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Introverted Feeling
3. Feeling
Introverted feeling is determined principally by the subjective factor. This means that the feelingjudgment
differs quite as essentially from extraverted feeling as does the introversion of thinking
from extraversion. It is unquestionably difficult to give an intellectual presentation of the
introverted feeling process, or even an approximate [p. 490] description of it, although the
peculiar character of this kind of feeling simply stands out as soon as one becomes aware of it at
all. Since it is primarily controlled by subjective preconditions, and is only secondarily
concerned with the object, this feeling appears much less upon the surface and is, as a rule,
misunderstood. It is a feeling which apparently depreciates the object; hence it usually becomes
noticeable in its negative manifestations. The existence of a positive feeling can be inferred only
indirectly, as it were. Its aim is not so much to accommodate to the objective fact as to stand
above it, since its whole unconscious effort is to give reality to the underlying images. It is, as it
were, continually seeking an image which has no existence in reality, but of which it has had a
sort of previous vision. From objects that can never fit in with its aim it seems to glide
unheedingly away. It strives after an inner intensity, to which at the most, objects contribute only
an accessory stimulus. The depths of this feeling can only be divined -- they can never be clearly
comprehended. It makes men silent and difficult of access; with the sensitiveness of the mimosa,
it shrinks from the brutality of the object, in order to expand into the depths of the subject. It puts
forward negative feeling-judgments or assumes an air of profound indifference, as a measure of
self-defence.
Primordial images are, of course, just as much idea as feeling. Thus, basic ideas such as God,
freedom, immortality are just as much feeling-values as they are significant as ideas. Everything,
therefore, that has been said of the introverted thinking refers equally to introverted feeling, only
here everything is felt while there it was thought. But the fact that thoughts can generally be
expressed more intelligibly than feelings demands a more than ordinary descriptive or artistic
capacity before the real wealth of this feeling can be even approximately [p. 491] presented or
communicated to the outer world. Whereas subjective thinking, on account of its unrelatedness,
finds great difficulty in arousing an adequate understanding, the same, though in perhaps even
higher degree, holds good for subjective feeling. In order to communicate with others it has to
find an external form which is not only fitted to absorb the subjective feeling in a satisfying
expression, but which must also convey it to one's fellowman in such a way that a parallel
process takes place in him. Thanks to the relatively great internal (as well as external) similarity
of the human being, this effect can actually be achieved, although a form acceptable to feeling is
extremely difficult to find, so long as it is still mainly orientated by the fathomless store of
primordial images. But, when it becomes falsified by an egocentric attitude, it at once grows
unsympathetic, since then its major concern is still with the ego. Such a case never fails to create
an impression of sentimental self-love, with its constant effort to arouse interest and even morbid
self-admiration just as the subjectified consciousness of the introverted thinker, striving after an
abstraction of abstractions, only attains a supreme intensity of a thought-process in itself quite
empty, so the intensification of egocentric feeling only leads to a contentless passionateness,
which merely feels itself. This is the mystical, ecstatic stage, which prepares the way over into
the extraverted functions repressed by feeling, just as introverted thinking is pitted against a
primitive feeling, to which objects attach themselves with magical force, so introverted feeling is
counterbalanced by a primitive thinking, whose concretism and slavery to facts passes all
bounds. Continually emancipating itself from the relation to the object, this feeling creates a
freedom, both of action and of conscience, that is only answerable to the subject, and that may
even renounce all traditional values. But so much the more [p. 492] does unconscious thinking
fall a victim to the power of objective facts.
4. The Introverted Feeling Type
It is principally among women that I have found the priority of introverted feeling. The proverb
'Still waters run deep' is very true of such women. They are mostly silent, inaccessible, and hard
to understand; often they hide behind a childish or banal mask, and not infrequently their
temperament is melancholic. They neither shine nor reveal themselves. Since they submit the
control of their lives to their subjectively orientated feeling, their true motives generally remain
concealed. Their outward demeanour is harmonious and inconspicuous; they reveal a delightful
repose, a sympathetic parallelism, which has no desire to affect others, either to impress,
influence, or change them in any way. Should this outer side be somewhat emphasized, a
suspicion of neglectfulness and coldness may easily obtrude itself, which not seldom increases to
a real indifference for the comfort and well-being of others. One distinctly feels the movement of
feeling away from the object. With the normal type, however, such an event only occurs when
the object has in some way too strong an effect. The harmonious feeling atmosphere rules only
so long as the object moves upon its own way with a moderate feeling intensity, and makes no
attempt to cross the other's path. There is little effort to accompany the real emotions of the
object, which tend to be damped and rebuffed, or to put it more aptly, are 'cooled off' by a
negative feeling-judgment. Although one may find a constant readiness for a peaceful and
harmonious companionship, the unfamiliar object is shown no touch of amiability, no gleam of
responding warmth, but is met by a manner of apparent indifference or repelling coldness. [p.
493]
One may even be made to feel the superfluousness of one's own existence. In the presence of
something that might carry one away or arouse enthusiasm, this type observes a benevolent
neutrality, tempered with an occasional trace of superiority and criticism that soon takes the wind
out of the sails of a sensitive object. But a stormy emotion will be brusquely rejected with
murderous coldness, unless it happens to catch the subject from the side of the unconscious, i.e.
unless, through the animation of some primordial image, feeling is, as it were, taken captive. In
which event such a woman simply feels a momentary laming, invariably producing, in due
course, a still more violent resistance, which reaches the object in his most vulnerable spot. The
relation to the object is, as far as possible, kept in a secure and tranquil middle state of feeling,
where passion and its intemperateness are resolutely proscribed. Expression of feeling, therefore,
remains niggardly and, when once aware of it at all, the object has a permanent sense of his
undervaluation. Such, however, is not always the case, since very often the deficit remains
unconscious; whereupon the unconscious feeling-claims gradually produce symptoms which
compel a more serious attention.
A superficial judgment might well be betrayed, by a rather cold and reserved demeanour, into
denying all feeling to this type. Such a view, however, would be quite false; the truth is, her
feelings are intensive rather than extensive. They develop into the depth. Whereas, for instance,
an extensive feeling of sympathy can express itself in both word and deed at the right place, thus
quickly ridding itself of its impression, an intensive sympathy, because shut off from every
means of expression, gains a passionate depth that embraces the misery of a world and is simply
benumbed. It may possibly make an extravagant irruption, leading to some staggering act of an
almost heroic character, to which, however, neither the object nor [p. 494] the subject can find a
right relation. To the outer world, or to the blind eyes of the extravert, this sympathy looks like
coldness, for it does nothing visibly, and an extraverted consciousness is unable to believe in
invisible forces.
Such misunderstanding is a characteristic occurrence in the life of this type, and is commonly
registered as a most weighty argument against any deeper feeling relation with the object. But
the underlying, real object of this feeling is only dimly divined by the normal type. It may
possibly express its aim and content in a concealed religiosity anxiously shielded, from profane
eyes, or in intimate poetic forms equally safeguarded from surprise; not without a secret
ambition to bring about some superiority over the object by such means. Women often express
much of it in their children, letting their passionateness flow secretly into them.
Although in the normal type, the tendency, above alluded to, to overpower or coerce the object
once openly and visibly with the thing secretly felt, rarely plays a disturbing role, and never leads
to a serious attempt in this direction, some trace of it, none the less, leaks through into the
personal effect upon the object, in the form of a domineering influence often difficult to define. It
is sensed as a sort of stifling or oppressive feeling which holds the immediate circle under a
spell. It gives a woman of this type a certain mysterious power that may prove terribly
fascinating to the extraverted man, for it touches his unconscious. This power is derived from the
deeply felt, unconscious images; consciousness, however, readily refers it to the ego, whereupon
the influence becomes debased into personal tyranny. But, wherever the unconscious subject is
identified with the ego, the mysterious power of the intensive feeling is also transformed into
banal and arrogant ambition, vanity, and [p. 495] petty tyranny. This produces a type of woman
most regrettably distinguished by her unscrupulous ambition and mischievous cruelty. But this
change in the picture leads also to neurosis.
So long as the ego feels itself housed, as it were, beneath the heights of the unconscious subject,
and feeling reveals something higher and mightier than the ego, the type is normal. The
unconscious thinking is certainly archaic, yet its reductions may prove extremely helpful in
compensating the occasional inclinations to exalt the ego into the subject. But, whenever this
does take place by dint of complete suppression of the unconscious reductive thinking-products,
the unconscious thinking goes over into opposition and becomes projected into objects.
Whereupon the now egocentric subject comes to feel the power and importance of the
depreciated object. Consciousness begins to feel 'what others think'. Naturally, others are
thinking, all sorts of baseness, scheming evil, and contriving all sorts of plots, secret intrigues,
etc. To prevent this, the subject must also begin to carry out preventive intrigues, to suspect and
sound others, to make subtle combinations. Assailed by rumours, he must make convulsive
efforts to convert, if possible, a threatened inferiority into a superiority. Innumerable secret
rivalries develop, and in these embittered struggles not only will no base or evil means be
disdained, but even virtues will be misused and tampered with in order to play the trump card.
Such a development must lead to exhaustion. The form of neurosis is neurasthenic rather than
hysterical; in the case of women we often find severe collateral physical states, as for instance
anæmia and its sequelæ.
Fi and Taboo
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valuer might have their own personal ideas of what's taboo to them, which may or may not be in sync with whatever is sanctioned by society at large. And may or may not be in contradiction to your own sense of what's taboo to you.
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