My incination is toward you being and INTx of some kind, but I do think you have some misconceptions about NFs - INFPs in particular are hard to type because Fi is about values and what an INFP values is specific to the indivdual and can sometimes make us look like other types. Most INFP descriptions are likely to be of either Enneagram 9 or Enneagram 4 INFPs (they can look quite different, and an Enneagram 5 or 6 INFP will also be different than either of those). Since you mentioned having high scores on Enneagram 4 and 6 it is worth considering INFP and INFJ, but theoreticaly any MBTI type can be any Enneagram type and it can certainly explain not fitting the stereotype for any specific type.
Hmm, I'm looking at INFP and I'm sorry but there are a couple of things that just clash with their description and me. Healers are known to follow their feelings. While I have strong feelings from time to time, for the longest time I have taken the view that following your heart is idiotic, because feelings will lie to you. Sometimes they are appropriate, but many times they will lead you into trouble. Experience with depression is living proof of this.
That statement does read as one with a strong thinking preference, but another way to look at it is to ask yourself what you would do if you were faced with a decision that you had to choose between what was logical and what you felt strongly about. If logic and what is right to you always agree and you never feel torn between the two, then you are probably a "T", but if you have a strong sense of right and wrong that sometimes chooses "what is right to you" over the most logical solution, then you have at least some feeling preference - how often you choose logic over your sense of right and wrong and how much you struggle with it are things to consider.
If I'm reading this right, INFPs tend to seek out harmony, so all will be at peace together. I like harmony as well, but as horrible as it is, i like it not because I believe everyone should be at peace, but because it is
order. Don't misunderstand me, I'm no anal retentive I have a casual sense of order. Flexible. However most of my frustrations (
read:customers) come when people don't have it together. When they fail to follow what I consider perfect common sense. I used to have MSNBC as my homepage. I find that I'm happier in the mornings with google being the first thing I see instead.
http://www.aesthetic-images.com/ebuie/infp-musings.html said:
INFPs and harmony
Classical "type wisdom" and the common descriptions of INFPs often say that INFPs value harmony above all and will go to great lengths to avoid conflict. Some profiles even say that we value other people's feelings above our own. Some INFPs agree that this describes them very well. Others say it doesn't resonate.
Observation: Some INFPs value harmony much more than other INFPs do.
I have yet to meet an INFP who actually likes conflict. We pretty much all agree that we'd rather live without it. But for some of us (I won't even hazard a guess about how many), other values are simply more important. We are willing to give up harmony when we can't have it and satisfy a higher-priority value at the same time.
Conclusion: INFPs who often find themselves in conflict are those for whom other values take priority over harmony.
I speculate that this harmony thing is one cause of the self-doubts that many INFPs seem to have about whether or not they are really INFPs.
I am one of those INfps that does not relate to the descriptions of our type that tells how harmonious we are. I care about a positive mood in my presence, but I enjoy debate and friendly arguments and I also play devil's advocate just for the fun of it (one of my pet peeves is blind belief in anything, so I like to make sure someone has actually put some thought into what they believe and I will challenge their beliefs (even if they are my own) to see if they are sheep or not)
It is probably not the nicest thing to say, but I don't really believe in "causes", as most INFPs seem to do. The individual is what is important. It is on the individual scale that the most important battles of good and evil take place. I hear no call to go into the world and help people. That doesn't mean I will ignore them, it just means that I must trust in each person to show some morality, and sense of decency. I *shouldn't* trust it, but its immoral itself not to give them a chance.
I have mixed feelings about "causes" and the desire to be a champion for something, but I share the belief that the individual is whats important. Other xNFPs can comment on this, but I think the "crusader" is more of the ENFP stereotype and the "clarifier/healer" is the INFP stereotype - we may or may not get involved in a cause, but if we do, we will more than likely interact with individuals in a one on one basis to try to make a difference - for me, this means doing things like "helping others reach their potential", "helping others understand things (especially themselves)" and "encouraging/supporting the creative side of others".
This is a quote from a page describing INFPs, "They conceive of the world as an ethical, honorable place, full of wondrous possibilities and potential goods. In fact, to understand Healers, we must understand that their deep commitment to the positive and the good is almost boundless and selfless, inspiring them to make extraordinary sacrifices for someone or something they believe in."
This is far from me. I see the world as a generally broken and corrupt place. Positive and 'the good' are something everyone should have. I embrace it a lot less than I should, but I also believe you need that sense of the dark. That it gives you strength. Yes, strength. In much the same way a crippled virus introduced to your system puts your body on guard against it in the future. Don't leave it unchecked, but be aware that its there, and what it can do to you. You in a personal manner, not a detached 'violent news story' manner. You don't get rid of sin by ignoring it.
http://www.aesthetic-images.com/ebuie/infp-profile.html said:
INFP's look at humanity at both the individual (human-to-human) and societal levels. One common discouragement for INFP's is that societal change often seems impossible. When INFPs become discouraged, they may need some time and space to rediscover their values and a sense of inner peace. The conflict between their ideal world and "reality", as they see it can cause depression or withdrawal from the world unless they have people that support them in their projects.
I think "cynical idealist" would describe many INFPs. my idealized world would indeed be a prety close match to the above description, and I often try to convince myself that most people are ethical and have more good than evil in them, and that its just the few bad apples that exploit the goodness of others that make it look like more people are untrustworthy than actually are. I tend to be very skeptical of anyone in the world of business or politics, but for everyone else, I take the approach that they have a mix of both goodness and selfishness in them and that they will opt for goodness more often than not - Where I am very cynical tho is the matter of honor, I've seen many "good hearted" people that display no sense of honor, so seeing someone as honorable is something that only occurs after I have known them long enough to make a judgment.
There are some things about INFPs I see in myself, but I don't think this is me. Least not the majority of me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not tossing out your theory. I'm just not seeing it. Let me ask you something, did you say INFP because of my whole speech on the love of fantasy? Because outbursts (even in the internet) are rare for me.
Thats good, thats the kind of reaction to reading type descriptions you want to pay attention to - thats basically how I feel about the INTJ description applied to me.
INFP and INTJ do have more in common than one might think at first glance, so for the benefit of theory...
INTJs and INFPs share cognitive funtions preferences for Te (extroverted thinking) and Fi (introverted feeling) but they have a different order of importance to each type. They differ on Ni (introverted intuition) vs Ne (extroverted intuition) and Se (extroverted sensing) vs Si (introverted sensing).
INTJ - Ni>
Te>
Fi>Se
INTP -
Fi>Ne>Si>
Te
INFJ - Ni>Fe>Ti>Se
INTP - Ti>Ne>Si>Fe