Psychology Facts

▼ INFP - The Mediator ▼

The INFP personality type is often described as an "idealist" or "mediator" personality. People with this kind of personality tend to be introverted, idealistic, creative, and driven by high values.

INFPs also have strong interests in making the world a better place. In addition to wanting to gain a greater understanding of themselves and how they fit into the world, they are interested in how they can best help others.

People with this personality type spend a lot of time exploring their own purpose in life and thinking about how they can use their skills and talents to best serve humanity.

INFPs are known to be introverted, quiet, and reserved. Being in social situations can drain their energy, and they prefer interacting with a select group of close friends. While they like to be alone, this should not necessarily be .2 Instead, it simply means that INFPs gain energy from spending time alone. On the other hand, they have to expend energy in social situations.

INFPs typically rely on intuition and are more focused on the big picture rather than the nitty-gritty details. They can be quite meticulous about things they really care about or projects they are working on but tend to ignore mundane or boring details.

INFPs place an emphasis on personal feelings, and their decisions are more influenced by these concerns rather than by objective information.

When it comes to , INFPs like to keep their options open. They often delay making important decisions just in case something about the situation changes. When decisions are made, they are usually based on personal values rather than logic.

INFP Strengths

Loyal and devoted

Sensitive to feelings

Caring and interested in others

Works well alone

Value close relationships

Good at seeing "the big picture"

INFP Weaknesses

Can be overly idealistic

Tends to take everything personally

Difficult to get to know

Sometimes loses sight of the little things

Overlooks details

Cognitive Functions of an INFP

Dominant: Introverted Feeling

INFPs experience a great depth of feelings but, as introverts, they typically process these  internally. They possess an incredible sense of wonder about the world and feel great compassion and empathy for others. While these emotions are strong, INFPs tend not to express them outwardly, which is why they can sometimes be mistaken as aloof or unwelcoming.

Auxiliary: Extraverted Intuition

INFPs explore situations using imagination and 'what if' scenarios, often thinking through a variety of possibilities before settling on a course of action. Their inner lives are a dominant force in personality, and they engage with the outside world by using their intuition.

INFPs focus on the "big picture" and things that will shape the course of the future. This ability helps make them transformative leaders who are excited about making positive changes in the world.

Tertiary: Introverted Sensing

When taking in information, INFPs create vivid memories of the events. They will often replay these incidents in their minds to analyze experiences in less stressful settings. Such memories are usually associated with strong emotions, so recalling a  can often seem like reliving the experience itself.

Inferior: Extraverted Thinking

This cognitive function involves organizing and making sense of the world in an objective and logical manner. While it is a mainly unconscious influence on the INFP's personality, extraversion can show itself in times of pressure. When faced with stress, an INFP might suddenly become very pragmatic and detail-oriented, for instance, focusing on logic rather than emotion.

Because they are typically ruled more by intuition and emotion, INFPs can sometimes struggle to feel productive and efficient. Learning to develop the  function can help people with the INFP personality type create a better sense of balance.

INFPs You Might Know

Tim Burton
Johnny Depp
Kurt Cobain
Heath Ledger
Audrey Hepburn
Will Byers (Stranger Things)
Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter)
Spider-Man (Marvel)

Popular careers for an INFP

Artist
Graphic Designer
Librarian
Psychologist
Physical Therapist
Writer