Starting our Journey and Se in the 7th (Trickster) Position

Today we went through 8 hours looking at the two function-attitudes of Extraverted Sensation (Se) and Introverted Sensation (Si). We also looked at them as they seem to work in each of the eight different archetypal positions as reported by those that have them in those positions. At the bottom of the Blog is my type code and functions in attitude as it lays out in the 8 archetypal positions using Dr. John Beebe's Model for Type dynamics. While this is the same order as is usually listed as 1 through 8 there is evidence to suspect that holding strictly to the number location for development may not be accurate and so when looking at the archetypes you might want to follow the order of development a bit more loosely. However, the first four are considered conscious and the last four unconscious or shadow functions.

My Type Code is INFP and I will talk mainly about how this works for me in my INFP type code.

In the Morning we talked about Se, which as you can see is the function in attitude that falls into the shadow, trickster position. This trickster position is known for fooling us as we use the function located here. For me with Extraverted Sensation, this often manifests itself as day dreaming while I enjoy sensorial experiences. For example, while I am thoroughly enjoying a bike ride in the beautiful countryside. Seeing the green trees, and birds, animals, flowers, etc. All of this is easy for me to see and appreciate as it is for most as they use Se. But then the trickster takes over and my mind wanders to other ideas, to what I am doing the next day, or how this natural area might have come into existence in this location, or what was it like to be here 100 years ago or what meeting am I missing because I am here. As I do this wandering in the mind I am still experiencing the world in the now but I will miss the turn in the trail, or not see the skunk that was standing on the side of the trail until someone else points it out despite all the sensations being engaged. With Se in this position archetypally I also often miss a lot of details in written documents until someone else points them out. Or I write using a mix of capitals and lower case regardless of position until someone else points this out or I specifically look for it. I find myself having to actively engage this function when I proof read my work or others because I tend to skip over details otherwise. While I loved to play music in High school as a member of our school band I did not always get the details.
For instance, the two symbols for Sharp and Natural are similar but obviously different.

But when looking at the details with Se, what I tricked myself into thinking for a least a couple of years was that they were the same just that some ends were not printed on the second symbol. Then I wondered why I was such a bad sight reader in band. :)
I think I was a pretty sharp student whether I demonstrated that or not. I truly believe now that this mistaken idea about these two symbols was made simpler to make due to this location of the Se function in the Trickster position. This is not an excuse but has taught me to look twice at what I am seeing if it seems a bit unusual. This extra effort to see what is actually there has paid off since.

So how do you use Extraverted Sensation in school? Do you have troubles proof reading the documents you write because you do not see all the errors? Are you able to pick out the details in a math story problem? What do you think?


Ken