Personality types: Jung's model of typology - Inner City Books

58 Extraversion and the Four Functionsconsciousness will be overpowered by the unconscious.Only occasionally, of course, does the psychological situationbecome pathological. More usually, the compensatinginferior function simply imparts a rather charming air of inconsistencyto the personality. In this type, for instance, introvertedintuition is seen in a naive attachment to religiousmovements, a childish interest in the occult or sudden spiritualinsights.The Extraverted Intuitive TypeIntuition is the function of unconscious perception. In the extravertedattitude, intuition is directed to, and conditioned by,external objects. When this way of functioning predominates,we can speak of an extraverted intuitive type. Jung writes:The intuitive function is represented in consciousness by anattitude of expectancy, by vision and penetration; but onlyfrom the subsequent result can it be established how much ofwhat was "seen" was actually in the object, and how muchwas "read into" it. Just as sensation, when it is the dominantfunction, is not a mere reactive process of no further significancefor the object, but an activity that seizes and shapes itsobject, so intuition is not mere perception, or vision, but anactive, creative process that puts into the object just as muchas it takes out. Since it does this unconsciously, it also has anunconscious effect on the object. 67The primary purpose of intuition is to perceive aspects of theworld that are not apprehended by the other functions. Intuitionis like a sixth sense that "sees" something not actuallythere. Intuitive thoughts come out of the blue, so to speak, asa hunch or a guess.In the extravert, where intuition is oriented toward thingsand other people, there is an extraordinary ability to sense67 Ibid., par. 610.