Ne and shades of meaning

Gaze

Donor
MBTI
INFPishy
So, I've noticed that I'm able to see shades of meaning in things vs. seeing similarities where things are lumped into broad categories. This way of seeing is often dismissed because of black and white thinking. I can separate things into infinite categories or classifications because of seeing subtle differences between them. I think this is due to Ne/P. Anyone else experience this? How? Do you think it's a Ne/Te thing?


***Please don't use this thread to dispute or debunk MBTI. Thank you.
 
So, I've noticed that I'm able to see shades of meaning in things vs. seeing similarities where things are lumped into broad categories. This way of seeing is often dismissed because of black and white thinking. I can separate things into infinite categories or classifications because of seeing subtle differences between them. I think this is due to Ne/P. Anyone else experience this? How? Do you think it's a Ne/Te thing?


***Please don't use this thread to dispute or debunk MBTI. Thank you.
Its interesting...maybe can you give some examples, so that we can understand better?
 
Its interesting...maybe can you give some examples, so that we can understand better?

I don't have particular examples in mind which is ironic because seeing shades would seem to mean being able to give specifics :D. I think one example could be flavor or taste, or emotions, or variations in meaning in what someone says, or ideas. It could different things, this is why I am curious if others experience it but I'm not going to limit it to any particular area, since some may experience in many different ways.
 
I don't have particular examples in mind which is ironic because seeing shades would seem to mean being able to give specifics :D. I think one example could be flavor or taste, or emotions, or variations in meaning in what someone says, or ideas. It could different things, this is why I am curious if others experience it but I'm not going to limit it to any particular area, since some may experience in many different ways.
Still it would be great to give a example, because it sounds very interesting to me. (if you can remember, of course. No one is forcing you :D)
 
I experience this too, but I thought it was usually attributed to Fi and Ti.

This is why I feel like there's either something wrong about the function's descriptions, or about the configuration of functions in each type... I know I'm an INFJ, but for my whole life, I've immersed myself in feeling/mood/associative states. Only descriptions of Fi come close to describing this experience, but INFJs (supposedly) don't have strong Fi. I don't know how to explain it because it's such an abstract experience and the nuances are too fine for words. But everything has an association with a very particular feeling/mood (not exactly emotion, but I don't know how else to describe it) in my mind. There are certain mood states I like to revisit (this is why I've always had favorite movies that I watch over and over, because they allow me to immerse myself in a unique mood/feeling state that I enjoy). But it can be elusive, especially as I've grown older and had to rely more on words and categorization to function in the real world. When I was little, I practically lived for this experience. Now that I'm older, I still have it but sometimes a particular mood association escapes me. It makes me really sad when that happens.

When it comes to language, I make very fine distinctions between synonyms. Sometimes I have the meaning of a particular word in mind but I can't remember the word itself, so sometimes when I'm writing I'll stop and spend ten minutes trying to remember the exact word. I'll think of other words that I could just as easily use instead, but it wouldn't have the precise shade of meaning (though most people wouldn't see a difference). I attribute this to Ti.

Yeah, it can make sense to link it with Fi. I think Fi/Ne is a subtle but powerful combo especially when it comes to emotions. I'm also sensitive to moods in music as well. I struggle with finding the right word or description to explain the feeling or emotion. Sometimes, when I try to share or explain it someone else, it doesn't sound right. It's only when someone says what I want to say that I think "that's it!" It's tough explaining it to someone because it's not easily pinpointed.
 
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I have a friend that... he had a bad experience with a person at work, one example is that his boss was an Asian woman, he went into a kind of paranoia that she was out to get him fired and now he thinks shes the devil. Now that's all fine and good (not really when you figure out his thought process, its completely obsessive and crazy) but because shes Asian, ALL Asians are now bad people that he doesn't want to know. And he's not the only friend I have that does this.

I don't know if you're referring to that kind of thought process or the one where you listen to everything and put it all together after a few visits with a person and understand who they are, why they do the things they do as opposed to lump them in with a group. That's what I do, and I have no idea what that would be in terms of MBTI.

But what would the first be..?!? I've been really curious of that myself for the past week as this crazy kid has come back into my life and his crazy is showing again lol *holds head* is it the difference in judgment?? Is it... what is it??!!! How do I deal with it! Hahahah :( *pouts*
 
I think every MBTI type is susceptible to black and white thinking as well as shades of gray. Black and white thinking has more to do with a persons emotional state at any said point in time. It's "splitting" psychologically to cope or comprehend etc. We all do it. It's only a problem when we do it in such excess to be hurtful to others or sabotage ourselves.

Now, for me, I may feel more vulnerable with Fi. But this doesn't mean I don't feel or have feelings. Just that my default is "how are you feeling?" I pick up on how other people feel before I even think about or experience how I'm feeling. That's processed second but not to the point of nonexistent. I'm also very sensory oriented as opposed to sentimental. To me, looking at your face or hugging or feeling the cold or hot air, or rain on my face, these are experiences that conjure up Fi for me more so than opening a card. Reading however is a sensory experience so it's the act of reading a card you wrote that makes me smile and experience my Fi .. Not so much the sentimental value of the card itself.

All people use all their functions like an orchestra, it's just which flavors our personality most. So a symphony of feelers would have violin concerto and piano maybe (string instruments) whereas the thinkers would sound like a symphony of wind instruments.

If you were an infp (thinking of my best friend and an analogy I told her once), if you were a shake. An infp shake. Your first function Fi (banana) and then Ne (strawberry) and then you also have kiwi and mango. When information goes into your brain you taste the banana most and strawberry too. You also taste the kiwi and mango too but those flavors are not as strong (noticeable). This doesn't mean they aren't functioning. And it also doesn't mean your shadow functions aren't functioning either.

Like a symphony, (like all MBTI types) ALL of your cognitive processes are playing ... creating BOTH black and white analytical categorical constructions AND big picture shades of gray all based on your individual "shake" of functions. I guess in the end that was my point and all I needed to say. :p
 
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I don't know if it helps, but I recently found these descriptors in an article.
Se – extraverted Sensing
Focused on the “here and now”
When Se is a preferred process, there is a sense of fully
participating in the immediate context to the point of
“oneness” with whatever is going on; being energized by
being very in touch with the tangible environment and “what
is” is appreciated for what it is and nothing beyond that. There
is a quality of realism, noticing what really exists in all its
sensory richness and liking lots of stimulation and variety.
There is attention to the rapidly shifting information in a
constantly changing scene in all its randomness, attending to
what is most relevant at the time and ignoring the rest.
Si – introverted Sensing
“Comparing present to past & future experiences”
When Si is a preferred process, there is a tendency to
continually compare what is against what was before and then
against what will be. Information from the past come as a
“knowing” that is rich in detail and everything that is
connected with that memory comes forward in sequence.
Such experiences are truly energizing in their familiarity.
What registers is this vast internal database is that which is
somehow intensely experienced. There is a triggering of a
whole host of past associations, which are reviewed before
current information is accepted as worthwhile.
Ne – extraverted iNtuiting
Brainstorming & “Connecting the Dots”
When Ne is a preferred process, there is much reading
“between the lines.” It is as if potential possibilities and
meanings are “revealed” and must be explored. There is a
sense of fully engaging in emerging new approaches to doing
things and being energized by discovering other perspectives
on things and people in an ever-shifting succession of ideas or
insights triggered by the particular situation, much like
brainstorming. This is often experienced as a flight of ideas
that bring relevant pieces of information from one context into
another. “What is” is not seen for what it is, but for its
relationship to other things. As everything is perceived in a
context of a web of relationships, nothing stands alone or
disconnected.
Ni – introverted iNtuiting
Flashes of Insight & Focus on the Future
When Ni is a preferred process, there is often a certainty
about what is going to happen, often without detail and
without being able to trace the actual data that would support
the prediction. There is often an experience of being
energized by transformational visions of how someone can
grow or of a completely original approach and being drawn to
make those visions manifest. There are often experiences of
flashes of insight that present themselves as conceptual
wholes or profound symbols are a frequent. Very broad
themes and complex whole patterns or systems of thought
often present themselves without being triggered by external
events. Inner images come as a knowing with certainty that
they are true and often universally significant.
Te – extraverted Thinking
A Place For Everything & Everything In Its Place
When Te is a preferred process, organizing space, things, and
ideas comes easily. Putting things in order is an energizing
activity in and of itself and satisfaction is felt from “a place
for everything and everything in its place.” There is even a
tendency to create some sort of organizing system if one
doesn’t already exist and a great deal of comfort in using
conventional ones like alphabetizing, numerical sequences,
pert charts, organizational charts, matrices, tables, etc.
Information is assessed based on the “laws” of either science
or society and logical explanations are sought for everything.
Ti – introverted Thinking
Analyzing & Problem Solving
When Ti is a preferred process, naming and categorizing is
second nature and almost impossible to avoid. There is often a
refined categorization scheme that is not necessarily made
public until something doesn’t fit. Delineating categories and
articulating principles can be as energizing as analyzing and
critiquing what is wrong with something. There is a tendency
to get at the root of things and to try to make sense of them,
often reporting only the essential characteristics rather than
explanatory detail. If something doesn’t fit the existing
frameworks, much thinking through is in order and the whole
framework may be revised.
Fe – extraverted Feeling
Being Thoughtful of Others
When Fe is a preferred process, much attention is given to
creating and maintaining harmonious relationships, often
using social conventions to keep harmony and make people
feel comfortable and included and to keep the group in tact.
There is often ease with social conversations and knowing just
the right thing to say to someone. Time, space, and things are
all organized in relation to the effects on people. Sometimes
there is a sense of having to take care of everyone or even
whole groups, either physically or emotionally, yet meeting
the needs of others is energizing.
Fi – introverted Feeling
Living by What is Right
When Fi is a preferred process, there is often a gut feeling
about whether personal, group, or organizational behavior is
congruent with values. Behavior is often checked for
authenticity and against beliefs to maintain inner harmony and
when that harmony exists there is a sense of peace.
Fundamental truths are often the basis for actions and
standing up for these truths is energizing and compelling.
Often, the values and beliefs are not put upon others or shared
publicly until they are violated. These values can be highly
specific to the individual or such universals as freedom,
loyalty, goodness, etc.
 
Ne — extraverted iNtuiting
Brainstorming & “Connecting the Dots”
. . . . “What is” is not seen for what it is, but for its
relationship to other things. As everything is perceived in a
context of a web of relationships, nothing stands alone or
disconnected
.
@Nixie this part of Ne is the best way to explain it at least for me. As soon as someone mentions an idea, a whole host of relations and associations come to mind and my mind goes into a million directions seeing connections between things that others see as singular. It's a multi-directional way of thinking where you can see tons of possible directions as legitimate while others see only one. That's why it's frustrating to talk with someone who only sees one direction as valid. It's the feeling or sense that there's not just one right answer to a question; that answer depends. There's not just one solution, just a solution. Many people tend to think this way of thinking is wishy washy because it doesn't have a finite and decisive conclusion which says there is one right way to think about an issue. It doesn't mean I don't believe in right or wrong or think every idea is good or feasible or justified. It just means I will likely see things from different angles without always deciding on one as the best or only one. Problem is, this makes decision making tough because it leads to a lot of second guessing.
 
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Indeed, when my Ne is off the charts it is like seeing this huge web unfold with all these various pathways. Often I will hear or see something and it will remind me of something else...which to many others seems completely unrelated... although I understand the connection.

I like being with people who have the ability to see the micro level when I am going off on ideas because it makes me think harder about categorizing more or different possibilities that I didn't see before. My bestie is good at that...I'll be expanding on all these grand ideas and she will be like...but yea...you can't do this or that or how are you going to do this...
 
Indeed, when my Ne is off the charts it is like seeing this huge web unfold with all these various pathways. Often I will hear or see something and it will remind me of something else...which to many others seems completely unrelated... although I understand the connection.

I like being with people who have the ability to see the micro level when I am going off on ideas because it makes me think harder about categorizing more or different possibilities that I didn't see before. My bestie is good at that...I'll be expanding on all these grand ideas and she will be like...but yea...you can't do this or that or how are you going to do this...

Which is why we need someone who can cut off the endless reproduction of ideas and be constructively critical, pointing out what's really going to work or isn't. I guess you need that person who can help Ne evaluate the options, and decide which option is truly feasible. I think Ne is like a fractal or tree branch. Each twig or branch reproduces more twigs or branches which each spout more trees or branches. If you don't trim, they just keep growing/going. :D
 
Yes. A great way to put it.

As an ENTP though, that Ti really helps me not only think fast on various solutions but categorize and decide quickly. I generally have an answer and a back up answer if the question shifts this way or if it shifts that way. I can be scary fast about finding workable solutions. Sometimes I have to learn to slow down and allow others to catch up and actually take the time to listen to what other people are saying (I normally have already run through all the probable scenarios and it's like a check sheet..yup..thought of that...nope, can't do that...uh that is just crazy....) because it is thoughtless of me to be dismissive of their input (even if I already have it covered).
 
I struggle with finding the right word or description to explain the feeling or emotion. Sometimes, when I try to share or explain it someone else, it doesn't sound right. It's only when someone says what I want to say that I think "that's it!" It's tough explaining it to someone because it's not easily pinpointed.

That's due to having Te inferior.

You're right, because INFPs not only have Te inferior, they also have an Ne which works almost under wraps or in service of Fi, which is the primary filter. So Ne is endlessly looking for imaginary stuff which may or may not be there (as opposed to a somewhat more grounding Se in ISFPs) in order to fit the categorization-making internal and nuance-oriented world of Fi.
 
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