Introverted Intuition

Introverted iNtuition (Ni) is one of the eight cognitive functions outlined by Carl Jung. Intuition (N) is an outlook that focuses on the “filling in” of experience with [mental] “constructs” such as concepts, hypotheses, or theories, which all involve “larger contexts” or meanings behind things and [non-physical] “patterns”. Even physical or visible things, like in comparing one thing to something separate, but has some sort of inferred similarity. Focusing on a property to compare, like its shape; the person has turned into an “idea” (as in "the idea of" things). This is what “could” or “couldn’t” be. This is what “could” or “couldn’t” be. An "extraverted" attitude (e) indicates that this outlook generally draws from the environment; or the outer world of "objects" that the "subject" (individual ego) observes.

So introverted iNtuition (Ni) can be described as "awareness of hypothetical reality inferred from the individual", where one turns inward to “fill in” experience of objects (often existing connections or patterns) with mental/ideational constructs such as "images" or "visions" that come up from the unconscious (including through dreams), or just plain "hunches" thathave no objective evidence. Every type does this, but for types who prefer Ni, it will be their main form of information-gathering, rather than intuitive data totally from the environment (Ne), or sensory "facts" (S).

Its preference by a personality type is indicated by the "_N_J" code, and the types holding it as "dominant" are INTJ and INFJ, while for ENTJ and ENFJ, it is "auxiliary". (For SP types, it is tertiary or inferior, and may also develop at some point in life).

Since it is "subjective", starting from an individual impression that is then used to filter the external world, and also "abstract", meaning it deals with data that is not tangible and accessed by the physical senses, this has been the hardest function to understand or explain, even by those who prefer it. Part of the confusion is that it can so easily be confused with other functions, such as its extraverted counterpart (Ne), and even the other introverted functions, of Si, Fi and Ti; all of which similarly draw upon "deeper" data from within.

Comparison with extraverted iNtuition

Both Ne and Ni are associated with "connections", and it often becomes hard to tell which is which from the definitions. But Ne's connections between different things would be like an NTP type theorist connecting together different personality typing systems according to corresponding elements. These elements (such as factors and temperaments) would be the external objects being focused on. The connections between them are likewise external (such as different systems having analogues to "extroversion").

Ni's connections on the other hand are deeper and harder to pin down, but would involve elements such as "meanings" that underlie the surface parts. In short, inasmuch as both forms of iNtuition deal with "inferring" (even though some theorists have associated it with Ne only), Ne is inferring a pattern from the object (often in comparison of another external pattern), and Ni is inferring from an internalized (subjective) impression, used to find out "what's left out" of an external pattern.

When we explore alternative possibilities in the environment, we are engaging in external intuition. When we look at on one of them, and fill in its "possibilities" from within, we are internalizing the intuition process. (It should at this juncture be pointed out, that "possibilities" is often associated with Ne only, but really, all four perception attitudes deal in possibilities in different ways.
Se looks at possbilities as what can be exploited based on what is. The N attitudes are about what is not necessarily what's there, and you either guage this from other objects, or from within. Si, then looks at possibilities, according to what has been exploited in previous experience or common knowledge, rather than emergent data).

When we make connections between objects based on properties of the objects, it is external intuition, for the aspects of the objects we are connecting are external to us. When we connect things using images from the unconscious, it is internal; for our own unconscious is of course internal.

So Ne is inferring a pattern from the object (i.e. What this means as a pattern), and Ni is inferring from an internalized (subjective) pattern (i.e. What's been left out of a [given] pattern, existing now, as an internal intuition). Lenore Thomson (Personality Type, an Owner's Manual), had said “For INJ’s, the patterns aren’t ‘out there’ in the world, waiting to be discovered. They’re part of us [i.e. internal]—the way we make sense of the riot of information and energy impinging on our systems.” (p.225).

The "subject" in the case of Ni, is the unconscious itself. Hence, NTJ's will often be more likely to tend to be skeptical about the ideas NP's toss around. (With NT in general being characterized as "skeptical"; the J variant will be, even moreso). The NP will throw out an idea (like something involving temperament theory), and the NTJ will seem to start with some preconceived bias against it, and want to pick holes in it. For some reason, they just "know" those ideas are wrong, and something else is likely right. (If another NTP is skeptical, it's usually because they've simply adopted another logical framework they give their allegiance to. But both will give their technical, conceptual arguments for why they believe something else is true).

So just as you can experience a current event in the environment, just for what it is, which is Se; or abstract a new meaning from it through other patterns in the environment, which would be Ne; you can also look back at an event, just for what it was (individually through memory), which is Si, or abstract significance from it in the form of things such as these impressions (individually from the unconscious), which would be Ni. While Ne started from an external focal point, and then branched out multiple possibilities from it, Ni has been described as the opposite; starting out with multiple objects, and then converging the possibilities to one [internal, known only to you] focal point, which might be a likely [future] outcome. (Hence, the orientation of iNtuition can be determined by where this focal point lies).

An example of introverted iNtuition

One INFJ ([1]) described "images" that come up, and that "life feels like an ongoing tidal wave of intangible, unverifiable information". These images are for all of people, coming up all the time. Other types basically tune them out, unless they happen to fit some external pattern they may be thinking of. So it's easy to never even think of them as the products of one of these "functions", and hence why it is so hard for most to really understand what Ni is.

For her, they'll come up like that, and naturally, they'll also come up when deliberately called to inform some data (like an existing pattern you're presented with), and hence, Ni types also described as "search[ing] within". Si/Ne preferring types may "look within" to memory, for a fitting pattern, but that's really Si internalizing an Ne external pattern. It's not the same as what she's describing that already comes up, directly from within (seeming out of nowhere, not pulled from somewhere else), and not conscious memory.

In contrast, for Ne, one compares and then begins finding several connections, and can then begin sharing them (like in "brainstorming"). Other people can see the connections. They may not agree with them, or still have things that don't make sense to them, but they can clearly see the parallels being made. Because the things being compared are all external "objects", already existing in the environment. They are not things anyone has conjured up from within. So the connections of Ne (which are abstract, and thus "unconscious" in a way, they have to be made, intangibly) are all there, waiting to be shown to others.

Se/Ni tandem vs Ne/Si

Matching Linda Berens and Chris Montoya's new terms "Realizing" (Se/Ni) and "Inquiring" (Ne/Si), Both Si and Ne end up relying more on memory, and thus also end up "inquiring" (asking questions) in order to either match to what's known, or look for other possibilities. Se on the other hand, simply takes whatever's there in the material world. Ni takes whatever comes up from the unconscious. Neither try to compare it with anything else (it will be the judgment function that does that). So they both directly "realize" things.

Se=environmental material awareness (direct sensations)
Si=individually referenced material awareness (though memorized sensations)
Ne=environmentally referenced hypothetical awareness (external hypotheses, often memorized)
Ni=individually conjured hypothetical awareness (images that come up directly from the unconscious).