fei75766_ch04_107-148.indd 128  02/19/20 09:00 AM
Part II    Psychodynamic Theories128
Sensing
Thefunction thatreceives physical stimuli andtransmits them toperceptual con-
sciousness iscalled sensation. Sensing isnotidentical tothephysical stimulus but
issimply theindividual’s perception ofsensory impulses. These perceptions arenot
dependent onlogical thinking orfeeling butexistasabsolute, elementary factswithin 
eachperson.
Extraverted sensing people perceive external stimuli objectively, inmuch the
same waythatthese stimuli existinreality. Their sensations arenotgreatly influenced 
bytheirsubjective attitudes. Thisfacility isessential insuchoccupations asproof -
reader, house painter, winetaster, oranyother jobdemanding sensory discrimina -
tions congruent withthose ofmost people (Jung, 1921/1971).
Introverted sensing people arelargely influenced bytheirsubjective sensations 
ofsight, sound, taste, touch, andsoforth. They areguided bytheirinterpretation 
ofsense stimuli rather thanthestimuli themselves. Portrait artists, especially those 
whose paintings areextremely personalized, relyonanintroverted-sensing attitude. 
They giveasubjective interpretation toobjective phenomena yetareabletocom-
municate meaning toothers. When thesubjective sensing attitude iscarried toits
extreme, however, itmayresult inhallucinations oresoteric andincomprehensible 
speech (Jung, 1921/1971).
Intuiting
Intuition involves perception beyond theworkings ofconsciousness. Likesensing, 
itisbased ontheperception ofabsolute elementary facts, onesthatprovide theraw
material forthinking andfeeling. Intuiting differs from sensing inthatitismore cre-
ative, often adding orsubtracting elements from conscious sensation.
Extraverted intuitive people areoriented toward facts intheexternal world. 
Rather thanfullysensing them, however, theymerely perceive them subliminally. 
Because strong sensory stimuli interfere withintuition, intuitive people suppress 
many oftheir sensations andareguided byhunches andguesses contrary tosen-
sorydata. Anexample ofanextraverted intuitive typemight beinventors who
must inhibit distracting sensory dataandconcentrate onunconscious solutions 
toobjective problems. They maycreate things thatfillaneed fewother people 
realized existed.
Introverted intuitive people areguided byunconscious perception offactsthat
arebasically subjective andhavelittleornoresemblance toexternal reality. Their 
subjective intuitive perceptions areoften remarkably strong andcapable ofmoti-
vating decisions ofmonumental magnitude. Introverted intuitive people, suchas
mystics, prophets, surrealistic artists, orreligious fanatics, often appear peculiar to
people ofother types whohavelittlecomprehension oftheirmotives. Actually, Jung
(1921/1971) believed thatintroverted intuitive people maynotclearly understand 
theirownmotivations, yettheyaredeeply moved bythem. (SeeTable 4.1forthe
eight Jungian types withsome possible examples ofeach.)
Thefourfunctions usually appear inahierarchy, withoneoccupying asuperior 
position, another asecondary position, andtheother twoinferior positions. Most peo-
plecultivate onlyonefunction, sotheycharacteristically approach asituation rely-
ingontheonedominant orsuperior function. Some people develop twofunctions, Final PDF to printer