What Is Extraverted Intuition?

Before we start in on exactly what Extraverted Intuition is, let’s revisit the basics of cognitive functions, shall we? 

Carl Jung originally theorized about cognitive functions, referring to specific methods of processing information and making decisions based on your personality type. Isabel Briggs Myers later wrote about these functions in greater detail. The basic idea is that each 4-letter personality type uses four of the possible eight cognitive functions. These four functions appear in a specific order, commonly referred to as a “cognitive stack”. 

My favorite analogy in understanding the stacking of the cognitive functions comes from renowned personality psychology writer and fellow ENFP, Heidi Priebe. 

In her book, The ENFP’s Survival Guide, she compares the cognitive functions to swimming in a pool. The first function in your stack, referred to as your dominant function, is the water. It’s so natural, you may not even notice yourself doing it. It’s your first impulse in every situation. 

The second function in your stack is your auxiliary or secondary function. Priebe describes this as the ladder or water slide in your swimming analogy. You’re aware of it and can mostly choose when to engage or ignore it and you must swim through the water to get there. 

Your third (tertiary) and fourth (inferior) functions are less accessible and don’t typically develop until middle age. Before that point, your third and fourth functions generally make an appearance only when under stress. These would be the life raft you cling to when you’re drowning. With practice, you can peacefully integrate the life raft to act as a pool toy you enjoy as you swim. 

Breaking down Extraverted Intuition

Extraverted Intuition as a function is like a tiny little idea-generating madman. However, it can appear a little bit differently depending on where in the cognitive stack it makes its appearance. We’ll get to that in a minute. For now, here are the basics of recognizing when Extraverted Intuition is at work:

• Strong idea-generating function
• Primarily dwells on the future
• Gains energy by exploring abstract ideas and possibilities
• Uses abstract reasoning to brainstorm, speculate, and connect ideas
• Does not like to decide firmly, but focuses on the possibilities and opportunities

Extraverted Intuition is the reason you’re able to consider multiple points of view as equally valid. It is the reason you gain equal amounts of energy when debating ideas with like-minded people or spending time alone and generating possibilities about the future. This is the function that finds the beginning of projects infinitely more exciting than finishing. 

So then, how does Extraverted Intuition stack? 

Dominant Extraverted Intuition: If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

The ENTP and ENFP both share Extraverted Intuition as their dominant function. This is the way I experience Extraverted Intuition and, let me tell you, it’s quite something! My editor recently told me reading what I called my “boring prose” was what others would write after they had consumed their weight in illegal substances. Not only do I want that stitched on a pillow, but that’s a pretty good description of what unbridled Extraverted Intuition looks like. 

There’s a children’s book called If You Give A Mouse A Cookie… and the mouse, having a cookie, will want a glass of milk. In getting the glass of milk, the mouse recognizes something else and each page is something new the mouse goes after until, after quite the adventure, he comes full circle to wanting the original cookie again. 

For better or worse, that is an accurate description of my daily life. 

This is what I describe as my tiny little inner madman. Always adjusting. Always taking in information to spin possibilities. It’s exhilarating. It’s the reason I roll with the punches super well. It’s also the reason I switched my college major 18 times. 

Subsequent functions serve to support extraverted intuition and the perceptions it brings to the table. For the ENFP, Introverted Feeling takes in all of the possibilities and judges them through their feelings and moral values. ENTPs examine their many ideas through the logic lens before handing it off to their tertiary and inferior functions. For ENFPs and ENTPs, Extraverted Intuition runs the show. 

Secondary Extraverted Intuition: Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way

For the INTP and INFP, Extraverted Intuition serves their primary judging function (Introverted Feeling for INFPs and Introverted Thinking for INTPs). Both of these types must first judge - through thinking or feeling - and have strong ideas about something before Extraverted Intuition starts to spin their possibilities forward. 

This focuses the idea-generating aspect of this function more than dominant Extraverted Intuition. Instead of looking in every shiny direction for possibilities (and cookies…) INTPs and INFPs won’t get out of bed for less than a solid direction. Once their dominant judging function has decided on said direction, it hands the essence of the idea off to Extraverted Intuition who dutifully spins every possible solution and then continues the hand-off to the tertiary and inferior functions in turn. 

The best way to describe the relationship of secondary Extraverted Intuition is to intone the popular saying “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Where dominant Extraverted Intuition is like fighting a drunken master in Dungeon and Dragons, secondary Extraverted Intuition is strongly principled and unstoppable when supporting a strong idea or moral code. 

Tertiary and Inferior Extraverted Intuition: Unhealthy Rebellion

ESFJs and ESTJs enjoy Extraverted Intuition as their third function while ISFJs and ISTJs have Extraverted Intuition at the tail-end of their stack. 

Depending on their age, life experiences, and whether they’ve thoughtfully engaged Extraverted Intuition, it can appear underdeveloped or unhealthy. 

The unhealthy functions tend to show themselves in rebellion to their intended functionality. For example, Extraverted Intuition can warp an otherwise solid, grounded individual. Instead of using their dominant and secondary functions to make decisions and weed out possibilities, an unhealthy show of Extraverted Intuition can cause these types to twist their reasoning to fit within whatever concept they want to realize. They can get caught up in the hypothetical and forget to live in reality.

While this can be a struggle for anyone with Extraverted Intuition, dominant or secondary Extraverted Intuition tends to have the practice of at least a bit of balance with the outside world. Unhealthy Extraverted Intuition probably seems quite a bit like substance abuse riding high highs and positively cranky and frightening lows. 

Tertiary and Inferior Extraverted Intuition: Integration For the Win

The trick for ENFJs, ESTJs, ISFJs, and ISTJs is to focus on the healthy integration of Extraverted Intuition within their cognitive stack. 

This means first understanding your first and second functions for the ENxJs and your first three functions for the ISxJs. Extraverted Intuition should not overpower these functions, but serve under them. The hierarchy of your functions is important for a healthy manifestation of your personality. Extraverted Intuition can then look like spinning future possibilities for employment circumstances, ways you can present your already thought-out idea to your boss, or can assist your other functions for planning future trips or benchmarks in your life. 

My absolutely favorite description of Extraverted Intuition is from (surprise!) Heidi Priebe, “[Its] the tiny thrum of madness in the back of your mind that keeps you constantly moving forward.” 

How do you recognize Extraverted Intuition at work within your own life? Share with us below!