What Is Introverted Intuition?

Introverted Intuition, also known as Ni, is one of the eight Jungian cognitive functions. It is the Dominant, or primary, cognitive function of the INFJ personality type.

In the MBTI® theory, each of the 16 personality types have four functions they use to perceive information and make decisions.

The Dominant function is the main function a personality type uses. It’s the mental space where they feel most comfortable and most like themselves.

The Auxiliary function works as a co-pilot, supporting the Dominant function, and its use also come naturally.

The use of the Tertiary and Inferior functions don’t come as naturally, but still support our perception and decision-making.

The below table shows the cognitive function stack for the INFJ personality type.

	Dominant	Auxiliary	Tertiary	Inferior
INFJ	Ni	Fe	Ti	Se

In this article, we’ll explain what Introverted Intuition is and what it looks like in INFJs. You can read about the other INFJ cognitive functions in the articles below.

• Fe, Extraverted Feeling
• Ti, Introverted Thinking
• Se, Extraverted Sensing

Want more information about your personality type? We recommend the TypeFinder Personality Test.

What Is Introverted Intuition?

Introverted Intuition takes in abstract or conceptual information, such as ideas, theories or emotional energies, and detects patterns, symbolism, and future implications.

Ni is an Introverted Perceiving function. This means it uses internal impressions to create meaning. Unlike the Judging functions, Thinking and Feeling, it doesn’t guide our decision-making, but can influence it.

Introverted Intuition is the function that helps us understand perspectives that aren’t our own.

Ni can look at a horrible crime, for example, and instead of judging the crime or seeing it for what it is, Ni seeks to understand the intention and motivation behind it.

It seeks to gather more information that will help the individual make sense of the patterns leading up to the event.

Introverted Intuition gives us a unique ability to view the world from a more detached perspective.

For Ni — each idea is a puzzle, and no idea is whole unless the puzzle is complete. All of the perspectives need to be understood for the event or idea to truly make sense.

Since Ni is an internal process, it can be hard for types with Dominant and Auxiliary Introverted Intuition to explain how it works.

For the Ni user, the Introverted Intuition process is always on in the background. However, this processing is unconscious.

At times, it may feel like information comes to the person “out of nowhere.” And often they have to backtrack their thoughts and internally organize their processes to determine where the “A-ha!” moment came from.

Some times, it feels like hearing the answer to a riddle without knowing what the question is. This can make explaining Ni insight especially challenging to a world that prefers clean-cut and organized thinking and behaviors.

What Does Introverted Intuition Look Like in INFJs?

For INFJs, Introverted Intuition can best be understood by looking at its relationship with the Auxiliary function, Extraverted Feeling.

The Ni-Fe relationship is what gives INFJs a deep insight into the inner workings of people. Fe is focused on identifying and acting on the needs of others.

Guided by Introverted Intuition with Extraverted Feeling support, INFJs are able to focus on the need of the individual or group with deep insights into other individual, societal, or cultural perspectives.

INFJs have the ability to detach emotionally and put themselves in another person’s shoes, to help guide that person down a path that works for them. This skill is what makes INFJ personality types excellent counsellors, teachers, and mentors.

Introverted Intuition and Introverted Thinking work well together, taking in an idea or perspective and breaking it down, analyzing it, and forming conclusions.

The connection between Introverted Intuition and Extraverted Sensing is also worth addressing. These are the two perceiving functions of the INFJ personality type, and together, they guide how this type sees the world.

Extraverted Sensing is the function that makes us extremely aware of our surroundings. It is focused on the sensory details of the present moment. When both Ni and Se are developed in the INFJ, it can create a strong mind-body connection. Activities like yoga and meditation help INFJs access this state of Ni-Se perception.

INFJs have to be careful not to get so caught up in their Dominant Introverted Intuition process that they overthink to the point of paranoia. Doing so can cause the INFJ to see meaning when it’s not there.