Sensing and Human Values

 
All of us are data gatherers. We need information to make our way in the world. As Jung studied human behaviour, he saw two ways of perceiving things, each of which provides us with different kinds of information. We use our five senses to gather data. Our five sensse collect information about things we can see, hear, feel, smell and touch. Sensing, then, deals with whatever is specific and concrete. Sensing focuses on the details, the facts.

People who prefer sensing like to take in information that is real and tangible—what is actually happening. They are observant about the specifics of what is going on around them and are especially attuned to practical realities.

We use sensing when

• We look for spelling errors;
• we hear a change in the smartphone messaging
• feel the temperature in the water or the shower
• smell something burning
• taste the salt on our food

 
We all go back and forth between sensing and intuition all the time. We do not use them equally or equally well. Sensing types are people who prefer sensing to intuition as their favourite way of gathering information. The gravitational pull is to the world of the specific. Sensing types are at home to details. They collect them easily and well. Their natural sense, when anything comes up, is to focus on the realities.

Characteristics of people who prefer Sensing:

• Oriented to present realities
• Factual and concrete
• Focus on what is real and actual
• Observe and remember specifics
• Build carefully and thoroughly towards conclusions
• Understand ideas and theories through practical applications
• Trust experience

The Sensing function and Human Values

Sensing types see “what is”. In this wise, they are reliable. Grasping the details quickly, they present what is verifiable to the senses. This is the practice of simplicity, which expresses Truth. They are realistic, presenting reality over fantasy, which expresses respect, a sub-value of non-violence.

Sensing types are specific about what they speak, read and write. Knowledge, presented this way, is giving “the facts”; knowledge is a sub-value of Truth; being specific is determination, which expresses right-action.

Sensing types are practical, quick and fast. They are resourceful people, with a huge storage bank of data; they are not complicated, and not overtly taken with the “big picture”. Being resourceful is an expression of right action; practicality, speed and efficiency with data is a form of concentration, which signifies peace, one of the five human values.