thank you for this analysis, I can tell you have well above average understanding of the functions-- and more importantly how the functions relate to real word application
Honestly, I just learned about the functions just recently. But I believe I have a pretty good approach when it comes to learning and was fascinated by the functions.
I'm 28 and only started paying attention to that half of my brain in the last year or so; only in the last year have I become aware of my creative and feeling side-- very much so
It's quite possible you've simply squandered your potential by depending too heavily on your first two functions, or maybe you just recognize the Si process but see how it pales in comparison to your mastery of Si.
I'm in my early twenties and didn't learn to really utilize my Fe function until a couple of years ago, either. I would say an INTP really needs to have the proper conditions to flourish; he needs to pursue his own interests and be self-motivated, then he'll naturally have questions and his curiosity will serve as an impetus. If you really find something which intrigues you, you'll use your Ne to gather information, use your Ti function to play with it like Legos, then go back out searching for more little pieces because you've an idea what you need next for your structure — it's a self-perpetuating cycle which will continue until there's no more mystery left and interest wanes.
There may be some unproductive stretches or times where you have to deal with bothersome practical concerns, but if you want to continue to grow then you need to find a new abstraction in which to envelop yourself. When an INTP has genuine interest in a subject, he'll make inexorable progress until he's sated his curiosity.
so-- I am interested then, in how an INTP would "mimic" an INFP; the inverse situation of which you mention; you've made me think that I am either often doing this, mimicking an INFP-- what would be an example of mimicked INFP behavior vs real INFP behavior?
Well, the INFP could copy things he's seen or read and store it into his Si for later use. You could likely memorize certain behavioral patterns and phrases, spot an opportunity with your Ne to react in a way you think an INFP would — in this case, it would likely be making a value judgment, which could possibly be replicated with the Ti process — which would entail tapping into your Si's store of memorized shibboleths and affectations. The problem is that it may come across as contrived, but thankfully, as I understand it, individuals with Fi seem to be somewhat stolid and NT-like in their lack of outward expression, so it may be possible to pull off. Replicating an Fe process would require natural fluidity — I'd hazard you'd need to rehearse quite a bit, and even then may not be able to achieve a level of sprezzatura to be convincing.
So, I would guess the process of imitating an INFP would look like this:
- scrutinize a statement
- rather than be ambivalent or indecisive, take a side and make a judgment about this
- be consistent with your assumed value system and always see if something is in line with it
- look for opportunities to point out hypocrisy or tergiversations
- be judgmental; your Fi would
feel a certain way about something which isn't congruent with your beliefs, and your inferior Te may make you want to take control of your environment to impose this value system, as people can be "wrong" and reproof is in order
- remember that you're constantly struggling with internal turmoil because you have strong views about how the way the world should be… and, of course, it isn't that way
You may also want to study INFP subjects for quite some time.
I'm not entirely sure why you would want to do something like this, but I don't mind entertaining hypotheticals.
