As an INFP, I don't understand the romanticism around this type, that other types want to say they're that. I'm such an awkward weirdo who can't make longterm friends because I rub people the wrong way because I value honesty too much, analyze everything in to the dirt, and am generally weird.
heads up, at least you get a really great picture, when you fill out the test at the beginning :D always when i did the test I was so joyful at the end because of the picture :D
Yes!!!!! It's like I am so worried I don't know so many things, so I always keep learning new things but there are still so many things I don't know and feel inadequate if I don't know them
Not "dumb" per say, but less academically intellectual. Like, I think I'm a smart enough person to enjoy classic literature and form reasonable opinions and philosophize. Smart enough to pass math class and enjoy a historical documentary, and hold a stimulating religious or political discussion/debate with my friends/family. But not really an Einstein. Chemistry will reduce me to tears, without fail. And I'm also acutely aware that I can come across as a total ditz when I'm just In A Mood™.
Hes like my math teacher who just assumes we are all intelligent enough to understand all them fancy words...some of us are dumb we NEED explanations ;-;
for some reason as an INFP i can have a mental breakdown over the fact that i can’t do a task and then when i do it i’m immediately like “omg i’m so cool and smart 🤪💅”
I think a lot of my struggle/pain comes from the fact that I WANT to know who I am. I want to be strictly defined, rigid, certain, unchanging, but that’s not in my nature. So it’s like I’m waging a battle against my own nature.
You don't really you just like the IDEA of it. If you were, you would feel trapped and not yourself. Just go with the flow and take it all in. Also, Journaling helps. 😎
The fluid identity one really hit the nail on the head. I’ve probably spent my entire life trying to figure out who I am and the more I try to, the more confused I get. I don’t feel like I belong in society because how can others understand me if I don’t understand myself.
It hurts sometimes for me. Because one of the criticisms I get the most from people I've tried to get close to is that I am "too mysterious" or that "they dont get who I am". I am sorry, but I cant help you there, as I am in the same boat as you are.
@@AlexAnder-ri8ns that's the types that I could relate to as well, recently though, I started feeling pretty sure that I am an ENFP... It just makes sense with how I behaved ad a child, etc. I wish you good luck and lot's of fun on your journey exploring MBTI! :)
so the fact that i always question my identity to the point of checking all the time if i am actually an infp... is PART of being an infp 😭 anyways thank you so much for this video... keep them coming!!
I hate making schedules because I know that there is always the possibility that they could change or something more important could come up, and it drives my mom crazy.
I think that you're probably the only youtuber who actually explaind what an INFP is properly. This I can definitely relate to. No misconceptions for once, I can see myself here.
As a INFP, I actually don't understand why some people like this type, I really don't have friends and I was bullied for being like this in my childhood, then, this become a trend, i feel confused
English is my second language and he is way too intelligent for me to understand... I don't understand these tough words and vocabs ;_; I still watched the full video though...
@@CognitivePersonality So true. My husband and I had been married for several times before we realized that lots of our struggles were tied to the fact that we were both INFP-Ts. We have suspicions about some people being INFPs too but as an outsider, you can never be certain about another person's MBTI profile.
hes got a nice, calm, quiet voice that personally doesnt keep my adhd brain stimulated enough. but also i see a lot of others saying the same thing bdhdbdjbd
Dude I love this guy. He actually separates stereotypes from facts. The stereotypes annoy me so much and have made trying to understand what type I am harder. Thank you.
I've been thinking I'm an INFP, but the main thing that was making me second guess was the assertion that INFP know themselves. I feel like I don't know myself at all. lol
I used to think that too but in the last year or couple month actually (to me it happened a lot during the crisis after all - or at least there were a couple of experiences I had to make that lead me to some realizations) - well I started to connect all the little things I already knew about but didn't understand in the big picture. If I think about it I changed drastically in the last months even tho you might not see it cause I'm introverted after all lol. Anyways what I am trying to say is that only because you feel right now like you don't know yourself doesn't mean you won't be able to change that impression in like almost no time without even realizing it and then suddenly you have a crazy moment in that you look back and start to understand. :)
What do you mean? He said exactly the opposite. If you know yourself in a static sense without much fluidity or transformation, then you're NOT an INFP. INFPs' identities are always in some state of transformation.
@@ayeshak6822 He said that one of the myths of the INFP is the idea that they know who they are. Yea, he talked about a fluid identity but in conjunction with their not having a static, rigid sense of identity.
I'm really glad that you said INFPs are one of the best types for science. There's a stereotype that we're the "artsy kind" and that's *the* field of work we excel at. I personally want to go into researching space, particularly astrophysics. At the same time it does not mean I don't engage in art. I love writing poetry and am getting into Theatre. I paint, I draw. But I'm also drawn towards sciences and mathematics. I get comments like, "I don't think you would fit in science" or "I didn't think you were so intelligent" from people in real life. I enjoy "curating" things. It translated well into science. It's stupid to treat science and Maths as cold and rigid but unfortunately that's how societies treat it. We desperately need that artistic quality of the INFP in teaching and exploring the subject. Compassion and empathy is of extreme importance in science - it directs what research is funded and what studies are done. Do we make weapons or tools? Do we discriminate or have equality? Are we caring enough to do research that helps climate change and other problems? It gets lonely and boring in science and Maths when you have these dull creatures who don't have that heart for exploration and are unflinchingly stuck in their ways. I know this is rude but such boxes are made for fools to fit in.
same, I love drawing, painting and writing stories but I just dont see myself being on that career. I love saving animals that's why i decided to take the course of veterinary Medicine and when i told them that i am an infp they will always told me "wow, that's why your painting looks so great, why did u took vetmed? Is it your parents decision?" Like, it's my choice. It doesn't mean that I am an infp I should just stick on drawing and painting etc. But I love solving and science stuff. I just dont understand why they always underestimate me:(
Math is an ART! It is language. I think (i am not familiar with these terms as this research is new to me) this explains why i was told to be a writer from my best school subjects but wanted to be an astronaut and ended up getting a PhD in physics and astronomy. this was mind bending but so much fun! does that make me and INFP? i thought i was and ENTJ at the time but have definitely changed with age and experience. i frustrated my math teachers by intuitively 'guessing' the right answers and couldn't get high grades as i couldn't write out how i got to the answers. but when talking of multidimensions, i can see them. don't let others tell you what you 'should' be. follow that intuition!
What I can say is..... I love you! Finally, someone who understands!! I am an infp. I love literature and art, but I also love astrophysics, mathematics, genetics... I even majored in Mathematics! I am almost done with my degree, and I absolutely love it! But I have some advices that might be helpful: 1. Believe in yourself and be strong, never let others discourage you. 2. Make your own choices and freely. 3. Be patient, and patient with yourself! 4. Don't be discouraged if you found that the world/environment/people are worse/harder than you thought, don't lose hope, and try to find what works for you. 5. Don't neglect yourself or lower your self value, and if you need time/rest/a break... then take it! Those are some stuffs I learned through experience, so hopefully they could help you with your own journey. Alright that's it... Have a nice day!
This video confirmed it. I'm 100% INFP. I always thought I was mistyped (or perhaps I wanted to be mistyped) because I was like "do I have strong ideals and morals? I don't know who I am; I'm always constantly searching for my own truth and self-identity." Turns out, yes, that is what INFPs do. It's less about having a concrete, "this is me" identity and more about transforming and evolving sense of self over time and experience. Or, to be more cliche, it's more about the journey than the destination.
Yes to all. Hyperawareness of consequences and analysis paralysis leading to low risk taking is something I wish to change. You are so spot on! I know this is still just a theory, but your understanding of the intricacies is astounding. When listening to your analyses, it feels like more than a theory.
Thank you! It can certainly have its perks but, as always, balance is key :) Cheers; it's certainly a theory built on case study so that helps me iron out empirical elements, and I'm currently making good steps aligning it with neuroscience - all that to say, it's coming along!
I personally find it helpful to mentally pause on the issue for a while if I get that feeling that I've got myself into this analysis paralysis place. After a while, maybe after a good nap even, that analysis oftentimes sorts itself out, and I feel that I intuitively know the right answer, and will feel it when I need to, even if I can't put my finger on it right away.
To get over that paralisis you have to get used to adrenaline. It's hwlped me a lot. I example: I KNOW how it feels to fall from a considerable height, but choose to climb The 5 meter ladder at my job cause I have to get my job done. Or to help others who simply can't go up there.
I don't agree fully because sometimes as an INFP i have acted from an impulse because I was upset. So taking a risk didn't matter to me in that moment or consequence. And with introverted feeling it is very hard to deal with those feelings sometimes. For example, after a bad day at work I wanted to drink more alcohol and acted on that impulse.
@Jen Wade , yeah, I think when it comes to basic things we are familiar with like drinking or self indulgence, Fi gives in to what it wants and ignores consequences. When I try to make decisions around something that I consider to be significant, I find I get stuck in trying to determine "the best" option, and I often choose what seems safer.
I always wonder how, when confronted by a crisis or situation of potential imminent danger, I invariably revert to what I call my "safety mode mindset" where I automatically put aside all emotion and become extremely pragmatic and analytical, with the sole objective of solving the crisis at hand. Once the problem has passed I feel exausted, and all my emotions rush back in.
I think it’s because when we’re not healthy our strengths get out of control and out of balance with our other cognitive functions. One of our strengths is looking for possibilities. When this strength runs away with itself it turns into overthinking, anxiety and lack of concentration.
I stayed in my room for around 8 years from around 25 years old to 33 years old riddled with Anxiety, Panic Attacks, over thinking etc... There are ways out you just need to come to certain realizations. I am 40 now with hope and optimism for the future. Would've loved to understand and feel this way earlier in my life but that wasn't in my cards. It could be in yours though. :)
@@KevinRichardson444 I also stayed locked up for 5 years from 15 to 20 It has affected my self esteem and now I am worried because I have to do an internship and need to trust myself that I can do the job.
1:50 Fi is more cognitively proactive (introspection, disengagement, imagination, preconception) than reactive (exploration, engagement, research, perception). Not in the behavioral sense of having high initiative, but rather internalizing thought before externalizing energy.The tendency is to conceptualize the external world more than interact with it. 4:00. Fi lends a logical style which is much more attach than detaches. The INFP philosophizes, researches, creates as a means of self-expression and self-actualization. 4:30. INFPs have fluid identity. If you know who you are (static identity), you are more likely not an INFP. 5:10 The INFP's strengths lies not in a static, unyielding self-concept, but rather an identity that it fluid over time. Tendency to struggle to render their identity static enough to even fit within a niche of society. INFP's self is constantly reformulating; cementing identity into a constant is challenging for this type. 7:00 INFP tends to be hyperaware of consequences. Can lead to analysis paralysis. So if you're often carried away in the heat of the moment, completely overriding predictive capacity, to just see what happens - it's unlikely you're INFP. 11:00 The divergent thinking style of the INFP lends a preference for research over conjecture. Tends to observe logic, more than creating it.
Based on what several people have said, I just have to add ... I thought I was the only one who struggled so much with wanting to be fifty different things, with fifty different bodies, so I could try them all out ... I saw in another comment section: "Jack of all trades, master of none." Kinda hurt. lol I was a horrible sscience and math student in school, though I did well with geometry, and logic and statistics. Algebra and I did not get along! I have loved science since I was pretty young, but again, never did very well in those classes. My best subjects were languages (English, Spanish, and currently Biblical Hebrew), Bible, and music. I once took a career test online. I can't remember the name of it ... Three things came up: helping people at the top. Analysis was at the bottom... even though I thought I was pretty analytical.
@@CognitivePersonality This made me chuckle! :) I wonder why geometry and logic/stats were so much fun? Other than the fact that I love shapes and spacial things--odd for a blind person, I suppose, but that's quite all right with me, I like being different.
Great video, and so accurate. As an INFP, I'm sick of the "they have no sense of logic" comments from people who act as if we just walk in front of cars because we can't understand stop signs or something (or don't 'feel' like stopping). I score as INTP all the time (and INTJ?), but it entirely depends on the questions they ask, along with their particular definitions of the functions. I can get 39% on the 16 personalities test, then score 56% on another. Usually it's around 51/49% (high in Ti and Te). The"analysis paralysis" is also so true. I sometimes just can't make a decision because all these other things could possibly happen, even though logically I know the probability of each scenario occurring. When I listen to your descriptions of INFPs however, never have I been so suddenly aware of the way my brain works, and it's terrifying so thank you for that. Freakishly accurate. Your other videos are great for giving much more depth to the characters I write. It suddenly makes everything a lot clearer and helps me predict their actions and their relationships/interactions with other characters. I don't know how often you receive comments about that, but thank you for doing these videos. It's weird going back to books or TV shows that I love like LoTR and being able to see how their personality types influence everything they do, even if the writers didn't consciously have this in mind.
I've thought that before, in consternation, not understanding why they truly upset me sometimes with their seeming allergic response to hard logic. But after listening to this, I'm wondering if what's bothering me is that they sometimes insist that fluidity or continual flux is a desirable, natural state for the individual.
@@LadyIarConnacht I really hope this rambling makes sense, but It really depends what you're defining as "logic" I suppose. Sounds simple, but everyone seems to a different perception of what it actually means, so it's unclear from person to person. Sherlock's "deductions" aren't really deductions for example, deductions are based on fact (therefore "logical"). He uses 'inductive' reasoning, which is abstract thinking and a trait that's typical of INxPs (or Ne users in general). To an INFP, the "logical" course of action is to take in every possibility and perspective and not jump to one conclusion without having enough data to back it up. They intake and observe patterns, and they don't immediately assume anything definitively. Once they've noticed a consistent pattern, then they'll adopt that as part of their process and stick to it loyally, without wavering. Going by that description, that seems awfully close to the scientific method. It's not that they're unsure of anything, it's that it would be illogical not to allow for the possibility they could be wrong. They're extremely loyal to ideas that they've identified to be true, because they've went over them over and over again in their head to make sure they make sense to them. They tend to be very effective decision makers and efficient thinkers too. Their tendency toward abstract thinking doesn't mean they're any less able to perceive the concrete. Don't get me wrong, INFPs can just be complete morons. They need to be grounded every now and then to prevent this from happening. INFPs are just as likely as INTPs to go into science, and they have similar SAT scores (both technically having the highest scores), and INP types often become theoretical physicists or write sci-fi. The misconception comes from "logical" types thinking they possess some superior form of logic just because they value it more overall (which everyone does or they would die, but whatever). Basically yeah, being an abstract or concrete thinker says absolutely nothing about intelligence at all, neither does being a thinking or feeling type. I like being more balanced, and in many ways to me that's far more logical. Look at Elon Musk. Brilliant, clearly, but an absolute moron. The dreamers need the realists to stay grounded, and the realists need the dreamers to get off the ground. EDIT - Apparently, editing a comment gets rid of the heart. Oops. Makes sense though.
@Aug 99 It's a bit weird. When it comes to dancing, creating artwork, playing instruments, martial arts etc. they can be really great (especially when stressed). Outside of their interests though? Not so much lol. If you believe in or go by the 4 sides of the mind theory, they do have that ISTP superego. That and as Ne-Si users, we can learn to do anything with enough practice. Totally agree. Another equally harmful stereotype is that thinkers cannot have feelings or be empathetic, which of course is nonsense. This is when typology is used to force people into a box or dismiss them (like certain TH-camrs), and it should be about understanding. All types are fundamentally important to society, no type is better than another. Everybody uses every function, these are only our preferences/defaults. They aren't even necessarily our strongest functions. Thanks for enjoying my random trivia also lol.
Wow, this is the most accurate (and least annoying) description of me I've ever heard. The constant stereotyping of INFPs as hippies who float around in a self-absorbed daydream have been so confusing because I'm not like that at all, yet in terms of cognitive functions I knew I couldn't be any other type. It's funny that a video about not being an INFP finally explained to me the specific things that made me doubt. Instant subscribe!
Life as an INFP can be exhausting. To an onlooker I may appear to be lazy and as if I lack motivation sitting in one spot for hrs at a time. However bringing home the gold in mental gymnastics requires a lot of energy. As I'm lying stationary my mind is exploring new concepts, ideas and touring different worlds. I can paint the most wonderful picture or conjure up a dystopian nightmare. The external world is one of many that I live in and I would not call it my "reality". This can make life often difficult to relate to most people. Sometimes all I want more than anything is to feel understood. I feel like you've done just that. Thank you for making this video!
Hold up.. so you’re telling me as an INFP, you can sit stationary and not lose track of ur thoughts? Personally (probably I am an isfp) I could never do that, I would lose and forget everything I was thinking of within a second. So you have a superpower it seems like
I’ve been torn between INFP and ENFP and this finally helped me decide I am more INFP. I think I am hyperactive because of adhd and mental illness and so I thought I was ENFP for a while since I could be a bubbly entertainer and a charming type at times. But still, I was more introspective in my own head and would spend hours in my imagination, reflecting on things. I’m a writer and need my solitude or I go crazy. I had an ENFP best friend and she was clearly an extrovert next to me. I still am bubbly when I’m happy and can be great at socializing, but my default is usually more passive and aloof and to myself, and I like being alone in my imaginative headspace or writing and reflecting.
I love how you articulate yourself with such precision. It's almost as if you intentionally express yourself in such a way that doesn't leave room for misinterpretation, and with such an organic flow as well. Very admirable indeed
I just have one clarification to make as an infp (I think) for anyone who may be confused; being secure in your identity and having a fluid identity are not mutually exclusive. The way I see it, identity is not what you will always be and have always been: it is who you are right now; nothing more, nothing less.
As an INFP, I tend to define myself more in terms of what I would or could be. But- I think this is another hallmark of the INFP- I also just spend way more time thinking about questions like "who am I?" than others do.
The bit about extraverted sensing was really on point. With the holidays coming up, people always talk about when they stopped believing in Santa Claus, and it made me realize that I didn't have that experience the same way some other people do. To me, the distinction between "real" and "imaginary" is really blurred. I recognize when things are part of consensus reality or not, but that doesn't much affect my value of those things, except in the moment I am experiencing them. So someone saying "Santa's not real" never really meant much because I wasn't relying on his external existence to lend the idea value. In that same way, Middle Earth feels as real to me as New Zealand, because I've only ever heard about both of them, even though I intellectually know that one of them is made up (like New Zealand could actually be *real*).
Keep believing! I do based on my own experience with 55 Christmases. Thanks to my sweet magical mother who continued to reinforce my belief even this last Christmas although CoVid19 took her from us Dec. 3, 2020. She passed the Santa’s Helper torch to me 3 decades ago. I have yet to see proof that Santa Klaus doesn’t exist. Mother taught me that Santa doesn’t show up to homes of non-believers. Although we were starving in poverty, that young single mother of 4, created the most memorable magical holidays. Her last holiday on earth was a Thanksgiving Zoom gathering as she lied intubated, and somewhat sedated. I rounded the entire family up to honor her the best I could. She amazingly had nuanced facial expressions customized per family member. Her legacy will live on in the magic of Santa✨❤️✨
Ooh, now that makes a lot of sense - I always, even as a small kid, could see the consequences of my actions. Not only the short term ones, but the long term ones too. This is why when turning 18 I proclamed myself an abstinent. For the longest time I couldn’t fanthom why people had the mindset of “I do this thing, because me tommorow will have to deal with the consequences, not me now”. Now I understand. It’s because as INFP I am more predesposed to have this ability.
I admire the fact that you go deeper into cognitive functions and explain how they interact with each other. I think that this video explained very well how the INFP mind works and how it processes information, without making us look like fragile innocent weirdos. Thank you so much for that.
when you said that Infps tend to have a fluid sense of identity I was relieved because all my life I always feel like I was never my authentic self I always try to just go with the flow like if I feel like writing I write but I doubt myself if this is really my thing and after a while I keep on contemplating about who I should really become. Should I become a writer? an artist? a health care practitioner? the point is that it almost feels like I wanted to explore and experience every bits of my interests and it gets so overwhelming that it just expands that weird empty feeling at the back of my head further making me insecure of my identity
"You're not an INFP if you know you are". So true, INFPs go through transformations and we're much more into Self-Actualization than we are focused on Self-Stillness. That is mostly due to Extraverted Intuition, we can't have Dogmas...
I’m confused because I feel like during different periods of my life, for a very long span of time, I go into either very intense extroversion or very intense introversion. This can happen for months or years at a time. I live a completely different life, see the world through a completely different perspective, almost like I’m two different people. Have you ever heard of something like this? What does this mean?
It is not in the least bit unusual for both introverts and extraverts to go through prolonged periods of isolation - whether the person is cognitively introverted hinges on how they spend that time alone. If your time alone is still largely 'engaged', with internal dialogue in shorter intense bursts, I would see cognitive extraversion is more likely. Such withdrawal is not always in response to trauma - some individuals just find interaction (whether internal or external) more 'true' and focused when absent the company of others :)
@@CognitivePersonality oh! Yeah, whenever I’m alone I usually just end up doing some activities and then suddenly I get the urge to let my emotions out and ramble to myself and then I stop and go back to whatever it is I’m doing. Is this what you mean? Also, I love your take on mbti. It’s just feels more realistic and like you’re focusing on the true essence of the types, it makes sense for you as an infj in my opinion.
@@nolor8397 I’m a ???? And when I’m stressed I become introverted and the older I get the more extroverted I become, but the introversion thing is because of trauma...?? Maybe?
Wow this may be the first video about INFPs that I've seen that talks about analytical ability! Really interesting to hear about from an INFP scientist :) So many of your points hit the nail on the head for how I function. It's always nice to hear that I'm not alone in the way my mind works, particularly after so many people questioning why I do things! Subscribed :)
Wow. This is the most in-depth, insightful video I've ever seen on my type. THANK YOU. I'll need to watch this again a few times because you talk faster than my brain can process so much new and interesting information.
I've always had strong emotions and I thought everyone was the same but better at managing their emotions, it turns out we are a powerhouse and should be proud of feeling so strongly and in my case I don't care if I'm likable as long as I feel good.
Conversely, I'd say 'you' INFPs are uniquely skilled at managing your emotions even if you do experience them strongly. I wish I had your level of emotional awareness. ENFJ
I'm pretty sure I'll be rewatching this particular video time and again as the years progress not only to learn more about the personality in context but also as a means to keep track and see just how far my English skills progresses too. I'm learning so many new words from this video alone and being a non native speaker trying to polish my hold on the language who's also keen in understanding this area of psychology better, it's truly a double blessing.
Honestly, not knowing oneself is really a problem. At one point in the video I realized how much of a fool I have been trying to convince myself that I have found myself somehow and know myself when in reality I am still searching, looking. Some times I'm not even sure what am I feeling, so as a way of helping myself I am just straight up being honest whenever someone asks me how I feel. "I'm not sure, but I know I'm not feeling my best." Being honest and open about my feelings right now even if it's jumbled up has helped me go through the sense of uncertainty.
Thank you for making this! It not only reaffirmed my identification as an INFP, but more importantly, reassured me that I'm not some sort of "odd" " or non-typical INFP. So thank you for creating this video. I'm happy to know that I'm not as much of an oddity as I previously thought. (edit: upon reflection, I realized I had written something closer to a lengthy diary entry than a proper review comment, so I decided to delete that long stream of consciousness that was my original post, and opted for simple brevity instead lol. )
This was incredibly deep and informative! Great video! I'd love to see a _"Signs you're not an INTP"_ video with similar depth of style and content as well
Now I surely feel like an INFP! the only nail you got on me is being opinionated, as I always try to formulate my own opinion on everything, I hate following masses, but I am extremelly averse to confrontation, specially logical confontation, I don't like to debate things I don't understand, I need my sources or I fall apart quickly. The most I can say is that I value my identity the most, I suffer from social anxiety and feel bad of showing myself and my interests off in public for shame of being shooed at. And still... I don't want to change to be in tune with what society accepts, I might be scared of how people see me but I WANT TO BE ME, whatever that "me" is. (Yes, I resonated with the being in constant instrospection actually wondering who i am, and what I really want). Nice video!
This is the exact, freaking MBTI content I’ve been craving. So advanced, function focused, and refreshing. Rare. Also your voice is amazing. Thank you. So so so much. P.S. I’m definitely still an INFP after this.
Is it INFP to be reading the comments hoping the video will jst magically go into my brain whilst simultaneously worrying about if I’m getting the information but then continuing anyways-
As a non native speaker with no academic degree in English, I had to watch multiple times and use a dictionary (lmao) to actually understand what he says, but I'm not complaining cause it's so satisfying when someone has such a developed vocabulary.
It's important to realize this is merely a model and that each type is just a little "ego cubicle", a chamber which can be transcended, a starting position. My default tendencies are inclined towards INFP, but the deeper I delve into introspection, the more I realize the functions are fluid, changeable, and therefore the types too. They are all interconnected; a part of a spectrum, and not somehow "separate", floating in the ether. When I do holotropic breathwork, I become so immersed and part of the world that the dichotomy between external/internal collapses. When an INFP realizes their imagination is as real as a coffee table, that's where the fun begins. This is an incredible video by the way. Thank you. You are incredible.
This is exactly the kind of reasoning that inspired me to create CPT - as you say, cognition is fluid and nowhere near as static as often made out to be. Thanks a lot :)
This has to have been one of the most elucidating videos about INFPs I have ever seen! I found your explanation of Fi dominance and fluid identity especially helpful, because quite a few descriptions of INFPs seem to to portray them as being extremely certain of their identity, desires, goals, values etc - which I could never really relate to. I definitely feel as if my identity tends to be more adaptable, according to the situations or people I find myself dealing with at that point in life. Sometimes, even the most casual of interactions with others cause me to completely question my perspective! I jotted down questions to ask myself during the first viewing of this, and would say I'm still allowing them all to percolate, before I make any firm conclusion about my type...(perhaps doing this is an indicator of Ne authority, trying to think through all the possibilities before making a decision?!). I think one reason why I related to your ISFP description is the way they're described as modelling their identity on archetypes, but I wonder...would an INFP be inclined to do the same, albeit with perhaps more than one archetype, person or artistic movement? For example, as a teenager, I would be obsessed with quite a few bands, authors, artists, TV series and such, and would borrow elements of all these things to shape my character. I had a great appreciation for certain subcultures' styles of dressing (like punk, or goth), but just couldn't commit to one style (and often ended up borrowing elements of each...with mixed results 🤣!): a disparate patchwork of oddness. In terms of divergent thinking, would say I relate to "outsourcing my logic to trusted and reliable sources". Mainly because I feel like I can't always TRUST my own logic, and need an objective opinion. I think it's also fair to say that I dip into Ti and Ni via Fi. Seems to make a lot of sense. 🙂 Anyway, sorry for rabbiting on again, to conclude it all: Thanks for offering this gleaming gem of enlightenment in my type journey - you're brilliant!
Thanks Gina, I was hoping you'd dig it! In comparing the INFP and ISFP there can be at first glance a paradox, in the sense that INFPs may spend more time in identity formulation than the theoretically more fluid Fi-Ni of the ISFP; the ISFP, by contrast, almost relies upon the archetypes mentioned in order to anchor their identity into a constant, but may nonetheless experience greater 'spikes' in identity fluctuation than the Fi-Si user. INFPs will absolutely model themselves on archetypes, but often in a more playful and less all-consuming way - the transformation of the ISFP can be so all consuming as to be almost invisible to the subject. Thank you as always!
That's interesting to hear. On one hand, I do care about what labels are put on me and about generally feeling feminine instead of being part of archetypes I associate with masculinity (not that there's anything wrong with people in those archetypes). At the same time, I wouldn't say it's my main way of expressing myself the way language is. Maybe that's a part of the difference. I can certainly relate to uncertainty in determining type despite knowing myself pretty well subjectively...I've seen bits and pieces of INFP, ISFP, ISTJ, INTJ, INTP, and ISTP in myself! I also used to mistype as an INFJ by unreliable online tests! At times, it was as if some of the type possibilities were like game show contestants that wouldn't actually leave for good after being symbolically eliminated. Anyway, great video and great comments and responses! :)
@@AmyMarie1992 I like your analogy of the other type possibilities being like game show contestants who refuse to leave - think I recognise that feeling!
My hubbie is the INTP's INTP. Our conversations are interesting in that I am compelled to always look at all sides as if they were equal and he is driven to put forth his own conclusions. It's not that I believe one side or another but that I feel no conversation is complete without consideration of all arguments. He often accuses me of siding with the idiots and I have to reassure him that my own opinions have nothing to do with the topic. However, he is dead set on others acknowledging the "facts" and I am constantly saying that there is no Truth, only working theories and I value his opinion as an expert more than those who are only voicing the current rage. I feel often that I have to constantly battle to not be confined to some perspective or opinion. Yours is the first video that I have seen that explains this adequately. I often have to say that I am not voicing my opinions, only voicing the complete argument! I also liked the way in which you explained the "coming to know yourself" through creative expression which I find drives the engine. It is almost a form of meditation, the doing becomes the person, the person the doing. I always am baffled by people who say "I am such and such" when to say anything of the sort seems, well, sort of unjust to the internal being. The being is undefined, a thread of possibilities and I am very content not defining, but trusting in the strong internal guide. It's like always knowing where north is like a compass, but never having to say "I am going north." Excellent video. Nice to meet someone of your intellect as well.
Thank you for talking about how INFPs can be interested and successful in science! I'm a huuuge biology nerd and all I ever hear when it comes to jobs is "well you're an INFP, you should become an artist or psychologist" like... no thanks I'll go look at cells in a microscope thank you very much
I guess the whole point is learning to discover and embrace the awesomeness about it as we grow up and break through the eternal struggle. Work in progress...
@@AudioEpics I think about 35 is the golden age for INFPs, just takes us awhile to get there , we're late bloomers but that's when we really develop our inferior TE and learn how to balance our emotions if we're healthy
I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this beautiful video. I'm genuinely overwhelmed at how understood I feel right now. I kept pausing and rewinding to reflect. I was especially intrigued by what you said about causality, hyper-awareness and observation. I thought it was just because I grew up in a very unstable family that I would be very observant and overthink the series of events my actions cause, and what other peoples actions would cause, that it's now become a habit. But now I know it's more than a habit, it's me, my personality.
Thanks for your comment :) Indeed, many types can become attentive to causality via accrued experience, but the INFP tends to 'feel' it in an intuitive sense.
@@CognitivePersonality Thanks for the reply :) that's an interesting point. I'll keep that in mind and pay attention in the future to see if it's coming from a place of intuition or not.
I identified with a lot of this. "An attached logic" would be a good way to put it. I can't wrap my head around being detached from my feelings, values or logic, really. It's like a big stew of intersectionality I can't separate. Regarding identity, I've said this before but I feel I have a foundational identity that doesn't change, but very few things go into that box. Some beliefs go in there, but then I have a "secondary" identity that floats on top that is ever evolving. I think when INFPs say "I know who I am", its perhaps because we trust this process more and don't question the evolution still being "the journey of us". This is probably because we are not detached from it like some other types. I suppose if one was more detached, it would be easier to say "what is identity" because you'd be outside looking in, but we are not. We definitely have trouble with forging a definite identity within society though at times, yes. I wanted to be 50 different things by age 25 and probably married 20 different people inside my head and led 20 different lives, so you saying this can be true. This Ne authority thing you spoke of and how it relates to weak Se, I could also identity with. Yep, my dad is ISTJ and typed INFP once and I was like, you've got to he kidding me. Lol nope. I also consistently tested as a J type as you mentioned here, mostly INFJ and occasionally INTJ so the J/P thing is definitely misleading until people study it.
Thanks Melanie! I love how you described the dominant Fi dialogue - 'I know who I am' as an expression of comfort with the journey in question is a great way of putting it! Hehe yes I am often surprised when ISTJs mistype as INFP :) Hope all is well.
I relate so much. I know who I am, even if I change through the years. There's this core of who I am that remains. When a friend has said to me, "takek the emotions out of this," I've felt like yelling, "I can't!" I can think past emotion--it took years and years to get to this point--but I can't turn them off. I feel, and that's all there is to it. It's how I choose to act based on those feelings that is, in my opinion, key.
@@melinaa0703 It's refreshing that people can relate to this because more often than not, I feel like people identify more with not understanding or being in touch with their feelings. When an Fi dom keeps hearing this narrative over and over, it can make them feel very alone and like everyone is floating around out there more detached from their feelings and it all just gets hard to understand after a while. Good to know "I'm not the only one".
INFP biologist here- the last bonus points were SO spot on! Though I have my own strong opinions, I rarely participate in logical debates that aren't related or have personal value to me, I do like observing forums and debates of others though. That being said, that last point is something I've always noticed about myself - for me to exercise logic I'd have to outsource to reliable sources first-hand, I am always looking stuff up before I formulate my logic on something, it's like I can't create my own logic on the spot?
It took a couple tries to get the gist of this, but thank you for laying things out. I especially appreciated the description of how we gather information and can easily understand consequences of different options of action, without our own opinions overly blinding us. Also how the concrete world is somehow just beyond our grasp... which lends itself well to appreciating surrealism and outside the box thinking and creativity. Finally, thank you for underlying the logic aspect of our personality. I feel that is underrated in our personality type.
I test consistently as an INTP but still have recently spent time wondering if I'm a mistyped INFP. The "identity" concept you discussed was very interesting to me because this is what I realized: I spend vast amounts of time wondering WHAT I am, and almost no time wondering WHO I am. Maybe I really am an INTP. Or at least, not an INFP.
@@myewzek2913 Hey. Not so much biology but existence itself, although I believe science can provide some answers to my questions. Questions like, why do I exist at all? Is there some purpose? What is the definition of life vs. non-life? Am I "in" the universe (like a visitor or outsider) or an animate part OF the universe? What is the meaning of "I" and what separates me from other beings? Hopefully this makes some sense. BTW, all of these questions relate more to ALL living things, and not so much to ME specifically. I consider myself to be just one example of a "living thing". It's not personal.
@@farrahupson oh ok so philosophy. I get it now. I don’t think intps have the tendency to like that, but hey, to each their own ig. Usually when I see INTPs (who like philosophy) talk about philosophy, it’s more focused on sociology and psychology and history. You’re stuff seems more like an Ni thing to me, maybe try looking at xNFJs? Could just be a real deep INTP though lol
16personalities is not a good metric of self-typing. They are almost always inaccurate and hand out intuitive results like candy. Just watch the video yo..
idk if i’m ENFP or INFP bc i’m not extroverted or introverted. i enjoy hanging out with people and i’m pretty outgoing. but most days i’d still much rather say home lol
I’m going to be honest with you: when I watched your video comparing and contrasting the INTP and INFP, I was confused on which one I truly was. I’m incredibly grateful you made this video because it explained the nuances and contradictions of the INFP very well and answered questions I had as I continued watching. I can say with much more confidence than before that I really am an INFP. Yay! :D
My only reservations about typing myself an INFP before watching this: the identity crises I tend to have and my hesitation to prescribe to opinions, often considering a plethora of possibilities My reservations after watching this: none, it all describes me well.... honestly it’s astounding how accurate it is Thank you for this thorough video; it gave me clarity.
Im starting to study physics and everywhere i was seeing that infps arent good at sience and more good at art... that’s why i was unsure about actually being an infp... but maybe i am one
Lara I am also very into science! I finished computer studies, I think the view of INFP on the net is stereotyped. I love just everything that can be analyzed "how it works" I am an addict :-)
It can really change ones world to understand the concepts around us. It’s fascinating, but also very open, because of all the things that are not really known yet
I also think that a lot of people are mistyped as INFP, including ISFPs. I had an ISFP friend who typed as INFP on the 16 personalities test. She's super artsy, so I can see how a lot of ISFP's may type as INFP. Lots of people tend to type as INFP as he mentioned. I'm INFP and I love art, but I'm not good at creating it myself, but I can envision it and appreciate good art. I'm better with writing and deeply digesting information to understand. I am in the health field and I love social, psychological, metaphysical, philosphical type sciences which I think a lot of INFPs tend to be drawn to.
Being an INFP with a mental illness that causes impulsivity and risk taking is exhausting. I'm hyper aware of the consequences of my actions but struggle to prevent my impulsive decision making. If anything the fluidity of my identity and the constant need to know more about myself encourages my actions because the decisions I make and how I handle the consequences gives me something to think about later in terms of what those things say about me as a person.
Wow! Extraordinary explanation. Your explanation on fluid actualization was spot on. I’ve always felt dissociated with myself, as if I can see a different ethereal branch of myself throughout the years. I know that it’s me, per se, but I know that something has changed or shifted in me. Also your explanation regarding logical sequential interpretation is brilliant. I will still actively pursue some event Even if I understand the full logical, albeit, negative ramifications. To have our muddled and complex brain explained so thoroughly is a gift. I wonder if there’s some aspects of adhd to our INFP brain?
I always thought I had the inattentive type of ADHD, and when I discussed this with my psychiatrist and therapist, they both agreed with me. But since researching MBTI, and especially INFP, I keep thinking all those traits are just part of being an INFP and maybe I don't have ADHD after all. Or maybe I'm a totally different personality type, but actually DO have ADHD, which might make me THINK I'm an INFP. I'm so confused and it's honestly been driving me mad these past few weeks. 🤪 I tried looking up the cognitive functions as well (spent hours upon hours reading about them and trying to figure them out) but they just confuse me even more. Sigh.
this was an absolutely amazing video, thorough, clear, understandable, and also your voice is soothing too :) this helped me confirm that i am in fact an infp, because sign three, you don't know who you are, really hit the nail on the head for me. another one that was important was sign one, i am much more introspective and my thoughts are in my head and usually stay in my head, although writing and playing violin help me express. it's a lot harder for me to write my feelings down, i want to deliberate through thought, and when i do write i end up thinking about what i write, going down a thought rabbit hole, and never finishing anything. at one point i paused and just thought about what you said, and everything made so much sense! it's been a little hard to type myself, but now i'm pretty sure that i'm an infp. thank you so so much!!
Thank you for this interesting video. As an INFP I'm often annoyed by the prejudice that we pull our own theories out of mid-air and never do any research, that we have a kind of naive open-mindedness that allows anyone to make us believe pretty much anything. I think it's very important to have tangible arguments for my beliefs grounded in research, preferably elaborate written articles or books before short videos or blogs.
Wow, I haven’t felt being exposed this much for a very long time. You just casually explained what I experience daily but always fail to put into words. This is incredible.
Me: watching yet another video on "why you're not an INFP" hoping to be a different type. Also me after 12 mins: *crying in tears* "I'm damned to be here". :D P.S. Good video, everything is so spot on! Especially signs 3 and 4. Keep up the good work.
@@mehwhatever695 to be honest, I agree with you and wouldn't change my type for anything. It is just "typical" portrait of an INFP - a sad out-of-this-world guy with a great imagination and a big heart - which looks depressing but at the same time kind of true. Or maybe it's just me :)
@@SmArT16rus I once try to live as an ISFJ (by staying more in present, focusing only of what should be doing next and being realistic)and tbh...my world has never been grayer. This world was so mundane and all I felt in my life back then was just wake up and eat and sleep again in cycle 😂 I'm sorry ISFJs, I love you guys but your way of interacting with this world is...something so I better stick around being an INFP
@@mehwhatever695 I do wonder if life would be easier being a different type, but damn, I think INFPs are awesome! We really enjoy the wonders of life and being human. We think and feel so deeply. I can’t see life being worth it if we didn’t embrace all of the human experience on that level. Imagine how boring life would be if we just went through motions??
I'm an INTJ female and was initially mistyped INFP, and after listening to this I have a much deeper respect for my INFP best friend and INFPs, period. Thank you for always looking out for me based on all the potential consequences that you intuit, even when I am still too independent to listen to your warning 😂❤🌷
This was easily the best I have ever heard it described and it explains so much. I literally went into this going “I’m probably not an infp I’m not really sure” ☠️
Analysis paralysis and not knowing myself. I couldn’t have explained myself more clearly. I guess I really am an INFP. I’m always doubting myself and my identity because I’ve never felt like I’ve been able to pin myself down! Thank you!
I don't have a strong identity, I'm always searching, evaluating, throwing things out, chasing my sense of self. But that is the only point I can agree with here. I was torn between ISTJ and INFP, now it turns out I can be neither of these. Sigh. The search continues. :)
I have a close INFP friend and while we do tend to come to similar conclusions, her methods of getting there are far different than mine! This video is really informative to her inner processes :) Also, I mistyped as INFP when I first got into MBTI (that darn 16personalities website!!) but the more I learned about the theory the easier it was for me to realize that I was an ENTP, this video really highlights those differences!
@@coolamericano oh yeah we have known each other forever, we tend to have long rabbit-trail conversations that I don't really get to have with many people. I have learned a lot from her introspective nature and ability to cue into others feelings. She has really helped me to be more self-aware and accepting of my emotions
Being an INFP myself it’s honestly scary how many people are mistyped with INFP! I’ve noticed that it’s one of the most commonly mistyped, at least from what I’ve experienced
Finally, an explanation in what an INFP is not that made me realize that I truly am an INFP. Thank you for giving more substance to us than the standard "over idealistic, hypersensitive, cry about and apologize for nothing" ramble.
Me: an INFP
TH-cam: 5 signs you’re not an INFP
Just watching this to prove I’m really an INFP
Samee omgg, i like know im an infp but a part of me is like...... hmm lets see👀
Hah, an equally happy result!
Same X"D
Me, an INFP: 👀 I don't like being told who I am and who I'm not by someone else. But now I'm worried I've completely misunderstood and mistyped myself
And still not sure.
Me throughout the whole video : ah... I need to get a dictionary
Same. My head was spinning. Putting on captions helped
@@zemmie01 didn't help the fact that my native language isn't English
Yeah if he wants to reach a larger audience he should be using lay terms that are easier to understand
English is my native language but I was still searching up words haha
I thought i was the only one getting confused lol
As an INFP, I don't understand the romanticism around this type, that other types want to say they're that. I'm such an awkward weirdo who can't make longterm friends because I rub people the wrong way because I value honesty too much, analyze everything in to the dirt, and am generally weird.
Same 🥴. Spent my whole life wishing I wasn’t me.
For sure!
heads up, at least you get a really great picture, when you fill out the test at the beginning :D always when i did the test I was so joyful at the end because of the picture :D
yes
As an INFP I approve of this message🥲
Being an Infp, I think of myself as kind of dumb but kinda smart at the same time😌😂
I don't think any type should ever see themselves as dumb :)
IKR SAME
Yes!!!!! It's like I am so worried I don't know so many things, so I always keep learning new things but there are still so many things I don't know and feel inadequate if I don't know them
@@cymjeff92 i 👏can 👏 relate 👏
Not "dumb" per say, but less academically intellectual. Like, I think I'm a smart enough person to enjoy classic literature and form reasonable opinions and philosophize. Smart enough to pass math class and enjoy a historical documentary, and hold a stimulating religious or political discussion/debate with my friends/family. But not really an Einstein. Chemistry will reduce me to tears, without fail. And I'm also acutely aware that I can come across as a total ditz when I'm just In A Mood™.
Just spent 12 minutes of my life understanding nearly nothing he said
signs you’re an infp
🤨 I’m an INFP and I understood what he said.. and the most important thing is he confirmed that I’m an INFP! 😉
Thank god someone said this TT
Hes like my math teacher who just assumes we are all intelligent enough to understand all them fancy words...some of us are dumb we NEED explanations ;-;
@@vainvoid4469 Not understanding something means you're an INFP?
for some reason as an INFP i can have a mental breakdown over the fact that i can’t do a task and then when i do it i’m immediately like “omg i’m so cool and smart 🤪💅”
[i’m in this picture and I don’t like it]
is this just me like-😭
Same-
OMG same
BYE- I’m literally this comment 🏃♂️
I've tried to watch this a couple times,
But space off into my own thoughts every time.
Hmmm.
Heh :)
I've gotten in my own thoughts while watching this video worrying that I'm not one now 😂
Sounds pretty xnfp to me
Yeaaaaaaa
I did the same thing. I'm trying not scrutinize and understand big I'm really this type and my mind is just wandering off.
I think a lot of my struggle/pain comes from the fact that I WANT to know who I am. I want to be strictly defined, rigid, certain, unchanging, but that’s not in my nature. So it’s like I’m waging a battle against my own nature.
The only place that I feel I really am not 'waging a battle against my own nature' is in the 'comments' sections of INFP videos ... !
This is such a problem 😂
@@nozecone Hahaha exactly!!!
I FEEL THE SAME WAY
You don't really you just like the IDEA of it. If you were, you would feel trapped and not yourself. Just go with the flow and take it all in. Also, Journaling helps. 😎
I came into this video thinking I might not be an INFP........left with more proof why I am an INFP 😭
Fantastic!
same lmao
I love being an infp for i know the world whilst i have the advantage of the world not knowing me!
@@allmusicplays wow how poetic....I feel the same way!!
Not a bad thing...
The fluid identity one really hit the nail on the head. I’ve probably spent my entire life trying to figure out who I am and the more I try to, the more confused I get. I don’t feel like I belong in society because how can others understand me if I don’t understand myself.
Same
Same also. Marginalised INFPs unite!
It hurts sometimes for me. Because one of the criticisms I get the most from people I've tried to get close to is that I am "too mysterious" or that "they dont get who I am". I am sorry, but I cant help you there, as I am in the same boat as you are.
Same with me..
😍
The more I try to educate myself about mbti, the more I get confused about my own type :')
It's a rabbit hole :)
@@CognitivePersonality oh it sure is :')
Same here, I identified myself with ENFP, ENTP, ENFJ, INTP, INFJ and INFP since I'm into mbti and I still don't know my type lol
@@AlexAnder-ri8ns that's the types that I could relate to as well, recently though, I started feeling pretty sure that I am an ENFP... It just makes sense with how I behaved ad a child, etc.
I wish you good luck and lot's of fun on your journey exploring MBTI! :)
Speak dear friend. I get nothing
so the fact that i always question my identity to the point of checking all the time if i am actually an infp... is PART of being an infp 😭
anyways thank you so much for this video... keep them coming!!
My pleasure and thanks for the comment!
Okay this comment made me feel better because I have also been overanalyzing this now 😂😂
Definitely questioning this after watching the video 😂😭 the struggle
@@jenwade9683 rightt😭
I hate making schedules because I know that there is always the possibility that they could change or something more important could come up, and it drives my mom crazy.
I think that you're probably the only youtuber who actually explaind what an INFP is properly. This I can definitely relate to. No misconceptions for once, I can see myself here.
I have the honour of having many good INFP friends, a fact that probably helped the contents of the video! Cheers, this is great to hear :)
@@CognitivePersonality
That's definitely amazing, but so is your delivery. 🤝🏼
@@riammy9825 LOL
@@t5396
You alright?
Aye GRIS!
~ fellow INFP
As a INFP, I actually don't understand why some people like this type, I really don't have friends and I was bullied for being like this in my childhood, then, this become a trend, i feel confused
All types can have a hard time in the right circumstances.
@@CognitivePersonality totally agree with you
INFPs are bullied a lot and many people don't like us as well..
When this became a trend i am still getting a lot of hate for nothing
@@efeucar48 in TikTok, they say this type is the sweetest and cute, but in reality we're all fucked up xd
English is my second language and he is way too intelligent for me to understand... I don't understand these tough words and vocabs ;_;
I still watched the full video though...
english is my first and only language and the words were a bit tough for me too ahah
It's just his accent
He is speaking pretty quickly, and using big words. I can barely understand him at times, but that's because of his accent!
For real. All these "cognitive" and "reactivity"
I'm curious, what's your first language?
I don't know why I'm watching this video...I know I'm not an INFP...guess I just enjoy listening to you explaining things 🤔
I appreciate it :)
Plus, you never know when you might run into an INFP!
@@CognitivePersonality That's true...and then I can make sure that they are who they say they are...I wont take any assumptions in no shape or form 😁
Same for me, only that I know that I am an INFP lol (or actually, maybe I after all am still not sure about it haha)
@@CognitivePersonality So true. My husband and I had been married for several times before we realized that lots of our struggles were tied to the fact that we were both INFP-Ts. We have suspicions about some people being INFPs too but as an outsider, you can never be certain about another person's MBTI profile.
I'm an INFP and this has got to be the best grasp of INFP I've ever heard. Please do more INFP content!
Thank you and I certainly will!
Yea I got some good insight
I agree 1000%!!!
This man is incredibly difficult for me to follow. I don't know wtf it is but I keep drifting off into my own thoughts trying to listen to him.
hes got a nice, calm, quiet voice that personally doesnt keep my adhd brain stimulated enough. but also i see a lot of others saying the same thing bdhdbdjbd
Thanks for the feedback!
@@CognitivePersonality very nice and calming voice 100% just gotta make sure to watch on a day my brain lets me focus hdhdjbdkf
His voice is very monotone.
I've fallen asleep twice on different videos! lol
My most used reply to everything is "Well yes, but actually no." or "I agree but I also disagree". It really annoys the hell ou of people. 😂
Dude I love this guy. He actually separates stereotypes from facts. The stereotypes annoy me so much and have made trying to understand what type I am harder. Thank you.
Definitely I spent 2 whole days studying Myers brigs cuz of the stereotypes
my vocabulary has gone so downhill that you made me forget i spoke english
AHAHAHAHAHAH I SWEAR 😂😂😂
Seriously😭😭
I've been thinking I'm an INFP, but the main thing that was making me second guess was the assertion that INFP know themselves. I feel like I don't know myself at all. lol
Heh, exactly!
I used to think that too but in the last year or couple month actually (to me it happened a lot during the crisis after all - or at least there were a couple of experiences I had to make that lead me to some realizations) - well I started to connect all the little things I already knew about but didn't understand in the big picture. If I think about it I changed drastically in the last months even tho you might not see it cause I'm introverted after all lol. Anyways what I am trying to say is that only because you feel right now like you don't know yourself doesn't mean you won't be able to change that impression in like almost no time without even realizing it and then suddenly you have a crazy moment in that you look back and start to understand.
:)
What do you mean? He said exactly the opposite. If you know yourself in a static sense without much fluidity or transformation, then you're NOT an INFP. INFPs' identities are always in some state of transformation.
@@ayeshak6822 He said that one of the myths of the INFP is the idea that they know who they are. Yea, he talked about a fluid identity but in conjunction with their not having a static, rigid sense of identity.
but in 5:48 it says that if you know who you are then that means you are not an INFP, or am I just confused :0
I'm really glad that you said INFPs are one of the best types for science. There's a stereotype that we're the "artsy kind" and that's *the* field of work we excel at.
I personally want to go into researching space, particularly astrophysics. At the same time it does not mean I don't engage in art. I love writing poetry and am getting into Theatre. I paint, I draw. But I'm also drawn towards sciences and mathematics. I get comments like, "I don't think you would fit in science" or "I didn't think you were so intelligent" from people in real life. I enjoy "curating" things. It translated well into science.
It's stupid to treat science and Maths as cold and rigid but unfortunately that's how societies treat it. We desperately need that artistic quality of the INFP in teaching and exploring the subject. Compassion and empathy is of extreme importance in science - it directs what research is funded and what studies are done. Do we make weapons or tools? Do we discriminate or have equality? Are we caring enough to do research that helps climate change and other problems?
It gets lonely and boring in science and Maths when you have these dull creatures who don't have that heart for exploration and are unflinchingly stuck in their ways. I know this is rude but such boxes are made for fools to fit in.
same, I love drawing, painting and writing stories but I just dont see myself being on that career. I love saving animals that's why i decided to take the course of veterinary Medicine and when i told them that i am an infp they will always told me "wow, that's why your painting looks so great, why did u took vetmed? Is it your parents decision?" Like, it's my choice. It doesn't mean that I am an infp I should just stick on drawing and painting etc. But I love solving and science stuff. I just dont understand why they always underestimate me:(
@@hmp2483 Let them underestimate you and then blow their minds with your abilities haha
Maybe they science as a Thinker's realm, but medical, like vet work and psychology are Fi realms or, for the latter, INFJ.
Math is an ART! It is language. I think (i am not familiar with these terms as this research is new to me) this explains why i was told to be a writer from my best school subjects but wanted to be an astronaut and ended up getting a PhD in physics and astronomy. this was mind bending but so much fun! does that make me and INFP? i thought i was and ENTJ at the time but have definitely changed with age and experience. i frustrated my math teachers by intuitively 'guessing' the right answers and couldn't get high grades as i couldn't write out how i got to the answers. but when talking of multidimensions, i can see them. don't let others tell you what you 'should' be. follow that intuition!
What I can say is..... I love you! Finally, someone who understands!!
I am an infp. I love literature and art, but I also love astrophysics, mathematics, genetics...
I even majored in Mathematics! I am almost done with my degree, and I absolutely love it!
But I have some advices that might be helpful:
1. Believe in yourself and be strong, never let others discourage you.
2. Make your own choices and freely.
3. Be patient, and patient with yourself!
4. Don't be discouraged if you found that the world/environment/people are worse/harder than you thought, don't lose hope, and try to find what works for you.
5. Don't neglect yourself or lower your self value, and if you need time/rest/a break... then take it!
Those are some stuffs I learned through experience, so hopefully they could help you with your own journey.
Alright that's it... Have a nice day!
This video confirmed it. I'm 100% INFP. I always thought I was mistyped (or perhaps I wanted to be mistyped) because I was like "do I have strong ideals and morals? I don't know who I am; I'm always constantly searching for my own truth and self-identity."
Turns out, yes, that is what INFPs do. It's less about having a concrete, "this is me" identity and more about transforming and evolving sense of self over time and experience. Or, to be more cliche, it's more about the journey than the destination.
I don't know 99% of the terms he uses.
Same LMFAO
Yes to all. Hyperawareness of consequences and analysis paralysis leading to low risk taking is something I wish to change. You are so spot on! I know this is still just a theory, but your understanding of the intricacies is astounding. When listening to your analyses, it feels like more than a theory.
Thank you! It can certainly have its perks but, as always, balance is key :)
Cheers; it's certainly a theory built on case study so that helps me iron out empirical elements, and I'm currently making good steps aligning it with neuroscience - all that to say, it's coming along!
I personally find it helpful to mentally pause on the issue for a while if I get that feeling that I've got myself into this analysis paralysis place. After a while, maybe after a good nap even, that analysis oftentimes sorts itself out, and I feel that I intuitively know the right answer, and will feel it when I need to, even if I can't put my finger on it right away.
To get over that paralisis you have to get used to adrenaline.
It's hwlped me a lot. I example: I KNOW how it feels to fall from a considerable height, but choose to climb The 5 meter ladder at my job cause I have to get my job done. Or to help others who simply can't go up there.
I don't agree fully because sometimes as an INFP i have acted from an impulse because I was upset. So taking a risk didn't matter to me in that moment or consequence. And with introverted feeling it is very hard to deal with those feelings sometimes. For example, after a bad day at work I wanted to drink more alcohol and acted on that impulse.
@Jen Wade , yeah, I think when it comes to basic things we are familiar with like drinking or self indulgence, Fi gives in to what it wants and ignores consequences. When I try to make decisions around something that I consider to be significant, I find I get stuck in trying to determine "the best" option, and I often choose what seems safer.
I always wonder how, when confronted by a crisis or situation of potential imminent danger, I invariably revert to what I call my "safety mode mindset" where I automatically put aside all emotion and become extremely pragmatic and analytical, with the sole objective of solving the crisis at hand. Once the problem has passed I feel exausted, and all my emotions rush back in.
I would be really interested to know the connection between INFP and anxiety, and even ADHD
I think it’s because when we’re not healthy our strengths get out of control and out of balance with our other cognitive functions. One of our strengths is looking for possibilities. When this strength runs away with itself it turns into overthinking, anxiety and lack of concentration.
I stayed in my room for around 8 years from around 25 years old to 33 years old riddled with Anxiety, Panic Attacks, over thinking etc... There are ways out you just need to come to certain realizations. I am 40 now with hope and optimism for the future. Would've loved to understand and feel this way earlier in my life but that wasn't in my cards. It could be in yours though. :)
@@KevinRichardson444 I also stayed locked up for 5 years from 15 to 20
It has affected my self esteem and now I am worried because I have to do an internship and need to trust myself that I can do the job.
Definitely, lmao im pretty sure im on the Spectrum.
@@th3past92 I have an e-friend who's an INFP and says she meets the DSM-IV criteria for Asperger's.
I didn't really need anymore proof that I'm an INFP but I don't think I'd be here if I wasn't one either, lol.
Heh :)
Same
I'm mesmerized by his hand doing that wheel thing. I can't look away.
Haha
1:50 Fi is more cognitively proactive (introspection, disengagement, imagination, preconception) than reactive (exploration, engagement, research, perception). Not in the behavioral sense of having high initiative, but rather internalizing thought before externalizing energy.The tendency is to conceptualize the external world more than interact with it.
4:00. Fi lends a logical style which is much more attach than detaches. The INFP philosophizes, researches, creates as a means of self-expression and self-actualization.
4:30. INFPs have fluid identity. If you know who you are (static identity), you are more likely not an INFP. 5:10 The INFP's strengths lies not in a static, unyielding self-concept, but rather an identity that it fluid over time. Tendency to struggle to render their identity static enough to even fit within a niche of society. INFP's self is constantly reformulating; cementing identity into a constant is challenging for this type.
7:00 INFP tends to be hyperaware of consequences. Can lead to analysis paralysis. So if you're often carried away in the heat of the moment, completely overriding predictive capacity, to just see what happens - it's unlikely you're INFP.
11:00 The divergent thinking style of the INFP lends a preference for research over conjecture. Tends to observe logic, more than creating it.
Based on what several people have said, I just have to add ...
I thought I was the only one who struggled so much with wanting to be fifty different things, with fifty different bodies, so I could try them all out ...
I saw in another comment section: "Jack of all trades, master of none." Kinda hurt. lol
I was a horrible sscience and math student in school, though I did well with geometry, and logic and statistics. Algebra and I did not get along! I have loved science since I was pretty young, but again, never did very well in those classes. My best subjects were languages (English, Spanish, and currently Biblical Hebrew), Bible, and music.
I once took a career test online. I can't remember the name of it ... Three things came up: helping people at the top. Analysis was at the bottom... even though I thought I was pretty analytical.
Ah yes Alebra slides away from Te into Ti for sure. INFPs will seldom analyse for its own sake, so that definitely must be taken into consideration :)
@@CognitivePersonality This made me chuckle! :)
I wonder why geometry and logic/stats were so much fun? Other than the fact that I love shapes and spacial things--odd for a blind person, I suppose, but that's quite all right with me, I like being different.
Wow we're literally the same
This is me too situation. I feel weird like reading my own story.. Lol!
It's the exact same for me 😳
Great video, and so accurate. As an INFP, I'm sick of the "they have no sense of logic" comments from people who act as if we just walk in front of cars because we can't understand stop signs or something (or don't 'feel' like stopping).
I score as INTP all the time (and INTJ?), but it entirely depends on the questions they ask, along with their particular definitions of the functions. I can get 39% on the 16 personalities test, then score 56% on another. Usually it's around 51/49% (high in Ti and Te). The"analysis paralysis" is also so true. I sometimes just can't make a decision because all these other things could possibly happen, even though logically I know the probability of each scenario occurring.
When I listen to your descriptions of INFPs however, never have I been so suddenly aware of the way my brain works, and it's terrifying so thank you for that. Freakishly accurate. Your other videos are great for giving much more depth to the characters I write. It suddenly makes everything a lot clearer and helps me predict their actions and their relationships/interactions with other characters. I don't know how often you receive comments about that, but thank you for doing these videos. It's weird going back to books or TV shows that I love like LoTR and being able to see how their personality types influence everything they do, even if the writers didn't consciously have this in mind.
I've thought that before, in consternation, not understanding why they truly upset me sometimes with their seeming allergic response to hard logic. But after listening to this, I'm wondering if what's bothering me is that they sometimes insist that fluidity or continual flux is a desirable, natural state for the individual.
@@LadyIarConnacht I really hope this rambling makes sense, but It really depends what you're defining as "logic" I suppose. Sounds simple, but everyone seems to a different perception of what it actually means, so it's unclear from person to person. Sherlock's "deductions" aren't really deductions for example, deductions are based on fact (therefore "logical"). He uses 'inductive' reasoning, which is abstract thinking and a trait that's typical of INxPs (or Ne users in general). To an INFP, the "logical" course of action is to take in every possibility and perspective and not jump to one conclusion without having enough data to back it up. They intake and observe patterns, and they don't immediately assume anything definitively. Once they've noticed a consistent pattern, then they'll adopt that as part of their process and stick to it loyally, without wavering.
Going by that description, that seems awfully close to the scientific method. It's not that they're unsure of anything, it's that it would be illogical not to allow for the possibility they could be wrong. They're extremely loyal to ideas that they've identified to be true, because they've went over them over and over again in their head to make sure they make sense to them. They tend to be very effective decision makers and efficient thinkers too. Their tendency toward abstract thinking doesn't mean they're any less able to perceive the concrete. Don't get me wrong, INFPs can just be complete morons. They need to be grounded every now and then to prevent this from happening.
INFPs are just as likely as INTPs to go into science, and they have similar SAT scores (both technically having the highest scores), and INP types often become theoretical physicists or write sci-fi. The misconception comes from "logical" types thinking they possess some superior form of logic just because they value it more overall (which everyone does or they would die, but whatever). Basically yeah, being an abstract or concrete thinker says absolutely nothing about intelligence at all, neither does being a thinking or feeling type. I like being more balanced, and in many ways to me that's far more logical. Look at Elon Musk. Brilliant, clearly, but an absolute moron. The dreamers need the realists to stay grounded, and the realists need the dreamers to get off the ground.
EDIT - Apparently, editing a comment gets rid of the heart. Oops. Makes sense though.
I hate that stereotyping too! People keep relating Fi to emotions and it really throws everything off. Everyone has emotions! Fi isn't flippant.
Thank you so much! Big LOTR fan :)
@Aug 99 It's a bit weird. When it comes to dancing, creating artwork, playing instruments, martial arts etc. they can be really great (especially when stressed). Outside of their interests though? Not so much lol. If you believe in or go by the 4 sides of the mind theory, they do have that ISTP superego. That and as Ne-Si users, we can learn to do anything with enough practice.
Totally agree. Another equally harmful stereotype is that thinkers cannot have feelings or be empathetic, which of course is nonsense. This is when typology is used to force people into a box or dismiss them (like certain TH-camrs), and it should be about understanding. All types are fundamentally important to society, no type is better than another. Everybody uses every function, these are only our preferences/defaults. They aren't even necessarily our strongest functions. Thanks for enjoying my random trivia also lol.
Wow, this is the most accurate (and least annoying) description of me I've ever heard. The constant stereotyping of INFPs as hippies who float around in a self-absorbed daydream have been so confusing because I'm not like that at all, yet in terms of cognitive functions I knew I couldn't be any other type. It's funny that a video about not being an INFP finally explained to me the specific things that made me doubt. Instant subscribe!
Haha, many thanks!!
Life as an INFP can be exhausting. To an onlooker I may appear to be lazy and as if I lack motivation sitting in one spot for hrs at a time. However bringing home the gold in mental gymnastics requires a lot of energy. As I'm lying stationary my mind is exploring new concepts, ideas and touring different worlds. I can paint the most wonderful picture or conjure up a dystopian nightmare. The external world is one of many that I live in and I would not call it my "reality". This can make life often difficult to relate to most people. Sometimes all I want more than anything is to feel understood. I feel like you've done just that. Thank you for making this video!
My pleasure, thanks for the great comment!
Hold up.. so you’re telling me as an INFP, you can sit stationary and not lose track of ur thoughts? Personally (probably I am an isfp) I could never do that, I would lose and forget everything I was thinking of within a second. So you have a superpower it seems like
I’ve been torn between INFP and ENFP and this finally helped me decide I am more INFP.
I think I am hyperactive because of adhd and mental illness and so I thought I was ENFP for a while since I could be a bubbly entertainer and a charming type at times.
But still, I was more introspective in my own head and would spend hours in my imagination, reflecting on things. I’m a writer and need my solitude or I go crazy. I had an ENFP best friend and she was clearly an extrovert next to me.
I still am bubbly when I’m happy and can be great at socializing, but my default is usually more passive and aloof and to myself, and I like being alone in my imaginative headspace or writing and reflecting.
Thanks for the great comment!
Yes exactly! Same here! Everything you described is exactly how I have felt at times as an INFP with my personality, socializing and writing :)
Same
You might be an INFP-A
Thats good, me I am INFP but have features of ENFP, INTP and INFJ
I love how you articulate yourself with such precision. It's almost as if you intentionally express yourself in such a way that doesn't leave room for misinterpretation, and with such an organic flow as well. Very admirable indeed
I just have one clarification to make as an infp (I think) for anyone who may be confused; being secure in your identity and having a fluid identity are not mutually exclusive. The way I see it, identity is not what you will always be and have always been: it is who you are right now; nothing more, nothing less.
As an INFP, I tend to define myself more in terms of what I would or could be. But- I think this is another hallmark of the INFP- I also just spend way more time thinking about questions like "who am I?" than others do.
The bit about extraverted sensing was really on point. With the holidays coming up, people always talk about when they stopped believing in Santa Claus, and it made me realize that I didn't have that experience the same way some other people do. To me, the distinction between "real" and "imaginary" is really blurred. I recognize when things are part of consensus reality or not, but that doesn't much affect my value of those things, except in the moment I am experiencing them. So someone saying "Santa's not real" never really meant much because I wasn't relying on his external existence to lend the idea value. In that same way, Middle Earth feels as real to me as New Zealand, because I've only ever heard about both of them, even though I intellectually know that one of them is made up (like New Zealand could actually be *real*).
Thank you sharing + I appreciate the LOTR reference!
Keep believing! I do based on my own experience with 55 Christmases. Thanks to my sweet magical mother who continued to reinforce my belief even this last Christmas although CoVid19 took her from us Dec. 3, 2020. She passed the Santa’s Helper torch to me 3 decades ago. I have yet to see proof that Santa Klaus doesn’t exist. Mother taught me that Santa doesn’t show up to homes of non-believers. Although we were starving in poverty, that young single mother of 4, created the most memorable magical holidays. Her last holiday on earth was a Thanksgiving Zoom gathering as she lied intubated, and somewhat sedated. I rounded the entire family up to honor her the best I could. She amazingly had nuanced facial expressions customized per family member. Her legacy will live on in the magic of Santa✨❤️✨
Yeah but as INFP you wouldn't be so adamant about it
Ooh, now that makes a lot of sense - I always, even as a small kid, could see the consequences of my actions. Not only the short term ones, but the long term ones too. This is why when turning 18 I proclamed myself an abstinent. For the longest time I couldn’t fanthom why people had the mindset of “I do this thing, because me tommorow will have to deal with the consequences, not me now”. Now I understand. It’s because as INFP I am more predesposed to have this ability.
Thanks for commenting!
@@CognitivePersonality Thank you for explaining this topic so well!
I admire the fact that you go deeper into cognitive functions and explain how they interact with each other. I think that this video explained very well how the INFP mind works and how it processes information, without making us look like fragile innocent weirdos. Thank you so much for that.
Thanks for these words!
when you said that Infps tend to have a fluid sense of identity I was relieved because all my life I always feel like I was never my authentic self I always try to just go with the flow like if I feel like writing I write but I doubt myself if this is really my thing and after a while I keep on contemplating about who I should really become. Should I become a writer? an artist? a health care practitioner? the point is that it almost feels like I wanted to explore and experience every bits of my interests and it gets so overwhelming that it just expands that weird empty feeling at the back of my head further making me insecure of my identity
"You're not an INFP if you know you are". So true, INFPs go through transformations and we're much more into Self-Actualization than we are focused on Self-Stillness. That is mostly due to Extraverted Intuition, we can't have Dogmas...
This has just strengthened my identity as an INFP
Ohh a Lore Olympus fan.. love the series
The amount of times I’ve had to rewind this video 👁👄👁💧
I keep drifting off in my head, his voice is so calm 😥 I need someone to write me a list of the things hes saying
@@sindy14031998 same here I had to turn on the subtitles and stare intensely but even then I’d drift omg we’re too hilarious 😭
@@sindy14031998 same😂
@@emer4lds same lol I still haven't finished the video
Haha I'm glad I decided to make this one more concise then!
I’m confused because I feel like during different periods of my life, for a very long span of time, I go into either very intense extroversion or very intense introversion. This can happen for months or years at a time. I live a completely different life, see the world through a completely different perspective, almost like I’m two different people. Have you ever heard of something like this? What does this mean?
It is not in the least bit unusual for both introverts and extraverts to go through prolonged periods of isolation - whether the person is cognitively introverted hinges on how they spend that time alone. If your time alone is still largely 'engaged', with internal dialogue in shorter intense bursts, I would see cognitive extraversion is more likely.
Such withdrawal is not always in response to trauma - some individuals just find interaction (whether internal or external) more 'true' and focused when absent the company of others :)
@@CognitivePersonality oh! Yeah, whenever I’m alone I usually just end up doing some activities and then suddenly I get the urge to let my emotions out and ramble to myself and then I stop and go back to whatever it is I’m doing. Is this what you mean? Also, I love your take on mbti. It’s just feels more realistic and like you’re focusing on the true essence of the types, it makes sense for you as an infj in my opinion.
@@CloudHopper789 Yes exactly! And thanks :)
I am an INFP and when I am stressed I become intoverted. Also the older I get, the more introverted I become
@@nolor8397 I’m a ???? And when I’m stressed I become introverted and the older I get the more extroverted I become, but the introversion thing is because of trauma...?? Maybe?
Wow this may be the first video about INFPs that I've seen that talks about analytical ability! Really interesting to hear about from an INFP scientist :) So many of your points hit the nail on the head for how I function. It's always nice to hear that I'm not alone in the way my mind works, particularly after so many people questioning why I do things!
Subscribed :)
I appreciate the sub! :)
Thanks! I agree with everything :) infps as are far as possible from fluffy unicorn and cheap sentimentalism.
Thank you + agreed :)
I'm super tired of this misconception too.. it's the main reason why I'm here, because I always end up questioning my type because of it.
Wow. This is the most in-depth, insightful video I've ever seen on my type. THANK YOU. I'll need to watch this again a few times because you talk faster than my brain can process so much new and interesting information.
The more I dig in trying to know my true self, the more I’m getting confused 🤡
HOW FUN IS IT 🙃🙃
I’m an infp but I AM able to talk to people but I just hate it so much because I’m really awkward with it
7:42 I remembered how I written a poem last year when I still didn't know about mbti about how I feel disconnected from reality
Interesting
I've always had strong emotions and I thought everyone was the same but better at managing their emotions, it turns out we are a powerhouse and should be proud of feeling so strongly and in my case I don't care if I'm likable as long as I feel good.
Conversely, I'd say 'you' INFPs are uniquely skilled at managing your emotions even if you do experience them strongly. I wish I had your level of emotional awareness. ENFJ
I'm pretty sure I'll be rewatching this particular video time and again as the years progress not only to learn more about the personality in context but also as a means to keep track and see just how far my English skills progresses too. I'm learning so many new words from this video alone and being a non native speaker trying to polish my hold on the language who's also keen in understanding this area of psychology better, it's truly a double blessing.
That is so fascinating, and awesome to hear the video has provided this duality of benefits!
Honestly, not knowing oneself is really a problem. At one point in the video I realized how much of a fool I have been trying to convince myself that I have found myself somehow and know myself when in reality I am still searching, looking. Some times I'm not even sure what am I feeling, so as a way of helping myself I am just straight up being honest whenever someone asks me how I feel. "I'm not sure, but I know I'm not feeling my best." Being honest and open about my feelings right now even if it's jumbled up has helped me go through the sense of uncertainty.
this explains why i am most likely an INFP and also why i so often don’t relate to caricatured/exaggerated “flower child” type depictions of this type
Thank you for making this! It not only reaffirmed my identification as an INFP, but more importantly, reassured me that I'm not some sort of "odd" " or non-typical INFP. So thank you for creating this video. I'm happy to know that I'm not as much of an oddity as I previously thought.
(edit: upon reflection, I realized I had written something closer to a lengthy diary entry than a proper review comment, so I decided to delete that long stream of consciousness that was my original post, and opted for simple brevity instead lol. )
My pleasure! Regretfully I did not get to see said diary entry but I appreciate your brevity and kind words!
I feel like this made me more unsure though and now I'm questioning being an INFP. :/ I took three different tests too and all were INFP. 🙄
This was incredibly deep and informative! Great video! I'd love to see a _"Signs you're not an INTP"_ video with similar depth of style and content as well
5 Signs You're Not An INTP is definitely on its way!
Now I surely feel like an INFP! the only nail you got on me is being opinionated, as I always try to formulate my own opinion on everything, I hate following masses, but I am extremelly averse to confrontation, specially logical confontation, I don't like to debate things I don't understand, I need my sources or I fall apart quickly.
The most I can say is that I value my identity the most, I suffer from social anxiety and feel bad of showing myself and my interests off in public for shame of being shooed at. And still... I don't want to change to be in tune with what society accepts, I might be scared of how people see me but I WANT TO BE ME, whatever that "me" is. (Yes, I resonated with the being in constant instrospection actually wondering who i am, and what I really want).
Nice video!
Thanks for this comment!
Oh wow. This resonates, loudly! Thank you :)
True we do have our own opinions haha
And we always want to be true to ourselves
oh wow this is exactly me
This is the exact, freaking MBTI content I’ve been craving. So advanced, function focused, and refreshing. Rare. Also your voice is amazing. Thank you. So so so much.
P.S. I’m definitely still an INFP after this.
Is it INFP to be reading the comments hoping the video will jst magically go into my brain whilst simultaneously worrying about if I’m getting the information but then continuing anyways-
As a non native speaker with no academic degree in English, I had to watch multiple times and use a dictionary (lmao) to actually understand what he says, but I'm not complaining cause it's so satisfying when someone has such a developed vocabulary.
i’m an ISFP, but the amount of times i’ve been mistyped as an INFP is funny, lol.
great video, by the way!
Awesome! Thank you!
It's important to realize this is merely a model and that each type is just a little "ego cubicle", a chamber which can be transcended, a starting position. My default tendencies are inclined towards INFP, but the deeper I delve into introspection, the more I realize the functions are fluid, changeable, and therefore the types too. They are all interconnected; a part of a spectrum, and not somehow "separate", floating in the ether. When I do holotropic breathwork, I become so immersed and part of the world that the dichotomy between external/internal collapses. When an INFP realizes their imagination is as real as a coffee table, that's where the fun begins.
This is an incredible video by the way. Thank you. You are incredible.
This is exactly the kind of reasoning that inspired me to create CPT - as you say, cognition is fluid and nowhere near as static as often made out to be.
Thanks a lot :)
As an INFP, I keep reading the comments and getting distracted🤣. And I’m too lazy to rewind... *sighs *
This is incredible, by far the best INFPS description out there!
Glad you think so!
This has to have been one of the most elucidating videos about INFPs I have ever seen!
I found your explanation of Fi dominance and fluid identity especially helpful, because quite a few descriptions of INFPs seem to to portray them as being extremely certain of their identity, desires, goals, values etc - which I could never really relate to. I definitely feel as if my identity tends to be more adaptable, according to the situations or people I find myself dealing with at that point in life. Sometimes, even the most casual of interactions with others cause me to completely question my perspective!
I jotted down questions to ask myself during the first viewing of this, and would say I'm still allowing them all to percolate, before I make any firm conclusion about my type...(perhaps doing this is an indicator of Ne authority, trying to think through all the possibilities before making a decision?!).
I think one reason why I related to your ISFP description is the way they're described as modelling their identity on archetypes, but I wonder...would an INFP be inclined to do the same, albeit with perhaps more than one archetype, person or artistic movement? For example, as a teenager, I would be obsessed with quite a few bands, authors, artists, TV series and such, and would borrow elements of all these things to shape my character. I had a great appreciation for certain subcultures' styles of dressing (like punk, or goth), but just couldn't commit to one style (and often ended up borrowing elements of each...with mixed results 🤣!): a disparate patchwork of oddness.
In terms of divergent thinking, would say I relate to "outsourcing my logic to trusted and reliable sources". Mainly because I feel like I can't always TRUST my own logic, and need an objective opinion. I think it's also fair to say that I dip into Ti and Ni via Fi. Seems to make a lot of sense. 🙂
Anyway, sorry for rabbiting on again, to conclude it all: Thanks for offering this gleaming gem of enlightenment in my type journey - you're brilliant!
Thanks Gina, I was hoping you'd dig it!
In comparing the INFP and ISFP there can be at first glance a paradox, in the sense that INFPs may spend more time in identity formulation than the theoretically more fluid Fi-Ni of the ISFP; the ISFP, by contrast, almost relies upon the archetypes mentioned in order to anchor their identity into a constant, but may nonetheless experience greater 'spikes' in identity fluctuation than the Fi-Si user.
INFPs will absolutely model themselves on archetypes, but often in a more playful and less all-consuming way - the transformation of the ISFP can be so all consuming as to be almost invisible to the subject.
Thank you as always!
@@CognitivePersonality
I certainly dug it. And thanks for taking the time to reply! 😀
That's interesting to hear. On one hand, I do care about what labels are put on me and about generally feeling feminine instead of being part of archetypes I associate with masculinity (not that there's anything wrong with people in those archetypes). At the same time, I wouldn't say it's my main way of expressing myself the way language is. Maybe that's a part of the difference. I can certainly relate to uncertainty in determining type despite knowing myself pretty well subjectively...I've seen bits and pieces of INFP, ISFP, ISTJ, INTJ, INTP, and ISTP in myself! I also used to mistype as an INFJ by unreliable online tests! At times, it was as if some of the type possibilities were like game show contestants that wouldn't actually leave for good after being symbolically eliminated. Anyway, great video and great comments and responses! :)
@@AmyMarie1992 Thanks Amy!
@@AmyMarie1992
I like your analogy of the other type possibilities being like game show contestants who refuse to leave - think I recognise that feeling!
My hubbie is the INTP's INTP. Our conversations are interesting in that I am compelled to always look at all sides as if they were equal and he is driven to put forth his own conclusions. It's not that I believe one side or another but that I feel no conversation is complete without consideration of all arguments. He often accuses me of siding with the idiots and I have to reassure him that my own opinions have nothing to do with the topic. However, he is dead set on others acknowledging the "facts" and I am constantly saying that there is no Truth, only working theories and I value his opinion as an expert more than those who are only voicing the current rage. I feel often that I have to constantly battle to not be confined to some perspective or opinion. Yours is the first video that I have seen that explains this adequately. I often have to say that I am not voicing my opinions, only voicing the complete argument! I also liked the way in which you explained the "coming to know yourself" through creative expression which I find drives the engine. It is almost a form of meditation, the doing becomes the person, the person the doing. I always am baffled by people who say "I am such and such" when to say anything of the sort seems, well, sort of unjust to the internal being. The being is undefined, a thread of possibilities and I am very content not defining, but trusting in the strong internal guide. It's like always knowing where north is like a compass, but never having to say "I am going north." Excellent video. Nice to meet someone of your intellect as well.
Thank you for talking about how INFPs can be interested and successful in science! I'm a huuuge biology nerd and all I ever hear when it comes to jobs is "well you're an INFP, you should become an artist or psychologist" like... no thanks I'll go look at cells in a microscope thank you very much
Being an INFP is frickin awsome, embrace who you are INFPs, your beautiful
I guess the whole point is learning to discover and embrace the awesomeness about it as we grow up and break through the eternal struggle. Work in progress...
@@AudioEpics I think about 35 is the golden age for INFPs, just takes us awhile to get there , we're late bloomers but that's when we really develop our inferior TE and learn how to balance our emotions if we're healthy
I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this beautiful video. I'm genuinely overwhelmed at how understood I feel right now. I kept pausing and rewinding to reflect. I was especially intrigued by what you said about causality, hyper-awareness and observation. I thought it was just because I grew up in a very unstable family that I would be very observant and overthink the series of events my actions cause, and what other peoples actions would cause, that it's now become a habit. But now I know it's more than a habit, it's me, my personality.
Thanks for your comment :) Indeed, many types can become attentive to causality via accrued experience, but the INFP tends to 'feel' it in an intuitive sense.
@@CognitivePersonality
Thanks for the reply :) that's an interesting point. I'll keep that in mind and pay attention in the future to see if it's coming from a place of intuition or not.
I don't want to be an infp but I clicked on this video while being scared I may not be one
Interesting
@@CognitivePersonality I think it's because I hate being so different but I love being special...idk I'm weird
I identified with a lot of this. "An attached logic" would be a good way to put it. I can't wrap my head around being detached from my feelings, values or logic, really. It's like a big stew of intersectionality I can't separate.
Regarding identity, I've said this before but I feel I have a foundational identity that doesn't change, but very few things go into that box. Some beliefs go in there, but then I have a "secondary" identity that floats on top that is ever evolving. I think when INFPs say "I know who I am", its perhaps because we trust this process more and don't question the evolution still being "the journey of us". This is probably because we are not detached from it like some other types.
I suppose if one was more detached, it would be easier to say "what is identity" because you'd be outside looking in, but we are not.
We definitely have trouble with forging a definite identity within society though at times, yes. I wanted to be 50 different things by age 25 and probably married 20 different people inside my head and led 20 different lives, so you saying this can be true. This Ne authority thing you spoke of and how it relates to weak Se, I could also identity with.
Yep, my dad is ISTJ and typed INFP once and I was like, you've got to he kidding me. Lol nope. I also consistently tested as a J type as you mentioned here, mostly INFJ and occasionally INTJ so the J/P thing is definitely misleading until people study it.
Thanks Melanie! I love how you described the dominant Fi dialogue - 'I know who I am' as an expression of comfort with the journey in question is a great way of putting it!
Hehe yes I am often surprised when ISTJs mistype as INFP :)
Hope all is well.
I relate so much. I know who I am, even if I change through the years. There's this core of who I am that remains.
When a friend has said to me, "takek the emotions out of this," I've felt like yelling, "I can't!" I can think past emotion--it took years and years to get to this point--but I can't turn them off. I feel, and that's all there is to it. It's how I choose to act based on those feelings that is, in my opinion, key.
@@AmyAndThePup Oh absolutely! Totally agree!
You're speaking out of my soul..
@@melinaa0703 It's refreshing that people can relate to this because more often than not, I feel like people identify more with not understanding or being in touch with their feelings. When an Fi dom keeps hearing this narrative over and over, it can make them feel very alone and like everyone is floating around out there more detached from their feelings and it all just gets hard to understand after a while. Good to know "I'm not the only one".
Nice, people tend to completely misunderstand the INFP. I love this, finally someone who understands it. Excellent job!
Who, in their right mind, would need this?
Everyone, apparently.
Haha, indeed.
INFP biologist here- the last bonus points were SO spot on! Though I have my own strong opinions, I rarely participate in logical debates that aren't related or have personal value to me, I do like observing forums and debates of others though. That being said, that last point is something I've always noticed about myself - for me to exercise logic I'd have to outsource to reliable sources first-hand, I am always looking stuff up before I formulate my logic on something, it's like I can't create my own logic on the spot?
Thanks for sharing! Yes, exactly, this is primarily divergent Thinking that prefers to outsource first!
It took a couple tries to get the gist of this, but thank you for laying things out. I especially appreciated the description of how we gather information and can easily understand consequences of different options of action, without our own opinions overly blinding us. Also how the concrete world is somehow just beyond our grasp... which lends itself well to appreciating surrealism and outside the box thinking and creativity. Finally, thank you for underlying the logic aspect of our personality. I feel that is underrated in our personality type.
My pleasure, glad the video helped :)
I test consistently as an INTP but still have recently spent time wondering if I'm a mistyped INFP. The "identity" concept you discussed was very interesting to me because this is what I realized: I spend vast amounts of time wondering WHAT I am, and almost no time wondering WHO I am. Maybe I really am an INTP. Or at least, not an INFP.
That is interesting! It certainly does sound more like a detached logical dialogue, especially if it is absent identity spikes.
What do you mean “what”? Like you spend a lot of time wondering about human biology or something?
@@myewzek2913 Hey. Not so much biology but existence itself, although I believe science can provide some answers to my questions. Questions like, why do I exist at all? Is there some purpose? What is the definition of life vs. non-life? Am I "in" the universe (like a visitor or outsider) or an animate part OF the universe? What is the meaning of "I" and what separates me from other beings? Hopefully this makes some sense. BTW, all of these questions relate more to ALL living things, and not so much to ME specifically. I consider myself to be just one example of a "living thing". It's not personal.
@@farrahupson oh ok so philosophy. I get it now. I don’t think intps have the tendency to like that, but hey, to each their own ig. Usually when I see INTPs (who like philosophy) talk about philosophy, it’s more focused on sociology and psychology and history. You’re stuff seems more like an Ni thing to me, maybe try looking at xNFJs? Could just be a real deep INTP though lol
@Susana A ah ok that seems more INTP to me lmao
this made me a little more confused.. i've almost always had an INFP-T result
16personalities is not a good metric of self-typing. They are almost always inaccurate and hand out intuitive results like candy. Just watch the video yo..
Take keys2cognition or sakinorva!
Nah seriously😭
@@parisgabrielle2371 which one is better? (I got different results)
idk if i’m ENFP or INFP bc i’m not extroverted or introverted. i enjoy hanging out with people and i’m pretty outgoing. but most days i’d still much rather say home lol
I’m going to be honest with you: when I watched your video comparing and contrasting the INTP and INFP, I was confused on which one I truly was. I’m incredibly grateful you made this video because it explained the nuances and contradictions of the INFP very well and answered questions I had as I continued watching. I can say with much more confidence than before that I really am an INFP. Yay! :D
Horray! I'm happy to hear this!!
My only reservations about typing myself an INFP before watching this: the identity crises I tend to have and my hesitation to prescribe to opinions, often considering a plethora of possibilities
My reservations after watching this: none, it all describes me well.... honestly it’s astounding how accurate it is
Thank you for this thorough video; it gave me clarity.
*subscribe to opinions
Pardon my French
I'm very happy to hear this :)
You sound much more like a Ne dom.
Im starting to study physics and everywhere i was seeing that infps arent good at sience and more good at art... that’s why i was unsure about actually being an infp... but maybe i am one
Lara I am also very into science! I finished computer studies, I think the view of INFP on the net is stereotyped. I love just everything that can be analyzed "how it works" I am an addict :-)
I'd even say this is the norm more than the exception when it comes to this type!
Actually, some of us do study science. :)
It can really change ones world to understand the concepts around us. It’s fascinating, but also very open, because of all the things that are not really known yet
I also think that a lot of people are mistyped as INFP, including ISFPs. I had an ISFP friend who typed as INFP on the 16 personalities test. She's super artsy, so I can see how a lot of ISFP's may type as INFP. Lots of people tend to type as INFP as he mentioned. I'm INFP and I love art, but I'm not good at creating it myself, but I can envision it and appreciate good art. I'm better with writing and deeply digesting information to understand.
I am in the health field and I love social, psychological, metaphysical, philosphical type sciences which I think a lot of INFPs tend to be drawn to.
Just found out about all of this some days ago. I thought I was a crazy weirdo all these years, so glad to see other people like this exist!
Being an INFP with a mental illness that causes impulsivity and risk taking is exhausting. I'm hyper aware of the consequences of my actions but struggle to prevent my impulsive decision making. If anything the fluidity of my identity and the constant need to know more about myself encourages my actions because the decisions I make and how I handle the consequences gives me something to think about later in terms of what those things say about me as a person.
I have never felt so understood in my entire life. That.. that was almost scary but still like wow 10/10
Thank you!
Wow! Extraordinary explanation. Your explanation on fluid actualization was spot on. I’ve always felt dissociated with myself, as if I can see a different ethereal branch of myself throughout the years. I know that it’s me, per se, but I know that something has changed or shifted in me.
Also your explanation regarding logical sequential interpretation is brilliant. I will still actively pursue some event Even if I understand the full logical, albeit, negative ramifications.
To have our muddled and complex brain explained so thoroughly is a gift. I wonder if there’s some aspects of adhd to our INFP brain?
@ironic I relate to so many ADD inattentive symptoms it’s not even funny. I’m happy that another soul understands me. Are you an INFP brother/sister?
Thank you, I appreciate this comment!
I always thought I had the inattentive type of ADHD, and when I discussed this with my psychiatrist and therapist, they both agreed with me. But since researching MBTI, and especially INFP, I keep thinking all those traits are just part of being an INFP and maybe I don't have ADHD after all. Or maybe I'm a totally different personality type, but actually DO have ADHD, which might make me THINK I'm an INFP. I'm so confused and it's honestly been driving me mad these past few weeks. 🤪 I tried looking up the cognitive functions as well (spent hours upon hours reading about them and trying to figure them out) but they just confuse me even more. Sigh.
this was an absolutely amazing video, thorough, clear, understandable, and also your voice is soothing too :) this helped me confirm that i am in fact an infp, because sign three, you don't know who you are, really hit the nail on the head for me. another one that was important was sign one, i am much more introspective and my thoughts are in my head and usually stay in my head, although writing and playing violin help me express. it's a lot harder for me to write my feelings down, i want to deliberate through thought, and when i do write i end up thinking about what i write, going down a thought rabbit hole, and never finishing anything. at one point i paused and just thought about what you said, and everything made so much sense! it's been a little hard to type myself, but now i'm pretty sure that i'm an infp. thank you so so much!!
Thank you for this comment! Thanks for the kind words on the video (and voice!) :)
Thank you for this interesting video. As an INFP I'm often annoyed by the prejudice that we pull our own theories out of mid-air and never do any research, that we have a kind of naive open-mindedness that allows anyone to make us believe pretty much anything. I think it's very important to have tangible arguments for my beliefs grounded in research, preferably elaborate written articles or books before short videos or blogs.
Wow, I haven’t felt being exposed this much for a very long time. You just casually explained what I experience daily but always fail to put into words. This is incredible.
Me: watching yet another video on "why you're not an INFP" hoping to be a different type.
Also me after 12 mins: *crying in tears* "I'm damned to be here". :D
P.S. Good video, everything is so spot on! Especially signs 3 and 4. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much! Glad it resonated :)
Sad to be infp
But also doesn't want to live your life other way else but in infps
Yeah, me too.
@@mehwhatever695 to be honest, I agree with you and wouldn't change my type for anything. It is just "typical" portrait of an INFP - a sad out-of-this-world guy with a great imagination and a big heart - which looks depressing but at the same time kind of true. Or maybe it's just me :)
@@SmArT16rus I once try to live as an ISFJ (by staying more in present, focusing only of what should be doing next and being realistic)and tbh...my world has never been grayer. This world was so mundane and all I felt in my life back then was just wake up and eat and sleep again in cycle 😂 I'm sorry ISFJs, I love you guys but your way of interacting with this world is...something so I better stick around being an INFP
@@mehwhatever695 I do wonder if life would be easier being a different type, but damn, I think INFPs are awesome! We really enjoy the wonders of life and being human. We think and feel so deeply. I can’t see life being worth it if we didn’t embrace all of the human experience on that level. Imagine how boring life would be if we just went through motions??
I'm an INTJ female and was initially mistyped INFP, and after listening to this I have a much deeper respect for my INFP best friend and INFPs, period.
Thank you for always looking out for me based on all the potential consequences that you intuit, even when I am still too independent to listen to your warning 😂❤🌷
That is awesome to hear! :)
This was easily the best I have ever heard it described and it explains so much. I literally went into this going “I’m probably not an infp I’m not really sure” ☠️
Thank you :)
Analysis paralysis and not knowing myself. I couldn’t have explained myself more clearly. I guess I really am an INFP. I’m always doubting myself and my identity because I’ve never felt like I’ve been able to pin myself down! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing!
I don't have a strong identity, I'm always searching, evaluating, throwing things out, chasing my sense of self. But that is the only point I can agree with here. I was torn between ISTJ and INFP, now it turns out I can be neither of these. Sigh.
The search continues. :)
Now I have to take more personality tests.... I'm stuck between INFP and INTP and this hit too close to home
I recommend checking out my Type Comparisons!
I'm stuck in between those too!
I have a close INFP friend and while we do tend to come to similar conclusions, her methods of getting there are far different than mine! This video is really informative to her inner processes :) Also, I mistyped as INFP when I first got into MBTI (that darn 16personalities website!!) but the more I learned about the theory the easier it was for me to realize that I was an ENTP, this video really highlights those differences!
This is a common mistype indeed! Thanks for your comment :)
Do you get along pretty well with your INFP friend?
@@coolamericano oh yeah we have known each other forever, we tend to have long rabbit-trail conversations that I don't really get to have with many people. I have learned a lot from her introspective nature and ability to cue into others feelings. She has really helped me to be more self-aware and accepting of my emotions
Point 2 is the only one that throws me off. I certainly enjoy logic challenges for their own sake. I play puzzle and strategy games all the time.
Being an INFP myself it’s honestly scary how many people are mistyped with INFP! I’ve noticed that it’s one of the most commonly mistyped, at least from what I’ve experienced
I agree!
Finally, an explanation in what an INFP is not that made me realize that I truly am an INFP. Thank you for giving more substance to us than the standard "over idealistic, hypersensitive, cry about and apologize for nothing" ramble.
Glad it was helpful!