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[INFJ] The "SP Wannabe" INFJ

Cloud of Thunder

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I first read of the SP Wannabe from this thread from another forum, and I think it applies to me very well. Lately, I've been gorging myself of external vices, mainly video games. For example, I recently bought a Wii and have been playing one game I bought this past weekend. Aside from the occasional bathroom break, I may have played it nonstop for close to 10 hours. I've engaged in roughly the same behavior in the past with porn.

I'm aware that this may be one vulgar stereotype, but does anyone else here (especially INFJs) identify with this "flavor" of INFJ?
 

SilkRoad

Lay the coin on my tongue
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I identify to a certain extent. I love loud music that gets me out of my head, that sort of thing. People tend to think I have a lot of self-control but I know the truth and it's kind of a veneer because I look calm, fairly quiet and fairly serious. I have a tendency to binge on favourite TV shows, internet use, and even food (really shouldn't buy potato chips because I just tend to gobble even a big bag at one go. I'm also naturally skinny which makes it easier to over-indulge in that area.)

I do love something that gets me out of my head because I spend too much time in there. It can be so refreshing. But the binging on DVDs, internet, junk food, that sort of thing is not good and usually drives me deeper into my head in the end. Loud rock concerts and a taste for fun and adventure, now that's good.
 

whatusername

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People tend to think I have a lot of self-control but I know the truth and it's kind of a veneer because I look calm, fairly quiet and fairly serious. I have a tendency to binge on favourite TV shows, internet use, and even food (really shouldn't buy potato chips because I just tend to gobble even a big bag at one go. I'm also naturally skinny which makes it easier to over-indulge in that area.)

I do love something that gets me out of my head because I spend too much time in there. It can be so refreshing. But the binging on DVDs, internet, junk food, that sort of thing is not good and usually drives me deeper into my head in the end. Loud rock concerts and a taste for fun and adventure, now that's good.

I find the above true in my case as well. Though people tend to think of me as a generally "together" person, I am given to several "vices" as well. Not too bad, but like SilkRoad said, anything that "gets me out of my head." Books, music, internet, I find myself overindulging at times. But moreso when I am under stress.
 
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I think INFJs have such a depth to their emotions that they sometimes can get tangled up in themselves. In this state they tend to see their own emotions in others which creates a context that they desire to escape from... so the adventurous nature of the SP seems becomes an amazing thing, because they are somehow both deep and caring (this part is projection) and still so free and unhampered. The INFJ then compares themselves and imagines then it is them who lacks the adventuresome portion and some kind of experience-based acclaim. Naturally, the INFJ tries to capture and reconcile the paradox of characteristics somehow, but finds themselves on a wild-goose chase because the goose is inferred from their own imagination.
 

SilkRoad

Lay the coin on my tongue
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I think INFJs have such a depth to their emotions that they sometimes can get tangled up in themselves. In this state they tend to see their own emotions in others which creates a context that they desire to escape from... so the adventurous nature of the SP seems becomes an amazing thing, because they are somehow both deep and caring (this part is projection) and still so free and unhampered. The INFJ then compares themselves and imagines then it is them who lacks the adventuresome portion and some kind of experience-based acclaim. Naturally, the INFJ tries to capture and reconcile the paradox of characteristics somehow, but finds themselves on a wild-goose chase because the goose is inferred from their own imagination.

To be honest, I genuinely have the most fun when I don't over-analyze it. :laugh:
 

mrcockburn

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This is why I had considered INFJ as my type. Despite the fact that everyone here sees me as an SP, I wonder if it's just something I've adapted to or whatnot.

I also think there are a lot of NF wannabes. For some reason, outside of the MBTI forum bubble, I never come across NT wannabes or SJ wannabes.

(Actually, I do, but it's more like SJ havetobes)
 
Joined
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To be honest, I genuinely have the most fun when I don't over-analyze it. :laugh:

An INFJ having """fun""", depicted below. The SP being chased is smiling, but secretly he is freaked out.

boy_blindfolded_running.png


It's all fun and games until you trip on a pile of scissors, kid.


Interesting fact: when finding this image, I googled "running blindfolded" and found pictures of Mark Berndt, who I had read about in an article not 10 minutes before here. An obvious conspiracy, says INFJs.
 

skylights

i love
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Interesting. Recently I have felt the opposite. I want to be more like an INFJ. More calm, more quiet, more serious.
 

SilkRoad

Lay the coin on my tongue
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Interesting. Recently I have felt the opposite. I want to be more like an INFJ. More calm, more quiet, more serious.

The INFJs I know definitely are quiet and serious...but we have a silly switch too. I do love embracing the baby ESTP inside and sometimes I wish I did it more often. Every time I go to a rock concert and scream so much that the people nearby stare at me, it's one of the happiest times I've had in ages.

"Calm" is a bit of an odd one for INFJs. It seems as though we usually look that way on the outside, but it's quite common for us to be a mass of raging thoughts, surging emotions, and general angst and insanity on the inside. ;) Perhaps I have more trouble with racing thoughts though being enneagram 6 (you know what that's like, even if from a different NF perspective!)
 

skylights

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The INFJs are know definitely are quiet and serious...but we have a silly switch too. I do love embracing the baby ESTP inside and sometimes I wish I did it more often. Every time I go to a rock concert and scream so much that the people nearby stare at me, it's one of the happiest times I've had in ages.

"Calm" is a bit of an odd one for INFJs. It seems as though we usually look that way on the outside, but it's quite common for us to be a mass of raging thoughts, surging emotions, and general angst and insanity on the inside. ;) Perhaps I have more trouble with racing thoughts though being enneagram 6 (you know what that's like, even if from a different NF perspective!)

:laugh: I do. Still, I wish I could seem calmer on the outside. NJs seem to be able to create a veil of mental distance between themselves and other people. I have never had any facility with this.
 

SilkRoad

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:laugh: I do. Still, I wish I could seem calmer on the outside. NJs seem to be able to create a veil of mental distance between themselves and other people. I have never had any facility with this.

I guess that's true, in a way. It probably contributes to us looking "cold" sometimes, unfortunately. You mentioned NJs - I am sure that INTJ/ENTJs are better at this than INFJs/ENFJs. I can create mental distance either when I just don't care much about someone or something - or if it is someone I have cared about, I have to have been hurt, let down or threatened quite a bit before I set up that distance, I think. Then I start putting more distance and stop caring - sometimes even in situations where I kind of still want to care. It can be a bit frightening to feel that coldness come over me because it's not fundamentally who I want to be.

I find the calm outside/wound up inside thing creates a lot of difficulties though. It means that people think I'll take anything. When I eventually break down/freak out/burst into tears/fly into a rage, they're totally shocked. I have often thought lately that it would be better for me to look outwardly more neurotic and be calmer inside. Sort of switch them around. :laugh:

Sorry, I guess I'm digressing a bit from the topic here!
 

skylights

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I find the calm outside/wound up inside thing creates a lot of difficulties though. It means that people think I'll take anything. When I eventually break down/freak out/burst into tears/fly into a rage, they're totally shocked. I have often thought lately that it would be better for me to look outwardly more neurotic and be calmer inside. Sort of switch them around. :laugh:

We are going to switch. I will take some of your exterior calmness, and you can have some of my external emotional expression. We can balance.
:fairy:

Cloud of Thunder said:
Nah, it's probably more boredom than stress.

Relatedly - I think sometimes people just need mental-paradigm change. To reinvent and renew.
 

Fidelia

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I do go on kicks of things - both food and activities. However, I don't usually get really self-indulgent unless I am under stress and am almost compelled to avoid consciously facing whatever is bothering me. I will buy stupid magazines, eat stuff that's bad for me, sleep too much or not nearly enough, watch stupid TV etc. Most of it isn't even stuff that would normally appeal that much to me, but I become quite attached to it during times of stress.
 

redacted

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I literally want to be more like an SP. But I don't act very SPish pretty much ever. The most SP-like traits I have are that I pace a lot when I'm bored and I constantly drum on things.

Also, when I'm drunk I'm more SP-like, but I think that's true for most people.
 

Siúil a Rúin

when the colors fade
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I tend to need something to balance the abstract nature of my inclinations. I get lost in my head with some of the least tangible sorts of systems and ideas. I have been aware of a life-long connection with physical expression in which I should have been serious about dancing or something similar to balance my tendency towards disconnection and abstraction. As a child I did gymnastics on my own, but was not involved in any dance for religious reasons. I think modern dance would have been my niche, but I'm still interested to get involved with yoga.
 

Thinkist

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This is why I had considered INFJ as my type. Despite the fact that everyone here sees me as an SP, I wonder if it's just something I've adapted to or whatnot.

I also think there are a lot of NF wannabes. For some reason, outside of the MBTI forum bubble, I never come across NT wannabes or SJ wannabes.

(Actually, I do, but it's more like SJ havetobes)

I'm not an NF wannabe, but an NF wannabewith (NFJ specifically). Right now I might be going through a subtle Fe stress period *hugs an INFJ tightly*.

...and who's not to love an NT? Some people out there actually like the intelligence and smartassery (no offense, NTs) that an NT (especially ENTP) has.

SJs: the most common, the temperament everyone is least interested in being. And for SJs, there's a sorta "us vs. them" mentality.
 

Cloud of Thunder

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I literally want to be more like an SP. But I don't act very SPish pretty much ever. The most SP-like traits I have are that I pace a lot when I'm bored and I constantly drum on things.

Also, when I'm drunk I'm more SP-like, but I think that's true for most people.
Other SP-like behaviors I have include driving like a crazy person occasionally and listening a vast array of music, from classical to trashy pop.

I think more than anything, it establishes my versatility.
 
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