PHQ | QUESTIONS: INTP vs INFP

42 comments

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  • Wulfex
  • September 11, 2015 at 4:47 pm

  I have typed as an INFJ as well, solely on the fact that P/J is often referred to as Disorganized/Organized.

  On tests, they ask questions like “Do you show up late to appointments?” Yes for P and No for J. As an INFP, I don’t show up late for appointments because I don’t want to hold up the appointment behind me or the person I’m meeting with. I’m always early! I am using “P” but it’ s from Authenticity (Introverted Feeling). I know I don’t like to wait on people who are late so I don’t want that for someone else.

  I blame the confusion on bad tests, particularly one that just tries to figure out the letters instead of figure out the cognitive functions.

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  • Charis Branson
  • September 11, 2015 at 3:11 pm

  Thanks for the comment, Ryan! I really like the way you put this: “INTPs are seekers of truth; INFPs are seekers of meaning.” I think that is a great distinction!

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  • ryan
  • September 11, 2015 at 1:14 pm

  I’m an INTP who was raised in a household full of feelers. I’m also artistic in the sense that I write well and I’m a musician.

  Antonia’s comment on being motivated by clarity resonated strongly with my experience. I would say that truth, or clarity of truth is one of the things that motivates me. This is how I distinguish myself from INFPs, who seem to be more focused on authenticity.

  In a nutshell, INTPs are seekers of truth; INFPs are seekers of meaning.

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  • Charis Branson
  • September 9, 2015 at 4:18 pm

  Thanks for your questions, Red Panda! INFPs are usually willing to be total pariahs in behalf of their convictions because it is more important to be internally aligned than externally. That reflects the tendency to “double-down” as Antonia mentioned.

  You describe the Harmony process here:

  “I am very conscious of other people’s feelings to the point that I will not point out their mistakes because I don’t want to hurt their feelings or appear pretentious even when I know that they are wrong about something.”

  Harmony isn’t even in the INFP’s car model and is inferior (3 year old) to INTPs.

  Harmony shows up strongly in Judger personality types (Driver – ENFJ/ESFJ; Copilot – INFJ/ISFJ).

  I personally typed as an INTP for years because I was so focused on Ti – Accuracy. But when I tried to practice radical honesty it was too painful since I found offending others more painful than offending myself.

  My actual type is INFJ – Harmony copilot, Accuracy 10 Year Old. I actually feel better when my decision making involves meeting the needs of others. Whenever I get subjective and start looking at people as either stupid or evil it doesn’t feel as good and I feel misaligned with my true values.

  Does any of that help?

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  • Charis Branson
  • September 9, 2015 at 3:17 pm

  Thank you for your comment, Catarina! So, do you feel you identify more with Extraverted Feeling (Fe) than Introverted Feeling (Fi)? As an INTP, Fe would be fairly unconscious for you – maybe even a blind spot. It may come across as emotionally manipulative or bullying. You would feel better practicing radical honesty because of your Introverted Thinking Driver. How do you feel when you practice radical honesty? Do you find the idea of offending others distressing?

  INFPs feeling process is their Driver so it is stronger and more developed (making their thinking process a veritable blind spot). INFPs have the tendency to seek psychological comfort and retreat into safety zones because of their 10 year old Memory process. They are willing to be a total pariah in behalf of their convictions – although this choice is more painful for them because they value human interaction more than INTPs.

  I can see why you identify with INFPs to a certain extent because your Enneagram (Investigator/Individualist) sounds very authentic, expressive and isolating.

  Does any of this offer any clarification?