Re-Modeling the Mind: Personality in Balance

by Ruth A. Johnston

Introverted Sensing is also supposed to be balanced by either Thinking or Feeling in its Extroverted form. If Introverted Sensing is completely overwhelming this too, the personality may sink into anxiety and withdrawal from society. The parts that are supposed to be confident, outgoing and practical are drowned out by incessant note-taking of what’s wrong: things don’t look right, people are acting strange, and we’re on the edge of danger. An over-active Introverted Sensing might look like compulsive or obsessive behavior. Where true OCD causes compulsive, meaningless actions like re-washing hands too many times, the compulsive negative observation of Introverted Sensing remains basically meaningful, but overblown. The person expects the worst, flinches from change, and finds nothing good enough. Introverted Intuition can also be a top function, though in a small number of personalities. When an INTJ or INFJ sinks into too much use of Introverted Intuition, there is a similar look of obsessive and compulsive thinking. In each personality balance, Extroverted Sensing is supposed to be balancing Intuition, and so is an Extroverted form of Thinking or Feeling. If Introverted Intuition is out of balance, it loses sight of opportunity, possibility and optimism. It knows only that there may be some hidden danger. Finding this hidden danger means studying and pondering, carefully examining all sides of some situation. Every appearance is mistrusted as a false front or mask. Intr...