning authentically according to one’s type than it is about directly developing or “improving” the inferior function. In doing so, many inferior-related issues will take care of themselves; they are resolved indirectly.

It is therefore unlikely that the solution to INFJs’ N-S debacle will entail improving their ability to act or otherwise implement their ideas. Nor is it likely to involve a complete repression of their Se, which will only worsen matters. Rather, the solution is more apt to involve a shift in N perspective. So instead of always seeing the world as flawed, problem-ridden, or in need of modification, INFJs can learn to notice and appreciate what is already good and beautiful about it. This is not to suggest that INFJs will no longer make critical evaluations or produce visions of change, but only that their Ni will be tempered and influenced by an appreciation for what already is. Such a shift in perspective can help INFJs better reconcile the present with the future, as well as the ideal with the actual. It can also serve to satisfy their thirst for Se pleasure in a healthier, more sustainable way.

* * *

The task and challenge for INFJs seeking personal growth involves cultivating conditions that allow the opposing forces of their Ni and Se to co-exist and work together. INFJs looking for further guidance with regard to personal growth and integrating their Se might explore my post, Integrating the Inferior Function.

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Famous INFJs: Schopenhauer, Dostoevsky, Alan Watts, Carl Jung, Nietzsche

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Related Posts:

Understanding the Inferior Function

Integrating the Inferior Function

INFJ Careers, Jobs, &  College Majors

Explore other type profiles/descriptions:  INTJ   INFP   ENFJ

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*INFJs commonly test as Enneagram Fours (4w3, 4w5) or Ones (1w9, 1w2). Male INFJs, in particular, may also score as 5w4.

Note: My thanks goes out to Elaine Schallock, INFJ, who was kind enough to gift me with much of information contained in this INFJ profile.