SI - SENSATION INTROVERTED TYPE

SENSATION (or SENSING) Introverted type - Si type

Socionics-based description of Si type

The type of person is determined by the main (dominant) psychic function. All eight functions are present in the psyche of each person, but they have different degrees of development. SENSATION Introverted (Si) function is the leading function in the Si types.

Calm and unhurried, Si types are strongly connected to their body and able to recognize the smallest variations in physical state. They derive pleasure from subtle physical sensations and slow down to touch, hear, taste, see and smell the physical world, they love the feel of things, sand underfoot, the texture of tree trunk, the breeze on the skin. They typically appreciate the beauty of the world around them, and they often have a strong aesthetic sense. How they physically appear in the world matter to them, they know what clothes suits them.

Above all else, Si types value inner tranquility, peace and harmony. They have an innate ability to create a warm, calming and welcoming atmosphere, peaceful and conflict-free space. People with this type of personality are nonjudgmental listeners, laidback and patient, they are difficult to aggravate. They have the ability to remain calm and composed in difficult situations. The daily lifestyle of Si type people is spontaneous, flexible, and spur-of-the-moment. This allows them to adapt easily to unscheduled events that may unglue a more structured type.

Their reputation for being a homebody, married to the couch comes from their need to decompress and relax. Si types prefer comfortable surroundings. They designate cozy nooks in their home where they can relax and unwind. They are stable and grounded, and given to rootedness in a particular place. Home and matters of the family are very important to Si types. Generous та loyal, they have a drive to provide for their loved ones. Their caring nature allows them to understand and respond to the needs of others. They are able to create a safe and supportive environment, to provide comfort and support for others so they can heal and grow. They believe each person should be afforded his or her own space. Those around the Si type enjoy a high level of personal freedom. Si type people offer their support staying in the background. They love to host and cook for friends. They strive to create a sense of equality, community and belonging and desire that everyone should get along with one another.

Relationship. Si type’s signature leisurely pace shows up also in the bedroom. They need to feel loved, comforted, and, above all, stable in a relationship. They're not ones for drama. Si types do not like conflict and will often back down or make compromises in the face of an argument, to keep the peace.

Career. Si type people aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and work hard to earn big rewards. They work well alone but will pull together as part of a team when necessary. In the workplace they make friends with everyone. Si types don’t like hurry, the working environment needs to allow for personal freedom and flexibility.

Si type can be an excellent cook, gardener, interior or fashion designer, and artist. They love working with their hands and they thrive with hands-on tasks like farming, botany and agriculture. They are also good at nonverbal forms of communication, such as art, instrumental music, dance, sports, or work with animals and nature.

In Jung's model of typology, the psychical functions are represented as dualities: SENSATION Introverted (Si) is strongly connected with INTUITION Extraverted (Ne). To maintain psychological balance, these functions must remain in a certain ratio to each other in the psyche of a person. If Si function gets the upper hand and represses Ne function, this leads to psychological imbalance: inertia of a person, over-focusing on comfort and under-estimating one’s true potential.

Unbalanced Si-types are characterized by an excessively earth-bound attitude, a lack of imagination and a loss of openness to the unexpected and to the intangible. They are overly worried about a lack of physical comfort and see everyone and everything as threatening to their peace.

With the one-sided development of the Si function, a person ignores life’s opportunities and has difficulty in understanding one’s own potentialities, he is blind to himself and indecisive. Such people are slow to switch course or accept new ideas, can't keep up with the times and resist change. They are excessively attached to the familiar, to the group norms or "how things are done." They tend to stay in situations that no longer serve them, like a job they’ve outgrown or a toxic friendship. That might cause them to get caught in a rut and not know how to get out.

If Si function gets the upper hand, people increasingly cut back the radius of their existence. They perceive the intense movements and changes of everyday life as exhausting. They tend to get caught up in nonessential activities and small tasks to avoid dealing more critical problems. They desire to be alone and to laze about to wait out periods of conflict. Their pursuit of this, leads to a life of gluttony, excess, and in many cases, addiction. 

Since the dual Ne function balances the Si function, Socionics recommends that Si types, when they are out of balance, communicate more with Ne types.

Ne-types provide the stimulation to inert Si-types, thanks to their developed imagination they are able to interest Si-types in something besides the obvious, physical and comfortable. Curious and proactive, Ne type encourages Si types people to search for something new and unknown, prompts to explore more options and possibilities, broadens their outlook, reveals hidden talents, finds new ways to solving their problems, helps realize their potential, brings the fun and sense of adventure to their monotonous life.

Interaction with the dual type has the effect of calming and balance, and prevents extremes and one-sidedness.

Sensation Introverted type – Si in different typological models >>>

Last updating 29.08.2024