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[INFP] INFP Profile- Straight from the horse's mouth

Southern Kross

Away with the fairies
Joined
Dec 22, 2008
Messages
2,910
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INFP
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4w5
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so/sp
The good and bad thing felt iffy. The sentence that was supposed to replace for clarity also felt iffy. Maybe it's jinxed. :peepwall:

I'm thinking that it may just be you. Most INFPs I know have a very distinct view of what's "good" and what's "bad" in their life. Maybe it's an unconscious process for some people. Care to explain more?

I've read through that profile you posted and it's pretty good. I was hoping to give someone a different perspective though.

I will do some revision tomorrow. Thanks for actually pointing out what was clear and what wasn't.
Of course :) I only meant it for further inspiration. I totally appreciate the effort. Its nice to hear what its like inside the head of an INFP from an INFP. Lets face it - there's some pretty complex sh*t going down inside there.

Hmm, I don't know about the sense of good and evil. I do have an immediate intuitive sense of something being right or wrong - as you describe. Maybe, we are talking cross-purposes. What I was trying to say was that I see moral complexity in everything - it comes from a sort of open-mindedness about people and the world. I consider myself (and INFPs in general) to be kinda fence-sitters about everything. Not sure how exactly to explain it. I'll get back to you...
 

BlackCat

Shaman
Joined
Nov 19, 2008
Messages
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sx/sp
I understand what you mean on an intuitive level, even though logically it's vague and unclear. I understand simply because I am like that, exactly how you described. Being on the fence and having a sense of good and evil. No need to elaborate for me, however others may be very confused.
 

Southern Kross

Away with the fairies
Joined
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Messages
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LOL. Damn! Where's that Se when you need it? :D
 

ColonelGadaafi

New member
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
773
MBTI Type
ESTJ
Enneagram
Si
LOL. Damn! Where's that Se when you need it? :D

Im at yer service ma lady!, let our minds cojoin in cohesion of yer goal.

Also the profile is intriguing, but i should add that while INFP's benefit from T's , they are not always the most suitable matches.
 

Jeremy

New member
Joined
Dec 24, 2008
Messages
426
MBTI Type
INFP
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9w1
I love all of it BlackCat - you did a great job describing what goes on under the hood for us. The only thing with which I didn't agree with is the idea that INFPs always count everything as either good or bad - I often have a feeling of "right" vs. "wrong", but rarely will I make the judgement of good or bad. My personal belief system causes me to avoid placing people or things into those boxes, because they're extreme - there is some good in even the worst action and vice versa. I have a feeling that may be an enneagram type 9 thing.

In fact, a lot of your profile seems to be geared towards type 9 INFPs. Type 4 INFPs can get mired in their despair in more length and depth than type 9s, but the type 9 might experience these with more frequency because of their tendency to push down negative emotions instead of processing them.
 

BlackCat

Shaman
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That's an interesting point Jeremy. Although I'm a 9w8, I usually assert my negative emotions rather than push them down. I only push them down when I can't assert them or it would be unwise to assert them. This is probably the 8 wing kicking in, it's my way of getting inner harmony. I can't really say much about your point otherwise, since I'm not a type 4. If asserting my feelings doesn't work or I can't assert them then I will process a bad emotion. It seems like the priorities are flipped in this case.

The "right" vs "wrong" seems to be a much better way of putting it, I agree. Right can be "good" in someone's mind and wrong can be "bad" in someone's mind. It's open for interpretation by the person. :yes:

I was planning on making a section on "how enneagram effects an INFP" but I figured enneagram was self explanatory in it's own. However, since you've made this distinction I may have to reconsider. Hmm.... I haven't experienced "the mood" in about 2 months though, since I assert my negative feelings and get them out of my psyche.

Any parts that specifically scream "type 9" to you that I could fix?
 

speculative

Feelin' FiNe
Joined
Jul 15, 2008
Messages
927
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INFP
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4w5
I understand what you mean on an intuitive level, even though logically it's vague and unclear. I understand simply because I am like that, exactly how you described. Being on the fence and having a sense of good and evil. No need to elaborate for me, however others may be very confused.

"There's no wrong or right but I'm sure there's good and bad." - Pearl Jam Thumbing My Way

Can I join in the Ne group hug? :hug: :D

I think I see what you're saying...

I was planning on making a section on "how enneagram effects an INFP" but I figured enneagram was self explanatory in it's own. However, since you've made this distinction I may have to reconsider.

What I haven't seen when it comes to INFP descriptions in general, that I appreciate within the Enneagram system, is sub-types. I see a great deal of difference between some INFPs. The Enneagram deals with these sub-types through the use of wings and instinctual variants. I feel that sub-types are something that, if defined and outlined, may move this area of typology forward...

By the same token, it would be interesting to see a section on common mis-typings. (Also, common mis-perceptions?) I've always tested strongly INFP (either tests are accurate or they're not, who knows?) but it seems that many INFPs are not sure of their type and this seems to be part of the personality type...
 

BlackCat

Shaman
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Speculative you are onto something with the subtyping thing. I however think that enneagram IS that subtyping, or at least the first step in distinguishing it.

Currently in the process of putting in the relationships. Should be done in a bit.
 

The Outsider

New member
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Feb 3, 2009
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intp
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sx
I read it and I like it. Provides more clearance about the functions and all that. It is different than many other descriptions out there, which is good of course.

I'll let you know if I come up with something creative. Right now, I can barely stay awake.
 

BlackCat

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After having read Costrin's profile that he did I've decided to just do away with the relationship section and post what we need/seek in a relationship. Posting the specific types gets too complicated, and in a way indirectly discriminates against others.
 

Udog

Seriously Delirious
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
5,290
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INfp
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9w1
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sp/sx
Great job, Blackcat., I think you did a great writeup that hopefully will provide a bit more insight on the mind of us INFPs.
Even though I made several comments, consider them tweaks and addition opinions more than anything. The only thing I disagree with you on is Te. But, I’ll get to that.

Overview: INFP- Introverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving. INFPs are idealistic people at the core, they always make distinctions between "right" and "wrong" in their mind when presented with anything in life. It seems to be natural to do this, to have a very innate sense of what is right and what is wrong.

I approve the change to “right” vs “wrong”, but it’s still not quite right for me. I DO tend to view things as dichotomies (right vs wrong, bad vs good, etc) , but the nature of the dichotomy tends to become more subtle as I’ve grown older. “Bad” vs “Good” would definitely sum up my opinion at one time. “Constructive” vs “destructive” comes relatively close to describing what I believe in now, with “neutral / entertaining / wasteful” standing somewhere between the two. Something or someone that is “destructive” isn’t necessarily “bad”, but it I can never approve of it.

INFPs are driven by their inner life, which is a net of emotions and attachments (negative and positive), this net is constantly being added to over time and starts developing at a very young age.
Perhaps substitute ‘inner life’ with ‘inner values’. I can definitely agree that my values are connected and interweave in a way that resembles a net, though, and this is a clever way of putting it. But, my inner life seems to be a separate entity to me. It’s where my mind goes to wonder, play, or lose itself in contemplation.

An INFP will generally avoid bad feelings, and with use of the net they naturally remember how to avoid them. A value is formed when a bad or good emotion is felt over and over by a common event, an example would be if the INFP really disliked spinach then they would make it a value to avoid spinach and try to not eat it again.

I can’t really claim to have a deep personal value towards spinach, or any food. :D

An INFP's idealism is often inspired by a vision that they have as to how the world could be improved, the way the world SHOULD be. This will generally moderate an INFP's attitude, inspiring them to act on what would be best for a "greater good" in the situations they find themselves in. This may include curing ignorance, helping someone, or setting up for a good future. This view of how the world should be will either make them optimistic or pessimistic in their attitude. The pessimists will generally hope for the best but expect the worst, the optimists will hope for the best and expect the best. This is purely relative to the person.

Yes x 1,000!
Another element: When an optimistic INFP’s ideals get shattered by the real world or by other people, they can become extremely cynical. Their ability to see the best in situations get misused to determine how the real world fails to measure up. This can lead to some very dark places for an INFP, and be the key for them to justify some very rotten behavior.

Dominant- Introverted Feeling/Fi: Introverted Feeling is the bread and butter of an INFP. As explained above it grants a net of emotions. It also grants them empathy toward others, in a sense that they feel what the other person is feeling unconsciously, and also allows them to see through other's eyes. Fi makes things have meaning for an INFP, this can be a good or bad, real or symbolic meaning to them. Fi allows an INFP to see right through others, showing their true intentions to them. However this can sometimes fail them, and they see a false intention.

My favorite part is bolded. The problem with Fi is that, since it comes from within, it is limited to the experiences of the INFP. A type 9, which is known to always strive for emotionally integrating new people into our ‘web’, are especially strong in using their Fi to relate to many types of people. The price being that we can lose our own sense of Fi in the process. Type 4s use their strength to understand, feel, and live their emotions and values. They are almost like specialists. Their level of empathy is encompassing on a level us 9s don’t match. The down side is they are quicker to attribute their own motives to another person, as they are drawing their data and potentials from a smaller, but deeper, data pool.

Introverted Feeling basically drives the INFP's yearning for positive emotions in life. INFPs like feeling positive emotions, they thrive on them. If their emotional state is a good one they will do everything better while in that state. It's like mental adrenaline. If someone treats them well, they will generally return the favor since the person has done them well. If the person has wronged an INFP without trying to make it up to them then the INFP may shut them out of their life until the negative emotions cool down. It's all relative to the individual as to how sensitive they are, some INFPs may purely go by the person's intent and feel good about that, disregarding if something simply sounded negative. Some may take the words they say personally if they are perceived as a threat. It varies as to how sensitive an INFP is, you can't just pinpoint it in a profile. That's for you to figure out on your own with your interactions with INFPs. So basically an INFP's emotional state and what makes it good is all relative to the individual.

INFPs tend to have a ‘bank’ of sorts. We fairly freely let people we like make withdrawals from it, in the way of listening, comforting, supporting, and doing favors. However, it’s important for the other person to make deposits, too. We need people to listen to us, do us favors, etc. It’s not a 1:1 ratio, but we are not very good at freely giving and giving unconditionally, either. If the withdrawal/deposit ratio gets too skewed, we eventually drop the person from our life.

Auxillary- Extroverted Intuition/Ne: The Extroverted Intuition of an INFP will be used to make connections between things and to read in between the lines. Ne allows an INFP to see the possibilities of information coming in, allowing them to see how it could change and vary. Fi and Ne will naturally work together, going hand in hand for the most part. A decent example of this is how an INFP could predict with no logical or concrete base what may make them feel good, and for the most part having that be true. Ne also is a great people reading function, with it's use to possibly predict the actions or thoughts of others. Ne is also an INFP's advise function, meaning that they will primarily use Ne to give advice to people or to make suggestions. This makes INFPs and INTPs give off an impression of eccentricy when they are giving advice, since they are thinking of possibilities out of thin air with no real base besides a theory. Even though this is completely natural for them, it will appear that they have a "think outside of the box" attitude to others.

Agreed. Ne is the method in which we execute our Fi, generally. Our values get pushed out into the world in the form of potential and greater connections.

Tertiary- Introverted Sensing/Si: Introverted Sensing is a staple for INFPs. Even though it's tertiary it's usually being put into good use by remembering specific details, and also remembering how things were. When an INFP takes in information, they will process it through their Fi, Ne, and Si. The Si part of an INFP will remember the details about an experience or thing, and relate it to how it was before and will check for changes or inconsistencies. Ne is the fuzzy part of an INFP's perception of the world, and Si is the concrete part of an INFP's perception of the world. An INFP will remember the details of something, and this is put into use especially when making decisions for leisure. How did this make me feel before? What about it made me feel this way? Questions like that will be asked and answered in their heads. If Fi and Ne fail them in a situation then Si will take command, checking for details and linking them to past experiences. Si is the INFP's relief function, meaning that use of this function is generally used for relief and reassurance. With this in mind ISFJs and ISTJs make excellent people to be in an INFP's life, due to their dominant Si.
Si works as a rewind tape for me. I’ll replay situations and conversations in my head in great detail, and analyze them for things I may have missed. Oftentimes, that’s when I figure out what was REALLY going on in a conversation, as I’m quite oblivious in the moment.

I love your part about Si being our concrete link to the world, because that’s exactly true. When I come up with a crazy theory or value, I’ll also make sure it ‘fits’ in the realm of society. It keeps my Fi/Ne from becoming agents of chaos. However, it’s a fine tuning mechanism, oft applied after Fi/Ne has done it's work, or a subtle guiding hand.

It’s like, in order of importance:
Does idea fit with values? Check.
Does this idea open up interesting and good possibilities? Check.
Will this idea cause social anarchy? Check…. Oh, perhaps I ought to modify it so it’s a bit more socially palatable.

Inferior- Extroverted Thinking/Te: Extroverted Thinking is a very good tool for INFPs. It allows them to rationalize a situation or a problem of theirs, more often than not resolving the problem whether it's personal or emotional. When everything else fails for an INFP they will resort to Te (if they don't already resort to Te), and they will rationalize their feelings and try to make sense of everything. It's a tool for closure, for inner harmony. Extroverted thinking allows INFPs to see the logical boundries of things and the logical reasons behind why things happen, so if they turn to this then they can eliminate a source of negative feelings from the picture. This can mean asserting your problem toward someone onto the causer of the negative feelings etc. Te in INFPs is also a tool for debate, for applying logical reasoning to a situation rather than how you feel. If INFPs find a nice balance of this then they will do very well in life. You also must factor in the basics of Te, which are organization, categorizing things in your mind, and seeing the logical consequences of your actions. You also must understand that as an inferior function that the other functions will drown out Te's voice unless you try to hear it, and at times INFPs may be very disorganized and not realize right off the bat the logical consequences of their actions. Inferior functions are typically very protected to the individual, and an INFP may be reluctant to start their Te up due to this and also a fear of screwing up or a fear of failure, and inferior functions are usually difficult to use for people which is where this fear would come from with Te being inferior.
This is the one area where I disagree with. I think you are idealizing the role that Te plays in INFPs. Your examples are pretty good, actually, but they are greatly idealized and don’t reflect the reality I’ve seen in myself and other INFPs. However, I think us INFPs get overly defensive with our shadow Te, because we fall under the false assumption that making decisions with logic = intelligence. (Not surprisingly, it’s usually logical creatures that perpetuate this stereotype.)

As a shadow function, Te reflects itself as an ‘all or nothing’ response. By the time many INFPs resort to Te, they are almost in the throes of it. Te builds a metaphorical brick wall, which then is used to protect Fi no matter the costs. The problem is that the brick wall indiscriminately blocks everything, both the good and the bad. Sure, reasoning is applied, numbers are crunched, logical arguments are developed, comparisons and options are weighed - very possibly with expert 'Te'chnique. (Hah.) But… how confident can you be that Te didn’t cherry pick the data to help reach a conclusion that justifies a hurt and angered Fi?

However, in the INFP Te can also become extremely powerful. Many online profiles claim that INFPs can be expert money managers, and it’s because of how Te can be used to feed Fi / Ne. I also agree that Te can be used to temper Fi. Combine that with Ne, and many INFPs are able to come up with both logical, objective, and efficient solutions to a problem, as well as solutions that best match our values.

INFPs have this state of mind that I will call "the mood." This "mood" occurs when all of the negativity the INFP pushes back in their psyche comes creeping out to get them. In this state of mind the INFP will feel majorly depressed for any amount of time, varying from person to person. They will remember random negative emotions from decades ago and will feel them vividly. This is all a process where the mind is releasing negativity. It can last any amount of time (it's absolutely relative to the individual), and after that mood is over they will feel fine. This is often confused with INFPs being bipolar.

For me, it’s hours to weeks. It depends on the atmosphere and if the things that are causing the negative emotions to surface are still an on-going problem.
 

BlackCat

Shaman
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Thanks to Udog, I have given the profile some much needed clarification and work. :)
 

OrangeAppled

Sugar Hiccup
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
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INFP
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sp/sx
Perhaps substitute ‘inner life’ with ‘inner values’. I can definitely agree that my values are connected and interweave in a way that resembles a net, though, and this is a clever way of putting it. But, my inner life seems to be a separate entity to me. It’s where my mind goes to wonder, play, or lose itself in contemplation.

Yes, that makes a lot more sense to me also. :yes:
 

speculative

Feelin' FiNe
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I however think that enneagram IS that subtyping, or at least the first step in distinguishing it.

I wanted to leave it open to possibilities in my comment, but personally that would be my leaning as there is a robust typing system already designed that this profile could be linked to in that manner to delineate sub-types. I'll read the profile more in-depth later, but wanted to give overall thoughts in general first. Seems to be good after a first read-through...
 

SpaZZakaZZ

New member
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Apr 26, 2009
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29
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INFP
I don't know about INFPs being so decisive about good and bad. I'm not decisive about these things - in fact I see things from many points of view simulataneously. I will argue from different perspectives (even if its not naturally my own) trying to tease out the truth, provoke people to think bigger or merely to show the complexity of morality. Usually I end up with more questions than answers. I see what you are getting at (the idea of the importance of values etc) but I think it needs to be altered slightly. This may be just me though... :huh:

I agree with that. I think part of the INFP mind is always questioning right and wrong. I always feel a doubt and a desire to shake up my own beliefs in order to see if they still stand. I think INFPs will also doubt the application of their values, more often than the value itself. For instance, I feel sure that it's wrong to take a life. But should we starve just so we don't have to harm a plant or animal? What about abortion, does the right to control your own life outweigh another's right to have a life. Am I obligated to prevent abortions or is that for others to decide? Is it wrong to use flyspray? There is a process of weighing things up. Morality is complicated, values can conflict.

I think the arguing from different perspectives, assuming you are talking about discussions with people, has to do with Ne. Throwing ideas out there, just to see what will come of it.
 

nozflubber

DoubleplusUngoodNonperson
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Mar 30, 2008
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Hype
This is a pretty good write up, BC.... for a chick, anyway! How's your cat doin?!
 
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