MYERS-BRIGGS PERSONALITY TYPE

M B Spell Check™ - Sensory / iNtuition

DETAILS or PATTERNS
Which way do you PERCEIVE?

       Perceiving is our being aware of our environment and collecting information from it. People who prefer Sensing (S) types live in the present tense, appreciate life's sensory details, and are usually very practical people. Intuitive (N) types tend to live in the future tense, appreciate life's possibilities, and perceive overall patterns before becoming aware of details.

       This category can be tricky for scientists because we have strong learned behavior and strongly held values around concrete, measurable data, and following step-by-step plans to ensure our results are reproducable. So let me remind you that valuing concrete data doesn't mean you naturally become aware of your environment by automatically first noticing the details. Those of us who are naturally "N" make an effort to "see" the world at this level because we consider it important. We may have "practiced" this skill so much that it almost seems natural. There's a reason scientists are often called trained observers.

       This dichotomy is also a bit tricky for "T" and "J" types. The "J" types may mistake their love of structure as the Sensing step-by-step approach. It is a fine distinction: "S" goes step-by-step in how they gather information. "J" goes step-by-step in how they move through the world. The "T" types make decisions based on logic (versus the "F" types who use values), so they highly value measurable, observable, concrete information. That doesn't mean their brains naturally live in the present tense, automatically seeing all the details - they just want to have the details upon which to base their conclusions. A fine distinction, yet a critical one to understand, when sorting out your natural type.

          Again, think back to what you got praised or scolded for as a child, and that often leads you to your natural brain wiring. The script will still score your checklist if you skip questions, but unanswered questions will count as if you answered as a SENSOR, and your score will not mean anything.

  1.Careful detailed observation, using one or more of your five traditional senses
Patterns, relationships and impressions from the sub- and unconscious mind.
 
  2.Live in the here-and-now, present and the past.
Live in the future, the world of possibilities.
 
  3. Naturally practical, grounded in everyday reality, most comfortable in the world of what is.
Naturally imaginative, comfortable in the world of what could be.
 
  4. Naturally create practical solutions.
Naturally invent imaginative possibilities.
 
  5. Memory recall emphasizes specific details, facts and past events.
Memory recall emphasizes patterns, impressions, contexts, and connections.
 
  6. Need to know the details before you can see and understand the "big picture."
Need the "big picture" overview first, so you can know where to put all the details.
 
  7.Uncomfortable acting unless have data, facts, and figures.
Comfortable acting on hunches and gut feelings, estimates, concepts.
 
  8.Can improvise best from having a past personal experience.
Can improvise easily from having a theoretical understanding.
 
  9.Need your own experiences rather than trusting other people's experiences (e.g., free sample to try, etc.)
Can trust other people's experiences relatively easily, without needing your own experience (e.g., a recommendation from a trustworthy source)
 
  10.Memory recall often consists of the literal words.
Memory recall often consists of an impression or the essence of an event - the general idea.
 
  11. Good common sense.
Ideas may not initially be realistic.
 
  12. See what is there.
Read between the lines.
 
  13. Concrete, traditional, realistic.
Abstract, imaginative, original.
 
  14. Detailed step by step plan.
Visionary insight.
 
  15. Work with the known.
Discover new meaning.
 
  16.Like to present or hear the details first before an overall summary.
Like to present or hear an overview of something before the details.
 
  17.Would rather manage the details of the present than plan for the future.
Enjoy planning for the future more than dealing with daily realities.
 
  18. Enjoy using already learned, tried and true skills and applying what is already learned.
Sometimes enjoy learning a new skill more than actually using it once it's learned.
 
  19. Look at a photo or picture, and naturally list or describe the details of what you see first, then give your conclusion: "A tree, a blanket, a wicker basket - must be a picnic!"
Look at a photo or picture, and naturally describe your general impression first then list the details: "Must be a picnic -- there's a tree, a blanket, and a wicker basket!"
 
  20.Like to proceed step-by-step.
Like to proceed however makes sense at the moment.
 
  21. Give specific answers to questions ("It's 3:04 pm").
Give general answers to questions ("It's around 3 pm").

  YOUR ( S / N ) SCORE is

This number does NOT indicate how much of a Sensor or iNtuitive you are -- it tells you how CERTAIN you are that you primarily perceive through your five senses or through patterns and insight.

If your precentage is between 0 - 50%, the "sorting hat" classifies you as an SENSING type.
If your percentage is 51 - 100%, the "sorting hat" classifies you as an INTUITIVE.

NOTE: Do not be surprised or disappointed if your degree of clarity is not as strong as the other three dichotomies -- it is the toughest category in which to see and identify our natural selves because we have have so much learned behavior and so many strongly held values regarding information. It is also difficult to write questions for this category -- there is overlap with "T" and with "J" characteristics. I bolded the question numbers for those questions that are particularly defining for the S / N dichotomy. If you want, add up your score for just those questions and see if that gives you a higher clarity percentage (first choices are "S" and second choices are "N").

Write down this letter ( S or N ), and the percentage, then continue on to the T / F checklist.

 

Return to Top

Sensing, intuition, sensor, intuitive, myers briggs personality type