"The Introverted Intuitive Type"
IN (Ni)

Introduction

The introverted intuition type (IN) moves from image to image, from vision to vision and searches for every possibility in the deepest levels of collective subconsciousness that stretches across time and space - it does not live within the tangible present. It is as if he is connected on a cellular level by an inheritance to experiences of those before his time. His perception of the world is that which is defined not by physical reality but by psychological reality. External objects, realities and structures are therefore regarded by him as little more than illusions that conceal the true underlying processes that span reality like an invisible net. If the object is another person, then he is tempted by a mysterious force to immerse himself in their psychological reality and thereby perceive their thoughts and emotions. He can be described as a person who lives constantly in his own subconsciousness and therefore perceives the immediate moment only dimly - for example, when he watches a performance, such as a theatre, he finds it difficult to concentrate on it because he is too much in his own head as well as in the head of the actors, as he searches for a deeper form of perception within the collective subconsciousness.

Because he is so open to eventualities, he likes to leave his freedom of action open and therefore avoids deciding on anything quickly, as he subconsciously waits for the best perceived options - this is why others may perceive him as passive and indecisive, whereby he may feel constantly annoyed by factors emerging from his environment. While the introverted intuition type searches for possibilities in his mind, he perceives both everything beautiful and ugly, with both sides being perceived as equally important; for him, everything beautiful can have something ugly at its core as well as everything ugly something beautiful - he likes to express these visions in activities that can be of any creative nature imaginable. His creations often shimmer in all colours - if not in colours, then with an originality that stands out from the ordinary. His intuition can lead him to visions that shape and define both himself and his life; he may begin to attempt to embody various archetypes, personas or personalities that bring him closer to his vision. However, the more he sinks into his aesthetic visions, in which he strives for the most beautifully perceived possibilities of his subconsciousness, the more distanced he becomes from tangible reality. In doing so, he could increasingly distance himself from all objective concerns. If not a creative "artist" who concentrates on realising his visions, then he is often an unappreciated genius who has gone astray and is regarded as a "wise fool" - a loser in normal life.

The Shadow Side

The introverted intuition type can be described as a primitive manifestation of the extraverted sensation type (ES), as it suppresses those aspects to the deepest level of its subconsciousness. This is expressed as impulsive instinctivity and intemperance, combined with an extraordinary dependency and hypersensitivity to sensory input. This type completely overlooks what is right in front of his eyes unless he focusses on it directly; it does not reach his subconsciousness. While he tries to realise his visions in reality, he becomes too impulsive and careless, which could cause him to fail. He chronically flees from environments that are too noisy for him or whose smell he does not like; however, if he cannot do this, he dissociates himself from them as if the disturbing factors would never reach his subconsciousness.

On the other hand, he is prone to unrestrained impulses, some of which resemble a kind of uncontrolled lust. However, at the same time, he shows a marked disinterest in lifestyles that are orientated towards physical pleasure, as sensations can only very rarely, if ever, break through the intuitive wall. He himself is therefore unable to understand how people can live a present life based on pleasure, as he himself is only able to do so to a very limited extent. For him, the most authentic pleasure only exists within his pronounced imagination and his visions. Therefore, guided by his intuition, he wants to bring immediate reality under his control and adapt it to his subjective aesthetic visions - the image of the introverted intuition type in the most extreme form of this personality can resemble that of a visionary, seer or prophet. In general, this is also reflected in his expectations in love, which are often plagued by unrealistic ideals; both in the aesthetic and psychological sense - he then usually projects such ideals onto his own being, which manifests itself as specific personality and beauty ideals. In general, however, his definition of love does not correspond to that of physical attractiveness, but is much more psychological in nature. Unlike the extraverted sensation type, he can rarely accept reality as it is.