To get detailed insights about your personality, you can take a free personality test at the end of this article. The test uses the latest advancements in artificial intelligence to give you deep insights into your personality.
Myers-Briggs Test indicator presents 16 different types of personalities based on a variety of trait combinations. Each personality is represented by four letters. Each letter represents a dominant trait in an individual’s personality. The test uses specially tailored questions to figure out the combination of four sets of opposing traits.
The opposing combinations of traits are:
- Introverted vs. extroverted
- Sensing vs. intuitive
- Thinking vs. feeling
- Perceiving vs. judging
Meaning of Sensing
In some cases, the second word in the four-letter MBTI personality is S and it’s used to show that an individual is a sensing person. People belonging to the S category put a lot of emphasis on their five senses and physical reality. Intuition is not their priority.
Sensing can be defined as a way of gathering information with the help of physical senses and it’s grounded in practicality.
Characteristics of S types
The sensing types are elaborated with the help of the following characteristics:
- They are concerned with the present.
- They are pragmatic and practical.
- Concrete tasks with definite outcomes are preferred by them. They do not like open-ended tasks.
- Their train of thought is linear as compared to abstract.
- They are realistic and see things as they are. They trust their experience over speculations.
- Details are important for them.
Sensing Personality Types
Out of the 16 MBTI personalities, eight are sensing personalities. Getting a better understanding of these personality types requires exploring their defining traits, preferences, and behavior in different situations.
ESTJ – the overseer
ESTJs are one of the most charismatic personalities. They have an iron will and are considered reliable. ESTJ personality belongs to the protector temperament and is defined by the judging (J) and sensing (S) preferences. They are methodical and have humble personalities.
The four letters used to describe a personality signify the preferences. In ESTJ, the preferences are Extroversion, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging. These dimensions define the natural tendencies of Preferences of ESTJs.
Understanding the preferences of a personality is the best way to get an understanding of a personality. The preferences of ESTJ are:
Extroversion
The outside world is their main focus. They prefer social situations and activities where they get to work with other people. They have an assertive personality and are usually talkative. They are very energetic and love to socialize.
Sensing
People with sensing preferences focus on the present. Sensors trust their senses while processing data. Their literal thinking allows them to see the true meaning of things rather than getting caught in appearances. They find established ways and common sense trustworthy. It’s rare for them to indulge in speculations and daydreaming.
Thinking
Objectivity defines the preference of thinking. It means that ESTJs base their decisions on facts and can disregard emotions. They are not completely disconnected from their emotions but prefer to rely on reason rather than feelings.
Judging
Judging refers to sequential thinking. These individuals like to have structure and order. They like to finish things and take deadlines very seriously. Their judging preference is all about the way they approach daily activities rather than being judgmental.
ESTP sensing type
ESTP people are described as thrill-seekers and inexhaustible by most people. They can quickly solve problems and do it efficiently. They like attention and always involve people around them in their conversations.
Preferences of ESTP:
To know the personality type you must be aware of what the acronym stands for.
Extroversion
They get their energy and validation from the outside world. It offers them the stability they need to calm down their inner selves. They like spending time with others and being the center of attention. They have a lot of energy and are always looking for ways to use it by indulging in adventurous activities.
Sensing
Their understanding of the surroundings comes from their senses. They focus on real-life experiences and they are quick at gathering information. They can find beauty in everything and use it as an inspiration. ESTPs are good at reading people’s expressions and body language.
Thinking
Thinking preference is all about the reliance on one’s decision-making process. ESTPs use logic and reason to make decisions. They don’t like to indulge in intangible ideas and pointless debates about hypothetical situations.
Perceiving
ESTPs have an appreciative and flexible nature. They are unlikely to be happy while working on a fixed schedule. Working under an imposed authority is not appreciated by them as they prefer an independent environment.
ESFJ
ESFJs are sociable people who get energized by interacting with other people. They have a wide social circle and love gatherings.
Preferences of ESFJ:
Extroversion
ESFJ personalities love group gatherings. They are animated and energetic people. Their communication style is assertive. They like to be noticed and are comfortable being in the spotlight.
Sensing
“Here are now” holds the most importance for ESFJs. Their five senses are sharp and are used to perceive their surroundings. They only trust things that their five senses can process. They rely on common sense and realism.
Feeling
ESFJ is subjective people and their decisions are based on their values. They always prefer heart over mind. Pleasing others and getting their approval is important to them. They prefer social order and harmonious circumstances.
Judging
ESFJs have a structured approach to interacting with the world. They make up plans and use routines in their life. They are comfortable while working on organized tasks with defined goals. ESFJ individuals always stick with deadlines and work tirelessly to complete things within them.
ESFP
ESFP individuals are fun-loving and energetic. They are optimistic and resourceful.
Preferences of ESFP:
The personality of ESFP people is defined by the following preferences.
Extroversion
ESFPs love spending time with people and pleasing them. They spend a lot of energy making sure that others are satisfied with them. Their sociable nature allows them to make friends easily and have new experiences with them. They have an empathetic nature and are concerned with the needs and feelings of others.
Sensing
The sensing preference of ESFPs is responsible for their practicality. They like to focus on real-life problems instead of speculating about hypothetical issues. They use their five senses to find instant solutions and get the best results.
Feeling
ESFPs use their instincts to make decisions. There is perfect harmony between their decision-making and their core values. They are full of energy and can often make abrupt decisions. However, they sometimes also take a long time to make decisions as they like to consider all aspects before deciding anything.
Perceiving
The free-spirited ESFP people look for flexibility and prefer to work at their own pace. Their focus is not on planning and establishing a structured environment. They find it easy to work on existing projects rather than starting something new.
ISTJ
ISTJ personalities are serious about their duties and responsibilities. They are organized people who like to be in control of things. They are not a fan of spontaneous change.
Preferences of ISTJ:
To comprehend the meaning of ISTJ, it’s essential to take a close look at its preferences.
Introversion
The introversion preference shows that ISTJs like to spend time alone. Their energy level goes down when they spend time in group activities. Their introverted nature demands spending time with their beliefs, thoughts, and values.
Sensing
ISTJs are aware of their surroundings and have sharp senses. They are observant and detail-oriented. They avoid getting involved in idealistic issues and prefer to stick to realistic ideas.
Thinking
They rely on analysis and logic while making decisions. ISTJs are known to be deep thinkers and use reliable information to come up with solutions. They are objective and focus on getting results.
Judging
ISTJ wants organization and structure. They perform best when there is a proper plan in front of them. They appreciate well-defined hierarchies in their professional and personal life.
ISTP
ISTP personalities are defined as fun-loving, self-confident, and thrill-seeking. They have a realistic and logical mindset. They love working on hands-on projects and physical challenges.
Preferences of ISTP:
Introversion
ISTP process information internally and focus on their inner self. They get recharged by some alone time. They do not like spotlights and blend in the background in social gatherings. They are quiet and private people.
Sensing
ISTPs make use of their senses to process information. They are straightforward people. ISTP are practical people who see things as they are. They live in the moment and have an optimistic attitude.
Thinking
ISTJs are rational thinkers and base their decision on logic. They prefer their mind over their hearts. They are critical and find it easy to handle complex problems.
Perceiving
ISTPs are flexible and can easily adapt to different situations. They are not organized and rarely have a plan of action in mind. They are spontaneous and are easily bored with routines.
ISFJ
ISFJ personalities have a lot of loyalty to traditions. They crave order and stability. ISFJs have a lot of compassion and love helping other people.
Preferences of ISFJ:
Introversion
ISFJs direct all their energy inwards and recharges with some alone time. They don’t enjoy social interactions and like to interact with one person or with small groups. ISFJs are excellent listeners and are careful with their words.
Sensing
People with sensing preferences are aware of their surroundings and notice even the smallest details. They need order and use practical solutions that have a direct impact.
Feeling
ISFJ people can get too emotional and use their feelings to make decisions. They focus on creating harmony and making others happy.
Judging
Structure and organization are important for them. They are serious about their responsibilities and don’t find inspiration in dynamic environments. They don’t welcome change and do their best where there are clear rules.
ISFP
ISFP or adventurer personalities are spontaneous and realistic. Routine and strict rules are not for them. They like living in the present moment and enjoy every moment.
Preferences of ISFP:
Introversion
ISFP prefer spending time with their close friends and family instead of being part of large gatherings. They are withdrawn and quiet making it hard for others to know them. However, they are considerate and compassionate.
Sensing
ISFP people live in the moment and pay attention to the present. They are great listeners and highly observant. They are interested in new experiences and avoid indulging in abstract ideas. Learning through practical and hands-on experiences is valuable to them.
Feeling
The decisions of ISFP are based on their gut feeling and moral code. They are aware of the emotional context of situations and act accordingly. Their focus is on helping others rather than on disagreements.
Perceiving
ISFP enjoy open-ended situations as it allows them to be impulsive and spontaneous. They don’t like the restriction of routine and want freedom. They find it easy to adapt to change but find it hard to stick to plans.
Meaning of Intuitive
Intuitive (N) personalities have a lot of interest in the future. They are interested in exploring the world of possibilities. They use impressions and patterns to process information. They value imagination and inspiration and use these things to get the best results.
Intuitive Personality Types
Eight MBTI personalities are considered intuitive personality types.
ENTJ
ENTJ personalities are among the most ambitious and determined personalities. They are assertive and outspoken and love taking part in debates. They have a charismatic personality that attracts other people’s attention.
Preferences of ENTJ:
Extroversion
They get their energy from the outside world. They love talking and going out and they perform their best in dynamic environments. They are most happy when indulging in passionate debates and conversations. ENTJs are considered the life of parties because of their enthusiastic nature.
Intuition
ENTJs are future-oriented people and use impressions and patterns to perceive the world around them. Innovation motivates them and triggers their imagination. They are not afraid of change and can understand the meaning between the lines.
Thinking
ENTJ personalities use their minds to make decisions rather than their hearts. It’s hard for them to connect with sensitive people because they are not too in touch with their feelings. They have impersonal and rational personalities.
Judging
Structure and order are valuable to them in their professional and personal life. They like creating schedules and sticking to them. ENTJs don’t fail to meet deadlines as they take them seriously.
ENTP
ENTP people are full of energy that does not seem to run out. They are super creative and are masters of coming up with unique and non-traditional ideas and solutions.
Preferences of ENTP:
Extroversion
Extroversion preference means that ENTP people are confident communicators. They are not afraid of voicing their opinion and being the center of attention. They have a lot of energy and are always ready to tackle intellectual challenges. They find meaning in each day and take it as an opportunity to discover and learn something new.
Intuition
ENTPs use their imagination to perceive and process information. They love coming up with exciting and new concepts. Their focus is on the big picture rather than on the present. They have the caliber of establishing complex connections between the information they are receiving and developing a vision of future possible results.
Thinking
The combination of intuition and thinking is not a common one because both these preferences clash with each other. ENTPs have both these preferences and it makes them self-confident innovators with an ability to always have logic behind their actions and ideas. They do not necessarily have a full grasp of their emotions and may end up hurting people who have difficulty comprehending their complex ideas.
Perceiving
ENTPs like to approach tasks that offer them the freedom to do things as they want. They can quickly adapt to new things and are good at thinking on their feet. Fast-paced work environments are most suitable for them but they don’t like being stifled by deadlines or strict rules.
ENFJ
ENFJ personality type is known to be empathetic and affectionate. They are idealistic and want to have a positive impact on the world. Their inspiration and optimism are contagious and it allows them to motivate others around them.
Preferences of ENFJ:
Extroversion
Social gatherings are their comfort zone. They love spending time with people and communicating with them. They even feel comfortable spending time with strangers. ENFJs are great at spontaneous interactions and love being in the spotlight.
Intuition
ENFJs think about the future a lot. They often think about future events and look for ideas to optimize them. They use recurring events and patterns to experience the world. They can easily and quickly come up with creative solutions.
Feeling
ENFJs are guided by their emotions and have a subjective worldview. They don’t like indulging in arguments and confrontations and always prefer to find a peaceful solution. They can understand others’ feelings and show sympathy.
Judging
ENFJs are calculated and like having structures in their life. They always create schedules and extensive lists to keep everything in their life organized.
ENFP
ENFP personality types are charismatic leaders. They are full of zest for life and are not afraid to show their enthusiasm to others.
Preferences of ENFP:
Extroversion
ENFPs focus on the outside world and get their energy by engaging in social gatherings. They have an animated personality and like having conversations with other people.
Intuition
They tend to bend toward deep ideas, metaphors, and concepts. Patterns and impressions are their sources of gathering information. They are people pleasers and want to get appreciated.
Feeling
ENFP individuals have a subjective worldview. They use their heart to make decisions and often disregard the mind. Empathy and harmony are precious values for them.
Perceiving
ENFPs are optimistic people who like to keep their options open. They are spontaneous and like to tackle multiple tasks at a time. They love the unexpected and welcome change with open arms.
INTJ intuitive type
INTJ personalities are brilliant and ingenious. They prefer thinking out of the box. They are persistent and work tirelessly to achieve their goals.
Preferences of INTJ:
Introversion
Introvert people are in favor of spending time alone. Spending time with groups drains their energy and to get energized they like some alone time.
Intuition
The intuition preference provides them with an in-depth understanding of patterns and circumstances. They appreciate creativity and inspiration. They think about the future and want to make a better one.
Thinking
INTJ people are calculative and analytical. They use reason and logic to get through life. INTJs give preference to logic and truth instead of speculating.
Judging
INTJ wants to have structure and order in life. Sticking to deadlines is easy for them. They can make quick decisions and are not double-minded.
INTP
INTP is known as the logician personality. They are flexible and easygoing but like to keep to themselves. They are highly imaginative and their minds are always filled with brilliant and unique ideas. INTPs are considered the most rational personality out of all the 16 personalities.
Preferences of INTP:
Introversion
INTP personality has an interesting inner world and they like to focus on it. Spending time alone or with a small specific group gives them energy. Engaging in too many social interactions drains them. They focus on the quality of relationships as compared to the number of relationships.
Intuition
INTPs are objective people and always make decisions based on facts. Truth is their priority and they don’t indulge in speculations.
Thinking
They are good at critical thinking and are natural problem solvers. INTPs are emotional but they also tend to take a step back from emotions and be impersonal when needed.
Perceiving
INTPs love starting new projects but they lose enthusiasm with time and find it hard to finish them. They have trouble separating professional and personal life and often try to mingle both.
INFJ
INFJ has a rich inner world. Their ambition in life is to develop and use their skills and knowledge to guide others. They are dedicated to their cause and work hard to achieve their goals.
Preferences of INFJ:
Introversion
The inside world of INFJ personality is too interesting for them to focus on anything else. Alone time gives them energy. They want deep and long relationships. Listening is their strong suit and they never speak before thinking.
Intuition
INFJ focus on the future and all the possibilities it can offer. Impressions and patterns allow them to understand their surroundings.
Feeling
INFJs have a subjective point of view. They use their heart to understand situations and make decisions. They love getting appreciated and praised by others.
Judging
Order and organization are an essential part of INFJ personality. They love to follow routines and set schedules. Deadlines are important so they never break them.
INFP
INFP or the mediators are sensitive and idealistic people. They are known for their gentle and generous nature. They have an easy-going persona but inside they hold a lot of passion for their cause and have a strong belief in the people they love.
Preferences of INFP:
Introversion
INFPs like to live in their tiny little world and are not concerned with engaging in too many social interactions. They don’t like having a big social circle as it drains their energy. Deep relationships give them energy. They like to listen to other people and speak carefully.
Intuition
INFP personalities are interested in the future and the world of possibilities it can bring. They put a lot of emphasis on imagination and value. They have the caliber of reading between the lines and finding the deep hidden meaning of ideas and concepts.
Feeling
The subjective point of view of INFPs allows them to make decisions based on their values and principles. Their heart dominates their minds and they judge others using their gut feeling.
Perceiving
INFPs don’t like being restricted and like to keep all the options open. They enjoy the unexpected and welcome change. They are spontaneous and end up juggling multiple things at a time. They don’t see the point of separating work and play.
Final Thoughts
Sensing and intuition are both parts of human personality. It’s impossible to say that one is better than the other because both are crucial parts of a personality. Our website offers the best personality tests that can help in figuring out whether you are a sensor or an intuitive. Knowing your preference allows an individual to establish a better understanding of one’s personality.
Diana Jane Heath
Based in Sydney, Diana has worked as a freelance writer for over 5 years. She is passionate about writing and helping people reach their full potential and to live a more successful life.
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