INFPs and the "disappearance" syndrome

Dwigie · 08-26-2008, 03:29 PM

I've noticed this to be reccurent in my entire life (ok it's not been that long

) that I tend to dissolve in the background. I can literally stand between two people and listen to their private conversation and they won't notice, I don't even have to try. People never realize I'm there, it's magical.

I must say I enjoy it most of the time but sometimes it's a pain in the butt. I also tend to completely detach from groups of people and dissapear to go "do my own thing" and be reported missing for 30 minutes until my classmates realize I was just taking a walk, talking to a friend..far away. I even randomly walked out of a classroom without permission and was never caught.

do other infps sense this "dissolvement" in the background, being completely transparent to people?

runvardh · 08-26-2008, 03:36 PM

Yeah, it's help full when you don't want to be caught up in some kind of stupidity; but it sucks when trying to crack into a conversation or when you're getting bitched out for dissapearing.

spirilis · 08-26-2008, 03:39 PM

I'd say INTPs often have this phenomenon too, unless we're somehow the center of attention in the group (at which point others will mentally keep track of us).

runvardh · 08-26-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spirilis

I'd say INTPs often have this phenomenon too, unless we're somehow the center of attention in the group (at which point others will mentally keep track of us).

I'm tempted to see this as an IN phenomenon.

miked277 · 08-26-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spirilis

I'd say INTPs often have this phenomenon too, unless we're somehow the center of attention in the group (at which point others will mentally keep track of us).

Agreed. Also agree with the fact that it's a pain in the ass sometimes though I suppose it's just human nature to ignore things that are less prominent than say, the ENTP over there with their arms flailing about telling their big story.

So what's the solution? Either be the center of attention by default like Spir said (i.e. be the group leader) or just somehow stay engaged in the conversation as best you can while adding little bits of your own. Still working on this myself but yeah.

Dwigie · 08-26-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by runvardh

I'm tempted to see this as an IN phenomenon.

Yes, you're probably right it's not just infps. En's have it easier in that department, my little sister is an enfp, people flock like birds to her but she tries to copy my "solitary attitude" it just doesn't suit her, it's not even "natural" for her, she's a social butterfly naturally, being a crank is not "cool" she should look up to better "social" examples and just have fun.She's just 12...
I'm sure all the INs out there don't like to "flail out their arms"..it's so awkward to ask for attention o.O...actually I hate constant attention but I like to be heard when I have something important to say..unfortunately it doesn't work out. I always ask the person next to me to ask a question for me in class, I rarely speak directly to teachers xD.Some of them thought I was mute...

sleepless · 08-26-2008, 03:50 PM

Haha, wow. This sounds a bit like me too... I'm an INFJ though, and I don't think there are many things like this which you can easily define as being for example an INFP-thing, exclusive for this or that four-letter type. After all, what with the INFP functions would make invisibility "INFP-ish"? Surely Introversion is important, but more than that? Or is it that you know of more people with this "syndrome", and they are all INFPs?

I have an odd feeling that I can make myself invisible at times, when almost running into someone I don't want to talk to and things like that. I know it sounds stupid, but I can't really shake it off... if it's not that, then it's because people are so extremely unaware of their surroundings to a point beyond my understanding...

OneWithSoul · 08-26-2008, 03:55 PM

Yes! It's as though I am blending into the backdrop of things..and I have a tendency of "skipping out" or just disappearing when no one is paying any attention.

Dwigie · 08-26-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepless

Haha, wow. This sounds a bit like me too... I'm an INFJ though, and I don't think there are many things like this which you can easily define as being for example an INFP-thing, exclusive for this or that four-letter type. After all, what with the INFP functions would make invisibility "INFP-ish"? Surely Introversion is important, but more than that? Or is it that you know of more people with this "syndrome", and they are all INFPs?

I have an odd feeling that I can make myself invisible at times, when almost running into someone I don't want to talk to and things like that. I know it sounds stupid, but I can't really shake it off... if it's not that, then it's because people are so extremely unaware of their surroundings to a point beyond my understanding...

Yes! That's exactly what I mean

, I did kind of narrow it down to much to infps, it's just that I'm only learning now to differenciate types so it doesn't jump to me who's intp who's estj right away. I guess it's an "I" thing then?(how about the isfp for example?)

sade · 08-26-2008, 04:16 PM

This happens every now and then. It was actually amusing in school where I could freely set up my pranks and no one would notice. Which felt stupid since I was infront of the whole time. The same when walking into a group of people or near someone, doing my thing and then saying something, at what moment everyone has a heart attack over me suddenly appearing or 'sneaking around'.

08-26-2008, 03:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dwigie Lisse Join Date: Aug 2008 Type: INFP Location: nulle part Posts: 652	INFPs and the "disappearance" syndrome I've noticed this to be reccurent in my entire life (ok it's not been that long) that I tend to dissolve in the background. I can literally stand between two people and listen to their private conversation and they won't notice, I don't even have to try. People never realize I'm there, it's magical. I must say I enjoy it most of the time but sometimes it's a pain in the butt. I also tend to completely detach from groups of people and dissapear to go "do my own thing" and be reported missing for 30 minutes until my classmates realize I was just taking a walk, talking to a friend..far away. I even randomly walked out of a classroom without permission and was never caught. do other infps sense this "dissolvement" in the background, being completely transparent to people?

08-26-2008, 03:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
runvardh Rebel Kitty Join Date: Jun 2007 Type: INFP Location: Alberta Posts: 5,665	Yeah, it's help full when you don't want to be caught up in some kind of stupidity; but it sucks when trying to crack into a conversation or when you're getting bitched out for dissapearing. __________________ Dreams are best served manifest and tangible. F does not mean socialy adept, just emotionaly unstable. INFP, 4w5 sx/sp, IEI

08-26-2008, 03:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
spirilis Senior Membrane Join Date: Jul 2007 Type: InTP Location: Hanover, PA Posts: 2,122	I'd say INTPs often have this phenomenon too, unless we're somehow the center of attention in the group (at which point others will mentally keep track of us). __________________ intp \| type 5w6 sp/so/sx

08-26-2008, 03:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
OneWithSoul Infernite! Join Date: Aug 2008 Type: ENFP Location: Potsdam, NY Posts: 1,462	Yes! It's as though I am blending into the backdrop of things..and I have a tendency of "skipping out" or just disappearing when no one is paying any attention. __________________ Is all that we see or seem But a dream within a dream?

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08-26-2008, 03:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
sleepless Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Type: INFJ Posts: 81	Haha, wow. This sounds a bit like me too... I'm an INFJ though, and I don't think there are many things like this which you can easily define as being for example an INFP-thing, exclusive for this or that four-letter type. After all, what with the INFP functions would make invisibility "INFP-ish"? Surely Introversion is important, but more than that? Or is it that you know of more people with this "syndrome", and they are all INFPs? I have an odd feeling that I can make myself invisible at times, when almost running into someone I don't want to talk to and things like that. I know it sounds stupid, but I can't really shake it off... if it's not that, then it's because people are so extremely unaware of their surroundings to a point beyond my understanding...

08-26-2008, 04:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
sade Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Type: INFJ Location: Europe Posts: 723	This happens every now and then. It was actually amusing in school where I could freely set up my pranks and no one would notice. Which felt stupid since I was infront of the whole time. The same when walking into a group of people or near someone, doing my thing and then saying something, at what moment everyone has a heart attack over me suddenly appearing or 'sneaking around'.