Q:Would you say a lot of INFP types are air signs in astrology? i feel like INFP personality types fall within numerous traits that air signs hold ( aquarius , libra , and gemini )

rebotsandreyma

I had to do some google-ing because I’m not really familiar with astrology, but in reading about the air signs, the description fits the INFPs dominant functions, introverted feeling (Fi) and extraverted intuition (Ne).

Jung’s types are drawn from archetypes through out human existence. Whoever came up with these signs, noticed the archetypes too, but didn’t take the time to analyze them as deeply, thoroughly and objectively as Jung did, which would explain the overlaps and correlations.

- theideathief

Q:I'm an INFP, and I'm tired of never being able to finish what I start, of not being able to carry out tasks, even the ones that interest me. I'm also terribly disorganized. Do you know any sort of 'exercise' that would help me develop my Te?

Anonymous

This is going to be a long answer, sorry anon. I’m going to try my best not to ramble.

Well, you’re already on your way! If you want to grow and be, like The Doctor says, “extraordinary,” having a positive attitude towards tackling the weaker sides of you is a good start!

Developing heuristics is good way of getting yourself to Te. I have weak Te too, and I had a hard time being organized, but I found a system that worked. I use my higher functions to help me.

For school, I use Extraverted Intuition (Ne) and Introverted Feeling (Fi) to pick my school supplies. I’ve found that finding a folder/notebook hybrid works best. Something like these. It ensures I don’t lose anything, because all my notes are there in order. I just open my notebook and begin taking notes on the next line, just under my notes from the previous class. Anytime there are extra papers that are passed out, or printed, I just stick them in the built in folder/section divider, in the section I’ve reserved for the class. It forces you to be organized (Te), but the color I picked for myself (and for the class, the one that “fits” it best) makes me happy (Fi).

Having a big desk calendar or one on your computer (like iCal, Windows Calender, Thunderbird) is good too. At the beginning of each semester, I take all of my syllabi and (again, using Fi to match the colors I think “fit” the classes best) write down all of the exams, quizzes, and due dates for papers. I also reserve a color for general things I need to do, like doctors appointments, and extra curricular things like volunteering or meetings for work. It takes the pressure off, because you don’t have to be on top of things all the time, your calender is for you. Every day, before you start and end your day, check it.

As far as exercise, I would say that maybe engaging yourself in a Te sort of task or game with a goal would be a good idea. Something like Portal/Portal 2. You’d be having fun, while working on your weaker functions :)

- theideathief

Edit: There’s one other thing I forgot! Chunk your projects. If you start an art project, for example, give yourself little deadlines to complete parts of the whole instead of trying to tackle all of it at once. Then it doesn’t seem so overwhelming.

Q:I was scrolling through your blog and I saw the post regarding the type compatibility of people with inverted functions (I forget the actual terminology that you used, but it was referring to the compatibility between ISFP and INTP, Fi/Ti, etc.), and you asked if any of your followers had ever been in a relationship like this. Well here I am!

I'm an INFP (most likely) and I spent over two years in a relationship with an ISTP, and it was extremely frustrating. Not only was it riddled with misunderstandings, but due in part to our mutual passivity, it just wasn't dynamic. Our personalities stagnated, and neither of us really grew from the experience.

However, I don't think that my anecdote, for lack of a better word, can really be used as evidence either way, partly because this relationship occurred in our high school years, and some of the conflict arose from our own emotional issues (particularly my own). Also there is the slight possibility that at least one of us has been improperly typed due to the general inaccuracy of the tests that are available to the general public and his absence of Fi.

Another thing about this relationship is the fact that I somehow took on the role of the rational, independent one, while he was rather clingy and emotional. I've considered the possibility that he was actually an ISFP, but he never seemed to have much of a grasp of emotions, his or others.

Anonymous

Hey! Hey! Here they are!

I dated an ISTP in highschool. Having absolutely no functions in common, yet being drawn to their tertiary Ni (and they, your dominant Ne) is extremely frustrating. When speaking we’d both be interested in the perspective presented, yet, couldn’t understand the conclusions drawn about the perspective. And then we would spend the next 10 minutes trying to explain why our conclusions were better than the others.

No, I think your anecdote is just fine! It sounds very similar to my relationship with an ISTP, which would make sense because if you’re an INFP, the same functions would be interacting with each other.

Even with a lack of Fi, ISTPs can know themselves pretty well if they take the time. Introverted Thinking (Ti) lets them do some critical analysis and some deductive logic on themselves, compare what they’ve deduced with Extraverted Sensation (Se) to see if it’s concretely true, and sometimes, if well-adjusted, they use Introverted Intuition (Ni) to see themselves as the whole, and parts that they are.

This could be true, or perhaps being in a relationship with you kept him down in his lower to functions: Introverted Intuition (Ni) and Extraverted Feeling (Fe). This would be the two dominant functions of an INFJ, but since they are an ISTPs last two functions, it looks like a broken, poorly adjusted INFJ. This could explain the perceived “clingy and emotional” behavior.

- theideathief

Q:Do ISFPs and INTPs usually get along well?

Anonymous

ISFPs and INTPs can get along well enough, and certainly will not have any functional animosity, but they don’t have any common functions and are what I call “reversed-inverted” types.

INTP:     Ti Ne Si Fe
ISFP:      Fi Se Ni Te

If you’ll notice, they don’t have any common functions and the extent of their similarities ends with their dominant introverted judging function. These “reversed-inverted” type match-ups are defined by the reversed priority of those capital letters and inverted lowercase ones. (INTPs have Ti first, ISFPs have Te last.)

I have been interested in this particular dynamic, myself, and have noticed that it seems to be that types with this dynamic will have no strong like or dislike for each other and generally ignore each other due to indifference. When circumstance presses them together, it can cause some difficulty in communication, but still little conflict or interest.

Any followers have/know any reversed-inverted relationships? I’d be interested in hearing about them. Just submit them! I’ll publish the best one(s).

-TheAlecDelgado