INFP

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Overview of “the Healer”

INFPs are Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving.

  • Introverted because they are energized by time spent alone and connect most with their inner world.
  • Intuitive because they explore a world of creative ideas and search for information about abstract concepts and new theories.
  • Feeling because they prioritize personal values and emotions when making decisions.
  • Perceiving because they live spontaneously and follow their inspirations and energy to complete tasks.

INFPs are deep people who want to impact the world and leave a legacy. They earnestly desire to be understood and are virtually unmatched in their understanding of the subjective human experience. These types want to be free to follow their inspirations and explore the ocean of thought that flows within them. They have a strong need to understand others and to be understood — possessing an idealistic, romantic view of the world and often seeing through rose-tinted glasses.

INFPs love personal expression and seek emotional depth. They dislike small talk and will bypass it immediately, getting to the heart of an issue and unearthing the core motivations of everyone involved. They are open to exploring various world views and concepts of reality, expanding their beliefs and “shedding” previous versions of themselves in the process. They are true dreamers and refuse to compromise who they are for fleeting material possessions or shallow gain.

Cognitive Functions

In the Myers-Briggs personality system there are eight cognitive functions. Your unique personality is a road map pointing to the four cognitive functions that you access consciously. Every personality will have two extroverted functions and two introverted functions. Every personality will also have one feeling function, one thinking function, one intuitive function, and one sensing function. For more help and practice identifying cognitive functions for the sixteen Myers-Briggs personality types check out this worksheet. All eight functions are as follows:

  • Extroverted Intuition
  • Introverted Intuition
  • Extroverted Sensing
  • Introverted Sensing
  • Extroverted Feeling
  • Introverted Feeling
  • Extroverted Thinking
  • Introverted Thinking

Fi (Introverted Feeling) – Dominant

An INFP’s dominant cognitive function is Introverted Feeling, abbreviated as Fi. Dominant cognitive functions are used approximately 80% of the time by an individual and are hardly noticed by the user. This function will feel like second nature and “drives” the INFP.

10 Signs You’re Fi-dominant

  1. Authenticity is important you
  2. You have strong “gut feelings”
  3. You do not force your opinions on others
  4. Not necessarily an open book
  5. You crave freedom
  6. Fairly independent and individualistic
  7. Can step into someone else’s shoes
  8. Strong sense of empathy
  9. Can be sensitive to criticism
  10. Deeply rooted value structure

Positives of Being Fi-dominant

  • Having a strong sense of right and wrong
  • Maintaining emotional independence
  • Connecting deeply with the inner self
  • Considering belief systems and morality

Struggles of Being Fi-dominant

  • Sensitivity to criticism
  • Tendency to be stubborn
  • Needing extra time to process things
  • Abundantly empathetic (almost to a fault)

A note to the INFPs reading…

Ever wondered why you need to analyze conversations or events, almost obsessively? That’s Fi. Ever wonder if objective reality can even exist? That’s Fi. Do you have one or more artistic modes of expression (yoga, writing, music, etc.) that you need to practice in order to feel complete, sane, and whole? That’s Fi.

Introverted Feeling is the reason you explore the depths of yourself and feel incredibly hurt when others do not seek to understand you. Fi explains why you have a strong sense of right and wrong and are baffled when others do things without conviction. This function helps you to empathize with others and understand the world through unique eyes. It can be your secret weapon and your Achilles heel if it is not properly balanced with the other cognitive functions.

Ne (Extroverted Intuition) – Auxiliary

An INFP’s secondary function is Extroverted Intuition/Ne. If someone is an introvert, their dominant function will be introverted and their auxiliary function will always be extroverted. Balance is necessary — especially in the brain! Ne helps bring new ideas to information that is processed by Fi.

10 Signs You’re Ne-auxiliary

  1. You love brainstorming
  2. You are comfortable with change
  3. Always searching for new ideas
  4. You live in the future
  5. Everything is connected
  6. Conventional is boring
  7. You are open-minded
  8. You can be scattered
  9. Connections are everywhere
  10. You are very creative

Ne takes a backseat to Fi. Because Fi is the driver, Ne brings new ideas to the information Fi is processing. This is why INFPs seem to be constantly expanding their world views, because Ne explores the outer world as Fi organizes the value structure of the inner world.

INFPs may sometimes be mistaken for extroverts by other types. When engaging with a topic that intrigues them, they can appear quite enthusiastic and outgoing. They will seem open and bold in conversation as they state their opinions and challenge others’ assumptions. INFPs on the other hand will overwhelmingly understand themselves to be introverted because of their vast need for alone time.

Si (Introverted Sensing) – Tertiary

An INFP’s tertiary cognitive function is Introverted Sensing/Si. This position as third in the “cognitive stack” means that FiNe is running the show the majority of the time. Because of this, Si is a bit underdeveloped and usually starts to show up in an INFP’s mid-20s. Tertiary functions usually have the maturity level of a ten-year-old child — they can serve as a strength or a weakness depending on how the user responds to it.

Tertiary Si is why INFPs love the idea of routine but can never seem to stick to one. It’s why they want to care for their physical needs but often neglect them as they chase their inspirations (staying up late, skipping meals, etc). Si helps bring consistency to an INFP’s values. If Si is neglected, these types will find themselves extremely confused and unsure of who they are. This function keeps an INFP alive and healthy, but because of its immaturity, these types will find themselves always desiring these things and often falling short of their own expectations (sometimes leading to self-loathing).

Te (Extroverted Thinking) – Inferior

An INFP’s inferior cognitive function is Extroverted Thinking/Te. This function is typically concerned with efficiency, productivity, and getting tasks completed. Inferior functions usually develop in midlife. Because of this late-blooming, there will be many times Te pops up in uncomfortable, weak, and even self-destructive ways.

Healthy Te-inferior looks like

  • Personal structuring
  • Respecting possessions
  • Arriving on time
  • Meeting deadlines
  • Balanced reasoning

Unhealthy Te-inferior looks like

  • Resisting structure
  • Disorganization
  • Poor time management
  • Missing deadlines
  • Black-and-white reasoning