#high se

High Ni

LII (ENTJ)

EII (ENFJ)

High Ne

LIE (INTP)

EIE (INFP)

High Ti

ILI (ENTP)

SLI (ESTP)

High Te

ILE (INTJ)

SLE (ISTJ)

High Si

ESI (ESFJ)

LSI (ESTJ)

High Se

ESE (ISFP)

LSE (ISTP)

High Fi

SEI (ESFP)

IEI (ENFP)

High Fe

SEE (ISFJ)

A few years ago, I made a post about how the cognitive functions manifest in our behaviour and now I’m going to expand on that and give a more detailed, visually accompanied overview for each type, now for the ISFP.

For the purpose of this guide, I took a look at this interview with the Canadian figure skaters Tessa Virtue (an ISFP) and Scott Moir (an ESFJ). You can find the links to other type spotting guides below which I will update over time when new guides are being added.

The dominant and the auxiliary cognitive functions that people use are those that are the ones that are the most noticeable in the quality of their gaze, in their speech style, in their facial expressions, and their whole general demeanour, and so these are the ones that I will be focussing on here. In case of an ISFP, these are Fi and Se. Due to this combination, ISFPs tend to be very grounded in their physical reality and focused on how everything relates to them personally. I always say that there are two base types of ISFPs: the quirky mad-people and the ice queens/kings. Fundamentally, they are not that different from each other, they just radiate a different kind of energy as the former are more upbeat and outgoing (see for example Scottish actress Karen Gillan) than those like Tessa Virtue who belong to the latter, more reserved category.

When I say “ice queen”, I don’t mean that ISFPs are cold-hearted, not at all. It’s just they are the least emotive of all the types. Their strongest function is Fi and so their emotional focus is directed inwards. They are constantly listening to themselves about how this makes them feel and how they relate to that, so there is no need to actively express their feelings outwardly. Interestingly, they are still completely unable to hide their true emotions. It’s like they are oozing out of them unintentionally. The gif above actually shows the difference between an Fi-dom and an Fe-dom very nicely: Scott Moir, as an ESFJ, is staring at her talking with a neutral face, but as soon as she makes eye contact, a reassuring smile appears on his face that immediately fades as soon as she looks away, while her expression does not change at all. That’s the key difference between the two feeling functions: his smile is meant for her and is not a true representation of his feelings, while her smile is genuinely felt. She does constantly look for other people’s reactions, but she does not adapt her behaviour to other people like Scott Moir does. 

What the second gif also shows very nicely is her auxiliary Se. She takes everything in that is happening around her, but she has a singular focus. This is what sets ISFPs apart from INFPs who share the ISFP’s dominant Fi. Due to high Se, the ISFP’s gaze is intense and has a clear direction. In a similar gist, ISFPs are often very well-composed and are a steady presence in the room that don’t get lost inside their own heads as much as INFPs. When they gesticulate, the movement of their hands is precise and has a concrete direction just like their gaze, while high Ne of an INFP would lead to gestures that are all over the place. Not all, but quite a number of ISFPs (along with the other SP types) also develop a taste for clothes that are a bit out of the ordinary. 

When it comes to speech patterns, ISFPs are typically very straightforward in their communication. No infinitely long sentences, no sudden conceptual leaps or aborted sentences, no stutter-like word repetitions, no blatant grammatical errors (intuitive types, by contrast, are typically guilty of at least one or two of these), but ISFPs do often choose their words very carefully and make relatively long and frequent pauses in their speech, that they usually don’t fill with “uhm”, which is rather typical for the types on the Se/Ni axis. To illustrate that, here a little excerpt from the interview regarding the (then) upcoming Olympics:

It’s hard to imagine ... failure at this point because if if we’re able to take the ice in Pyeongchang and feel like ... we did everything we possibly could ... to set ourselves up for that moment ... that has ... that has to be enough. [...] What was most disheartening about that was ... we love skating and ... we want ... other people ... to feel the same way ... and when any kind of ... controversy comes into it ... which is natural in a subjective sport ... uhm ... you know, it it does sort of tarnish it. 

ENxP : “Look at all the scales I know ! This one is called mixolydian mode”

Ni (inner intuition/guts): ENFJ/ENTJ

Both of these types have high intuition towards what people feel (ENFJ/Fe→Ni) or think (ENTJ/Te→Ni). They take on feelings/thoughts of other people (ENFJ/ENTJ) using their own premonitions (inner intuition). Good types for clairvoyants

Ti (inner thinking/reflection): ENTP/ESTP

Both of these people can logically analyse other people's fears (ENTP/Ne→Ti) or pain (ESTP/Se→Ti). They can overcome their own fears (ENTP) or pain (ESTP) by projecting them on other people with the help of high Ti (logical analysis). Good types for psychologists

Fi (inner feelings/unconscious): ENFP/ESFP

Both of these types are inclined towards people who have feelings for them. They can predict if somebody fell in love with them or hates them. ENFP has strong feelings (Fi) towards people who feel danger or fear (Ne→Fi), while ESTP has strong feeling (Fi) towards people who feel pain (Se→Fi). Good types for doctors

Si (sensibility/responsiveness): ESTJ/ESFJ

High Si of ESTJ/ESFJ helps them to easily adapt to any circumstances. They can become friends with anyone since they aren't disgusted with anyone's aura or appearance. ESTJ is sensitive towards what other people think of him (Te→Si). That's why he seeks praise and admiration from his parents or teachers since young age. Might be into arts. ESFJ is sensitive towards how other people feel about him (Fe→Si). They desperately fall in love to later regret it. Partners of ESFJ often betray him after using his umconditional love for their own needs. Both ESTJ and ESFJ are very dramatic and charismatic because of high Si. Their thoughts (ESTJ/Te→Si) or feelings (ESFJ/Fe→Si) are displayed on their face. Good types for dramatic actors, especially, in theatre

Ne (outer intuition/guts): INFP/INTP

Outer function means that only actions of other people can activate it. Most of the times it's in hibernation which means that introverted types use their strongest functions to survive, while extroverted types use their strongest functions to help others. With Fi→Ne of INFP intuition activates when somebody has strong feelings towards INFP (Fi), especially, when it's associated with physical violance. INFP might be a victim of pedophilia, domestic violence, bullying because people easily fall in love with him, but don't want to admit it. With Ti→Ne of INTP intuition activates when somebody plans to do something bad towards INTP (Ti). Ti makes other people be obsessed with INTP because of their high focus and analysis of INTP (Ti), so they might even try to hurt INTP, so nobody gets INTP. Good types for detectives or scientists

Te (outer thinking/reflection): INTJ/ISTJ

Thinking process of INTJ/ISTJ activates when they foresee something bad (INTJ/Ni→Te) or feel pain (ISTJ/Si→Te). They're inclined towards finding logical decisions when they feel danger (INTJ/Ni→Te) or pain (ISTJ/Si→Te). Good types for rescuers in reanimation, fire department, police etc.

Fe (outer feelings/unconscious): INFJ/ISFJ

Feelings of INFJ/ISFJ activate when somebody threatens them (INFJ/Ni→Fe) or hurt them (ISFJ/Si→Fe) which means both of these types feel empathy towards villains like, for example, INFJ Tom Hiddleston towards Loki. INFJ/ISFJ actors often play characters who are victims that don't fight back (INFJ Tom Hiddleston Loki and ENFP Chris Hemsworth Thor). And that's why they're labeled as villains. Good types for lawyers or education system workers

Se (outer sensibility/responsiveness): ISTP/ISFP

To spot any type or function in general, I'd say you need to keep into account every other functions at some point. For High Se, you need to keep an eye for low Ni, and also the presence of High Ji.

I will mainly talk from my experience, so keep in mind my own type to warn yourself from my type's biases.

At first, High Se can be confounded with most types, especially to an untrained eye. High Se users jumps on opportunities, they easily go into action in the sense of doing concrete stuff. Be it going for a walk on a whim, doing some sport, deciding to start a project, going outside and doing machinery, or any kind of physical labor. But there are many types that can easily act on almost right away on opportunities or create those opportunities even. So, the lines get blurry there. 

With High Se, what needs to be taken into account is also the High Ji. Depending on the placement, the goal of either the Ji or Se will change, but in any case Se usually makes them opportunity takers and people that easily go into action. On the other hand, High Ji will incline to the sort of activities Se will jump on. High Ti will be more inclined to patenting and puzzling stuff, to get a grasp on how "something" or someone even works. There is a desire to systemize and jump on opportunities to test out their comprehension. And high Fi will incline to activities with some sort of personal value, be it an artistic project, a passion, or also some patenting stuff but usually with a moral goal behind. It is less in a goal to test in their case and more to do what they personally like or that strongly matters to them. Therefore, High Se users usually jump on occasions to deepen their Ti or Fi, so it is essential to spot the desire to act upon a personal goal, something less apparent at first but very present in the action and opportunity they choose to chase. If there is no interest for the High Ji, I can assure you Se won't give a single shit as it won't perceive the opportunity as one.

I will contrast with some types to better point out how High Se comes out contrary to others.

SJs might look like a High Se at first, especially ESxJ, since they won't hesitate to act upon stuff directly either. But what differentiates High Se from an SJ is how they act spontaneously or on a whim on what presents itself to them while SJs actually have another "larger" goal in mind. As I have noticed, SJs will act quite rapidly or be into action easily, but there is still some form of planning done before doing the said stuff. They don't necessarily jump right on, since they will first judge through Fe and Te if it answers their Je goals, and with Si perceives the desired and expected outcome and so what to do concretely to make it happen. It asks some time, there is a slight delay before they actually do something. Sometimes it is a mere matters of minutes, but in order to plan out on a grander scale what will need to be done. However, that planning, even if done very quickly, can be noticed contrary to High Se users where this planning seems totally non existent. High Se acts without thinking about the consequences much, it acts then judge from the new results what else to do. It is in part due to low Ni. When healthy and older, they use it to ensure the consequences are not meant to be absolutely disastrous, but that's about it. So, when it comes to real life, High Se spontaneously do it. They also easily shifts their goals and actually actualize it in the moment while SJs have somehow planned their actions. 

I know it seems pretty ambiguous, so I will use an example.

Ex.: For context, I work as a social worker for a therapeutic center with people stuck with addiction problems (drugs, alscohol, gambling, etc.). I have both an ESFP and ESFJ coworker that I work often with for evening shifts, which asks mainly to watch over the center's clients and respond to their demands. Both at first are really prone to action and act rapidly on whatever is demanded upon us, while I am slow as a turtle and act when everything is settled in my mind (which asks me a day before work to actually think about this day and what I'll likely need to do). However, after working with them for some months, it became very obvious which one had Se and the other Si. My ESFP coworker, whatever we are doing, be it a friendly talk, if a client asks him if he wants to play some sport (since we have a gym), he would be jumping on this opportunity right on since it is something with more value to his Fi, and also because it helps him reinforce his bonds with our clients which is part of our job. So, this also calls on his Te. There is no after thought, he just stops talking, direct his attention on the client, and just join them right away. The conversation ends here and also, we never really talk about that subject ever again. While when something similar happened with my ESFJ coworker, they first delegated me stuff to do or what else will need to be done and then went playing with our clients. Also, they actually continued the conversation at some point. 

My ESFP coworker can also ask how we will delegate the tasks, but they won't decide for me like the ESFJ tends to do. They might ask to do some tasks because of some Fi reasons while my ESFJ coworker says they don't have any preference, and if they do, they tend not to verbalize it and either don't debate it much or arrange the planning around that single preference. Also, if something unexpected happens, they tend to react very angrily (they are likely a 2w1, so the w1 shows) in order to push things to align with what they planned. While my ESFP coworker might complain but they adapt without a fuss to the circumstances. Their Te usually helps a lot to still maintain the order but with way more flexibility than I or the ESFJ's Je/Pi. ESFP is more lax with rules, while the ESFJ is deemed strict by the clients sometimes. However the tertiary Te and Ne of each helps them be balanced. While I am either too lax or too strict with rules.

So, if there is a resistance to the events, to the unexpected cirumstances, it is more likely an SJ than an SP, as the latter adapts themselves to the events while the former wants to adapt the circumstances to their vision (this also applies for NPs and NJs).

So, as you can see, despite the ESFJ being very active and still acting on quickly, there is always a planning that can be noticed through their way of delagating, getting frustrated and becoming even more strict due to unexpected events, or arranging in a more impersonal Je (Fe-Ti) way what needs to be done. While my ESFP coworker adapts on the moment, and while taking some time to see what needs to be done, they usually do what needs to be done without asking me or delagating anything as they just react on demands as they come.

It would be similar with ENxJs, their tert Se might make it harder at first, but the planification can be noticed and there would be some delay or some thought out plan in their actions. They would automatically be less spontaneous than an SP even if more comfortable with unpredictable demand than an INxJ.

And about High Ne? Well, honestly, that's pretty simple imo. High Ne acts hardly on their ideas even if they have tons of them. They are more talkers than acters, while High Se are the reversed; act more than talk. High Ne jumps on every ideas, so it is said but everythinig is yet to be done. It is mainly conceptual and barely tangible. While High Se acts on opportunnities, which means on the moment circumstances. I have already made a long post about this though, so I suggest searching it if you want more details about what differentiates High Se and High Ne.

Also, lastly, ISxPs might make it ambiguous at first too, since they act according to their Ji first and also their Ni is more highly regarded than with ESxPs. They won't be as much reactive and their Se will depend a lot on their Ji. So, they might not be as thoughtless in their actions, but usually they act on their goals or Ji demands very easily compared to their INxJ counterparts, which are very slooooow and very dependent on their auxiliary healthiness to do anythhing ever. But they can be said to be a more though out version of their extraverted counter parts but also less into action. Though, everything said above should apply at some point. They are however more balanced in their perception, making their Se more thought out and considerate for their actions's consequences (unless looping).