Theories Personality Psychology Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide Overview Intuitive-Thinking INTJ INTP ENTJ ENTP Intuitive-Feeling INFJ INFP ENFJ ENFP Sensing-Judging ISTJ ISFJ ESTJ ESFJ Sensing-Perceiving ISTP ISFP ESTP ESFP INFP: The Mediator (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving) An Overview of the INFP Personality Type By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry Facebook Twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is the author of the "Everything Psychology Book (2nd Edition)" and has written thousands of articles on diverse psychology topics. Kendra holds a Master of Science degree in education from Boise State University with a primary research interest in educational psychology and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Idaho State University with additional coursework in substance use and case management. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 21, 2023 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by David Susman, PhD Medically reviewed by David Susman, PhD David Susman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience providing treatment to individuals with mental illness and substance use concerns. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Characteristics Cognitive Functions Relationships Career Paths Interacting With Next in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide ENFJ: Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging INFP (introversion, intuition, feeling, perception) is a four-letter abbreviation for one of the 16 personality types identified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. 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. 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. INFP Compatibility INFP is the opposite personality type of ESTJ. Other similar personality types include INTP and ENFJ. Key INFP Characteristics 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 confused with shyness. 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 making decisions, 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 The MBTI is based on a theory of personality created by Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung. Jung proposed that there are four psychological components of personality: thinking, feeling, sensation, and intuition. People then direct each of these cognitive functions inwardly (introverted) or outwardly (extraverted). In the MBTI, each personality type is made up of a hierarchical stack of these functions. The dominant function largely controls personality, although it is supported by the auxiliary and, to a lesser degree, the tertiary functions. Inferior functions are those that are primarily unconscious but still exert some influence. INFPs tend to rely on the following four cognitive functions: Dominant: Introverted Feeling INFPs experience a great depth of feelings but, as introverts, they typically process these emotions 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 memory 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 extraverted thinking function can help people with the INFP personality type create a better sense of balance. INFPs You Might Know Some famous INFP people include:Audrey Hepburn, actressJRR Tolkien, authorPrincess Diana, British royalWilliam Shakespeare, playwrightFred Rogers, television personality Personal Relationships With INFPs INFPs are idealists so they tend to have high expectations—including in relationships. They might hold an idealized image in their minds of their perfect partner, which can be a difficult role for any individual to fill. People with an INFP personality type care deeply about other people. Yet, as introverts, they can be difficult to know. They do tend to become very close and deeply committed to the few that they forge close relationships with. INFPs also dislike and try to avoid conflict. When conflicts or arguments do arise, they usually focus more on how it makes them feel rather than the actual details. During arguments, INFPs might seem overly emotional or even irrational. However, they can also be good mediators by helping others involved in a conflict identify and express their feelings. 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 Much of an INFP's energy is focused inwardly and characterized by intense feelings and strong values. They tend to be very loyal to the people they love and to beliefs and causes that are important to them. Career Paths for INFPs INFPs typically do well in careers where they can express their creativity and vision. While they work well with others, they generally prefer to work alone. INFPs tend to be very creative, artistic, and spiritual. 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 Careers Popular careers for an INFP personality include: Artist Counselor Graphic Designer Librarian Psychologist Physical Therapist Social Worker Writer Tips for Interacting With INFPs If you are friends with an INFP, are somehow engaged with an INFP parent, or are involved in a relationship with an INFP, here are a few interaction tips. 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 crave emotional intimacy and 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. Relationships 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 of loyalty. INFPs can sometimes hold overly romanticized views of relationships and may have excessively high expectations that their partners struggle to live up to. They also tend to take comments personally while, at the same time, struggling to avoid conflicts. 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. 6 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Yang C, Richard G, Durkin M. The association between Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and psychiatry as the specialty choice. Int J Med Educ. 2016;7:48–51. doi:10.5116/ijme.5698.e2cd Janowsky DS, Morter S, Tancer M. Over-representation of Myers Briggs Type Indicator introversion in social phobia patients. Depress Anxiety. 2000;11(3):121-5. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1520-6394(2000)11:3%3C121::AID-DA6%3E3.0.CO;2-9 Murie J. Knowing me, knowing you: personality and peer appraisal. Br J Gen Pract. 2010;60(574):382–384. doi:10.3399/bjgp10X502001 Pestana JV, Codina N. Being conscious of one's own heroism: An empirical approach to analyzing the leadership potential of future CEOs. Front Psychol. 2019;9:2787. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02787 Traynor RM, Holmes AE. Personal style and hearing aid fitting. Trends Amplif. 2002;6(1):1–31. doi:10.1177/108471380200600102 Goby VP. Personality and online/offline choices: MBTI profiles and favored communication modes in a Singapore study. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2006;9(1):5-13. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2006.9.5 Additional Reading 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. By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry, MS, is the author of the "Everything Psychology Book (2nd Edition)" and has written thousands of articles on diverse psychology topics. Kendra holds a Master of Science degree in education from Boise State University with a primary research interest in educational psychology and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Idaho State University with additional coursework in substance use and case management. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit