Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat’s the INFP Personality Type Like?CharacteristicsCognitive FunctionsRelationshipsCareer PathsInteracting WithNext in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator GuideENFJ: Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What’s the INFP Personality Type Like?

Characteristics

Cognitive Functions

Relationships

Career Paths

Interacting With

Next in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide

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At a GlanceAre you empathetic, authentic, creative, and introverted? Sounds like you might be an INFP. You’re great at seeing potential, reasoning with emotions, and finding new ways to grow as an individual. You love making meaningful connections but sometimes need time alone to recharge. Even though you need your alone time, you also tend to get really close to the people in your life. Challenges you might experience include a tendency to ignore the small details and a dislike for conflict. If you have an INFP in your life, take the time to get to know them and encouraging their personal growth.

At a Glance

Are you empathetic, authentic, creative, and introverted? Sounds like you might be an INFP. You’re great at seeing potential, reasoning with emotions, and finding new ways to grow as an individual. You love making meaningful connections but sometimes need time alone to recharge. Even though you need your alone time, you also tend to get really close to the people in your life. Challenges you might experience include a tendency to ignore the small details and a dislike for conflict. If you have an INFP in your life, take the time to get to know them and encouraging their personal growth.

Verywell / JR Bee

INFPs want to make the world a better place and are interested in how they can best help others. They also strive to gain a greater understanding of themselves and how they fit into the world.

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.

“This personality type tends to devote themselves when interested in something, but can struggle to maintain enthusiasm when it is something they do not care about or are interested in,” saysChristopher Hansen, a licensed professional counselor at Thriveworks in Austin, TX.

INFP CompatibilityINFP is the opposite personality type ofESTJ. Other similar personality types includeINTPandENFJ.

INFP Compatibility

INFP is the opposite personality type ofESTJ. Other similar personality types includeINTPandENFJ.

Key INFP Characteristics

The “I” in INFP stands for introvert. So, if you’re an INFP, you probably tend to be a little more on the quiet and reserved side. You know the drill: Spending lots of time in social situations leaves you feeling drained and exhausted. After some socializing—whether it’s a formal work event or just some time with friends—you need some time to yourself to recharge.

Most of the time, you’d rather spend time with a small group of your close friends than have to interact with a bunch of people you don’t know.

While they like to be alone, this should not necessarily beconfused with shyness.Instead, it simply means that INFPs gain energy from spendingtime alone. On the other hand, they have to expend energy in social situations.

The “N” in INFP represents intuition, which is what you use to figure out the world. You’re really good at focusing on the big picture rather than the nitty-gritty details. You can be quite meticulous about things you really care about or projects they are working on, but tend to ignore mundane or boring details.

When it comes tomaking decisions, INFPs like to keep their options open. That means you often put off making important decisions just in case something about the situation changes. And when you do make a decision, it tends to be based more on your personal values instead of pure logic.

INFP StrengthsLoyal and devotedSensitive to feelingsCaring and interested in othersWorks well aloneValue close relationshipsGood at seeing “the big picture"INFP WeaknessesCan be overly idealisticTends to take everything personallyDifficult to get to knowSometimes loses sight of the little thingsOverlooks details

INFP StrengthsLoyal and devotedSensitive to feelingsCaring and interested in othersWorks well aloneValue close relationshipsGood at seeing “the big picture”

Loyal and devoted

Sensitive to feelings

Caring and interested in others

Works well alone

Value close relationships

Good at seeing “the big picture”

INFP WeaknessesCan be overly idealisticTends to take everything personallyDifficult to get to knowSometimes loses sight of the little thingsOverlooks details

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

INFPs tend to rely on the following four cognitive functions:

Dominant: Introverted Feeling (Fi)

INFPs experience a great depth of feelings but, as introverts, they typically process theseemotionsinternally. 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. That’s why others sometimes mistake you as aloof or unwelcoming if you have this personality type.

Auxiliary: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)

INFPs focus on the “big picture” and things that will shape the future. This ability can help you become atransformative leaderexcited about making positive changes in the world.

Tertiary: Introverted Sensing (Si)

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 amemorycan often seem like reliving the experience itself.

Inferior: Extraverted Thinking (Te)

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.

INFPs You Might KnowSome famous INFP people include:Audrey Hepburn, actressJRR Tolkien, authorPrincess Diana, British royalWilliam Shakespeare, playwrightFred Rogers, television personality

INFPs You Might Know

Some famous INFP people include:Audrey Hepburn, actressJRR Tolkien, authorPrincess Diana, British royalWilliam Shakespeare, playwrightFred Rogers, television personality

Some famous INFP people include:

Personal Relationships With INFPs

INFPs are idealists so they tend to have high expectations—including in relationships. That means that you might hold an idealized image in your mind of your perfect partner—which can be a difficult role for any individual to fill.

If you have an INFP personality type, you care deeply about other people. Yet, as an introvert, you can be difficult to know. You do tend to become very close and deeply committed to the few that you forge close relationships with.

INFPs also dislike andtry to avoid conflict. So when conflicts or arguments do arise, you usually focus more on how it makes you feel rather than the actual details.

This personality type does not necessarily avoid people, they simply prefer close friends and small groups and like their alone time.—CHRISTOPHER HANSEN, LPC

This personality type does not necessarily avoid people, they simply prefer close friends and small groups and like their alone time.

—CHRISTOPHER HANSEN, LPC

Because they are so reserved and private, it can be difficult for other people to get to know INFPs. They tend to be quite devoted to their circle of close friends and family and place high importance on the feelings and emotions of their loved ones.

The Bottom Line

Career Paths for INFPs

INFPs typically do well in careers where they can express theircreativityand vision. While they work well with others, they generally prefer to work alone.

INFPs tend to be very creative, artistic, andspiritual. They are often skilled with language but may prefer to express their thoughts and feelings through writing rather than speaking.

Because they have strong ethics and values, INFPs also become passionate about advocating or defending their beliefs. While they feel strongly about their own values, they are also interested in learning more about others and are willing to listen and consider many sides of an issue.

Popular INFP CareersPopular careers for an INFP personality include:ArtistCounselorGraphic DesignerLibrarianPsychologistPhysical TherapistSocial WorkerWriter

Popular careers for an INFP personality include:ArtistCounselorGraphic DesignerLibrarianPsychologistPhysical TherapistSocial WorkerWriter

Popular careers for an INFP personality include:

Tips for Interacting With INFPs

If you are friends with an INFP, have an INFP parent, or are involved in a relationship with an INFP, knowing how to interact with them may help improve your relationship. When you really get someone, you are able to communicate more effectively, which can reduce conflict and help you feel closer.

Friendships

INFPs typically have only a few close friendships, but these relationships are generally long-lasting. While people with this type of personality are adept at understanding others' emotions, they often struggle to share their own feelings with others.

Social contact can be difficult, although INFPs craveemotional intimacyand deep relationships. Getting to know an INFP can take time and work, but the rewards can be great for those who have the patience and understanding.

Parenting

INFP parents are usually supportive, caring, and warm. They are good at establishing guidelines and helping children develop strong values.

An INFP’s goal as parents is to help their children grow as individuals and fully appreciate the wonders of the world. They may struggle to share their own emotions with their children and are often focused on creating harmony in the home.

As with friendships, INFPs may struggle to become close to potential romantic partners. Once they do form a relationship, they approach it with a strong sense ofloyalty.

If your partner is an INFP, understand that they may struggle at times to open up. They may also be overly sensitive to perceived criticisms and will often place your happiness over that of their own.

Takeaways

Just like the other 15 personality types, it’s important to remember that each INFJ person is unique. While you might have many characteristics of this type, you are unique! Your individual personality may vary quite a bit and you might even have characteristics that don’t 100% fit with the description of this type.

Learning more about your personality type can be a great way to understand yourself better. By exploring your type, you can better appreciate your tendencies, strengths, and challenges.

What Are My Dominant Personality Traits? Take the Quiz and Find Out

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Myers, I. B. (1998).Introduction to Type: A Guide to Understanding Your Results on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Mountain View, CA: CPP, Inc.

The Myers & Briggs Foundation. (n.d.). The 16 MBTI Types.

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