Sensing vs. iNtuition (as in MBTI)

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So, just the other day it occurred to me that there's an apparent contradiction between the usual Aspie/Autie stereotype "focusing on the details" and the fact that according to the polls the vast majority of the population of WP primarily takes in information by 'intuition' (that is, the second letter of the four is 'N' rather than 'S' in their MBTI personality type). MBTI poll is here.

(take the MBTI test: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp , we need only the second letter, either 'S' or 'N')

On this page there are links to the descriptions of each of the four letters that together form the MBTI personality type. If you are interested in MBTI, I strongly recommend reading all four, not long, and rather enlightening. Let's see what it says about the second letter, Sensing vs. iNtuition:

Well, if I read well, Intuition is "thinking out of the box".

I don't put much stock in these kinds of tests. They are fun but some things to remember.

Myers-Briggs determines your preference, not your ability
I belive the women who developed it where not psychologists
The end result sounds interestingly vague like a horoscope.

Strong sensing for me, according to all the tests I've taken. I'm an ISTP, btw.

INTJ, but the N is slight and fluctuates, last time I got ISTJ, the time before INTJ

I'm an INFJ.

Most autistic people seem to be SJ or NT types (I mean NT in the Myers Briggs sense, not as an abbreviation for neurotypical).

Being autistic, I feel like I don't fit in amongst the neurotypicals, and being an NF rather than an NT or SJ, I feel like I don't fit in amongst autistics, either. The only place I fit in is inside my own head.

Any other NF autistic people here?

To me, intuition isn't at all about being big picture oriented, its about being abstract oriented. That still can be detail oriented, though many people who focus on abstractions focus on big pictures.

The description

Funny. I was having this same thought yesterday...

I am definitely iNtuituve myself. But yes I am very much a detail person also.

Though let me first say that the MBTI does not say that people are either one or the other - we are all a mixture of both. It is however a preference, which means that you tend to do that one more than the other.

This preference is concerned with how one perceives the World.

It's an interesting one... For me I am very detail oriented, yet I use these details to come up with lots of patterns, systems, abstractions, thoughts of the future, analysis of the past, etc.

This is one book's interpretation of the two:

Sensors:
- have clear, straightforward speech pattern
- have sequential thoughts - one follows the next
- are more literal, use facts & real examples
- use language as a tool
- are more aware of their bodies
- are more attracted to jobs that require practicality
- are less likely to have a graduate degree
- often prefer nonfiction reading
- are direct and to the point
- include details & facts
- remember the past accurately
- tend to listen until others complete their whole thought

Intuitives:
- Have complex speech pattern; use lots of compound sentences
- have roundabout thoughts - leap from one to the next
- are more figurative; use analogies & metaphors
- use language to express selves
- are more in their heads
- are more atracted to jobs that involve creativity
- are more likely to have graduate degree(s)
- often prefer fiction reading
- repeat themselves, recap, rephrase
- talk about global issues, the big picture
- envision the future
- tend to finish others' sentences

Not sure that helps much! One way I used to think of it was that a Sensing person was more connected to their bodies. They are more fluid with their movement and aware of where their body parts are in space. They tend to be better at sport, etc. Intuitives tend to be more abstact, creative people who are more inside their own heads, always coming up with theories, etc. Sensors are better at wearing appropriate clothing compared with intuitives who go with a more individual style.

To me, I think of a sensor as having more "common sense" and that an intuitive is more individual and abstract.

@analyser23: Yes, it seems we are all a combination of the two. Several statements apply to me from both lists about equally (and the ones that do not apply are distributed likewise). I still wonder though why the large majority of WP is 'N' type. Maybe it has to do how tests are geared, would need a better understanding how they are scored.

I also wondered if there would be a correlation between how afflicted with ASD one is and being 'S' vs. 'N' type. In other words, if you are farther on the spectrum, are you more likely to use 'Sensing' rather than 'iNtuition' when it comes to taking in information? Maybe a poll would help, but not many seem to be interested, so I leave it there.

To plodder: Hi, I have always been INFx.
To analyser23: Hi, thanks a lot for sharing a list of S traits and N traits--very helpful.

Sensors:
- have clear, straightforward speech pattern
- have sequential thoughts - one follows the next
- are more literal, use facts & real examples
- use language as a tool
- are more aware of their bodies
- are more attracted to jobs that require practicality
- are less likely to have a graduate degree
- often prefer nonfiction reading
- are direct and to the point
- include details & facts
- remember the past accurately
- tend to listen until others complete their whole thought

Intuitives:
- Have complex speech pattern; use lots of compound sentences
- have roundabout thoughts - leap from one to the next
- are more figurative; use analogies & metaphors
- use language to express selves
- are more in their heads
- are more attracted to jobs that involve creativity
- are more likely to have graduate degree(s)
- often prefer fiction reading
- repeat themselves, recap, rephrase
- talk about global issues, the big picture
- envision the future
- tend to finish others' sentences

Ok, here's my list thanks to analyser23:

Sensors:
- have clear, straightforward speech pattern
- have sequential thoughts - one follows the next
- are more literal, use facts & real examples
- use language as a tool
- are more aware of their bodies
- are more attracted to jobs that require practicality
- are less likely to have a graduate degree
- often prefer nonfiction reading
- are direct and to the point
- include details & facts
- remember the past accurately
- tend to listen until others complete their whole thought

Intuitives:
- Have complex speech pattern; use lots of compound sentences
- have roundabout thoughts - leap from one to the next (both this and the above can be true, depending on the context)
- are more figurative; use analogies & metaphors
- use language to express selves
- are more in their heads
- are more atracted to jobs that involve creativity
- are more likely to have graduate degree(s)
- often prefer fiction reading
- repeat themselves, recap, rephrase
- talk about global issues, the big picture
- envision the future
- tend to finish others' sentences

I wasn't right, there's a clear preference for 'Sensing'... sorry.

My list

Sensors:
- have clear, straightforward speech pattern
- have sequential thoughts - one follows the next
- are more literal, use facts & real examples
- use language as a tool
- are more aware of their bodies
- are more attracted to jobs that require practicality
- are less likely to have a graduate degree
- often prefer nonfiction reading
- are direct and to the point
- include details & facts
- remember the past accurately
- tend to listen until others complete their whole thought

Intuitives:
- Have complex speech pattern; use lots of compound sentences
- have roundabout thoughts - leap from one to the next
- are more figurative; use analogies & metaphors
- use language to express selves (yes...but its a tool do to so)
- are more in their heads
- are more attracted to jobs that involve creativity (under the proper definition of creativity - I want to be a mathematician)
- are more likely to have graduate degree(s) (don't have one, but want a PhD)
- often prefer fiction reading
- repeat themselves, recap, rephrase (way way way too much - not purposefully)
- talk about global issues, the big picture
- envision the future
- tend to finish others' sentences

I bolded preferring both types of reading rather than neither because I go through phases. When I prefer non-fiction I specifically am preferring special interest based books.

Clear preference here