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Fi-doms; How expressive are you?

3K views 23 replies 18 participants last post by  74893H 
#1 ·
Just like the title says.

I'm just curious about this topic because of how often I see stuff about Fi-doms being poker-faced and/or "emotionless" on the surface. I can understand that, given how private we can be about how we feel (myself included) but regardless, I'm still pretty expressive, and I tend to be quite animated - especially around people I'm comfortable with. I tend to amuse people because of it. lol
Also, I have an INFP friend, and the first thing I noticed when we met was how friendly and bouncy they were - I could've easily mistaken them for an ENFP. They were very warm - all smiles and hugs. <3

ExFPs could join too. It also might be interesting to know if there are any ExFPs who aren't very expressive (though I have yet to meet any who aren't, hehe.)
 
#4 ·
I'm less verbally and physically expressive than the people I'm close to who have Fe. Usually I know how I feel and I can get quite expressive, even clingy, but sometimes I feel I have a hard time putting all of my feelings into words. I do go through periods where I'm very outwardly expressive and where I express myself more subtly. It depends on my mood and what I want to do. Generally, the more comfortable I am with someone, the more expressive I'll be, and the more comfortable I am showing not only my strengths, but also my flaws. If I don't get good vibes from you, don't expect me to open up much of myself, if any.
 
#5 ·
sometimes I feel I have a hard time putting all of my feelings into words.
I can relate. I'll know exactly how I feel but words are not my forte - which is why I often let my actions do the expressing.

It depends on my mood and what I want to do.
...Also this. I do think when I'm out in public minding my own business I'm much less expressive, because there's no reason for me to express much if I'm just walking down the street. Of course, around people I'm comfortable with I'll be a lot more animated (still more with actions and facial expressions than words though.)
 
#6 · (Edited)
Enfp- I'm not expressive with my emotion and appear calmer than everyone I know. I think you havent met any bc you wouldn't know how to type them lol

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#7 ·
Enfp- I'm not expressive with my emotion and appear calmer than everyone I know. I think you havent met any bc you wouldn't know how to type them lol
Good to know. I was hoping some ExFP would chime in. After all, we can't stereotype all of you as hyper party animals. lol
And you're right. It's a lot easier to type someone when they express themselves.
 
#8 ·
I suppose I do have that reserved poker face of neutrality when I am not entirely engaged. When talking to me most people I don't know that well they will likely see this aspect of me. I get the impression that I invoke a little bit of stoic reservation. People would probably not be able to tell how I am feeling that easily from my face alone. There will times that when in a group scenario in which everyone laughs at something (that is funny to them) I prefer not to laugh if I don't find it funny. It of course I am out of touch with the emotional atmosphere of the group. My mind goes 'I laugh when I personally find things funny, why must my expression of emotion merge with the crowd?'. When I am excited about something (could be a conversation I am very into), my Ne is activated and my face lights up, becoming much more animated. I suppose I express myself better through actions. Whenever I get irritated, I'm not sure if people notice. If they do notice, they don't point it out. I don't like crying in public and I don't break down until I am in private most of the time. I need time by myself to process and feel my sense of deep sadness on my own. Internally my emotions could be simmering but on the outside nobody would know. I do indeed feel quite intense emotions inside of me what chances are you may never know from my face.
 
#9 ·
Not Fi dominant, but certainly not Fe in any way. I'm pretty emotional with my closest friends and family members. I'd estimate, compared to the average person, I am probably more emotionally expressive. However, I don't talk about my emotions very often. I just do very much express them, mostly in my face.
 
#10 ·
My brothers an intj - he appears more extroverted than I do with family- I think the stereotype of T vs F or I vs E is quite absurd more so when cognitive functions are applied, we're all individuals

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#12 ·
My Te manifests itself as emotional ramblings rather than making judgments and coming to conclusions based on solid, testable, verifiable, tangible evidence. I feel inferior Te in my type (INFP) manifests as the conjunction between personal values / feelings and applied judgment. It's hard to have logic.
 
#15 ·
When I'm really happy and excited, you notice it. When I'm really angry, you also notice it. But my general rbf apparently gives that cool/intimidating vibes to those that don't know me.
And then they get the social/polite me that they might mistake for an extrovert or an Fe person. Then they get the cold heart, cool headed person with non traditional opinions. Then they get the passionate person.
I'd say I'm pretty expressive for those that are worth sharing my values/opinions/feelings with.
 
#20 ·
I generaly tend to only show happines and anger on occasions to the external world, rest emotions seem to be repressed... Most of my "Feelings" I tend to keep holding inside myself are mostly paranoia thoughts about what others think of me, which can be both false or true (They hate me? Do they dislike me? man, who knows what they are thinking). It can give me stress sometimes and trigger my OCD, It's not an pleaseant experience just to tell you guys.

Thats Ne - Fi for ya guys...

But to be fair, many people told me that I do take things way to seriously.
 
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#21 ·
In regards to expressing my feelings or thoughts in front of people; I have a hard time putting my complex thoughts/ideas/feelings into sentences that would capture the exact meaning and essence of said thoughts/feelings/ideas. It's hard to phrase something at a level where it can be clearly understood, if understood at all, from my perspective.

Most of the time it results in misunderstanding because of the other party's interpretation, their subjective interpretation of each individual word. By objective definition they know what a word means, but there's also so many ways to use words, because of many meanings to one word, and plays on words.

There are so many ways to word something it's impossible to think of a perfect sentence right on the get go. I need time, quite a bit a of time, at least 5-10 minutes or more, depending on the situation/subject/context and how lengthy my response is. If it's for something very formal, or urgent, or anything important, I may even need to think how to word something a few hours or a day before! Or after.

This is probably what makes me socially awkward. The reason why I come across as socially awkward is because of how I process things etc.

I'm especially socially awkward when it comes to comforting people. I understand and sympathise,(or empathise) with people's problems, I really do feel it on the inside. But on the outside I have trouble expressing how I feel. Now I don't know how to word this, because I'm not exactly sure what I'm even thinking right now, because I'm trying to think of what it is that makes me express my feelings in an awkward way. Hmmmm. Maybe because I know some people aren't touchy and emotional type of people, I don't want to go and hug people because they may not like it. I only would hug someone and start to cry if they're the type of person that needs that, or wants that. Some people don't like dramatic reactions, so maybe, I tone it down for that reason. And also, sometimes I just simply don't know what to say, because when somebody's mum or dog or husband has just passed away, they are really feeling the grief and words usually don't comfort them that much anyway, and if you say the wrong thing you might upset them. So sometimes it's best to say little or nothing at all, and express your sympathies with body language instead.


Now, this took me a long time to write, maybe 10 minutes, probably 20. It's been a while. So there's your report of Fi trying to express itself.
 
#23 ·
I'm quite expressive. I usually openly express how I'm feeling and can even be a bit dramatic about it at times. But, I guess I also feel like relatively 'subtle' expressions are still pretty obvious so perhaps to people who aren't as attuned to emotional cues I could think I'm emoting loud and clear while to them I seem unreadable. *shrug*

I do try to keep my feelings relatively to myself when I'm not comfortable with the people I'm with, or if I feel like it's the wrong time and place, but I often don't feel like it's necessary to hide the truth of my feelings. While I don't particularly want to draw attention, I see it as an unfortunate side-effect of being genuine, which is far more important to me most of the time.

I do sometimes feel like my facial muscles just don't move as much as I imagine I'm moving them - like when I look in the mirror I think I have to exaggerate a bit.

I don't see feelings as intensely private, like my INTJ friend does. They are at the core of who I am, and I think it's important to be true to myself, and if I want anyone to get to know me then it's vital that I share my emotions.
 
#24 ·
I'm very pokerfaced personally, but I wasn't at all as a kid. Trying to be expressive just feels awkward for some reason, I don't really even know how to. I try to have like a warm smile while I talk to people and change my face appropriately to things they say but my face is quite stiff all the while.
 
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