Introverted Intuition and Extraverted Intuition: How to Tell the Difference

Approximately 25 percent of individuals use an intuitive function as their primary way of understanding the world. For INFJ personality types, Introverted Intuition is their dominant function. It is how they make sense of the world around them.

However, not all personality types who have a preference for intuition are the same. Some types prefer Introverted Intuition and other types prefer Extraverted Intuition. This article takes a look at both of these functions to help you determine which one fits you the best.

The Difference Between Introverted Intuition and Extraverted Intuition

Both intuitive functions prefer to focus on ideas over tangible elements of reality. For example, a type who prefers intuition may enjoy studying theology or philosophy more than interior design or photography. The former being abstract concepts and the latter being interests that take a concrete, visual form in the external world.

Before we dive into the differences between Introverted Intuition and Extraverted Intuition, it’s important to note that all people use both forms of intuition.

Having a preference for one style of intuition doesn’t mean that you never use the other. Also, types who prefer sensing also use their intuitive functions with some skill.

If you’re trying to determine what style of intuition resonates the most with you, consider which one you enjoy the most and which one comes most naturally to you.

Quiz: Do You Prefer Introverted Intuition or Extraverted Intuition?

Below is a short quiz to help you determine which intuitive function you prefer. When selecting a statement, go with the answer that feels most true for you, most of the time.

1. I tend to focus more on:
   1. Finding solutions
   2. Coming up with ideas
2. My thought process is:
   1. Linear — I think about how A will impact B
   2. Nonlinear — I think about how A relates to Q and Z
3. I’m proud of my ability to:
   1. Understand multiple perspectives on a single idea
   2. Understand how different ideas are connected
4. I most enjoy:
   1. Exploring concepts in my inner world
   2. Exploring possibilities in the outer world
5. When learning a new concept:
   1. I want to dive as deep into it as possible
   2. I want to understand how it relates to other concepts
6. Friends would describe me as someone who is good at:
   1. Predicting future outcomes
   2. Seeing how seemingly unrelated things are connected
7. A learn best by:
   1. Deeply immersing myself in a new idea
   2. Experimenting with ideas in the outside world
8. To come up with solid solutions I need:
   1. Uninterrupted focus
   2. To brainstorm out loud
9. It often feels as if:
   1. A great idea will come out of nowhere
   2. I have more ideas than I know what to do with

If you answered mostly “1” you may have a preference for Introverted Intuition

Personality types who have Introverted Intuition as a dominant function (INFJs and INTJs) or auxiliary function (ENFJs and ENTJs) perceive the world primarily through their Introverted Intuition function. It’s estimated that these types make up approximately 10% of the population.

Introverted Intuition’s (also referred to as Ni) strength lies in its ability to see commonalities among singular concepts and ideas.

Unlike its Extraverted counterpart, Ni isn’t constantly bouncing from one idea to another, but diving deep into a singular idea to explore it from multiple perspectives and to gain a holistic view of the topic.

Ni tends to follow a more linear thought process as it works to connect the dots between one perspective and another, forming deep insights along the way. To the outside world, Ni users appear insightful and are appreciated for their abilities to thoughtfully approach issues from different angles.

For example, an INFJ or INTJ may see two people arguing over a single idea. Rather than focus on proving one idea over the over, Ni will attempt to find what these two perspectives have in common. This type of insight makes Ni users effective at facilitating conversations and guiding people and projects that require many ideas to be heard and implemented.

Introverted Intuition is often harder to spot in someone than Extraverted Intuition because it’s an introverted perceiving function, so the process is constantly happening inwardly.

Whereas Extraverted Intuition types make appear as “creative geniuses” by sharing their many ideas and possibilities, Ni types are more reserved, sharing flashes of insight only after careful processing.

If you answered mostly “2” you may have a preference for Extraverted Intuition

Personality types who have Extraverted Intuition as a dominant function (ENFPs and ENTPs) or auxiliary function (INFPs and INTPs) perceive the world primarily through their Extraverted Intuition function.

Extraverted Intuition’s (also referred to as Ne) strength lies in its ability to see limitless possibilities and understand patterns in the outside world.

Ne is as fascinated with concepts as it’s Introverted counterpart. However, Ne is more likely than Ni to explore many different ideas at once and think about how these ideas work together. Ne prefers to study multiple theories at once than to dive deeply into one theory for long periods of time.

Ne is the more experimental intuitive function. It’s motivated by a desire to create things that are new and see how the outside world reacts to the new ideas.

For example, a Ne user may read about a new concept and immediately think of the ways that this concept can relate to other concepts or even be reshaped into something brand new. This is one reason why many Ne dominant types are creatives and entrepreneurs.

Extraverted Intuition types gain energy by expressing their many ideas and brainstorming with other people. They tend to jump around more in conversation than Ni users do.

Still Not Sure?

Remember, all personality types use both the Introverted and Extraverted styles of Intuition to some degree. When determining which function makes the most sense for you, it comes down to what you naturally lean toward most of the time.

If neither description above seems especially true for you, that may mean you’re a type that prefers sensing over intuition.

If you still think you’re an INFJ, but aren’t sure between INFJ and another type, here are a few articles that may help clarify:

• Extraverted Feeling or Introverted Feeling?
• INFJ or INTJ?
• INFP or INFJ?
• INFJ or ISFJ?