Most people forget it is part of a system and by defining all the aspects of the system you can more clearly see the interactions and attributes of the functions. Anyway from an article I wrote a while ago:
Introverted Intuition - INTJ and INFJ
Foreseeing implications, transformations, and likely effects
As ever introverted intuition is an ill defined process. It is an introverted subconcious perceiving process thus leaving most bewildered at its function. It imaginatively creates benchmarks and using iconology determines the similarities in ideas proposing the implications of these ideas and how they can affect the world. It is also sneakily subjective as it lends to a person a censored thought pattern to others around them as the benchmarks and iconology may bear little relation to reality but subtle guide the definition of the introverted intuitive. Over time it is passively enriched by other functions as experience is gained.
For the INFJ the introverted intuition is supported by extroverted feeling as a way to deal with the need to protect the imaginative and uniquely defined benchmarks of the Ni mindset is reconciled with attempting to gain a mutual understanding of shared external space.
In contrast the INTJ supports introverted intution by protecting their mindset by logically critiqueing their external environment using thinking to select elements of the environment which suit their inner vision.
Good article, and good point about not describing the functions in isolation. Okay, I'll try to describe Ni in terms of all four functions. It's a bit like an unruly committee meeting, with Te trying to moderate it and Ni not really paying attention but somehow triggering all the ideas. Here is an example from a project I worked on last week. It is obviously not quite like the following, but it gives the general idea of how this INTJ's head works:
Te: Everybody come to order. On the agenda: we have to come up with a craft about sheep. It must be appropriate for three year olds, not take more than fifteen minutes for them to make, use materials we already have, not take too much prep time.
Ni: (humming): On the radio, woo ooo, Mexican radio.
Fi: But are sheep a good topic? Will they enjoy making sheep?
Ni: Sheep! Such silly animals. "On the radio, Mexican radio." Maybe we should move to Mexico!
Se: I'm hungry. I want a sandwich."
Te: This isn't working. Let's go look at the supplies.
Go poke around in the craft supplies.
Se: I like all these colors!
Ni: Sheep farming in Mexico. Maybe Patagonia. We could make serapes or sweaters. With the three year olds?
Te: No.
Se: These cotton balls are soft and fluffy.
Ni: Like sheep wool.
Fi: Children like cotton balls. I like cotton balls.
Te: Let's try them.
For brevity, I'll skip past the rest of the sheep design. I ended up making a sheep stick puppet with cotton ball wool. Te was happy, this was a practical craft that met the criteria. Ni was happy thinking about life as a Patagonian sheep farmer. Then I hit a snag when the lesser functions chimed in:
Se: That is the ugliest sheep I have ever seen. What's with the pink head?
Fi: It looks mean. No kid will like that.
Ni: Ha ha ha - it's a psychopathic sheep. Just think, all the preschoolers running around with a flock of killer sheep! Blood everywhere! Ha ha ha!
Fi: That is completely disgusting, Ni. You should be ashamed of yourself!
Ni: But he's glaring at us! Looking at us dead in the eye.
Se: Yeah, he really is.
Te: Dammit. Okay, try moving the head.
Se: And make it not pink. So ugly.
Ni: Really it could be any animal, if you change the head and fur color.
Te: Duly noted. Good idea for future crafts.
Ni: (humming): On the radio, woo ooo, Mexican radio
The completed sheep puppet craft was a big hit with the preschoolers and did not remind anyone of a serial killer. Another success from the Ni Te Fi Se committee.
