ESFJs Auxiliary Function: Understanding the ESFJs Secondary Introverted Sensing (Si) 

When searching for a deeper understanding of the personality types, it is important to understand each one of their functions. While we often focus on the dominant and even inferior functions, knowing the auxiliary and tertiary ones are also vital. It is not just about knowing what functions each type possesses but rather how these functions behave within the stack. When a function is dominant it will present differently than when it is auxiliary, and so understanding this is truly important if you want to understand each personality type. Knowing each function on it’s own doesn’t really give you a true comprehension of how the personality type is going to utilize  that function. Instead you need to learn more about the placement of each function and how it corresponds with each personality type.

ESFJs are definitely known more obviously for their dominant extraverted feeling function, but their auxiliary function still plays an important role for them. Their introverted sensing helps to aid their Fe, and gives it a sense of direction when it comes to how to solve problems and get things done. This introverted sensing is what makes the ESFJ a more practical person, wanting to focus on things which are tangible and can be measured and taken care of efficiently. They care about being able to get things done for those around them and don’t like wasting too much time on things which don’t make sense. For the ESFJ being practical is important, since it helps them hold everything together and balance their responsibilities in order to care properly for the people around them. For them it is truly important to be able to make others happy, and is often one of the main motivations of the ESFJ.

How Si Works

Introverted sensing or Si is very much focused on past events and information. It is a way of processing and storing information from past experiences and using it to understand the present choices which need to be made. The Si dominant user will take in information and filter this through their memories, wanting to compare it to past experiences and things they have a better natural grasp on because they have been through it before. When things in the present do not match what they know about the past, the introverted sensing user wants to compare this further and understand what is not matching up right. If they have stored certain information and recognize that it isn’t aligning with something from the present, they often realize that something is not right and needs to be adjusted. The Si user is excellent at recalling the past in great detail, especially things which truly matter to them. This is why they are often good at remembering dates or special occasions, not wanting to forget something which marks and important occasion to them or their loved ones. 

Dominant Si users can sometimes appear methodical, very focused on the details and wanting to be sure they are making the right choices. They don’t like jumping into things without being certain about their actions, and will take time to compare to the past and what has worked for them. This is why new situations can be a bit unnerving for them at times, since they don’t have much to compare these actions to. They don’t like stepping into things blind and want some means of knowing that they are making the right decisions along the way. This way of thinking does make the introverted sensor very practical, wanting to focus on processes and proven methods rather than imagining scenarios which are unlikely to ever happen to them. 

Auxiliary Si in ESFJs

While the ESFJs dominant function is very focused on people, their Si actually helps aid this in a lot of ways. Their introverted sensing is constantly running in the background, picking up information and storing it for later. This is something which collects a lot of facts and details about people as well, which helps the ESFJ recall things like important dates and little things about those around them. It also filters this information and pieces it together in order to come to conclusions about the people in their lives. The ESFJ can often understand others rather well, instinctively knowing what their needs and desires are. While this connection to people is in large part because of their dominant Fe, their Si actually helps with this a lot. While it might not be connected to the emotions of others, Si is connected to the little facts and details about people. It picks up on this information and connects it to situations and occurrences from the past. This helps the ESFJ to make predictions about what will likely happen or what these people most likely want. They can recognize motivations and see where the path will likely go, based on information cataloged from the past from their introverted sensing function. Their Si actually processes all of the Fe data the ESFJ collects, connecting it with things they can understand and predict in a more tangible fashion.

ESFJs are often good at recalling details and focusing on the little things that other people might miss. This comes from the use of their Si, which can catalog plenty of data and information over time. They also value being practical with their choices, wanting to ensure that they maintain a balance with the things in their lives. In order to properly care for themselves and their loved ones the ESFJ is aware that they need to be smart with their choices and not simply jump into things because they feel good. They are capable of weighing their choices out and making sure they follow the path which is right. They value certain traditions which are meaningful to them, and this is something which comes from their Si. This doesn’t mean ESFJ are incapable of change or that they uphold all societal traditions, as they are more inclined to maintain the ones they feel personally connected to.

 

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