Their flexibility and big-picture focus helps them keep an open-mind to others' perspectives, which means that much of the time, they make decisions with diplomacy and conscientiousness. Their natural empathy and intuition also helps them really understand both their own emotions and others'.
The INFP. There's often an air of mystery surrounding the INFP personality type. Their quiet exterior and inward focus can make them seem disengaged or even aloof. But what is happening inside the mind of the INFP is usually a rich inner world of fantasy, emotion, and imagination.
Intrapersonal intelligence, INFP
When someone has strong intrapersonal intelligence, they are extremely self-aware. The process of understanding their own emotions and motivations comes naturally to them. This personality type is also good at analyzing their strengths and weaknesses and they often follow their gut.
No, INFPs aren't slow learners.
INFPs are adaptable and fast-thinkers - they just might not be very vocal about it, which leads some people to believe they're slow learners.
That can be a double-edged sword, and Mediator (INFP) personality types seem to have conflicted opinions on ego. For example, about seven out of 10 say having a big ego is a bad thing, yet six out of 10 say they think their ego is something that they should embrace.
So when INFPs are angry, they will typically retreat in order to look beneath the anger. Often a great deal of analysis goes on during these quiet moments.
The pressure of having everyone looking at them waiting for a reaction can make them feel shy or awkward. Many INFPs also experience “second-hand embarrassment”. For example, they might feel embarrassed when someone is trying to make jokes but they are all falling flat.
INFP: Ambiguphobia, AKA Fear of being misunderstood
After all, this personality type prefers deep meaningful connections and freedom of expression, so it can be disheartening when someone doesn't get them. They don't like it when people make snap judgments about them without getting to know the real them first.
INFPs are loyal to the people and causes they care about. If they love you, they'll be quick to defend you (even if you're not there to defend yourself). They'll stand up for your character and beliefs, even when it's not popular to do so.
Because they are naturally reserved, INFPs often have a hard time sharing about themselves, which can affect how they seek help for problems, talk up their accomplishments in interviews, or allow new people to get to know them.
One of the reasons why INFPs disappear or ghost people is because they need time to process what's going on in their heads before responding. INFPs are often deep thinkers who need quiet time alone to reflect on things that happened throughout the day.
The dominant cognitive function of the INFP personality type is Introverted Feeling, meaning they process information internally and prefer spending time alone than with others. Extraverted Intuition is the auxiliary cognitive function of INFPS, and so they base decisions and experience the world through intuition.
The INFP in Brief
These types strive for a life that has more meaning than a regular paycheck and a predictable, stable routine. These are the dreamers, the explorers, the writers and advocates of the world. They use their Feeling process to understand themselves and their values.
Although introverted, we can be remarkably talkative.
When INFPs are in the right mood, we'll talk your ear off, simply because we have so much to say, so much has happened, and we've been thinking about so many things we'd like to discuss with you.
INFP and INFJ: The Overthinkers
We start off with INFPs and INFJs: two Introverted personalities that often experience bouts of anxiety. When it comes to these types, their anxiety can stem from an inclination to overthinking.
Although Mediators are warm and accepting, they don't always find it easy to make friends. This may be because superficial, casual relationships can leave these personalities feeling a bit empty.
If an INFP was traumatized in childhood, they may develop a strong dependence on their therapist. This is because deep down they long for a mentor who respects them for who they are and gives them the guidance they need. At the same time, INFPs tend to be sensitive to interference.
Their emotional intensity often means that when INFPs get low, they sink very deep. They can do this because they believe that ultimately there is a path out. They can step down with a friend going through a hard time because they believe that someday both of them will return to the surface.
Because Fi is introverted in nature, it is guarded against the outside world and INFPs will only show their feelings to those they feel they can trust implicitly. This is why when you get to know the INFP in a deeper, more intimate way, they may reveal a side of themselves you didn't know existed.
Individualistic and nonjudgmental, INFPs believe that each person must find their own path. They enjoy spending time exploring their own ideas and values, and are gently encouraging to others to do the same. INFPs are creative and often artistic; they enjoy finding new outlets for self-expression.
Dreamy Mediators (INFP) (58%) fit that description best, and they were the personality type that agreed with our statement the most. Idealistic and imaginative, Mediators frequently get lost in thought and may forget to tend to day-to-day tasks or responsibilities.
Under the spell of their shadow, INFPs might rely too much on others' opinions and even feel like they have lost their identity — something usually so easily accessible to them. In this confusion, they begin to grasp at sudden (and perhaps mistaken) realizations and judgments against others.