What Is Extraverted Intuition? 10 Signs That You Might Be an Extraverted Intuitive

Today, we’ll explore what Extraverted Intuition is, how it works, and why it’s a key function for NP personality types. Because so many personality tests rely on the dichotomies (I/E, N/S, T/F, J/P) instead of the cognitive functions there are a lot of people who are mistyped as NJs when they’re really NPs and vice versa. That’s why this week I’ve been trying to clarify how it feels to have each of the cognitive functions. Yesterday we talked about introverted intuition, the dominant or auxiliary function of NJ types. Today we’re going to talk about extraverted intuition, the dominant or auxiliary function of NP types.

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Estimated reading time: 1 minute

What Is Extraverted Intuition?

Extraverted intuition is a perceiving (information gathering) function. People with Extraverted Intuition (Ne) are constantly aware of patterns and connections around them, seeing possibilities everywhere. I have a daughter who is an Extraverted Intuitive, and she can look at anything and see dozens of possibilities. A tree becomes a fort, an imaginary deity, a great place for a swing, a caring friend, something she wants to protect, a hideout. She hates throwing anything away because it all is so full of possibility to her! So Ne takes everything happening in the world around a person and infuses it with possibility and potential. This is why NP types are constantly coming up with ideas, generating opportunities, and seeing windows where everyone else sees closed doors.

Joel Mark-Witt and Antonia Dodge from the Personality Hacker podcast have given Extraverted Intuition the moniker of “Exploration.” They go on to say, “If you strongly identify with Exploration, ever since you were a little kid, you’ve been driven to mess with your environment in order to figure out how things work. You viewed the entire world as a laboratory filled with things to discover. This gave you an interesting advantage, since it allowed you to watch how patterns emerged from the various buttons you pushed.”

Linda Berens, a psychologist, describes Extraverted Intuition as, “noticing hidden meanings and interpreting them, often entertaining a wealth of possible interpretations from just one idea or interpreting what someone’s behaviors really means. It also involves seeing things “as if,” with various possible representations of reality.” (Understanding Yourself and Others® An Introduction to the Personality Type Code)

Comparing Extraverted Intuition with Introverted Intuition:

Extraverted Intuition (Ne) is like being an explorer in a big forest, constantly looking around and seeing all the different paths you could take. When you use Ne, you’re excited by possibilities and love to brainstorm ideas, jumping from one thought to another like you’re hopping from stone to stone across a river. For example, if you’re playing with LEGO bricks, Ne might make you imagine all the cool things you could build—maybe a spaceship, then a dragon, and then a castle—all at once. Ne users, like ENFPs and ENTPs, love to think about “what could be” and get excited about different future possibilities.

Introverted Intuition (Ni), on the other hand, is like being a detective, piecing together clues to solve a mystery. Ni users are focused on one big idea or vision, and they work carefully to understand how things will turn out. If you’re using Ni, like an INFJ or INTJ, you might look at that same LEGO set and immediately know what you want to build—a rocket ship, for example—and you’ll work steadily to make that vision come true. Ni users focus on “what will be” rather than juggling tons of ideas at once, and they have a strong sense of the deeper meaning behind things, like seeing the hidden story behind the mystery.

Extraverted Intuition (Ne) has a broad focus, branching out in many different directions. Introverted Intuition (Ni) has a narrow focus, diving deep into one specific path, pattern, or possibility.

10 Signs That You Might Be An Extraverted Intuitive

#1 – You Are Driven by Possibility

You see the world around you and constantly ask yourself, “What possibility does this hold?”, “What new things could I do with this?”, “How does this bit of information connect with something else?” You’re always focused on what could be, on evolution, and transformation.

#2 – You Like Change and Challenges

Routine and structure bore you. You get a thrill from taking risks, making mistakes, learning new things, and daring new possibilities to come forth and be realized.

#3 – You Get So Caught Up in the Future That You Can Forget the Present

Your mind is always so focused on potential possibilities and theoretical outcomes that you can lose sight of what’s happening right now. This means that sometimes you might forget to eat or sleep or take care of your daily needs.

#4 – In Your Mind, Everything is Connected

Like an elaborate spiderweb, you see connections and links all around you. It’s as if you’re “zoomed out” of the current moment, analyzing everything from a precipice in space and seeing how it all fits together. When one piece shifts, the whole web or picture changes, and you see thousands of new connections.

#5 – Brainstorming with People Invigorates You

Being with others and generating new possibilities and ideas makes you feel connected and inspired! You love being able to excite and challenge people with all the possibilities and new, innovative ideas that can be developed together.

#6 – The Conventional Approach Holds No Interest for You

Tried-and-true methods and “dependable” rules bug you. You’re more interested in a new, innovative, and novel solution that could be better than what’s been done before.

#7 – You Are Drawn to the Theoretical More Than the Tangible

You’re more focused on generating abstract or theoretical possibilities than engaging with the sensory, physical world. Your mind is a veritable playground of ideas and theories, and you can get so lost in your thoughts that if you’re an extrovert (ENP type), you sometimes come across as more introverted.

#8 – Narrowing Down Your Possibilities Can Be Stressful

You like generating ideas and possibilities more than settling on one. It’s hard for you to leave out other possibilities and options that have potential or seem inspiring and interesting. This can make you seem indecisive at times.

#9 – When You Look Around, You See Potential Everywhere

If you see a tree, you imagine a treehouse being built in it or your children or grandchildren climbing it. You imagine the tree being cut down and what that would mean for the environment. You start thinking about the rainforest and the impact it has on all our lives, and then you start thinking of ways to protect it. Should you plant a tree in your yard? And what kind of tree would it be? The thoughts and ideas keep coming.

#10 – You Are Open-Minded

Because you see so many angles and different perspectives to any conclusion, you easily understand why people have varying opinions and beliefs. You try not to push your own ideas and opinions onto others, but it bothers you when people are stubborn and jump to conclusions too quickly.

Characters with Extraverted Intuition

Sometimes, for me anyway, it helps to understand a function to think of people who use that function. Fictional characters are a great way to do this! Here are just a few fictional characters who demonstrate Extraverted Intuition:

Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender

Aang is a perfect example of Extraverted Intuition (Ne) in action. He’s always looking at the world through the lens of possibility and adventure, seeing the bigger picture and how different events are connected. When faced with challenges, Aang thinks outside the box—whether it’s mastering all four elements or finding creative ways to avoid violence and bring peace. Instead of sticking to the tried-and-true methods of being the Avatar, Aang prefers to explore new possibilities, like how he invents air scooter techniques or how he works toward defeating the Fire Lord without killing him. His curiosity and open-mindedness, combined with his knack for seeing multiple solutions to problems, are hallmarks of his Ne.

Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables

Anne’s imagination is her superpower, fueled by her Extraverted Intuition. She sees endless possibilities in the world around her, turning simple moments into grand adventures. Whether she’s renaming places with more romantic titles or daydreaming about far-off lands, Anne is always inventing new stories and ideas. Her Ne drives her creativity, making her optimistic and adaptable, even when others around her find her eccentric. Rather than accepting the world as it is, Anne constantly envisions a more vibrant, exciting version of life, turning everyday experiences into something magical.

Eddie Munson from Stranger Things

Eddie Munson, with his offbeat charm and love for pushing boundaries, also embodies Extraverted Intuition. He totally inhabits the world of possibilities, from his role as the Dungeon Master in Dungeons & Dragons to his bold, creative schemes for dealing with the terrors of the upside down. Eddie doesn’t stick to the conventional; he’s always looking for the next wild idea or unexpected turn in the story. Whether it’s coming up with risky plans to save his friends or being open to new and strange happenings in Hawkins, Eddie’s Ne keeps him flexible, curious, and quick to adapt to the weirdness of the Upside Down.

What Are Your Thoughts?

To wrap it up, Extraverted Intuition is all about seeing possibilities and connections in the world. Whether you’re brainstorming with friends or imagining what could be, Ne-dominant individuals are driven by the excitement of what’s possible.

Do you have any of your own experiences or stories to add? Let me know in the comments! You can also find out much more in our eBook: Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type.

Other Articles You Might Enjoy:

10 Signs That You Might Be an Introverted Intuitive

Understanding ENFP Intuition

Understanding ENTP Intuition

How You Use Your Brain Based on Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type