Analytic extraverted Intuiting (Ne-A) aka The Marketer in Relationships
Extraverted Intuition is the dominant function for ENTP and ENFP types. According to recent research by Dr. Dario Nardi, it can show up in two flavors. This post outlines the analytic extraverted Intuiting version.
In addition to my own experiences and interpretations, these are the resources I quote and/or reference:
Berens, L. V. and Nardi, D. (2004) Understanding Yourself and Others, An Introduction to the Personality Type Code, p.7 https://amzn.to/3Glt53J
Jones, J. H. and Sherman, R. G. (2011) Intimacy and Type, p. 35 https://amzn.to/47NHe5k
Jung, C. G. (1976 edition) Psychological Types (The Collected Works), p.368ff https://amzn.to/46CJGuy
Nardi, D. (2023) Decode Your Personality - Go Beyond Myers-Briggs With 64 Brain-Based Subtypes, p. 338ff https://amzn.to/3GoU6mL
Thomson, L. (1998) Personality Type, An Owners Manual, p. 35 https://amzn.to/4a3mxEy
This is the fifth post in a series where I’ll share what the eight Jungian functions in their 2 Nardian analytic or holistic flavors look like, adding specifically how they might show up in romantic relationships. If you’re following the series, you will note some repetition, but in case this is the one and only post you see, I want you to have all the information. So feel free to jump ahead.
My main references for this post are Carl Gustav Jung and Dr. Dario Nardi. Jung was a Swiss Psychiatrist who published his theory of psychological types in 1921, and Dario is a university professor, prolific researcher and author. He found evidence of psychological types in the neuroscience data captured by EEG assessments he’s completed with hundreds of participants at this point.
And in case we haven’t met, I’m Doris Füllgrabe, a certified coach with a masters in applied psychology, and I help people create happier, healthier relationships.
A few caveats before we begin, just to manage expectations:
1, these posts describe the functions in their purest state. Functions rarely show up in their purest state, as they interact with other functions and your brain is really active doing multiple things at any given time, like it’s regulating your body temperature and heart rate right now. So, you may not resonate with 100% of the description of this function 100% of the time, and that is normal.
2, these posts describe the function for this function type. You may not be this particular function type, which means this function may not be at the top or dominant in your consciousness. That’s ok, too, because it’s still in your system, you still have access to it, and paying attention to this function may help you recognize when it pops up out of your subconscious, so you can practice integrating it consciously. That will give you better control over it and you can reap its benefits.
With that, let’s move from the broad to the specific, starting with the function, Intuition as Jung called it, or Intuiting which is also used to describe it as a process, and then the function attitude extraverted Intuition, then the flavor, analytic extraverted Intuition, and finally how it shows up in relationships. Here we go.
The Intuiting function is one of the two irrational perceiving functions.
Irrational, because it’s just about experiencing, and perceiving because that’s literally what it’s doing.
The Intuiting function helps us appreciate underlying patterns and grasp “the bigger picture”, things that go beyond the immediate senses.
It gives us vivid imaginations and a curiosity about the as yet unknown.
It is creative and enthusiastic, novel and original, but also ingenious and geared towards freedom.
Dr. Linda Berens describes it this way:
“Intuiting is a process of becoming aware of abstract information, like symbols, conceptual patterns, and meanings. It is an intangible “knowing” of what something means, how it relates to something else, or what might happen. As an active perceptual process, it is more than a “sixth” sense. It often involves actively bringing together or forming ideas in novel ways. Sometimes this process is “triggered” by an external event, or sometimes this abstract information just seems to present itself to our awareness.”
Moving on to the function attitude, extraverted Intuiting, which is the dominant function for ENFP and ENTP types.
What follows are Jung’s words, and his language from 100 years ago is a little different from how we speak today. He’s quite male-centric, so uses he/him when describing all functions that aren’t Feeling types. He also uses the word “object” to describe anything and anyone outside of you, and “subject” to describe yourself, you, the person.
“The intuitive is never to be found in the world of accepted reality-values, but he has a keen nose for anything new and in the making. Because he is always seeking out new possibilities, stable conditions suffocate him.”
In other words, the opposite of concrete reality sensation or sensing types. He also says that extraverted intuiting Types “seize opportunities with extraordinary enthusiasm” only to abandon them as soon as they become known and no longer have potential for exploration or new insights. The paradox is the intuitive type thinks they have found their thing every time - until the next shiny thing - or person - appears.
In Jung’s words,
“Neither reason nor feeling can restrain him or frighten him away from a new possibility, even though it goes against all his previous convictions.”
He continues that intuitive morality “consists in a loyalty to his vision” and that this type is often perceived as an “unscrupulous adventurer”. While men pursue their interests in business, Jung suggests that in women “the intuitive capacity shows itself in the social sphere, making connections and finding men with prospects.” He says:
“it goes without saying that such a type is uncommonly important both economically and culturally.”
For example, when used for good causes, extraverted Intuiting is the “initiator or promoter of new enterprises”, the “natural champion of all minorities”, and “his capacity to inspire courage or to kindle enthusiasm for anything new is unrivaled”.
If the intuition truly fuses with the ego, “he brings his vision to life, presents it convincingly, and embodies it.”
But to do that, this type has to stay still long enough to let one vision come to fruition, and not “quit the newly planted field while others gather the harvest.”
So much for the function and the function attitude, now let’s look at the flavor.
Dr. Nardi analyzed EEG data from his participants and found two distinct brain wirings. The one we’re looking at here is the analytic style, or flavor.
For reference, this flavor is focused on a goal, it filters out distractions, and it looks like clarity and confidence.
That’s not to say it’s simplistic, it considers the complexities of a situation and includes relevant variables.
Its approach is top-down, so it’s driving the situation with a point in mind.
People with this style like to solve problems quickly using familiar tools, and can be unaware of their own biases.
It’s often more visual.
It pays attention to what is being said, like facts, figures, rules, methods, and labels.
Thinking is often literal to the specific context, and they often describe using analogies.
In business, it’s more comfortable with hierarchy, defined roles and leadership.
Likely careers for those with an analytical style include business, engineering, finance, law, the military, hard sciences and tech.
Dario calls the analytic extraverted Intuiting type the “Marketer”.
He says they put on a show. Pitch and juggle many, often unusual ideas, trusting quantity over quality in search of advantages or gains. It’s the proverbial throwing pasta at the wall and seeing if it sticks to see if it’s al dente, but for ideas and possibilities.
This type also likes to recruit others and rely on strong energy of ideas to shift situations to their liking. They want to make a lot of stuff happen and enjoy the process of exploring all the things that might be possible. And they usually have enough energy and enthusiasm for all their irons in all the fires.
They court uncertainty for progress, which is different from the danger or risk that’s such a thrill for analytic extraverted sensing types. Uncertainty means there’s openness and potential and they enjoy doing the work to get others on board when they’re selling their ideas.
From the neuroscience certification I did in 2012, I remember Dario saying that extraverted Intuition lights up the whole neocortex like a Christmas tree pattern. That means your brain is literally firing on all cylinders, but at the same time it’s wasteful to keep all the lights on in the whole house, especially if you’re not going anywhere with any of those idea lightbulbs.
As for relationship insights, in dating…
You’re probably attracted to their confidence, optimism, and positive energy. As described, the extraverted intuiting type likes variety and can be a social butterfly. Because they live for the future instead of in the present, they may not take the reality of red flags into account. They can also be a bit restless, they like to keep their options open, so are probably slow to make any serious commitments. They might also idealize you a bit, which can be very flattering.
In mating…
people of this type are sexually free and happy to explore, sex is probably a very important aspect of their romantic relationships to them, including as a kiss-and-make-up kind of practice, or just to let off some tension after a stressful day. Given their general openness and curiosity I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d be open to non-monogamous relationships and non-binary sexual or gender exploration as well. I think their biggest turn on is their minds though, so if you can keep up intellectually as well as physically, you’re going to have a firecracker of a relationships.
in terms of relating
as partners, they’re going to try and delegate the mundane repetitive stuff to someone else, and they’re going to enjoy having arguments, or sparring wits, or debating any topic just for the fun of it. In a conflict, they’re not going to be lost for words, so you better have your arguments ready and laid out. Just try not to take their remarks too personally. Especially ENTP types often like to provoke just for the thrill of a lively exchange, so they may not mean to hurt your feelings. If this is happening regularly, communicate clearly where your lines are of what’s fun and what’s insulting. Again, they’re probably not doing it on purpose. They’re also more likely to be the fun parent than the reliable responsible one.
Remember, this information is meant as an overview of the function and its analytic flavor, it cannot describe all the nuances and individual idiosyncrasies - but I hope you now have a better idea.
If you think you have an analytical flavor of extraverted Intuition, or a partner of that type, I’d love to hear from you!
