B
brainheart
Guest
According to this: Portrait of an INJ Child INFJ and INTJ children develop similarly while still sorting out the Fe/Te/Fi/Ti thing.
Yeah, I read this article a couple of weeks ago and it's what made me decide I was an INFJ instead of an INTP or an INFP. It nailed how I was as a child (and am still) perfectly.
And yes, as far as the T or F thing, I'm wondering if other INFJs often test T, as I do. I think the way the questions in the MBTI tests are worded throws me, because acquiring knowledge is a priority of mine, while what they primarily consider as F, well, it kind of makes me want to puke. It seems so cheesy and schmaltzy, like a greeting card, when I am so not like that. But I am an F... inside. I have a seriously hard shell. I am the epitome of a Cancerian.
My childhood: Also from a T-heavy family. Well, it was like this: my ISTJ dad refused to listen to us if we began a statement with, "I feel..." My ENFP mom understood a bit more, though, but I had a sort of hero worship of my NT brothers. They were willing to explore topics in a way that I was, which I loved, and I also envied how calm and cool they usually seemed to be. So I emulated, keeping the more feeling side of me secret, only viewed by my journal and my pets. I didn't feel like I could relate to most of my peers as a child. I had one best friend who was equally geeky, but then I moved at the age of 8 and that was the end of that.
I had an ideal high school experience, oddly enough. I went to an all-girls school and was in all Honors classes, so I was surrounded by like-minded people. It was amazing how social I suddenly became, how it was almost effortless with those I felt I had a connection to. Not that there weren't ever problems, but I think it kind of surprised me that after years of social awkwardness I could suddenly be skilled.
I found out at my high school reunion that some people who weren't in my 'group' in high school had tremendous respect for me and liked me. It always surprises me when people have high opinions of me. (I know this is the case because my husband is always telling me how everyone thinks I'm the coolest.) I wonder what they see that I seem to be missing...