5 Signs You're Not An INFJ

Plenty of people think they're an INFJ, but not all of these people have the corresponding cognitive functions.
I wanted to take a more cognitive focus for this video so you won't find any 'INFJ's are judging types therefore they like to plan in advance' stuff here. Don't even get me started on the 'INFJs are empaths' thing either.
The points in this video are a little more complicated than what you'd find in the average blogpost, but will hopefully offer a reliable checklist to determine if you are truly an INFJ.
Thanks to Kiara Kerrick and Tristan Strecker for the subtitles!
_________________________________________________
CPT is now on Patreon! Support the channel at: bit.ly/3dMZkt8
📖 Get the CPT eBook: amzn.to/2msapJB
🌎 Type Services & eBook: bit.ly/2wJnQL0
💚 Support CPT: bit.ly/3dMZkt8
🐦 Twitter: / cpt_theory
🎸 My music channel: / harrymurrell
💚 Donate (PayPal): bit.ly/36PFKet
About me:
Hi, I'm Harry, and I'm intensely passionate about personality typing and self-development - so much so that I have created my own Jung-inspired system, taking a more high-resolution look at the factors making up personality.
Through Cognitive Personality Theory I examine the underlying mechanisms behind cognition, and the means through which a single type can have limitless individual variation - I believe type itself is just a set of cognitive predispositions that can according to the needs of the situation be overcome.
I don't believe any type is limited in what they can achieve, but have noticed sensationalist attitudes and internet trends propagating a culture in which type-development is actively discouraged in favour of conforming to simplistic archetypes. Through CPT I hope to dispel various myths and oversimplifications of what constitutes personality type, and along the way encourage a healthier attitude towards type that allows a person to become not who they are told they are, but rather who they want to be.
_________________________________________________
00:00 - Introduction
02:10 - Introversion vs Extraversion
05:28 - Synergy
07:09 - Universalism
08:05 - Introverted Thinking
09:42 - Extraverted Feeling (Divergence)
14:05 - Emotional Prediction
18:45 - Summary
_________________________________________________
KEY
Ni/Introverted Intuition - Broad & plethoric perception of internal world.
Ne/Extraverted Intuition - Broad & plethoric perception of external world.
Si/Introverted Sensing - Specific and concrete perception of internal world.
Se/Extraverted Sensing - Specific and concrete perception of external world.
Fi/Introverted Feeling - Subjective codec; internal emotional data & harmony.
Fe/Extraverted Feeling - Subjective codec; external emotional data & harmony.
Ti/Introverted Thinking - Objective codec; internal logical order.
Te/Extraverted Thinking - Objective codec; external logical order.
Lens - Perceives data.
Codec - Rationalises data.
Convergent - Positive, creative, enacting change and seeking novelty.
Divergent - Negative, authoritative, instilling consequence and driving utility.
For more clarification on terms see the CPT eBook!
#infj #16personalities

[@thereaIitsybitsyspider]

It looks like you are wearing a graduation cap

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Haha it does doesn't it!

[@heffthehecked]

yEs what I was thinking lol!

[@skyyflower36]

I literally thought that too.

[@mariahg8776]

Lol that’s hilarious

[@uwuuwu9401]

I thought it WAS one

[@bread5414]

I feel like being an infj is only nice as a concept

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Grass is always greener on the other side!

[@onyxwelborne]

Well, being as that there are so few GENUINE infj's, then it's nothing to worry about.

[@therealzahyra]

Being INFJ is not nice at all, I don't know why people would aspire to be like this. It's chaos, every day is chaos.

[@cyrajoycebanzuelo226]

@@therealzahyra Agreed.

[@KathrineJKozachok]

yeah, like socialism

[@nsimba_777]

This just confirms that I'm an INFJ

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Boom - great to hear :)

[@DrShemp-sv6gf]

Same here my friend

[@alienology_5634]

Ayeeeee same

[@OGStarlightKY]

Same here

[@adorablemonster6732]

Sorry dude. Maybe in the next life 🙃

[@candacecasey5634]

" Infjs process emotions logically" rather than processing logic emotionally. That makes perfect sense. It is one of the reasons that I get irritated with the false dichotomy of " straight emotions" or " straight logic" for us they are interconnected as are all things.

[@mqh2411]

Totally agree with that. May explain why I feel so cold yet vunerable at the same time. Emotions have to be explained logically, socially, understandably, for a purpose of constant improvement. Emotions can't only be felt.

[@DeeDeex007o]

@@mqh2411 👌👌

[@77HadassaH77]

That’s why people often perceive me as being cold.

[@edixasanchezpacheco3692]

I thought he had just graduated 😂

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Haha solid 2:1 in content creation!

[@tinycell1836]

Me too

[@CaspiDrako]

I notice that even when studying for tests, I'm much more likely to remember everything when I connect it with my intrests and things I already know a lot about.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Likewise!

[@onyxwelborne]

That's pretty much everyone, though.

[@jamesdavis5237]

That took me 30 years to figure out by myself. I finally understood that, whenever something interested me, my memory could be close to eidetic.

[@jamesdavis5237]

@@onyxwelborne There are several types of memory recall and some MBTIs perform better with different types. Identifying what types of recall work better for you is crucial. I am by no means an expert so I will just describe a personally experience. I liked electronics so I got an technical assoc. in that field. Before that I had a tech communications job in the military. Took a job doing troubleshooting for lighting systems. High voltage, low voltage, and radio frequency modulation have one thing in common. Looking at a picture on a o-scope they are all sine waves. A sine wave then represents information, power, and time. I was seeing patterns and then found the least common denominator is 1 and 0's. Go back further on how science built everything we have today and you get a light switch. Just on/off. 1 and 0. From a switch to a supercomputer. My memory was crap on learning new things but now everything that falls into those patterns are easy for me to remember. My memory in these fields was close to eidetic. I could consume hundreds of pages of documentation in those frameworks (also interesting to me) and having amazing recall. Ask me the day of the week or a birthday or the name of someone I met a dozen times.... I'm screwed. Give me a test on a topic that I never studied before? I might pass after a week of studying the chapter assigned. Maybe.

[@Tified967]

Hence why INFJs & ENFJs not to mention ESTPs are great at fudging tests once they figure out how everything is interconnected especially in the humanities!

[@annie.kapolei]

I like the focus on what an INFJ CAN'T do. Many personalities descriptions out there are polite and positive, causing people tend to over-identify with many type descriptions, because everyone wants to see themselves as having positive strengths. More focus on the negatives or cannot's of every type would probably lead to more accurate self-typing.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

My intentions exactly - cheers :)

[@77HadassaH77]

Don’t forget about depending on how synergy works for INFJ’s. I’ve never heard any one else explain this before…

[@derpsquad1o142]

It’s so refreshing to hear someone speak on the MBTI but actually know what they’re talking about. Fantastic job again

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Thank you, that means a lot! :)

[@derpsquad1o142]

Cognitive Personality Theory you seem to spend a lot of time in the INFJ territory, but do you have a video like this on the INTJ, ENTP, or the ENFP?

[@Luxmans]

Couldn't agree more. Best on KZbin surely.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

@@derpsquad1o142 One of my quests right now is to take the large cluster of individuals who believe themselves to be INFJs and introduce the possibility of them being other types. I have an in-depth video on the ENTP and ENFP, and will definitely be making one on the INTJ too!

[@derpsquad1o142]

Cognitive Personality Theory Thabk you for getting back to me. And thanks for letting me know, I’ll definitely check it out. That notification bell is looking mighty fine this morning...

[@cynthiajohnson9412]

We, INFJs, were born thinking outside the box. And when we're handed a 'box', we unpack the 'box', examine each item, and repack it leaving out the stuff that doesn't belong in the 'box'. And if we aren't curious about the contents of the 'box', we throw the whole thing away. We aren't gonna waste our time, especially on a collection of mismatched stuff (at least to us), unless you make us.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

This is very true!

[@TyNezi]

Well stated Ms. Cynthia

[@phillipmckinnon6883]

Wow! Stay outta my head!

[@geronimo5537]

dis dis dis lol

[@kohikappu]

Very true...

[@nicholasjh1]

Universalism, that's a good metaphor for how the infj brain works. I'm actually incredibly good at learning something new at this point but only if I can relate it to something I already know. If it's a completely new frame that i have to connect it seems so much more difficult at least at first and it can even get me stuck for a long time. It can be difficult at work.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

In this manner an INFJ can become a faster learner over time too! Indeed, newer frameworks are slow on the uptake :)

[@rosagorskikh9825]

Are infjs sometimes confused with intp I took a test and got intp and the first I took it I got infp but neither did I relate to both of those I think I relate to info the most so I’m rlly confused right now

[@nicholasjh1]

@@rosagorskikh9825 I believe so. I tested as intp most of my life.

[@nicholasjh1]

@@rosagorskikh9825 because of the way functions work Ni is infjs first perceiving function and also their first function. An especially introverted infj will test as perceiving. More over a painfully introverted infj will score fairly high on thinking as their second introverted function is thinking. Ni ti ... Thus the not very sophisticated online tests will pick up on the high perceiving and strong thinking tendencies of an especially introverted infj and go on to claim that their highest likely type is intp.

[@nicholasjh1]

@@rosagorskikh9825 infjs can also easily tests as infp

[@tymforhistory]

Wonderful stuff Harry. Pointing out that an INFJ needs time to process new information that fits their systematized way of understanding really demonstrates the Ni Ti model. It isn't brought up enough that the INFJ has a lot of difficulty in quickly adapting to and absorbing the world around them. There's a certain stubbornness to the way things have to be filtered first through the internal framework instead of just being reactive in the moment.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Absolutely so - thanks for the great comment!

[@Suedetussy]

You explained me perfectly. 😁

[@melbygosling890]

Once we find that system it is amazing what we can accomplish. I had a coworker ask me how I did a task a certain way.Then he aptly stated,"You just do it that way but you would find it hard to explain how . " I just smiled and nodded.

[@JaviereInniss]

Wow, explains how when learning something new in a specific topic, I would take my time and sync in properly

[@cookiediangelo8511]

Yup. We are both stubborn and open minded. A good blend of contradictory traits.

[@campbellwalker5840]

i never realized how true the synergy part was. i dance but also want to pursue neuroscience and i’m writing an essay about the impact of dancing on neurological aging

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

What a great example!!

[@someonewithandwithoutthoug3414]

As an INFJ who is very much interested in both neuroscience/psychology and art, especially music and, by extension, dance, that sounds extremely intriguing.

[@raysacassanelli500]

The synergy thing blew my mind haha. All my hobbies involve helping/ comforting myself and others. I learned how to knit/crochet, cut hair, paint, and am gifted in the music area as well as interested in psychology. I learned all that to create personalized gifts or hav a skill to help others. Didnt think that was an Ni thing. Confused it w Ne

[@gigispace]

yes!! i'm fascinated about poetry and science, and i realise that i'm always finding a way to connect both

[@claytonia1586]

I didn't know everyone wants to be an INFJ. Why is that? I'm still trying to figure out my type. Every test says I'm an INFJ and I very much relate to what I have learned through places like objective personality and Frank James's channel. But I like to be thorough and certain. Because I also very much relate to INFP which I know is very different but I seem to be on the fence on many of the deciding factors. The first part of this video, especially the synergy part made me think I might have finally cracked it and am definitely an INFJ but the emotion part made me question it again. In any conversation I wonder how I am coming across and I'm constantly analysing how what I have said has effected the emotional stability of the group. I do try very much to visualise how what I might say will be taken and sometimes this processing means I don't get to say what I was going to because I miss my chance through over analysing. Would an INFJ care so much about how everything they say will be perceived? I will say though that I'm not always good at predicting. I try to do it to minimise any potential disharmony but I do not have an accurate honed skill at predicting people's reactions. I also can speak my mind when it's something I'm passionate about...although I try to adjust it to who I'm speaking to and not 'rock the boat' too much because I do get very stressed with disharmony as an INFJ would. Anyone got any ideas whether this leads closer to or further away from an INFJ type?

[@ivonnecaradenacho3726]

I always get INFJ-T and INFP-T on the personality test, but watching this...man I am a damn INFJ. I hate that people wanna be an INFJ just to make themselves feel "original" ..NOOO ! IT SUCKS BEING AN INFJ , as much as I think it's a blessing to be a highly sensitive person, it is also a curse

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

I hear you!

[@kiyostars]

I hate being an INFJ😭No one understands you and I have yet to meet another INFJ in real life😥.

[@cerata8276]

Being constantly aware of everyone else's feeling even if your not looking at them is often disturbing for me. Simply because when I go to school. I can often get really strong and highly random feelings being pushed about the place. It is draining to even go down a hallway due to this. Sometimes I wonder how I can even survive doing this for another 4 months.

[@deja957]

OMG THIS IS ME OMG I HAVE FOUND MY INFJ TWIN sorry 🥲

[@onyxwelborne]

@@cerata8276 Poor baby.

[@sophiadeng8889]

The synergy aspect is so true! I found it relevant throughout my academic education, for example not wanting to choose an elective because it was 'easy' or just 'fun', it had to also fit in some way, shape or form to my other subjects or my career goals. It's the same with my hobbies, it needs to have some kind of utility or I just find it pointless.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Exactly this!

[@geronimo5537]

I have not heart anyone mention synergy regarding an INFJ before. Suddenly many of my life choices and hating to do extra meaningless tasks has a whole new explanation for me. If something is pointless it is really painful to tolerate any part of it because we see no benefit of it working in our life's system that we are building.

[@mqh2411]

and I feel so narrow-minded and annoyed reading this, but yeah, utility, order, synergy... Choosing carefully all the time.

[@kevinmorbidthelostcronin1984]

This description explains something I recognized but could not explain 30 years ago. By late high school, I had noticed that I tended to do poorly on weekly tests. Yet, I would make 98% on term (final) tests. After college, I noted that I would be able to recall all the material from courses years prior, while people who had out performed me in class, could barely recall anything. I started describing my self as a slow, but permanent learner. I also could offer insights on how these things connected, which would surprise people in the field (often asking what field I had gotten my Doctorate in). They would comment that this was really high level stuff, not Associates material. I was slow because I was integrating the data. Even crazier that I am, at this moment, working on my own Roleplaying System that can be used to replicate /anything/. Right now, I am refining a spreadsheet that lets people quickly plug data to create vehicles (using dozens of means of propulsion, varying sizes, dozens of fuel sources, and ten technological periods. All because of the universal view of my brain. I hope to finish it by tomorrow. :) Already can plug together most vehicles and get the correct size, weight, and cost. Just need to finish speed. :) Now it all makes more sense. Thank you!

[@katevaughn9601]

The synergy theory is the most accurate explanation of my internal process I’ve ever heard. When I play piano, I always think of how the skill will help me in my career and future relationships. The songs I chose to learn are chosen after thinking of how my ideal boss, coworkers, parters, and audience will perceive the song I’m playing, and therefore how they will perceive me through that lens. I can’t even catch a cold without creating an internal narrative about being sick, and then imagine how I will tell the story one day, either to benefit myself or help someone else. In other words, INFJs are freaks and overrated 😂 You have a gift for explaining the MBTI system. Love your videos!!

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

I truly appreciate the kind words! Hah, definitely sounds like Ni-Ti :)

[@lucy7574]

OMG I DO THE SAME THING. when choosing a piano piece to play, i imagine playing it in front of people i want to impress and choose it if it seems 'impressive' enough

[@tiffannytwo]

THIS DESCRIBES ME PERFECTLY! Thank you for your take on this. I do the exact same thing!!

[@INFJinxed]

WORD. :D "If an INFJ starts something new, they want it to flow neatly into everything else". Very well said. I love synergy in my inner framework. I tried doing things from separate worlds but it was exhausting and let to extreme stress and burnout.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Cheers! Btw I've subscribed to your channel and will be checking it out soon!

[@INFJinxed]

Cognitive Personality Theory thank you! I love your channel btw :)

[@JonasAnandaKristiansson]

Yes!!

[@nikkid7963]

Yes! I used extremely be into photography, because I volunteered in animal rescue. I did their event photography, and took photos of the dogs up for adoption for 8 years. So, I always practiced my skills, to constantly get better. Due to health issues I had to stop working in animal rescue I’ve not picked up my camera since. There feels no need for it anymore, I can’t rationalize a use for that skill in my world anymore. Even though I once loved it very much. Now, it just stresses me out if I try to do photography. No one understands why I just quit it, and it’s to hard to explain why. Even when I do explain no one gets it.

[@sidehustletips]

@@CognitivePersonalityTheory She should change her channel name to INTJJinxed.

[@poolsidechateau]

"infj is so much more attuned to the emotions of the external world" me: watching people and their dogs cuddling, kissing on yt because i want a happy cry. 😭

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Haha

[@dianeyoung8130]

could be Enfj. I feel that's what I am and I cry for everything! Literally started a conversation with the janitor who cleans my class yesterday and we had a really good cry together after he told me his life story.

[@lucy_lp6678]

@Chrystian Vigil infp

[@shinoyashino7995]

🤣 but I do be able to seek happiness when I see couples together and animals videos. Just that I am single🤣

[@bwhitedpencilbox889]

You describe Ni better than anyone else on KZbin I’ve seen. I don’t like the “funneling everything down into one idea” definition that is popular on KZbin these days. “Synergistic” is a great term, needing to connect everything together, much more accurate imo

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Thank you!

[@christopherl1767]

Agreed. It's too reductive. 'Funnelling everything down to one synergistic framework' would fit much better.

[@AjumentaDaTriboDeIssacar]

An INFJ have a very intelligent mind but is physically to dumb to present themselves as an intelligent person who makes sense . I hate how I feel so slow and stupid in social settings while I know I have so much great and interesting ideas to bring to the table . And deep down I sense it I above average insightful while no one knows it because I can bear the suffering of trying to express my ideais through spoken words ... Sorry if I couldn’t be clear , I am still learning English

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

I get you!

[@lollylula6399]

Very clear, this is my experience too. Working my communication skills. Processing my thoughts, feelings, ideas through writing it all out (yes it can take a long time) helps me to get really clear in myself which can help when I'm communicating with others, not always though 😅

[@k.stewart007]

That's something I can relate to

[@n.werner747]

@@lollylula6399 For me, it helped to just speak with yourself a little bit. Sounds kinda weird (and is tho) but you can gain so much confidence and idk clearness of the mind. Yk, you're your own therapist, listener or something :))

[@lollylula6399]

@@n.werner747 yeah the writing down is kind of like speaking with yourself. I hadn't thought to actually speak with myself, I might try it. Thank you ☺️

[@athenamissinghome619]

“EVERYTHING has to fit into your little box JUST PERFECTLY...or nothing works for you. It’s maddening to me.” -quote from my husband.

[@MVPA-io5ee]

💯 understood.. it's your WAY or NO WAY kind of vibe... 😓😅

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Heh

[@jainaolfert3587]

Anyone else think the diamond on the wall behind his head looks like a graduation cap

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Apparenly well over 100 people!

[@troyfitzsimmons]

Im from nz an we don't graduate with these caps so im not familiar with it until your brought it up. An I know how Americans graduate 🎓 so funny

[@shinoyashino7995]

I thought of that too

[@whoisteo4840]

I don't care if I'm not special, I just wanna know so I can improve myself. heeeeeelp

[@genericname7020]

I'll help. Make a list of things you are not good at, then do those things consistently until you become good at it.

[@me.i_0vrokma398]

@@genericname7020 wah you really is helping bro I'm on to it Thanks your my god

[@me.i_0vrokma398]

I think we're on the same phase of wanting to get out from this so called "special Battle" and feeling exhausted of constantly doubting ourselves for "are we like them, the people who is fake enough to call themselves someone who is really not themselves" it's exhausting

[@Psalm_27.4]

@Who is Teo First of all, you ARE special!!! Get that!! Second, I encourage you to ponder who you know yourself to be, cognitively and emotionally, and WRITE it DOWN on paper. Thirdly-and MOST IMPORTANTLY-I kindly urge you, to SPECIFICALLY tell God that you acknowledge Him as YOUR CREATOR, and ASK HIM for HIS Wisdom in understanding not ONLY yourself, but WHO HE is, what the MEANING of life is, and what are HIS plans are for YOUR life. If you ignore part three, you will become MORE confused as time passes. THAT much I can ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEE!!! NOT joking, either!!!

[@wyattbielert2929]

I'm an infj and the way I know this guy knows his stuff is and I know he is one is because you look at his eyes. He doesnt really blink. Hes in the FLOW state he knows what hes talking about it and it compounds his skills and experience and it makes sense when normally an infj usually gets nervous and the internal logic gets scrambled by Fe trying to make peace and the point is lost Whether its true or not. It's a wild crazy ride lol

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Hah, I like it!

[@evelinaschulman7197]

As an infj, I get the same vibe, but I want you to know that this guy also claims to be an infj himself. For me it is very contradicting sinceone can clearly see that he doesn't care if he treads on someone's toes and how he will be perceived. That of course is very good since there is many misconceptions about this subject, but an infj would naturally take other people's emotion into consideration and be more mindful about what they say. The way he process the without taking emotions into consideration is more intj-alike.

[@HollywoodStageDolls]

The need of the INFJ to compress all understanding into a singularity explains why typology is so appealing to us, because it neatly organizes every aspect of human experience into a category, each of which is part of the singular system. Which is why I think INFJ’s objectively benefit a lot from it. It opens up many possibilities which otherwise might have been forever concealed without a singularity to be grabbed by. And your interpretation of typology gives it all the more potential, Harry. I really appreciate how you remain clear on the universal principles of it. You’ve helped and informed my thinking on the subject very much.

[@ACook-fc9kd]

ikr its literally an internal logical framework (NiTi) with which we can organize the external emotional data we're perceiving (FeSe) 😂

[@caffemocca8855]

The synergy thing.... I can't believe there's a name and it's a known phenomenon. It's the process that has been happening inside my mind even since I was a child. This is a reason why it's impossible for me to pursue random goals that don't really relate to each other.

[@redmagi5283]

As someone struggling with the notion of if I am an INTP vs an INFJ, this was incredibly helpful. All the tests would come back saying that I was an INTP, however I have a lot of trauma that I know affects my way of interacting with people and the world around me. My partner really drew my attention to my strong Ni tendencies which is how I started really looking into this. Just hearing you describe the unity aspect of the INFJ in everything they learn and do, and the logical predictions that they make really helped. It pit into words things that I try to describe to others about how I interact with the world and my own thoughts. Everything online really just wasn’t so helpful as it was based on these very shallow takes on the individual letters. Anyway, thank you! Recommending your channel to anyone who wants to analyze their type more closely!

[@zuzuuuuuuuuuuu]

i really like the way you talk because this is a really good example of how INFJs take a while to process things and in very common cases these things are actually THOUGHTS. i talk the same way, pausing and trying to understand what exactly my brain is thinking plus the fact that you have to translate those thoughts in words afterwards. and the synergy thing is so real, i have so much difficult on having a conversation when i cant relate any of the subjects that are being told to the things i already know well. i love this video so much, learning all of these during an existential crisis is so helpful lol

[@stephenandriotis2129]

This actually does explain a lot of my behaviours of being an INFJ. Being able to predict logic and fail at predicting feelings makes a lot more sense now, though I love observing them. It's the first time at your channel and I've never seen it explained in such depth before, so great job.

[@ianlange8108]

1.) Music and psychology are deeply intertwined. Music was potentially the cure for my personal psychological struggles. INFJs are good at finding "synergy" where most can't. 2.) INFJs use analogous situations from the past to understand current situations being presented to them. This can absolutely allow them to learn things quickly, often from drawing comparisons that other's would never think to draw. 3.) Fe seems to be a primary driver of my introversion. I have to turn off feeling everyone else's emotions. Perhaps initially unconsciously, now consciously. I can't feel my own emotions when in the presence of others, unless their emotions are extremely muted. This may be a big driver as to why we seek to understand how to bring the world peace. That combination of Fe with Ti, on top of Ni... I'm always living the lives of those around me. That is how extreme my empathy is.

[@Tified967]

I'm a divergent ENFJ but I can relate to some of your points; it's interesting you say that Fe has led to your social introversion - I haven't considered this angle before. Indeed, being an Fe dom I have trouble switching off that antenna and I too cannot dip down into Fi to know how I'm feeling in the presence of others; as you say this can lead one to turn inwards. I actually feel like I access Fi in private via my axial rotation and dipping down from Ti. Fi has very much been my focus for the past 6 months as I've been looking to gage a more anchored sense of sense - FiSi for a multitude of reasons. Music too has helped me get in touch, and always has with my NiFi; I generally prefer music without lyrics. I have quite a high convergent use of NiTi despite being an ENFJ so I thought I'd just share that I really appreciated your thought provoking comment

[@pandaparad0x]

i think u might be the first to possibly understand how extreme, even intrusive my empathy is. often feels too loud to turn off and get anything done when around others. like a stranger sitting in the audience helplessly watching me attempt to reunite pangea . turning inwards more n more . music keeps me breathing . allows me turn off others' emotions & finally tune into my own. playing a wide variety to convey the fluctuating mood of my inner dialogue and form the soundtrack to my life . Perhaps initially i thought i found the cure too but i have become a shell of myself refusing to socialize or be anywhere without my music. seems the cure has turned into, The Cure.

[@zacm1488]

Lol it irks the hell out of me when my "things" dont go perfectly together or, god forbid, contradict.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Indeed!

[@caesare.j.w.668]

Dude, you're one of the best, if not THE best MBTI theorists on the internet. You are absolutely consistent and logical, in addition to having a firm grasp of the true nuances and intricacies of the complex subject that is personality psychology. Keep up the good work, much love and respect.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Wow, thanks, I appreciate that!!

[@alisonfisher1877]

Absolutely, I very much agree!

[@brunocarnietto8312]

How to know if you're an INFJ: you're weird, but you are weird on a level that even the group of weirdos thinks you are too weird, and even your closest friends and family don't really know you on a deep level

[@cakesfionna8613]

bro true, but good things of knowing ourselves as an infj is at least we know that we are not aliens and we have at least 1 percent of population of the world that same as us.

[@p.g.9348]

thats so true, and sad. I feel like not even my mother know me well and we live together. I'm so weird.

[@rickrivers2021]

From what I've observed xNxPs are more obviously weird to others, whereas INFJs can appear somewhat normal. It's not just hard to find an INFJ because they make a small percent of the population, but also because they don't stand out in a crowd.

[@iasminehrich]

Wow that actually made totally sense

[@me.i_0vrokma398]

I've even made a song for this even a group of weirdos thinks you weird

[@cynthiajohnson9412]

Wow, now I know why I've been obsessed with manners and courtesy my whole life. They provide the emotional boundaries, the guardrails, that we INFJ can't put in place ourselves. This also explains why I'm so intuitive and yet continually get blindsided by other people's emotional explosions that, in hindsight, I always wondered why I didn't see coming. I'm always like, wow all the signs were there that something was rumbling, why did I just step in that big, steaming pile of emotional dog shit.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Thanks for sharing!

[@JimBrennan-no7yz]

Wow. Same here.

[@asuari7305]

I finally have a name for how i learn things. SYNERGY omg i am using that

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Hehe, yes!

[@ChantelStays]

*synergy* yes !!! One of the few truly, truly analyzed, in depth and *honest* information sharing on INFJ's available ! Thank you for the time and care...and let's hope it reaches out to the masses of those who want to dive deep and find their cognitive niche. After 15 years of studying cognitive functions, I can tell you, I am so tired of those who, not on purpose, but with ignorance, don't take the time to truly understand the complexities and multi layers of Jung theory and MBTI. We need to stop the stereotypes and blanket terms...the idealism over the Infj "personality type" ..seek clarity, confront our shadows and truly see through the facade of archetypes ... For consciousness evolution!

[@rakyatawam6235]

I love your energy, thoroughness, eagerness, calmness, and commitment. May the force always be with you.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Thank you, that means a lot :) May the force be with you too!

[@INFJWay]

So incredibly articulated. The words you've chosen, and the method of explanation, really explained my experiences in life. For example, your explanation of divergent and convergent Fe really clicked. What I had learnt about Fe from other sources is that its the ability to understand tribe feelings or the feelings of others, and it seems to have been interpreted as being empathetic. I personally interpreted that to being in tune with other people's feelings and being able to respond in a way that comforts them (in simple terms and may not be necessarily correct). However, when people share their feelings with me I tend to feel unchanged inside; I don't feel what they feel as such, but I am processing what they have said. I think about what they're feeling and what impact that may have on their situation. I had to learn to sympathise to behave in a way that seemed more socially acceptable, otherwise I was seen to be "cold" when people shared with me their feelings. Thank you for your brilliant explanations.

[@grumpyschnauzer]

Loved how you explained the bonus point! I’ve never heard it explained so clearly... we predict logic, not emotion... we are detached from it.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Exactly this. Thank you! :)

[@cj1538]

thank you so much for this video - As an INFP who was wondering the difference between INFP and INFJ (other articles about INFJ felt relatable to me so i became confused), I found this video and your other “why you are not an INFP” incredibly helpful to realise which one I am but also help me understand my INFJ sibling more!!

[@BeeKaye]

I get INFJ every time. I'd like to be something else...

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Tests aren't reliable I'm afraid - it doesn't matter how many times you do them. What you get from an online test is not equivalent to what you are :) You may of course be an INFJ, but knowing your type comes from research into the cognitive functions more than a test result.

[@Suedetussy]

Me, too. Sometimes i score ENFJ, what i personally like more. It‘s so much easier to be extravert, but what should i do? I really like people, but i need so much time for myself.

[@technomage6736]

Just be who you are

[@ahhwe-any7434]

Some of these tests, i just know they are based more on bs. Bc you cant get a good view on a persons broad personality, by making ppl answer a whole "multiple... 2 choice" test. & On top of that, make them answer crazy questions, that dont seem to even make sense. I think the," on a level from right, to left, or somewhere in the middle," captures a persons behavior way better. I have a hard time keeping up w/ the acronyms. But my last result, i resonate w/ some introverted qualities. But my details vs what theyd consider details would most likely Not be the same. So way less aligned, only a bit aligned. Also, Im a bit way too unconventional & less confined to be that great w/ time management. My other 2 results is injf & infp. Those relate better. Not bc of this & that but bc i hear summaries & im like 🤔 thats me! The "crazy crew." The others who want to jump on the wagon bc of some image, or the ones who try to distort it, will never work. Bc if ppl actually pay attention to the qualities, youd prob actually have to live by them too. .. I never think in matters of what seems like whatever to ppl. Im more introspective to even care about that as much. What i do care about is " do u seeee what i seeee? .....🎵" Other ppl: youre a bit eccentric. Me: ok but thats why i can sense your bs from over here. Thats not actually how personalities operate. Also, i think its funny how extroverted ppl gain energy from others. While introverted feel like theyre being drained from others. Lol, throw them together in a mix tho. ..

[@melanie.l6282]

me too!!

[@alisonfisher1877]

I love your work and the CPT model. I’ve been eyeball deep in my own independent study of personality psychology for years now. It’s refreshing to see someone who realizes there is a difference between behavior and cognition while speaking about personality. As an aside, I’m an INFP and my boyfriend is an INFJ. This video is the most helpful breakdown and explanation, for me personally, regarding some reoccurring misunderstandings that we experience -as any couple inevitably does. I’m excited to rewatch this and the complimentary INFP one (also excellent!) with my partner. Thank you, just wanted to pass on my appreciation and respect. Cheers.

[@nataliavellon1192]

Thank you for clarifying Introvert and Extrovert in terms of reactivity and proactivity. That was a helpful distinction. The need for flow in all aspects of life definitely resonates with INFJ.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

My pleasure :)

[@martinsp90]

I love the pace of your videos. The pause you make between sentences is so refreshing on this platform. Every other video is like an avalanche of concepts and words It's like fast food in video format. Thanks for that!

[@Lethevalley]

Short Story: I used to be an INFJ, but now I feel like an ISFJ. Not confident as I'm still researching, but ya. Long Story: I believe I was an INFJ when I was younger, as I always knew without being able to explain myself (pretty sure that's the dominant Ni), and it was difficult for me the clearly present my ideas/work. I'm not sure why, since I can barely remember my school years before this one year (INFJ are future focus, as Se is their inferior and the "present-moment function", which is underdeveloped), but I suddenly change my whole attitude, work ethics, academic relationships and personality. That was a big moment for me, as I progress very well in school, and strengthened my weaknesses to the point that they are what you will know me for today. I became very invested and excited for learning, worked on organizing my thoughts, writing and presenting excellent work. Hell, I am so, so proud of how much I change in less then a year. Feels like I just flourished with my weaknesses as a student, and that's probably why I have such high expectations of myself. All the things I've been though feels like an Si dominant experience that has guided me for the past 4 years (ISFJ). I constantly catch myself looking into my memory for similar experiences and figuring how i can make the most out of things now. I am obsessed with details and facts (Si), organizing my information in a very systematic way (Ti), and I wish to help others to the best of my abilities (Fe). My inferior function, Ne, is something that I completely struggle with. An Ne inferior presents itself as "future-related anxiety" and nervousness about the unknown/new things or experiences. All of the functions just seem to match the present me perfectly. I watch a video recently, and it was about a youtubers journey from believe they were an INFJ, then doubting themselves, to getting professionally typed as an ISFJ. INFJ and ISFJ have the exact same auxiliary and tertiary functions: Fe then Ti respectively. That part can get confusing, but the point of realization for others can be when they said that their supposition for the biggest and easiest difference between them is in their drive to help others: ISFJ want to help others in the physical world (senses: touch, sound, visual, etc) by using their factual and realistic knowledge for the benefit of others. INFJ want to help others in the mental/spirtual world (thoughts, perceptions, memories, basically psychology) by using their intuition and emotional/mental strength and knowledge for others. But, atlas, as a teenager stuck in a pandemic, with possible anxiety (and two depressive periods, each 2 months), this obsession with figuring out my "true type" isn't helping me. I'm not sure why, but I still feel so connected with the descriptions of both types (INFJ and ISFJ). Thank you for reading, lol.

[@Tified967]

I believe it's a common source of mistyping. I believe Joyce Meng is actually an ISFJ.

[@proudvballmom4142]

I heavily related to your 6th point, and I’m so glad you brought that up. That 6th point always kept bugging me because I always wondered if I was truly INFJ since I could usually predict logical events that would happen in a person’s life and guide them toward a path I think would better suit them, but when it would come to predicting their emotional responses, I would usually end up tongue-tied and taken aback by the outcome. The whole HSP thing resonated so well with me too! Thank you for this video, it definitely cleared up some confusion I had for the past few weeks!

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Thank you, I'm glad it helped :)

[@yulaypie]

This only confirms my INfJness. I actually only did the test for fun but in the end it helped me a lot with self improvement. No issues with your accent or the speed with which you speak but I feel like you're a bit too far from the mic. There's a bit of that open space sound that makes it hard for me to hear the words. 🤔

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

An extremely valid point! Mic upgrade in the pipeline :)

[@ginahoreczko6112]

That made so much sense. Thank you for the breakdown at the end too, it helped answer questions I had during the first half. Much appreciated ☺️

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

My pleasure :)

[@hat_maker]

wow the section on synergy was very eye opening. so true - i have a lot of interest for lots of different fields, but a lot of my passion lies in figuring out how to weave them together!

[@RaederlePhoenix]

I love that part about the need for synergy. I've tried to explain to many people throughout my life why it was disturbing to partake in any activity that felt isolated from the rest of my life and most people said, "So?" They didn't get how important it is to me. I'm thankful that I've been able to build a life where all my talents weave together beautifully now. My artwork became a coloring book, and then I colored my own coloring book and the finished works illustrated one of the expansions for one of my board games. This kind of flow makes me feel alive.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Thanks Raederle! Nice to hear it's all coming together :)

[@ComplicatedSimplicite]

I have to ask Can you make an idiots guide to this video. Lol! You are clearly a very intelligent person but I confess I struggled to understand the meaning of exactly what you were saying. Thankfully I married a very intelligent man as well and he was kind enough to listen to your video and break it down for me. With that said it was a very helpful video and once I understood it it reaffirmed things for me. Thanks!

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

I'm super aware I need to start making my content more accessible if I am to reach more people, so a more minimalist version is on the horizon! That being said, I'm glad your husband was there to break my jargon down for you :D

[@ApLemon]

Yes, I got lost at the last point of not taking responsability of others emotions and some terms there.. .I did understand most of the video ..but I had to re watch at some points 😳🙈😜... I look forward for the future version :D

[@ApLemon]

@@CognitivePersonalityTheory 🤔 my barrier for understanding were some of the terms.. maybe trying to explain it more slowly and in a more simple way. It helped me understand when you compared types and gave examples.. because I could compare them to me and help me do a little evaluation while you say it :) thanks for the video :)

[@RaederlePhoenix]

I have similar difficulties with this channel, and I'm quite sure it isn't lack of intelligence or anything like that on my part. I think it is just hard when you (as a creator) are so familiar with what you're talking about and you're talking to people who don't even understand the basics yet.

[@sandyedwards2681]

I really love the distinction between cognitive and behavioral related to proactive and reactive approaches. So helpful!

[@Alvaro-ht6kf]

I am truly grateful to you for making this video, you have finally cleared out all of the doubts I had in my head.

[@bunnybook6590]

It had always agitated me that my two fields of study - finance and music - could not be easily merged together, and the way you explained it with the term “synergy” was very enlightening and helped me understand myself in this regard. Great video!

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Much obliged! :)

[@ananditaifada2431]

this happens to me as well, i learn about visual communication design in high school but I also like psychology. I don't really know if these two subjects are related (?) But thanks to this video for giving me an opportunity to understand more about it. I'm still convinced that I'm an infj because back before I get to learn visual communication design I was into photography which is one of subjects of visual communication design itself.

[@aqueen13]

Haha.. I did the same thing! I love studying healthcare but was a professional photographer for a while and I spent a while a couple years ago coming up with analogies of how photography and health carry so many parallels.

[@SRV2013]

I'm a writer, musician, composer, cook, baker and teacher, and I always say, it's all one art.

[@marq6929]

That was excellent, thank you! I appreciate both the integrity and the clear explanation of these deeper concepts!

[@lindsayjeanchannel]

I really liked your take on this topic. It is refreshing to see someone actually relating their points made to the cognitive functions instead of just making a video based off of stereotypes. I could really relate to the points you made here. There's no way that I can have hobbies and interests that aren't at least related to one another and I don't understand how someone can have so many different hobbies and areas of expertise. I have tried this and I just can't do it (although I admire others abilities to be able to do this). Thank you for helping me to understand myself a little better!

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

It definitely took some thought but I was loathe to take the generic dichotomy or stereotype approach with this - such approaches tend to sew even more confusion! My pleasure - cheers for the comment :)

[@marklucachev6695]

I like this in-depth discussion, but it's very hard for me to picture what these abstract terms would mean/look like without some sort of examples. I have vague senses of what he's talking about but half the time the the topics seem so similar to me, it's hard to determine whether that's something I do or not lol

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Definitely going to start incorporating such examples into future videos :)

[@skyel1310]

Haha same :)

[@laju6846]

oh yes that is ALWAYS my problem.. need more examples :)

[@somebodysomeone453]

Same

[@onyxwelborne]

I need examples, too... I wonder if this is an 'S' (sensing) trait?

[@W.13th]

"& i'm not gonna compromise my integrity just to get some likes & shares." well said

[@ivnak.3046]

I think your channel is bringing a lot of clarity. I found the INFJ to be somewhat similar to how I percieve myself but watching people commenting on forums and facebook pages how special and unique is to be that way made me think I do not fit there, with the INFJs. Now I realise there are genuine INFJs which you described in your videos and that it is more about how you percieve and think rather than are you unique, special, intuitive mastermind etc who likes nature lol...Thank you for doing this, many people will find it useful and relatable

[@ryleesnaps3155]

Wow . . . I am definitely an INFJ. Thank you for making this CLEAR and being real and authentic with your viewers instead of listing stereotypes. You are one of the only people I have found that truly knows what they’re talking about when it comes to Myers Briggs. I subscribed, keep making these videos-they help me very much.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Thank you, that is truly much appreciated!

[@SteubeMan]

Thank you for this video! More than ever am I convinced that I'm an INFJ. I was nervous I had it wrong because I kind of got stuck in a funk and started trying to make sense of everything again by challenging my assumptions about my identity and core values...a kind of grand reassessment: do I really have a holistic understanding of myself and my relation to the world? ANyway...But one point you made that really stuck out to me was that INFJs aren't actually emotionally predictive by nature, but rather logically predictive. Because of this, I was beginning to think I was something of an INTJ or INTP, because shouldn't a feeling type be able to anticipate other's emotional reactions and be more in tune with them? But I often find that although I understand how people are feeling in a given moment, I don't always understand how they might react to something I will say. And I guess it's because I try to logically anticipate how others will feel, rather than emotionally anticipate it. Over the years, especially through working customer service, I've learned how to adapt and anticipate certain emotional states in others, but that was mostly by trial and error. Not exactly fun. Your other point that really resonated with me was how you described the INFJ's desire to holistically have all their interests influence and relate to each other. I literally have a whiteboard next to me where I wrote out all my most significant interests over the years and how they connected to each other, and how I might be able to better leverage them into some sort of holistic way of life LMAO. Does that idea make sense? I don't know. I just want to find a way to balance all my interests and desires so that I can grow and actually do the things I think about and dream about doing. But it seems I'm more interested in centering myself in the universe (LOL) than going out of my way to physically change anything around me...even tho I dream about how everything could be changed for the better...I knew this comment was gonna get out of hand before I started writing it... Anyway, I have a hard time learning some new system or order of operations unless I can readily relate it to something I already know, or somehow make sense of its essence or nature. I hate doing things that seem random, even if others tell me it's successful. I get lost unless i can relate the everyday, mundane actions I do to some overarching, meaningful idea, plan, or goal. Am I still INFJ or just confused? hahaha

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Wow great comment - enjoyed reading all that! I would say INFJ and ISTP are both possibilities here as there's a significant overlap in the goal pursuit of these types :)

[@anival9576]

Seems like a very INFJ post to me.

[@KayKay-us1kl]

SteubeMan, I have to point out that wanting to relate new information to something you already know is often called ACTIVATING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE. This is an effective way to make sense out of the new information. I think it’s important to realize that besides wanting things to be hollistic or match a higher personal goal or plan, relating new info to old info is an intelligent way of learning. In the context of INFJ, it shouldn’t be considered an obstacle, rather a learning process.

[@Tified967]

I'd like to point out that holistic frameworking is also applicable to ENFJs, ISTPs & ESTPs so don't rule these types out. Yes ENFJs are emotionally predictive but can also operate on the same logical predictions much like INFJs; albeit as convergent feelers I guess we do both. Also worth noting im a divergent ENFJ so Ti-Ni convergent which adds another layer of complexity to the matrix. I'd say ISTP is a strong contender here

[@sigma.analysis]

Same. I had the exact same problem. I predict the feelings of others logically instead of emotionally and in general always tries to use logic to understand the feelings of others. That's why I thought I was an INTJ, but now everything makes sense

[@AsuraPsych]

I like these alternative take approaches. Its easy to do the "5 signs you might be" videos, but these are just as helpful, if not more.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Heh, yeah I feel the negative approach in videos like this can encourage further a 'type de-boxing' attitude. Plus, gotta mix it up!

[@taff360]

A very clear and constructive approach to highlighting contrasting aspects between the INFJ and other, in particular ENTP and INFP, types. I was quite intrigued by the way you chose to use the word 'proactive' in your description of introversion vs extraversion, which I will need to reflect upon a bit. I wondered how it relates to the degree of taking initiative, as typically taking initiative is seen as 'proactive' and an extraverted trait, although indeed it can be interpreted as an immediate reaction triggered by the external environment that doesn't follow a completion of an internal thought process beforehand. So, I think I understood your point, but suppose will need to 'synergise' it with the rest of my internal framework and reflect upon it a little. In any case, really enjoyed your take on this, which is arguably the most succinct, yet complete picture of the topic.

[@andresalvarez1089]

Very comprehensive yet concise content. Very articulate and insightful. Eloquently executed.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Thank you :)

[@NotInMYName_AntiZionistJew]

Thanks for this, I actually think I might be an INFJ now. I am good at predicting the future optics of any given situation but am terrible at navigating other people’s emotional reactions in real time. If I’m put on the spot, I more often than not get flustered and say the wrong thing but in hindsight, I can see the things I might have missed while the situation was actually occurring. I also have great difficulty being put on the spot when it comes to learning anything new, wrt to new skills for example but once I’ve had time to thoroughly understand said skill and develop a framework based on it, I can eventually become a relative expert in thoroughly deconstructing it. I’m still a bit confused wrt to the reactive/proactive dichotomy but I do have this obsessive need to fit everything in my life including what might appear to others at first as different unique theories or skillsets, into a universal framework. I’m always coming up with new ways of seeing how things fit together into making up a comprehensive whole and other people always seem to dislike that I do this, preferring to view such things as useful and complementary but clearly distinct. Those people almost seem to find my wholistic way of needing to amalgamate everything either a waste of time or even possible upsetting.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Awesome! Sounds like INFP and INFJ are both options here :)

[@tegelstenen4178]

Having to internalize information before adapting it to the real world might explain why I have a hard time to grasp, understand, or really gain any kind of knowledge during lectures, but have no problem understanding and seeing how different things are connected when it's just a book and a few hours.

[@sidehustletips]

Same here, same page. Well put.

[@sandyedwards2681]

INFJ here and your description of synergy is brilliant and very helpful! I immediately think of a bunch of ways you can combine music and psychology to help emotional expression, for example. As for the internalizing new philosophies, I think the emphasis is on internal integration not speed, as when we hear what’s resonant, we can assimilate information in an instant.

[@iamrhomeo]

This has be truly refreshing, I’ve been able to put my current experience into the context which it falls and understand why I’m observing this. For the past two years I’ve been learning a new truth, which requires a lot of changes on my part and those around me expect certain actions from months into it whereas I’m aware that I am unable to fully become, through what I’m learning, though I want to and intend to..I’ve made a few small strides to line me up for the immersion but that immersion will come after the full universality of what I’ve learnt with everything else that’s present and sorting through what will not be needed.. I feel like I’m rambling. But. This has been truly helpful. Thank you 🇯🇲💪🏾

[@usualthree7]

My mind is completely blown right now. This taught me so much and I think i realized not only am I most likely not an INFJ, I may in fact be an extrovert! This was so informative, thank you.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Ahh this is so great to hear - thank you for this comment!

[@aldodirusso5216]

I’m an introvert and I really see myself in “synergy” and “universalism” aspects. They also influenced my university choiche where I had the possibility to study different areas, driven by the desire to connect all the dots and build an holistic picture. I took the test and it turned out I am INFJ-T. Your video also helped me figuring out which kind of job I would fit best. Thank you ;) EDIT In another video you say that MBTI online test is not so accurate because it focuses on the behavior dimension rather than the cognitive one. What would you suggest to correctly find out which personality I belong to?

[@earthgirl8917]

Thank you so much for your analysis. After the 3 tests I took showing an INFJ, I started to get more interested in my own cognitive functions. Before it was mostly the interest in other people's behavior as an observer and learner. I'm skeptical of probably everything until I internalize and synergize information. And so am I in regards to these personality types especially after I went through a dozen videos describing INFJs and talking a lot about how 'feeling' they are. I couldn't relate to that too much (except probably that it's true I'm often confused about how I feel myself but can scan, not feel, how other people feel in the moment) and almost thought I was mistyped. Then I came across one of the videos talking about INFJs introverted thinking as a possible secondary function. Your video confirmed how introverted intuition and thinking come along together to make sense of what's going on.

[@cyrilmarteno6489]

very interesting video ! Paradoxically, this video "5 signs you're not an INFJ" is making me identify more & more in the INFJ type. One of my biggest points of scepticism towards INFJ was the Fe-aux described as a capacity of empathy and emotional prediction. With your 5th & last points, you debunked this affirmation & made the INFJ much clearer in my view ! Thanks

[@laureng3830]

Having to pause multiple times to internalize each idea through trying to apply it to my own life or come up with examples. Is this a sign of INFJ? When I come up with my own breakthroughs or ideas I can go a million miles an hour and everything is related and makes sense, but when other people present conceptual ideas very quickly it takes me a while. I often can’t do it in real time while they’re speaking- this especially showed up in theoretical college lectures but less so in reflective discussions of readings esp novels where I could clearly assess themes motivations and nuance

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Indeed - this is the difference between convergent and divergent thinking. An INFJ's Ti is convergent, and is therefore far better suited to coming up with its own ideas than absorbing those of others :)

[@laureng3830]

Cognitive Personality Theory thanks! I can absorb other ideas or approaches when they fit into my own framework that I’m building or trying to make sense of. What other types have Ti as convergent?

[@taffetaobrien6324]

i do the exact same thing. you have no idea how many times i paused this video to take in the information and process it in my head cause it was all just too overwhelming

[@rinrin1912]

At one point i was obsessed with coming up with examples too lol

[@linnaeusa9873]

​@@taffetaobrien6324 I watched it at 0.75 speed with subtitles.

[@jcrow1181]

I was introduced to MBTI 9 years ago. It wasn't until I stumbled upon this channel that I began to close in on my true type. Tests never worked. Reading type descriptions never worked. Diving into the cognitive functions is the true way to know. That and relentless introspection.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Well said!

[@TyGee777]

Om goodness this is what I needed. The way you dissect helps me to really grow and understand. This is good my guy. Thanks for this. The "proactive, reactive" piece was great 👍.

[@sirSpookyToons]

Thank you very very much. I had taken around 15 different tests and searched up alot of videos but none were as precise as this video! Thank you, oh, so very very much! 💖

[@justbrandonokay]

It's so interesting that you mentioned synergy, I hadn't really noticed how I connect everything back to writing, which is my job, my passion and my life, the only reason I started studying the types was to improve my ability to write realistic consistent characters, I got INFP on the 16personalities test and the more I watch the more I realise how different on virtually every level I am from an INFP. I see a lot of "INFJ"s posting talking about being people who imagine the worst case scenario and preparing for it, for me I usually imagine the most likely scenario and prepare for that, what is your experience with this?

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

I also gravitate towards the most likely :)

[@user-pp8vp7hs1m]

the only reason I started studying the types was to improve my ability to write realistic consistent characters, I am doing the same thing

[@Tiogar60]

This was perfect. Tests type me as INTJ or even INTP. Once i learnt functions, i started to believe i was an ISTP due to Ti-Ni. What i found out then, was that i was INFJ. I never related to the stereotypes because I wasn't very emotionally predictive and felt quite logical. But there was simply no other type that matched. Your breakdown makes a lot of sense and helped ease my confusion for a few minutes at least.

[@mistiblack3618]

Thank you for making this video. I had to watch it more than once to fully take it in.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

You're very welcome!

[@opalknight6947]

Very well put! Somehow your analysis and descriptions of how the functions work and how they manifest within a personality make so much more sense then a lot of the other sources which strive to break the material down. Also, clinging to the generalizations which have built up in a lot of the MBTI related content available leads to much more confusion of true type, as most of the generalizations described can be true of most people regardless of their actual type. It's good to hear from someone who has their own take on the whole cognitive function interworkings putting out fresh ideas and explanations which hone in on the specifics of a certain personality type. I just wish more people tuned into your ideas (channel). I think it's time for the MBTI community, and indeed the INFJ community specifically (if you can call the collections of people who gravitate towards the subject within various online forums a community), to get some new perspectives on the subject and to stop perpetuating these built-up myths which surround some of the more sensationalized personality types. The study and clarity one finds from delving into the psychology of personality should not devolve into some kind of cult mentality. I do not know much about almost any of the social forums available (nor do I know what kind of forums you personally utilize) but I do read on Quora from time to time. I would invite you to check the site out (www.quora.com) if you don't already do, as there are a very many number of people who share and communicate their views on the personality types. A lot of people ask questions pertaining to exactly what you describe in your videos, and I think you could gain another audience-base to promote your theories if you submitted responses to people on that forum. Just a suggestion, because I think you could really benefit a lot of inquiring people with your very insightful ideas. Thank you!

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Thank you (and thanks also for your patronage, it's much appreciated)! The channel is steadily becoming more popular, for which I am grateful. I am starting to reformat the videos slightly to be more accessible, and it is my hope over time to start attracting those who are more new to typology. Hah, I hear you on the cult mentality part! Hmm very interesting suggestion - I'm always looking for new platforms to share CPT content so I may very well check Quora out - cheers for the suggestion :)

[@oponomo]

Thanks for this video man! Now i'm certain i'm a trully INFJ: (social) atmosphere obsarvant since young, constantly trying to connect all information/areas, constantly trying to get better at people predicting by reading them on the go with my own feelings of emotional awareness. I got INFP on the 16personalities site, but as i was reading it, didn't quite feel me. after reading their INFJ section it all fits me, so i had to be sure through more places.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Thanks for this comment!

[@rainbowlove3371]

Thank you for this video this video it's so helpful!

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Thilosophocl3s]

This is the best clarification I've seen yet.

[@naturalandvalid8576]

The idea of synergy is something I've recognized within my internal experience and have to say it is absolutely magical to perceive. The first time I recognized it, I was probably close to 10 years into my two main passions, so about 2015, teaching myself to sing and play guitar and a personal journey of growth. I recognized that I wasn't just going indepth into learning each thing, but unconsciously forming understandings of how change and progress happens...and these understandings were exactly the same for both passions. And so much more. Revelations and insights from one passion are able to be transferred to the other. It got to the point were just a few weeks ago, I had a major life changing shift in understanding in regards to my personal journey, I deemed, "a BIG day for me," and later that day just had the feeling that I need to sing because I'd have a similar experience in my music. And I did. I deemed a few days later, "a BIG day for me," vocally. It was an absolutely magical week for me...not only because of the progress made, but because of the synergy was amazing to experience again. Quite a few years ago I was trying to make sense of the connection and I realized that both are internal and sort of abstract passions. Maybe that was why. More recently, I recognized that both passions are sort of collapsing down into or ascending towards the same thing. Having a voice :) Another thing about the synergy is that I recognized that I've gotten to a point where it's created a sort of faith within me that was never there before. (I'm seemingly going on a tangent, but I'm actually not) I then arrived at a place where I decided to begin sharing these parts of myself, my inner experience, and not rationalize or justify or explain why...something I would do habitually. A coworker asked me how my weekend was and I responded with my truth..."I had a magical weekend." I next got a curious, "Why what did you do?" DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS The synergy you describe I believe is part of the reason why we have such difficulty feeling understood. My inner experience inspires awe within me daily. But it is impossible to convey to others because everything is so connected. Different ideas, the past the present the future, thoughts, feelings, all the stages you've been at, the progress you've made, how its been made, where that tells you you are going, and more, interconnected into this single thing that is your inner experience. This creates a depth of complex feeling that is unlike anything else...and is indescribable. Its has the potential to be the most monumentally meaningful gift but also the most devastatingly impossible curse. But it is quite the catalyst for growth, because it REQUIRES of you to become strong and confident and self assured and honest and direct and fearless and and resilient and all of that. I could go on forever but I'll give one more example. Doing a puzzle. The same one in my image actually XD I recognized how putting together a puzzle fit neatly into the understanding I formed about how progress was happening. I got a notebook and ended up writing like 6 pages of how. It was amazing. Thanks for yor videos btw! I've been watching for over a year now. The depth to which you go is in a league of its own in a sorts and is very much appreciated!!!

[@michelebraden7734]

Omg! You speak just like my 30yo son. I believe he is an infj. It explains so much about him. When he was in 3rd grade he was in the lowest reading group. It made no sense because he was so smart in all other areas. When he finally grasped the concept of words, sentence structure and so on, he read books way above his grade level. He needed a full understanding before attempting to even try. He is like that in everything he does. When I do the quiz sometimes I'm infj and sometimes infp. After hearing your explanation I believe I'm infp. I now see what makes me and my son different in how we interpret the world. Thank you!

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

How fascinating! I can draw many parralels here with myself, and what you describe of him does sound congruent with an INFJ paradigm :) Cheers for the awesome comment!

[@jonmichels7332]

I hadn't even considered that pointing towards the INFJ type. I went through that in first grade with reading. I tried to convince my teacher i didn't know how to read (because I wasn't yet fully comfortable with it) for over a month, until my mom got involved and told her that wasn't the case. By the 3rd grade I was reading books that were labeled as 6th grade reading level.

[@catheadu]

"He needed a full understanding before attempting to even try" -- Thanks for saying that. I feel stupid a lot because I need the big picture first then fill in 80-90% detail all in their correct alignment and correct timing. ie- step by step ... however, I actually am very intelligent ... just never considered I was getting stuck on assimilation -- i have issues in relationships because I need to figure out a person first ... what they want from me first and then who are they and who am I with them next. That takes a lot of time and it irritates people i think! Plus i am always getting blindsided by who I think they are vs who the really are and I end up just reacting in a irrational way because I suddenly can no longer relate to this new information.

[@jaimiehorton9669]

It's strange how some types are thought of as better or more interesting. It seems to me that it's all a balancing act of different strengths and weakness, one isn't better at life in general. Typing has helped me understand different perspectives and figure out what I need to look at in myself to grow. I'm more convinced than ever I'm an INFJ after this but I know I have a lot of blind spots too. Thanks for the clarifying video 😊

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

100%! The idea of a type being more gifted or set up for success baffles me. Ah, awesome! Happy to hear :)

[@anival9576]

I feel like "real" INFJ don't tend to cling to a type--because self-knowledge trumps categorization. I have had so many conversations with people who felt trapped by personality typing, as though it had some authority over their identity and then there's the people who want to control those categories and use them to say something about themselves. Maybe it's part of my personality that I've never seen MBTI in this way. It's a tool to help us understand ourselves, not a label to make us part of a club or or to trap us in some box. To the extent that it fulfills it's primary purpose (and helps you understand yourself and others) use it. If it's confusing you or making you feel trapped, just move away from it. Find other ways to understand yourself. It's Schrodinger's Box: leave some questions open for further consideration. What's more interesting than the possibility that you might learn something new about yourself? An INFJ is always open to the possibility that they might not be an INFJ.

[@Queen_Sylvia]

This was a fantastic breakdown of the cognitive processes of the INFJ and gave me new insights!

[@jillfishermusic4331]

I’ve found this video enormously helpful. Thank you!

[@silentgrove7670]

I loved the intro part where you looked at the sorts of attachment to wanting to be INFJ for any of those three reasons. I love when people call things out like this. It's such an act of courage to just say it and clear it all up and stand in your truth. That's what leaders and people of real integrity do. The next step is the kinder sentient, know yourself. Cognition is a way to come to self realization. It's not a club !!! There is another part I am noticing now, to avoid information to be used in the dichotomous sense. We all have other dimensions and untapped potentials. I was speaking to someone yesterday about why I am more drawn to people that are so complimentary to myself as that is where my greatest growth potential comes from. Bravo !! I feel so pumped hearing this message today. Thank you so much I feel so suddenly happy. (ENFP and .... growing ... )

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Ahhh I love this comment, thank you for saying this! It does take some effort of will to get in front of the camera and tell people what they don't necessarily want to hear, but it's definitely worth it and I'm grateful for how positively most people respond :) Cheers, absolutely agreed!

[@silentgrove7670]

@@CognitivePersonalityTheory I feel so elated hearing this. I really wish you could see it in me face to face. I am having a very strong moment of positive emotions and confirmations around my realizations. It's these moments of pathos connecting with logos. It is so powerful for myself being an ENFP. I could just hug your forever on this. I have felt similarly with other INFJs online and in person with the first INFJ I met. It's like you can bring out the best in me, even via online. You make me want to make the world a better place and make myself into the best person I can be.

[@TreasureSeasons]

Amped 🤗

[@TreasureSeasons]

@@silentgrove7670 beautiful ❤️

[@Tified967]

Try convincing Wenzes followers that they're not INFJs but divergent ESFPs...you get called a troll for your efforts even when it's conveyed in an entirely polite way 😂

[@infjricochet6722]

On the Fe: I excel at reading a room; I am not so good at influencing a room. That type of influential power requires a sort of physical/mental/emotional confluence that can be exhilarating to feel and employ, but is unsustainable. Alternatively, I've described ENFJ's in my life as having the room wattage and sustainability of the sun. I love it. I'll have to listen a few times at reduced playback speed to full take in this vid. Thanks!

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

I couldn't agree more - I often find ENFJs (and all other Fe-convergents) very inspiring! Cheers :)

[@annie.kapolei]

Neat observation! I've wondered in the past if I might be an INFJ (I'm INTJ), but I definitely can't read the room. I can read the emotions of an individual well (INFJ stereotype!) but I have to read them person by person, one at a time; I have no idea about the vibe of the group as a whole.

[@C_And_P]

@@annie.kapolei Me too. It has to be person to person.

[@Ayesha_F]

Your channel is such a wealth of knowledge. Thank you for all the work that you put in. I'm learning and understanding so much. I've always been dissatisfied with simplistic definititions of types that are most commonly encountered.

[@metametodo]

Thanks for the very clear content. This is, indeed, the first time I watch your content, so the considerably different system is a lot to take. But that said, in some ways you got me out of nowhere with this. I grew developing a sometimes great but lowkey cursed system of thought, of being, even. 'Perfectionism' may not be the most practical way to call it as such, but it's how I refer to it. And many of the important points made here relate well to it. In other typing interpretations, Ti being a tertiary function suggested Fe would be a stronger skill, but I've been trying to explain to myself within such systems how and why I feel that I've developed Ti way more than Fe. I see as it that Ti is a must to work with Ni in order to develop my perfectionism. One reason you got me unprepared is because you approached things that are rarely, if ever, spoken about: the importance of things making real individual sense to me (what you call synergy) in order for me to gather will to act on them; and my very useful and fun, but sometimes unproductive, tendency to seek relations between stuff (universalism), a strong need to learn things not by direct absorption, but integrating a great system in that one thing is more easily understood by relating it to other knowledge of mine. It's huge and stressful, but it seems that I learn way faster with it. When you started talking about Fe I questioned myself some more, as I care quite a lot about people, sometimes sacrificing myself in unhealty ways (although this may be sign of me being underdeveloped), and I'm quite good at knowing how people may feel depending on what and how I say it. But there were some other signs that suggested I'd fit as an INFJ in your system. Most of the time I don't act as if I have a definite personal moral. Instead, I resort very frequently, especially with strangers, to universal rules, the most-harmonizing-of-all values, the ones that won't fail, and never saying what I deeply think about things. It's hard to do the latter even with close friends. While you spoke, I thought I dedicate myself a lot to others but, thinking better, I compared to what may be the average amount people do it, and in fact I may do it more rarely and based on a personal code of rules from perfectionism, not that I care first of all. This may also be another evidence: my personal rules and ethics are above feelings when acting with Fe. Thank you again. I'm looking forward to check more of your videos.

[@sandyedwards2681]

I have to add another dynamic at play: age and maturity. As we get older and gain experience, if we are interested in other people and their emotions (like those who have survived trauma), the more we can identify and even anticipate emotions in others. The increased capacity of this is not necessarily from innate tendency as much as environmental necessity. And I believe this is also one of the factors that creates a so-called ambivert tendency.

[@nrfaab]

Agreed! As well as family dynamics during childhood and societal pressure.

[@anival9576]

Have you ever done a study of personalities linked to types of instrument played? It's kind of fun--a synergy between personality and music. Everything is connected! The joy of life is finding that connection. I really think you made a lot of good points about Fe in INFJs. On other channels, INFJs are typified as everyone's emotional confidant, and I don't resonate with that. I CAN be an emotional confidant but I don't seek that role out--that would be exhausting. I would much rather discuss my holistic theory of life. I resonate with your description of the Fe being passive and non-predictive. That has always been one of my biggest questions about being an INFJ--I don't feel as emotional as INFJs are "supposed" to be, but I can relate to everything you've described regarding Fe.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Now that IS a fun topic to explore! As a musician I find this segue very exciting. This is often the case - INFJ's are often rather good at the role, but we seldom seek it out. Awesome :) Cheers once again for the great comments!

[@AriaKlauser]

That's exactly what I think! Often times I wondered if I was lacking all the emotions that people portray in INFJ's, I wondered why I thought it was exhausting to be around very emotional situations or what kind of broken INFJ I was haha. It's good to know I was not so wrong all along.

[@kcl7864]

Types and music instruments, I love it !

[@jonp3890]

Whatever instrument it is, it’s likely it’ll be played predominantly in a minor key, and they’ll be dressed mostly in black while doing it, lol.

[@ahhwe-any7434]

I never even heard of the word synergy. But. im. great. at. gathering. context...

[@Snunsnine]

Thank you so much for making this video. I finally understand why it takes such a long time to learn something new. I talked about it with people and I could not find anyone needing to learn it like I do. So I thought I had to do better. But it turns out it works perfectly. This is so helpful in accepting myself! It's just the way I'm wired. And the other things you mentioned, makes perfect sense now. So, thank you for the clear explanation.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

My pleasure :)

[@RachelBirdy]

Helpful. Thank you!

[@kipmcmahan9714]

Your voice has a tone and a cadence that absolutely requires a microphone. It doesn't help that my hearing is quite bad but the slight echo without a mic compounds the problem. The info and message you're conveying seems very intelligent but I stopped mid video because it was too hard to understand what was being said. Cheers and thanks!

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Very valid points, thank you!

[@heffthehecked]

I've been doubting if I was an INFJ, something I've identified as for a few years since I've started learning about it, but this definitely applies to me.

[@CognitivePersonalityTheory]

Cool :)

[@heffthehecked]

Cognitive Personality Theory _you're_ cool

[@m.s9146]

Thank you for the introvert extrovert analysis. I do spend more time thinking about what I plan to do than actually doing it. This conserves energy and minimizes my need to interact with others. For example, I recently returned a clothing item within its 30 day window but anticipated that the register clerk would question whether the 30 days had already passed. I had downloaded my receipt with date of purchase showing, chose an outlet that experience taught me was most amenable to returning unused merchandise, calculated distance from my home, etc..The return only took a couple of minutes because I had my ducks in a row. However on my way out noticed a young woman trying on a pair of shoes that I had recently purchased. She was obviously undecided. I had energy left over and decided to offer my good experience with those shoes to aid her decision making process. This was unanticipated and had I been exhausted from the return process would have just continued past her. Every test I’ve taken types me as an N but over the years I’ve come to doubt these results as I have many S characteristics. Thanks for your help. Think I’m an IS not certain yet of the other two traits.

[@findparadise]

Hmm this was so interesting. I absolutely have to integrate everything I learn into a framework and it takes me a while to get there. For example, at uni, I can't finish a reading and immediately have something to say in class. I might take notes, brew on it, hear what other people have to say, and then form an opinion or idea, and I connect it to a pre-existing framework or philosophy. As for extroverted feeling- I'm very wrapped up in my own emotional world, I feel deeply. Like you said, I can't predict the emotions of others, and I'm definitely OBSERVANT of others' emotions. I'll think about their emotional world and why they're like that, the underlying reasons, their upbringing, their personality, how they function, and reflect A LOT on how someone is similar/dissimilar to me. But if someone displays emotions in front of me, I freeze up and feel awkward, but it will affect me greatly. I feel I'm mostly inside my own world and I'm mostly very content there. I don't spend time thinking about the world on a large scale- so many people talk about what's happening 'out there.' I find it difficult, I can only focus on one emotional world at a time. I feel rather emotionally selfish. Good example is I'm in my 6th lockdown here bc of covid, and I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it or reacting to that. I'm using it as an excuse to just research, write, reflect, talk etc.