Type me--Am I INFP?

rpmcmurphy47 said:

1) What aspect of your personality made you unsure of your type?

Mostly OCD. I know tests are somewhat unreliable, but when I do cognitive functions tests I get really high with Fi and Ni and Ne. I feel as if I'm too cold and thick-skinned to be INFP, but Fi resonates with me. It's as if I built a protective, defense mechanism sheath to protect myself. I'm self-depricating and use humor to deflect things from hurting me. I know I'm sensitive if I allow it, but I'm good at protecting myself and not really allowing anybody in to be able to hurt me I guess. I've always tested as INTP until I started learning about the functions. I feel as if I'm a mixture of INFP/INTP or ENTP, possibly something different like INFJ or INTJ. I was always good in math, but had no desire in pursuits of that field, and was far more interested in psychology, philosophy, sociology and literature.
You're more interested in abstract concepts, so probably an N type. An interest in people-focused topics is obviously more common in F types.


2) What do you yearn for in life? Why?

Purpose, identity, to leave a mark, to create something of value. For my novels to get published. To be happy.
You're quite straighforward, and don't really elaborate or build on your answer. This could be on account of being heavily introverted and holding a tight rein on your Ne, although Ne types do tend to expand on their thoughts and ramble a little bit.


3) Think about a time where you felt like you were at your finest. Tell us what made you feel that way.

In college for literature. Creating anything, whether it be stories, songs, a short film, scavenger hunts, etc.


4) What makes you feel inferior?

I don't believe anybody is inferior or superior, but I hate that I lack motivation or ambition at the moment in doing what I know will bring me joy and fulfillment, and give me a sense of purpose and identity.


5) What tends to weigh on your decisions? (Do you think about people, pro-cons, how you feel about it, etc.)

My integrity and inner morals come first. Sounds like Fi, or at least an F-dom, but I'm not sure whether morality / value is at the core of who you are, or if this concept only comes first in your decision-making process.
Then I'll think of all directions my decision can lead to, the many possibilities that come with choice. Ne probably, but concrete possibilities come from Se, and a lot of people misinterpret an Se user imagining up potential experiences as Ne. Depends on what the nature of these possibilities are. Then I'll get indecisive and unsure. I always think of others when I make decisions as well. I'm actually living in a region of the United States that I don't like at all (I'd much rather live in a different region, closer to my mother and other family members), because my brother is here (we live together and he has to be here because of his son), and I'm all that he really has here other than his son. I feel I'd be abandoning him if I left.


6) When working on a project what is normally your emphasis? Do you like to have control of the outcome?

It depends on what the project is. If it's work-related I could care less about having control. I can see how certain people get energized from being in control so I usually let them feel like they're in control, but I'll just do whatever I deem appropriate for the project regardless of what someone tells me. I'd much rather just work on projects by myself. If it's team-oriented I usually will just be a spectator and not interfere, unless it's something I'm passionate about. If that's the case, I'd get seriously involved and probably take over.


7) Describe us a time where you had a lot of fun. How is your memory of it?

My memory is dreadful and I never really think of the past. But, the most fun I've had in the last 5-6 years was making a short film for school with a couple buddies. Now that I think of it, I can't really think of many things that I've done fun in the last 10 years or so, lol. Fun for me is saying ridiculous things, asking absurd hypotheticals, and seeing how people respond. I've always been a bit of a troll, but in a fun sort-of way, from my subjective perspective.


8) When you want to learn something new, what feels more natural for you? (Are you more prone to be hands on, to theorize, to memorize, etc)

To theorize. A lot of high Ti and Ne users enjoy theorizing. NTPs in particular love to theorize. I get energized from talking about philosophy (specifically existentialism and the absurd) and recently the theory of personality. I love learning about and talking about what makes people tick--their perspective of purpose and their identity. In school I was able to cram for a test and memorize the answers, but it was out of my head the day after the test. I don't really enjoy anything hands-on. I hate building stuff, I could never figure out how to use a simple weed-eater, I'm pretty useless in practical affairs.


9) How organized do you to think of yourself as?

Pretty disorganized I'd say, but that could be due to my apathy maybe. I don't really have anything in my life to organize.


10) How do you judge new ideas? You try to understand the principles behind it to see if they make sense or do you look for information that supports it?

I can usually realize quickly if it makes sense from my own perspective (sounds like Ti), but I like looking from all different angles to see how others can interpret ideas (possibly Ji/Ne), or how they'd feel differently.


11) You find harmony by making sure everyone is doing fine and belonging to a given group or by making sure that you follow what you believe and being yourself?

I'm very true to myself and adhere to authenticity. That never changes. But harmony for me is when the group dynamics are cordial and spirited. I can usually always sense when someone in a group is uncomfortable, unhappy, offended, disinterested, etc.


12) Are you the kind that thinks before speaking or do you speak before thinking? Do you prefer one-on-one communication or group discussions?

I usually think before speaking, but it's all dependent on my mood, group dynamics, topic, etc. One-on-one with a stranger or somebody I don't know too well is uncomfortable for me, but talking in front of groups, especially if it's a presentation, is terrifying for me. If it's casual, I have no problem talking with people, and I'm liable to say ridiculous things for the sake of the absurd, especially if people are talking about mundane, small-talk type stuff. The type of discussions that I usually come across lead me towards a child-like disposition, because it's all so meaningless to me, so I just play around with conversations, usually with word play or with deadpan humorous responses where people can't decipher if I'm joking or not. I've also been ENTPish over my life with regards to debating, and taking the opposing side for the fun of it. That was more so in my teens and early 20's though, but that side is still within me, I'm just more tactful these days.

13) Do you jump into action right away or do you like to know where are you jumping before leaping? Does action speaks more than words?

I almost always look to where I'm jumping. I've never been one to be impulsive or have a lack of self-control. Not Pe-dom. I don't necessarily think actions speak louder than words. I don't need someone to do something for me to show me they care about me. But then again, I can look from both perspectives and see how action speaks much louder than words, as words can be empty. I think that you're approaching this using Ne. The whole, "It could be this and it could be that," sort of agnostic approach is common in Ne types, although this might be true of all extroverted functions depending on the realm in which you're operating.


14) It's Saturday. You're at home, and your favorite show is about to start. Your friends call you for a night out. What will you do?

I have no idea. It depends on my mood and it depends on the friends. If it's because a good friend is down or sad, I'd definitely do something with him/her. But if it's just for a fun night out and I'm not needed or feel like going out, I'd have no problem saying no. The group could definitely have fun without me, but if I feel I'm an integral part to the group, or needed for some dynamic, like as a buffer for a blooming couple, then I'd go. There are just way too many factors and hypotheticals to answer this question.
Again, you seem to be using Ne, and I say "seem to" because the tendency to think up hypothetical scenarios and perceive things from different angles is a trait that is associated with Ne, although it isn't Ne itself. Like I said before, "concrete potential" = experiences = Se, so if these factors are concrete, you're using an S function (and probably an extroverted one). I think you're pretty clearly a Pe type at this point.

15) How do you act when you're stressed out?

I get really anxious and bottle my emotions, try to step outside of myself and control myself. I'll get very introspective and start thinking through my thoughts and then riddle myself with questions, then I'll start devling into the meaninglessness of everything, and how trivial my problems really are. But I don't have much issue expressing stuff to people close to me when need be.
Honestly, I'm not sure what this is. The first sentence seems a bit like Fi/Te.

16) What makes you dislike the personalities of some people?

I can't stand fake or phoniness. I don't care for overbearing, boss-like people. I get infuriated at mean-spirited people that belittle, patronize, or devalue others. People that have an aura about them that they are better than others is annoying. However, people that exploit others or have no integrity or morals, guided by the material world, are just bad people to me that allow societies to persist in this misguided, materialistic, power-hungry scheme. Racism, sexism, homophobia etc., don't really bother me because it's pure ignorance and comical to me. It only bothers me when these types of people are degrading others outwardly rather than just having these absurd, idiotic perspectives.
I've read a lot of posts by people describing the people they don't like (or simply describing people, but with an undercurrent of judgment and distaste), and T types tend to dislike personalities that they perceive as irrational or overly sensitive. Your answer is more typical of an F type.

17) Is there anything you really like talking about with other people?

I love talking about different philosophies and unique perspectives. At the moment I love talking about personality theory and the differencs in how we all think and act. What drives us. I love talking about hypothetical, silly scenarios. I like to talk about meaning and purpose, and how it can be defined so differently depending on the person. I don't really have anybody to talk to about this at length though. I like to talk about ideas in my writing to people who have read my novels, and get their take on certain elements of the story. How they deciphered some of the underlying meaning or if they created any on their own.
Throughout this questionnaire, you've seemed to use a lot of Pe in how you naturally tackle things from different perspectives. You also seem more focused on conceptual topics than on concrete ones. I think it's safe to conclude that you are an Ne type, at this point.


18) What kind of things do pay the least attention to in your life.

Reality, the past, trivial matters.


19) How do your friends perceive you? What is wrong about their perception? ? What would your friends never say about your personality ?

They probably perceive me as an indifferent, silly, ridiculous, laid-back, lazy, smart guy with good potential. What they don't know is that I'm not indifferent. I care very much about things, but feel helpless to do anything about it. I can only think grand-scale, and the cruelty to animals, the hungry and impoverished conditions of so many people, the way of the world discourages and saddens me. I don't understand it. I don't understand how so many of us just ignore it and go on with our meaningless, vapid little lives while so many others struggle. The world doesn't make sense to me, and the deeper I think the worse it gets, comparing the relation of the individual to the universes.
This confuses me, because you seem to be using Ti-Fe / Fe-Ti here. It's difficult to explain clearly,
but when you talk value, you're focusing outwards, while you seem to be looking inwards in order to "make sense"
of things.

20) You got a whole day to do whatever you like. What kind of activities do you feel like doing?

It depends on my state of mind. Through my 20's I was always reading fiction, writing, creating silly songs with my guitar that kind-of roasted friends, or deep songs about meaning and purpose. I played video games for a little while. Now I have trouble reading like I used to, except on the internet, which I'm always doing. A lot of introverts report this. I always feel like I should be doing something else no matter what it is, except when I'm writing. But getting myself to sit down and write is a burden. I want to experience the world, yet I do nothing about it, except think about it. I'm always stuck in my head, thinking of what I should be doing, and not doing it. I want to make a difference, or leave a mark, but then I get overwhelmed by the steps it would take.This might be on account of inferior Te, but I think it might be more related to your Enneatype.

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