I'm all of these things at different moments, but only in private or when I'm with someone I trust. At all other times, I remain stowic. I think INFPs really only open up when they're with someone they trust, and very few people see that level of openess. This could also be the challenge for INFPs: To allow the world to see them, without fear of judgement.
Agreed. Major emphasis on the
only part. A lot of descriptions note that. Warm
only when comfortable, implying cold the rest of the time. Same with sensitive, fuzzy etc.
I think a lot of people read the descriptions and fail to note that it says things like "deeply caring
when they get to know someone". But not in general, especially not around strangers.
What is the real difference between an INTP and an INFP and how can you tell them apart?
Take the following with a grain of salt:-
Don't expect any short term differences on the outside. They'll both be cold observers and very analytical, thinking a lot before acting. Over the long term, INFPs will generally warm up a lot faster than INTPs, and become much more hands-on and confident. INTPs will usually keep the analytical observer thing going strong. Generally, I think INFPs will be a lot more consistent in their life patterns (very long term), sticking to values, whereas INTPs may jump around seeking competency in many things (NT), and are generally much less value driven, leading to much less consistency in their lives, overall.
As for short term on the inside, well it's all about the comparison between introverted feeling and introverted thinking. Fi will naturally try and get involved in a situation first, and then stay back second (takes training to change). For Ti, vice versa. Fi constantly analyses things in reference to values, or more generally, in reference to the subject. ("How do I fit into this? How do they fit into this?") Ti analyses with no such reference ("What goes on here? How does this work?"). Value based analysis normally refers to the question "what should I do?", with little care about other people's answers to the question. This leads to a lot of Ti analysis, but only in so far as it helps an Fi dominant discover how to serve their values. Likewise, Ti might analyze a person's own values, but only in so far as understanding them. It's really an ineffable thing to experience, internal detachment vs internal attachment. Like I said, both are externally detached.
Fi+N is more imaginative, in a fairytale sense.
Ti+N is more imaginative, in a theorising sense.
They seem to converge over time, judging by some of the older members on this site, but always keep the same essence.
Again, this is just educated guesswork on my part. At least, I like to think it's educated.