INFP vs ISFP - Type Comparison

[@krizhiel6376]

tips: • infps are very good at pointing and recognizing an emotion • isfps are innate actors and are good at shape shifting in roles and their identity • isfps are goal oriented ( future ) so they are constantly looking into that person they want to be which can affect their relationships • infps are more focused with reconciling with the past • infps are very good at looking at the bigger picture in everything • infps can have a hard time making decisions because of Ne and its "many possibilities" thing and their functions are not wired for a " Te environment " • isfps are confident when making decisions and often excel in roles that require attention to specific details except when they have to make a decision on behalf of a group • infps usually have control over what things they want to put their attention to and its an autopilot thing • isfps are wired to stay focused on the present ( they dont have to try to focus unlike the infps ) • intuition drives the infp to look to the bigger picture and not miss any single detail ( deconstructive attitude towards any kind of objective problem-solving ) • infps have holistic perfectionism and are not so much concerned about the details as opposed to putting every possible ideas • isfps already know the bigger picture because of their already set convergent thinking while infps are compelled to constantly assess the big picture and constantly serve the bigger picture • isfps are constantly evolving and adapting to the concrete world, what they are and who they are and are very much drawn to the present • infps constantly serves the bigger picture, possibilities, and potential • infps can lose themselves into activities they love FOR HOURS and be disconnected from the external world and bodily functions • this gives the infp a dreamlike and mysterious quality becausw of how they are always in a outof body experience • infps have a difficulty recalling specific words, frameworks, specific theories but instead adopts a component based strategy for their holistic framework

[@Echokilled]

"The reality of the INFP will have a very dreamlike and surreal quality whereby they feel like they're kind of gazing across this landscape and they're gazing actively at themselves. They're watching themselves embark on this life journey without really feeling intrinsically apart of this vessel that they're inhabiting. " This is the perfect explanation for my entire life. I have felt this way since I was a very small child, always looking at myself from the perspective of an idea in my own mind.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Glad I nailed it!

[@kaylamartinez7795]

Wow, someone’s finally put it into words!

[@Ella-qg4bq]

Yap! This pandemic has forced me to sustainable matters in the concrete reality instead of living in my head. My hub intj tremendously helps me get out of my head and he said that I live in macro world not micro world. I have tried to be focused on little things daily life with lots of efforts. We can reorient ourselves as INFP to has an tendency of ISFP in the concrete reality. That’s only option in this crazy world until we can get back to home lol 😝

[@Shayne_T]

I’ve felt this my whole life, my birth chart even states this.

[@basketofbeans]

gah i just need someone to ask me some questions and type me because i have no idea. i thought i was an infp, but now i’m having doubts.

[@CognitivePersonality]

I provide a type service if you're ever interested, and I have linked a couple of fairly accurate (which is about as good as it gets) personality tests on my 'The Problem with Personality Tests' video :)

[@MCJOHNSON95]

Why don't you think you are an infp?

[@basketofbeans]

@@MCJOHNSON95 They're just talked up so much, idk if I'm really all that.

[@basketofbeans]

@@MCJOHNSON95 I'm mostly unsure of if I'm more of an extroverted sensor or intuitive. idrk lol I feel like I think way too much to be more of a sensor but then again

[@andyroobrick-a-brack9355]

@@basketofbeans Ne-Si: Explores imaginative possibilities Se-Ni: Lazer-focus on the present

[@kbilly3242]

I never seen this ISFP archetype concept presented before but I think you're right, I do model myself on archetypes. Characters in movies, people I look up to and admire

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thanks for your comment - this is often the case, especially in those ISFPs with Ni-activation!

[@Sam-bc9ll]

I literally have Google docs pages of all the characters I know that remind me of certain people (myself included)

[@meridelmoss1802]

I’m

[@camillachristinenorveganus161]

Infp- thank you

[@Sam-bc9ll]

@@JR-dp2qx how so?

[@tabby705]

Wow probably the most elucidating video I’ve seen on ISFPs online!

[@CognitivePersonality]

That's really awesome to hear, thank you!

[@coconutmilch2351]

@@CognitivePersonality I agree and it's my very first time hearing a description of a type where I wasn't like "oh yeah I can see how that can fit" no like you PEERED *deeply* INTO MY SOUL and you talked about me the way a longterm therapist or old friend would. It was frankly creepy and I was like "is he psychic?"

[@onceanartifact]

Wow. Great job!

[@bansheeziebaneezie7693]

love how the subtitles change INFP to 'Isle Of Pees'

[@mariamedeiros3721]

The identity thing was such an ah-ha moment for me. I always feel that when I'm with people, I'm not myself, like I'm acting. Also, I can't pin point a specific feeling, but I will describe it using a general word. Also, I'm pretty perfectionist. People ask me to critique something and I will point out details, and people will ask me about the general thing, and I will not be able to add much. I also feel that I can only be truly myself when I'm alone. It's like I can control the stimulae around me, I feel at peace. Even though I'm a confident person in front of others (I believe it's because I know what is right or wrong), I hate being the leader or representative. If I'm the "face" of the group, it isn't natural for me, I just channel an authority figure from my life and act it out. I lean towards isfp, I believe. I don't linger in my past and I don't dwell on it either. My motto for those matters is: my future is a string of present moments, I've chose what I figured was best for me in the past, there's no need to think about it, but instead I should focus on the present, because that's the only thing I can control. Maybe that's why I usually can't usually understand how I get to certain point. My decisions are made to satisfy my present self. Sorry for the inconvenience caused by this long text and thank you for clearing up my doubts.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thanks for the great comment; my pleasure :)

[@natasdabsi1138]

This !

[@luludee1300]

"My future is a string of present moments." What a perfect description!

[@jax8127]

yes ! i relate immensely to your comment, thanks for sharing

[@yuiitodoro7791]

Hey ,why would you be sorry for a long text .. maybe u assume that reading this will be time consuming or something like that , but anybody who is going through this is making a choice to read however long this text is. so I am just baffled by this lol

[@haneenasad]

I'd been confused for SO long as to whether I was INFP or ISFP, because I'm a very weird mixture of the traits shown by both, but after watching this video, I am starting to realize I may have been ISFP all along. Everything you said about ISFP's was so relatable to me that it hurt, while most of the stuff about INFP's, expect for one or two parts, flew completely over my head.

[@moirmoir1599]

I am an ISFP and have several INFP friends. I noticed that I‘m much more impulsive than them and don‘t think about future/past implications when I do something. I also believe that ISFP can easily hide sadness whereas INFP do the opposite.

[@CognitivePersonality]

I concur!

[@zhasyane]

Ahhh, i might be isfp then

[@entropyfun]

The best analysis of the differences between the two types I've seen. And the nuances really show why it's so damn tough typing anybody. ISFP.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thanks for this comment! You're right, it's a pretty complicated subject (afterall, it's the human brain we're talking about!) and sweeping judgements and stereotypes should be avoided when determining type code :)

[@yessacruz3283]

True. The more I learn, the more I realise how little I know of personality types.

[@sunisadeadlylazer]

Thanks, really helpful in confirming that i am an INFP. Just floating aimlessly in the universe, a hopless-romantic hippie, believing people are mostly good, and trying to stay true to myself.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Love it. Thanks for commenting and really happy to have helped! :)

[@andyroobrick-a-brack9355]

It's like INFPs are always asking "who they are." Not because we don't know their values, but because we always examine possibilities.

[@SacredRevel]

Cory Licata-Meyer 💜

[@dariobarboni9276]

@@andyroobrick-a-brack9355 It's not like. That's it. Every single day i ask myself: What type of man do i want to become ? How is my future gonna look like, stuff like that? It's very stresing but it also help me to keep things in order, like to fulfill this objective i need to do that.

[@andyroobrick-a-brack9355]

@@dariobarboni9276 Well, of it's any help, I've found out my true type is INTP with a heavy Fi dip. It could explain my 5w4 in the Enneagram system, as well. Perhaps a good way to fidn your MBTI type is to fogure out some enneagram stuff and correlate your type woth the type(s) that best fit it.

[@davinadhani7302]

Isfps can borrow from a future version of themselves. That’s incredible. I will say as an infp, I kinda think of emotions as basic colors. And si helps your remember that emotion in its rawest form. Over time when you encounter emotions in a combination you’re not familiar with, you use ne to rearrange and blend these colors in different permutations until you get close to understanding what other people feel

[@CognitivePersonality]

In my opinion a highly overlooked strength of this type!

[@writerducky2589]

This sounds like Inside Out. Think that movie was written by an INFP? 😁

[@AbsoluteZero6714]

How this confirmed I am INFP: (1) I am specific about how I feel, and my memory and understanding tends to be detail-based. (2) I do not relate to having an archetype, anyone / any state of mind to look up to AT ALL. (3) My emotions I don’t feel are constantly changing or in a fluid state. I don’t come off as a highly emotional or moody person. I generally have a good sense of measurement within, on how and why I feel about specific things. A catalogue. (4) I lack a central, specific vision of who I want to be. What I do know is I definitely want to stay true to myself. (5) I often find myself thinking about the past, ruminating over it. And how it’s affected the present. Both in terms of myself, others, and the world in general. (6) I am very interested in systems, patterns, broader implications that connect the past with the present and what it could mean for the future. Will certain cycles be broken? (7) I am most drawn to individuals who already share my ingrained, mostly static values, rather than people who I see as useful for who I want to be. The few relationships that I do value, I try hard to keep them. Who I want to be / who I see myself being will never be as important as who I already am. (8) My values have been better defined, “tweaked” with time, but I have not fundamentally changed them. I tend to update my existing systems, rather than constantly seem to evolve into new ones. An analogy I can use is, if I were a plane, I would upgrade my avionics and capabilities over time on the basis of the same platform that tries to fulfill as many roles as possible, rather than constantly coming up with new and different platforms for specialized missions. (9) It’s difficult and uncomfortable for me to switch on a different set of emotions. Cracks will show sooner or later. I value consistency, being my genuine self no matter who I come across. I can conceal certain emotions, but I can’t be a different person altogether. (10) My interest in things is holistic, big picture, while I often struggle with the details. I lean towards understanding things based off of systems, patterns, trends and generalizations. (11) Difficulty making decisions because I see many possibilities. I often wait and wait and then pick one that I see as the best relative to the others. (12) Subjective truth might as well be objective truth to me. I have a very hard time separating my ideals and just accepting things “as they are.” (13) Observing and understanding the world for its own sake doesn’t interest me at all. I have to ask how it relates to what I want, don’t want, what I value / don’t value. I can get easily overwhelmed by people who perceive, but don’t make any judgments so as to give a glimpse into what they really believe. (14) I don’t relate to the “sudden revelation” part at all. It takes a long process of analysis, looking within, looking into the past, the present, and constant back and forth before I can even begin to contemplate any sort of inner change. “Is this me?” “Why am I experiencing this?” (15) While my internal dialogue is constant, I also try to use Extroverted Intuition to understand the context of why I took certain actions. (16) Really poor Extroverted Sensing. A lot of times it’s easier to relate to the world in terms of concepts, taking a bit of a detached view from it all and finding myself hard to truly fit in. (17) My relationship with the past is concrete. I don’t reject tradition and convention, but what’s important is I see the bigger picture and go about in a way that I feel is most comfortable to me, without being bound by external expectations. I do, however, very much try to reflect on how the past made me become who I am now and my sense of identity. (18) I don’t relate to “subcultures”, and find myself wary of them. I want to be myself. In fact, by the standards of these subcultures that tend to be outwardly rebellious, I can actually appear way too normal. Do you think I’m indeed INFP?

[@phoebelianna7226]

This video is brilliant! I was fairly confident that I was an infp, but to every thing you explained about isfp I was nodding along because it so accurately explained how I feel. I’m a hyper emotional person, but I’m not good at naming specific emotions. It’s more like this soup of feeling that I exist within in that moment, but there’s no name for it. I’m also super dependent on archetypes to anchor my inner self. I love labels. They give me something to structure who I want to be around so I don’t float off on whatever feeling comes along next. It’s so important for me to know who I want to be and constantly strive toward being that person. I like what you said about isfps feeling connected to the concrete environment, but maybe cut off from life, in a sort of bubble. Because I feel like I fully exist in my body and in my environment, unlike what so many INFPs say they feel. It’s wild. I think I just might be an isfp.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thank you! What you're describing does indeed sound concurrent with an ISFP paradigm :)

[@jax8127]

this comment sums me up perfectly !!

[@wpegram9868]

Same. The tests I have taken concluded INFP, but based on this video, for many of the same reasons you give, I believe I might be ISFP. For me, the part about cause and effect strongly (and sadly) hit home. I will be interested in the 5 Signs You're Not a ISFP video when it hits.

[@_justpeachy_004]

This sounds just like me! I really thought I was an INFP, but now I’m not sure. Anytime I feel a new “ revolution “ to myself, I find aesthetics, characters, etc. so I can LABEL myself with something. I know who I am and that ofc I exist! But, it still feels like it’s changing. The INFP sounds a lot more like me! Surprisingly

[@its_5elwyn]

@@_justpeachy_004 same:/

[@MusParvulus]

The sense of detachment from physical reality is so true. It feels like life is actually happening on the inside, and the world is just there in the background. I know it's there but I barely experience it. I'm mostly in my head, often thinking about people and relationships. Things people said, how it made me feel, how they may have felt to say it, imagining what people would be likely to say or do in hypothetical situations.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thank you for sharing your experience of this!

[@AmyMarie1992]

I can sort of relate too. I've taken walks down the street I'm currently on for over a year now and can't even tell you what color the houses next to mine are. I notice certain things, but I'm mostly wrapped in an Fi-Si-Ni mind of sorts.

[@teejay5432]

This is fascinating to me. I've always wondered how I'd go on walks in the most beautiful parks and the mate next to me would be in la la land and not notice animals darting right in front of us. I suppose your inner worlds are worlds more interesting than this present reality. An isfp

[@freeblessed]

Interesting.. I have tested out as an INFP many times and I have not ever gotten ISFP but resonate to it a good deal. I am very imaginitive and spend a lot of time in my head. However, most times I do not disconnect from reality.. At least i think I do not. I can do both things. Besides it, I am a lover of being in nature for instance and i can both get lost in my thoughts and feelings and colorful imaginery world and be immersed in the natural surroundings and I feel really alive because when I will be doing something like dancing, or walking ( more accuratly frolicking hahah) in nature, I will simitaneously be also deeply invlolved in my inner world and then it somehow helps me to relate to the external one and make me feel.. me. Or even somewhere where there may be many people, a place like a city, I will be a little more intuned to my inner being but as i walk I notice things and i see what people are doing and I wonder things about people and then i see the many diffrent buildings and basically I am also pretty observant.

[@lilakihn3688]

We need an INFP support group - for those deeply and intimately on the periphery

[@ninakim9832]

I'm an INFP and my sister is an ISFP who got mistyped as an INFP before. I always thought that it felt off for her to be an INFP because she's more decisive, less emotional, less driven by principles/beliefs, more concerned about the thoughts and opinions of her friends or the people around her, and more confident at presenting herself than I am. I've been having a hard time trying to figure out her type for a while because she has so many different personalities around different kinds of people. She took the test again and turned out to be an ISFP. Your video is so informative in telling the difference between the two types! Your discussion on the ISFP described her accurately :))

[@monisune]

wow wow wow, you are amazing at breaking down such complex concepts into words. I have been going back and forth on my type for while, but I think I can finally see I'm INFP. I also have a close ISFP friend who I briefly shared a business with, and this totally explained our differences. I always felt like I was holding her back, and she was so quick in making decisions, impulsive at times, and able to move forward so easily. She did not get attached to things. She could have laser focus on what she wanted to do and bringing her visions to life. I wish I had known more about the type differences then so I didn't feel like I was somehow defective. I felt so slow, I needed more time to process things and look at situations from all angles. I was better at handling the practical details like organizing the data and finances, pricing, making lists and charts, remembering information about customers, handling customer service and engagement. I just always felt less than because I, as well as everyone else, could not see my strengths because they're more behind the scenes. It's wonderful to know how we just wired so differently and not all of us have to be good at all the same things.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thanks for the great comment! I believe type variation is a wonderful thing as it fosters healthy cooperation - furthermore, type development can allow us to do the same thing as another type in a manner unique to ourselves :)

[@goldennuggets75]

Beautifully accurate assessment of the most important differences between the Fi dominants. As someone with INFP preferences I'm sometimes a little envious of the ability ISFPs have to live in the moment, whereas I'm so often stuck in my head, analysing the past, future possibilities, options, concepts, theories and find it much less natural to enjoy the here and now, at least most of the time. But then I've know several ISFPs and most, at least when young and probably not well developed have had problems being unable to resist the pull of the moment while being oblivious or unconcerned about the sometimes likely negative consequences. And while their singularity and tunnel vision can sometimes be a great advantage I sometimes find it strange that they can be so disinterested in other significant things happening in the world around them, at least until it's going to directly affect them. But at their best they're fantastic and as a type perhaps one of the most under rated and least well understood. Though probably that could be said about a few others too.

[@basic-decaf]

I'm an ISFP and my twin brother is an INFP. This video describes us both very well, especially the bit about the archetypes. I've always kept each area of my life entirely separate and thus I seemingly transform into different versions of myself - engineer at work, musician in my spare time, anonymous online, X with my family, Y with my church, etc. It's weird, like I can't allow any of these versions of myself to bleed into another, because if they do, it's truly jarring, as if I can't reconcile two different identities at once. I'm friends with my co-workers, but I could never add them on Facebook because work is not something "I want to identify with" or be reminded of or whatever other reason.. even though that's how I'm spending most of my life. My INFP brother, though? He's the exact same person everywhere in his life and takes pride in that -- he'll even happily add random strangers that he comes across in online games as Facebook friends, as if they were already part of his family.

[@letsreadtextbook1687]

as an INFP I relate to your brother, it feels disingenuous to be different person to different people. It's not a great move in office life of course, but there's always an urge that, "if we're gonna be friends, you need to know the whole me", or at least you should respect / acknowledge that the whole me exists.

[@basic-decaf]

@@letsreadtextbook1687 It's not disingenuous at all. I'm of the belief that you must play different roles for each area of your life. Allowing work to bleed into your personal life, or vise-versa, causes distractions and muddies the experience of both. It's not faking or being untruthful, it's simply fully immersing yourself in each time and place.

[@lilakihn3688]

@@basic-decaf I can see the truth in both ways of being - infp here.

[@jessicab8426]

@@letsreadtextbook1687wow this is so relatable

[@mattmatthewmatchuu]

Infp authors are my favorite. They teach Fi to me in such understandable terms. I have an infp pathologist friend i quote "understanding how you feel all of the time isnt always fun" lol

[@CognitivePersonality]

Having so often times a high 'relational' intelligence I can only imagine how stressful it must be for the INFP at times to have such understanding!

[@SacredRevel]

ENTP EXJW haha! Very true.

[@TK-kf8zc]

Love the concept of 'borrowing from a future version of yourself'. It took me a while to get it. Now I see how immersed I have been in archtypes in literature and art my whole life and this is exactly what is going on.

[@chanelborden6680]

I am an INFP and I strongly identify with your depiction of the separation of the tangible self from the world in a "dream-like state." I will become so into what I am doing that I will find eating to be a nuisance among other sensory input as well! I feel as if self care is a switch that is on or off. It takes tremendous focus to take care of the physical. My brain struggles in that need-to-action step.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Ahhh, yes - exactly this :) Cheers for the great comment!

[@paulbudnowski]

But if I’m not focused I can easily snack or binge

[@Dr.1.]

Yes exactly

[@Dr.1.]

A nuisance

[@CTS55555]

This explanation of INFP verse ISFP gave me the goosebumps. I am further convinced I mostly am an INFP.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thank you for the comment! Glad to hear :)

[@mandyschwartzberg3849]

I almost can’t imagine an INFP, not knowing that they’re indeed most definitely an INFP.

[@jessicab8426]

I’m surprised. Embracing the idea that I might actually be an infp

[@johngreen9830]

This has made me realise who I am so strongly man. True ISFP. The whole need to relive memories thing with INFP changed my view from N to S as it something that drains me. I love seeking new experiences and then connecting it all to a crazy weird single meaning that unlike infps vocal approach, is kept within me and is so subjective.

[@micku2216]

Insanely expansive Ni is literally the title I'd give this video if I were to base it on your ability to create such detailed analysis

[@CognitivePersonality]

Hehe, thank you :)

[@That_Awkward_Mum]

I've lost count of the number of times I've re-watched this, and still can't come to any firm conclusion about which type I am. There are just far too many characteristics of both that I relate to! 🤯

[@CognitivePersonality]

Heh, better to weigh up both than settle on a false conclusion!

[@fosejay86]

Sounds ISFP to me

[@TK-kf8zc]

It can be enough to know you have lead Fi and Te inferior.

[@jacquelynmccoy7088]

@@fosejay86 why?

[@fosejay86]

@@jacquelynmccoy7088 The seeking of a archetype

[@tofusamurai22]

I continue to be blown away by your capability of illuminating the often murky descriptions of the ways in which the functions operate within the individual types. Outstanding! Thanks, Harry ^_^

[@CognitivePersonality]

That really means a lot - thank you for the continued support!!

[@davidhudson893]

So apperently I'm an INFP and i just watched this out of interest. I've never heard my personality broken down this way. Control of emotions, conections to the past, the reason why I engage with some people and not others, seeing the world as an out of body experience and the ability to completely shut the world out while I do something. I always felt like a bit of a freak because nobody else seemed to understand when I tried to explain myself or assumed I was lying. Good to know there are others out there. Great video. Very educational.

[@jwillied1326]

I'm an INFP and I hate being misunderstood. It's the worst

[@rainbowstarks]

Yes!! Describing how the ISFP sees different emotions as different people - this is 100% me. I am fascinated with characters and whenever I am researching a character I will begin to emulate them. Ive always thought this was strange so thanks for explaining it. I have always typed as INFP but typing as ISFP lately.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@teejay5432]

Hmm maybe this is why we do better at turning 30? Going through life stages ? We don't attach ourselves to a past persona (forever 21) because we are always looking to maximise our current and future stage ?

[@2005online]

this is me. i struggle with maladaptive daydreaming (i have been getting better and have not been doing it because i hate it) and i would always make up characters in my head and act through them in real life (sometimes forgetting about the real world, which i hate.)

[@2bertlh1connu43]

Same😂

[@jimiweezer]

Thank you for this. You described a lot of my ISFP wife. It took me awhile to understand what I considered to be her putting on an act in front of other people. She isn’t being fake like I perceived but really she is focusing on delivering an experience that will make others feel good and that aligns with her internal values.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Exactly - Fi-Ni often goes misunderstood for this reason! Thanks so much for this comment :)

[@BrewerArts]

This was far and beyond the best explanation I have heard regarding ISFPs. I have long believed I was a straight up INFP although there were certain nuanced things that did not seem to apply. This video has helped me see the clear ISFP traits that I have. I am an artist and creative but very self-aware of how lacking I am in conceptual depth. INFPs seem to love communicating subjectivity through their art. I search for depth and I explore possibilities but there is something different about it from the typical INFP. To me it is manifest in the moment. Art is in the process, in the journey. It is something you do, it is meditative. And it so happens when you do it alot with awareness of the intricacies it becomes unquestionably good; Well crafted, Adhering to timeless principles of beauty and order. The interesting thing to focus on for me is the artist (which is where the art becomes tethered to reality), not necessarily the art which can send you off in many bullshit directions. I am a professional illustrator and designer and craftsman of sorts but I get annoyed by philosophies that seem too ungrounded. I am anti-authoritarian but I still look backwards for principles of order to reinterpret or reinvent. I try to excavate perspective and principles from the past. My focus is back rather than forward. This was an important differentiation for me in this video. I am also an actor, or was when I was younger and I seemed to have a natural gift for it to a point. I am immediately good at many things that are artistic or expressive. My life has felt like acting. I am constantly aware of the categories and identities around me and inside I know I don't really belong in any of them. I am a faker, but it seems most people do not know the difference. This might be the chameleon aspect of ISFPs I have heard about. It is not a desire to be false, but rather I need to try people on and see out of their eyes. I am very open and my way of learning is to test drive ideas and wear them and obtain an experiential understanding of them. This seems like a sensing thing. I could go on for ever. Needless to say this video was very helpful for me in understanding why INFP hasn't felt like the perfect fit. I may be closer to ISFP.

[@CognitivePersonality]

This is a great analysis, thanks for sharing. Glad the video helped!

[@Zlkcll]

Seems like Ni-Fi-Se INTJ jumper

[@nataliek878]

Im not sure if Im an ESFP or ISFP at this point, but I relate to both in different ways. I was MINDBLOWN when you talked about ISFP's and their archetypes for emotions. OMG I always knew I did this but I never really realized it until you put it in those terms. It was like you were literally looking into my mind and pulled out something I never knew existed. This makes me understand myself so much more now! Thank you!

[@CognitivePersonality]

Awesome comment thanks so much! I may very well do an ESFP ISFP comparison in future :)

[@dopegirl]

My brother is esfp and I’m isfp! maybe could tell

[@ecrosland]

Dang, that hazy awareness of the intricacies of introverted thinking, the difficulty recalling specific words, or feeling inarticulate when trying to apply a theoretical framework and express the insight it offers, is right on the money, IMO. So much else in your INFP-related content rings true to my experience too, but this remark in particular released some positive energy in me, as it speaks right into a particular frustration I have been aware of for some time. Your comment allows me to consider that it's not "just me" being limited for some random brain-damaged reason, but that this experience is part of the package for someone with the cognitive stack that I suspect I also have.

[@loisthiessen9134]

brilliant analysis of both INFP and ISFP. Have mistyped myself as INFP now understand I'm definitely ISFP. Thank you!

[@KumaBearOso]

You know that feeling when you're having a dream? It's like each dream has a sort of.. emotion or "feeling" attatched to it. You can still feel emotions within the dream, but everything emotion is colored by whatever that feeling is. Places in my life are like that. I can think back to my past, and each of the different places I've been, all of the places I've lived, and each place has a sort of emotional "flavor" to it that colors all other experiences. For example, I can think of the place that I grew up, and a certain emotion will arise within me. I can think of the time I live in Virginia with my first roomate, and it's an entirely different emotion. I can't quite put a name to either one. Occasionally when I'm out walking, I'll have a fleeting feeling that feels very much like what it felt like being in my home town, but before I can analyze the emotion it's gone as quickly as it came. Perhaps they're not emotions at all, because I can't put a label on them like "happy" or "sad". Just that "this is what this place feels like" and that feeling colors all other experiences that happen in that place. It's almost like places have this aura about them and what you're feeling that places "energy". I'm not saying I believe this, this is just my best way of describing it. It's cool because, going to a new place, a neighbors house, your workplace, each place ilicits a different indescribable feeling that just sort of washes over you like an emotional blanket. It's part of what makes moving exciting. It's not just a fresh new start, it also comes with a new "flavor" of sensations. I really don't know how to put this into words, but maybe other INFPs will understand 😄

[@CognitivePersonality]

This is so interesting!

[@zeynepnehirgokce4217]

I relate to this so much! It's as if I change mindsets as I'm moving locations. I have a particular sensation attached to the places I've been to and the past situations I was in. Sometimes it feels nice to remember that sensation, and sometimes I'm glad that period of my life when I felt that way is over lol. One time, I looked at a wall in my house and remembered the first time it was painted, and I suddenly experienced the exact same feelings I had when my house was going under restoration and being re-painted. I'm still not sure if I'm an INFP or an ISFP, but it it would be so cool to figure it out based on this specific aspect of how my mind works.

[@qhostboy1554]

Woahh, I feel this exact same thing and whenever I've tried to explain it to the others they just don't seem to understand. I am leaning toward isfp but infp also describes me quite well (ugh my brain is too confusing!)

[@lavion8090]

@@sub.sa.3058 wait that isn't the case for all the types?

[@rema1574]

I am INFP and I am really good in reading people..not judgmental, just understanding why they act or say the way they do...

[@xiinava6418]

Me too

[@lulunicola1165]

I always come back to this video whenever I have doubts about my type. I don't think anyone has ever set these types apart better than you, Harry. So several years later, and I still rely heavily on your book and videos for clarification. You know you're doing something right when you have repeat, exceptionally satisfied customers! Just remember that there are thousands of people in the world who still greatly appreciate your work! XD

[@くろめ-l3m]

I was always unsure about my type because mostly I identify my self as an isfp while the definition of isfps being perfectly authentic and unique did not feel right for me… so this video helped a lot and the whole point with the archetypes is just so accurate. Thanks a lot

[@MCJOHNSON95]

I think meditation and spirituality is extremely important for the INFP in our out of body reflecting nature.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Very much agreed, such things can be very helpful :)

[@ninaivana1106]

so true, I would be so stucked in life if I wouldn´t give myself the space for spiritual practice

[@joshparson5408]

Thank you so much for your video. After two years of searching my wife who's an ISTJ typed me as an ISFP which is the type I related to the most. Aside from all the artist descriptions. But your video is hands down the best description of how my mind works as an ISFP that I've ever seen. Thank you again.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thank you for the great comment; happy to have helped :)

[@robertkemp6937]

Have you looked into the whole "I have no internal voice and can't visualize anything in my mind" conversation online as it pertains to type? I'm an INFP, and, though I am able to think with an internal voice, it's definitely not my default. Mostly, I process thought silently and do whatever I do in a sort of intuitive "flow state." It requires effort to think in internal words and sentences, and if I need to, more often than not, I'll verbalize my way through whatever it is. And I write exactly the way I speak (short stories, for the most part, which take me bloody FOREVER to finish and be happy with). As for aphantasia (the inability to picture anything in your mind's eye), memories, music, movies, and things I've seen I can recall quite vividly--at will and almost cinematographically in my mind--yet, I'd be hard-pressed to memorize a paragraph's-worth of words. And I absolutely cannot hold numbers or more than the most basic of algebra formulas in my mind's eye--they simply fade into blackness. A sort of left-brain-only aphantasia, perhaps? Sorry to ramble, but this seems to me an area that really hasn't been explored--the connection between how humans process thought--whether through words, images, patterns, or a combination of each--and Myers-Briggs typology. (Or the Enneagram, for that matter.) IS there a connection?

[@CognitivePersonality]

Generally it is more likely for an individual with convergent Feeling to have a more visual/symbolic inner dialogue (e.g. INFP and INTJ), whereas an individual with convergent Thinking may employ a monologue more easily (e.g. INTP and INFJ).

[@robertkemp6937]

Makes sense, I suppose. Thx.

[@robertkemp6937]

And thanks for your posts! Keep up the good work!

[@mrspiral2194]

"Mostly, I process thought silently and do whatever I do in a sort of intuitive "flow state." It requires effort to think in internal words and sentences..." I'm in my 30's and only recently I clearly understood that i could also apply my cognition in an inner dialogue. Its always mostly a collage of memories and images and having my ideas occurring in made up scenes and dialogues.

[@1chienandalou]

I think this is going to have a lot of variance from MBTI. My inner world is very visual (or other senses, including specific kinds like musical), and I experience things that don’t have any language expressability. Some dreamlike but some are just, I don’t know super abstract. Sometimes it’s highly mathematical like snowflakes under microscope, sometimes more intuitive and fluid, sometimes it is very geometric like fractals. And I can literally “see“ these things. And yet I’m also very linguistic both externally and internally... I speak the way I write too, it just comes out in full sentences, in fact I talk to type. Expect my inner world to be more linguistically or at least symbolically structured. But in a strange way, I don’t feel like that dominates even as I am still very logical/rational underneath the imagery. It depends on what I’m doing and what sort of information it is. I also have very vivid and specific memories so much so I have photographic memory sometimes and/or with all of the senses involved or details like remembering exactly how the light came in from the window as someone said something and their voice - but that’s things I am remembering, or sometimes imagining. When it comes to the outer world, forget it. I’m just like the INFP description here. Oh, I’m an ENTP. But familiar with this stuff from my studies and work. And although I’m answering these things from my personal perspective, my understanding of the field from the neuroscience of visual imagery, inner speech and aphantasia would also lead me to think there would be quite a bit of variability between types for these things that won’t be accounted for by MBTI framework).

[@nicolejudge8189]

I came here after watching the 5 signs you aren't INFP video (which made me realize I am not, hehe), and I must say ISFP fits me like a glove. The only thing I can relate to from the INFP descr. is being so absorbed in an activity that the world just ceases to exist. But I suppose that it what the flow state should be about? So I might be missing a point here. The ISFP points though, especially the fact that I have a very clear sense of who I want to be, is something that made me feel called out. My whole identity is centered around change, knowing where I want to go, and trying to work my way there. I really appreciate your videos (even though I need to ponder them deeply).

[@nicolelauzon826]

I am a female INFP married for 12yrs to a male ISFP, known each other for 19yrs, and you nailed this video!!! Well done! We work well together but it's not perfect, as nothing can be and shouldn't be because that's where the growth and humanity is. ❤ One thing that I think is pretty unique to two Introverted-Feelers is that we hang on to each other and understand each other at a level most people never get secure/insecure and/or authentic enough to experience; there is such a deep level of knowing each other, being seen in that, and learning of one's self!!! We have two children together and he "step" fathered my other two, now adult, children. And this ISFP father is very laid back, which is good and bad, and he deeply enjoys being a provider, trying to provide too much often sometimes while I struggle to even be present...but even when I'm "not present" I'm still thinking about my loved ones and come back from that with some perspectives. (I am on our 3rd year home-schooling our two children, so I can't be too far gone for too long :) Anyway, it has been a joy for BOTH of us to watch this video for many reasons, but especially at this phase of life it has been very helpful!

[@AbsoluteZero6714]

How this confirmed I am INFP: (1) I am specific about how I feel, and my memory and understanding tends to be detail-based. (2) I do not relate to having an archetype, anyone / any state of mind to look up to AT ALL. (3) My emotions I don’t feel are constantly changing or in a fluid state. I don’t come off as a highly emotional or moody person. I generally have a good sense of measurement within, on how and why I feel about specific things. A catalogue. (4) I lack a central, specific vision of who I want to be. What I do know is I definitely want to stay true to myself. (5) I often find myself thinking about the past, ruminating over it. And how it’s affected the present. Both in terms of myself, others, and the world in general. (6) I am very interested in systems, patterns, broader implications that connect the past with the present and what it could mean for the future. Will certain cycles be broken? (7) I am most drawn to individuals who already share my ingrained, mostly static values, rather than people who I see as useful for who I want to be. The few relationships that I do value, I try hard to keep them. Who I want to be / who I see myself being will never be as important as who I already am. (8) My values have been better defined, “tweaked” with time, but I have not fundamentally changed them. I tend to update my existing systems, rather than constantly seem to evolve into new ones. An analogy I can use is, if I were a plane, I would upgrade my avionics and capabilities over time on the basis of the same platform that tries to fulfill as many roles as possible, rather than constantly coming up with new and different platforms for specialized missions. (9) It’s difficult and uncomfortable for me to switch on a different set of emotions. Cracks will show sooner or later. I value consistency, being my genuine self no matter who I come across. I can conceal certain emotions, but I can’t be a different person altogether. (10) My interest in things is holistic, big picture, while I often struggle with the details. I lean towards understanding things based off of systems, patterns, trends and generalizations. (11) Difficulty making decisions because I see many possibilities. I often wait and wait and then pick one that I see as the best relative to the others. (12) Subjective truth might as well be objective truth to me. I have a very hard time separating my ideals and just accepting things “as they are.” (13) Observing and understanding the world for its own sake doesn’t interest me at all. I have to ask how it relates to what I want, don’t want, what I value / don’t value. I can get easily overwhelmed by people who perceive, but don’t make any judgments so as to give a glimpse into what they really believe. (14) I don’t relate to the “sudden revelation” part at all. It takes a long process of analysis, looking within, looking into the past, the present, and constant back and forth before I can even begin to contemplate any sort of inner change. “Is this me?” “Why am I experiencing this?” (15) While my internal dialogue is constant, I also try to use Extroverted Intuition to understand the context of why I took certain actions. (16) Really poor Extroverted Sensing. A lot of times it’s easier to relate to the world in terms of concepts, taking a bit of a detached view from it all and finding myself hard to truly fit in. (17) My relationship with the past is concrete. I don’t reject tradition and convention, but what’s important is I see the bigger picture and go about in a way that I feel is most comfortable to me, without being bound by external expectations. I do, however, very much try to reflect on how the past made me become who I am now and my sense of identity. (18) I don’t relate to “subcultures”, and find myself wary of them. I want to be myself. In fact, by the standards of these subcultures that tend to be outwardly rebellious, I can actually appear way too normal. Do you think I’m indeed INFP?

[@Litewiz]

The narrator has 20 minds in his head, lucid technical breakdown. Genius, ill need forever to breakdown what objectively rings true.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Haha, thank you!

[@TheLittlmystri]

You explain this better than anybody else. I am an INFP. My intuition has caused people to accuse me of being psychic, which, obviously I’m not. I was a single mom and when I was raising my two son’s it was very stressful so when things got to the point where I felt like I was just gonna lose it, I would just do what I called “shelving” so I could deal with the situation’s that were in need of immediate attention, and I could prioritize which problems or obstacles could be set aside to be dealt with at another time. Unfortunately, some of that has turned into unresolved baggage that at some point I am gonna have to work through and deal with. I always held my emotions in and never cried in front of my son’s because I didn’t want them to worry but unfortunately later in life, they thought I was just cold because I didn’t cry in front of them. I didn’t show emotion because I didn’t wanna worry them. I never understood why I did that but after watching this video it now makes more sense to me. It’s no longer something I feel the need to do as I am older and I’m living alone with some cats so not a lot stressful events take place in my life. Out of all the videos, I watch, you seem to be the most articulate at speaking on the different types with such clarity so it’s easier to understand.

[@belena7789]

This is such a great video. I’m an INFP and the way you described how we deal with attachment and memories was honestly SCARY. I always feel like people never leave my life because even years after they leave I can still replay the feelings of past experiences with them to the point that they are so alive in my mind that I just can’t believe they aren’t actually around anymore. (I don’t know if that made any sense, it’s like the butterfly effect movie.) Also I’m so Se blind it’s laughable, I keep forgetting my body and surroundings exist lol

[@CognitivePersonality]

Hah, cheers for the great comment!

[@sebastiansilverfox6912]

Backfires when an old friend comes to town and you are still very much where you were in the past while they are in a completely different place.

[@messinalyle4030]

As an INFP, I think that this is why my photo albums on Facebook include albums of photos from decades ago. I've even got photos from childhood that I've tracked down and added to my albums. It feels like most people delete old albums once they no longer fit who they are in that present moment. And I just can't understand that. Our past informs our present. How can you just delete it?

[@Dr.1.]

when he told that infps forget they are hungry when doing a task they are fully invested in... I knew immediately xD 'That's me'

[@Idk20061]

indeed , that's why I keep on loving my crush ,even after they dissapeared from my life for 3 years ,and after they rejected me ,ading another 3 years ... .yeee...

[@wyleong4326]

I’m a bit rusty in my MBTI vocabulary and this is such a nice refresher. Love your word choices, it’s expansively detailed and deliberate.

[@teteworld8353]

I love your videos. Your videos really help me root the fact that I'm an INFP. I'm really into understanding emotions. I often times think about the past and think what made someone do something, what they felt that time. Same for my own actions as well. I'm really good at distinguishing what I'm feeling at what time. I try to feel everything and when I go travelling, I try to feel the place as well and see how it makes me feel.

[@CognitivePersonality]

I appreciate the kind words! This does sound very INFP :)

[@kellyg4818]

This video has been the clearest in helping me distinguish between being INFP and ISFP. Thanks! I definitely relate to your ISFP description and there isn’t that much ISFP content out there.

[@wiwi-VII]

hey just wanted to say thank you, I feel touched and concerned about the description you made about isfp on the future, and identity.. It is literally me and it is pleasant to not feel alone ♥

[@twinkyling]

Best channel for breaking down the types!!! Absolutely brilliant.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thanks so much! :)

[@bokononlives9071]

Wow, that was just chock-full of good info. I'm fairly certain I'm an INFP and there were just so many great insights...but it was also great to learn so much about the ISFP. I believe I work with two of them. I find them both relatable and unrelatable and have a better understanding of why that is now. The way they can be so confident while also turning off their emotions really irks me...mostly because I don't have that ability. To be honest, it sometimes comes across a bit fake to me, but it seems like i'm the only one that can see it. But on closer inspection...I think they really believe in this facade. It's very confusing to me.

[@phoenixxsoul]

This is a stellar description of both types! 😊✨ I see myself being an INFP (FiSi description is fitting) but there were some ISFP elements i agree with as well. However, the only thing i would disagree on is that INFP doesn't have a good sense if what is objectively right or wrong. I think i have a very good and set-in-stone sense of objectively right and wrong, for example if we're talking about objective morality, or making a conclusion based on all the facts presented etc. Idk if i understood well what you meant by that, i guess this is more of a domain of Fi and Ti than it is Te. When it comes to making a huge mechanical decisions, such as i.e someting that concerns being more future-oriented, making a decision on something that is not yet even close to happening, (such as which university i wanted to go to back in the highschool days), then yes, i want to have more options and i'm far less certain and i would be seeking consultation from someone i trust before making it on my own. So, when it comes to making external mechanical decisions, i would be kind of, seeking support from people i trust before i make a decision. I would probably have some options in mind but i would be more reculant and less certain if this is the right thing. I guess this is what you were getting at lol, but i would say this is more "being less certain about what mechanical decision is right or wrong" (you have explained it this way later on) rather that "what is objectively right or wrong" cause the latter can be interpreted in many different ways. Just my opinion 😄 Everything else is spot on! More ISFP content is encouraged, i think this is one of the most loosely-understood types, which leads to a lot of misunderstandings of their cognition.

[@karolabusquets9358]

im so confused. this video was amazing and very informative but it’s ME who is confusing and complex and cant decide if they’re an infp or an isfp

[@CognitivePersonality]

Sorry to hear! I'll be uploading a 5 Signs You're Not An INFP video soon, which should help!

[@karolabusquets9358]

@@CognitivePersonality Thank you so much!

[@GabrielHR55]

I feel like the INFP is similar to an ISFP in having that future self and ideal image when it comes to relationships as well as wanting people to grow with them. I'm an INFP my self and I relate to that part of an ISFP.

[@CognitivePersonality]

This is a fair point - the ISFP is very self-transformative and can very much see themselves as what they are trying to become, but it's true the INFP also seeks to uncover their true selves through continual growth :)

[@LittleSparklingStars]

It’s true that they are both idealists but ISFP have a more ideal future self while INFP don’t really know what they want to become. My little sister is an ISFP and she knows exactly she wants to be in the film industry in the future. Whilst her education in that field has failed, she refused to try any different course because she was set on her future in the film industry. Me being an INTP have a wide scope of interests and I have absolutely no idea where my personal future lies.

[@hannahprose]

This is the best, most helpful video of the types that I've seen, & I've seen a lot! Insightful & clear distinctions between these two types helped me understand myself so much better. Subscribed!

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thanks Hannah, that really means a lot - and I'm glad the video helped!

[@jillharrison3924]

I completely agree!

[@BlueFace33388]

I am infp and currently with an isfp. He doesn't like philosophical concepts and abstract theories as much as me. He prefers to talk about concrete stuff like how our days went and what to do in the near future. He listens more and I talk more, and he patiently listens to my random tangents and wacky ideas with no judgment. I feel they are more doers than us. They help us get results instead of staying in our heads. They can help us concreticise our thoughts, it's great.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Great combo!

[@lissixx7222]

i cant explain it but this is exactly how id imagine an infj to look. im contemplating whether or not i am an infp or an isfp. thank you for the video :))

[@CognitivePersonality]

Haha, interesting! I definitely have that 'Ni stare' :) Cheers and best of luck with your contemplation!

[@JomToons]

I’m an INFP. The more I learn the more I’m certain It’s correct.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Great!

[@_wolfox2776]

Every time a new concept/personality trait is discussed I just relate to both even more equally

[@Gio-sx7kt]

This is another great video. I've had a few friends throughout my life, that upon reflection I've typed as ISFP, and everything you've said in this, hits the mark. Also with those I've typed as INFPs. Very elucidating. I try to look at a lot of factors, but simply feeling out whether someone is INFP versus ISFP, I have this thing where I see INFPs as like a kind of reserved yet social teddy bear type persona that often has their head in a book. While ISFP I see as the artist that likes to play with the look and form of things but not so focused on the meaning(arguably less focused on words, more like wordless expressions), more on the aesthetic feeling objects or color can portray of their own volition. Like as if to say the form and color speaks for itself.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thank you for this comment! INFPs often have a more unfiltered thirst for knowledge for sure :)

[@an2512]

Beautifully put :)

[@ninezerotwo1778]

I definitely relate to the whole "emotions feeling like a different person" thing. I act certain ways around certain people. And a decision I make in a different emotional state is sort of detached from my main person. I can dissociate easily like that, which makes me not have morals in moments. Upon coming back to 'myself' though, I feel awful.

[@robertdabob8939]

These are brilliant descriptions, the best I've heard. If guided by archetypal images the ISFP sounds perfectly suited to spiritual awareness, but may need to be weary of the inflation that goes with over identifying with an archetype. They would likely benefit from a Jungian understanding of psychology and themselves, and I already know the INFP does.

[@gjscheffer717]

Just wanna say I really appreciate this video! Long story short, I mistyped as an intj and thought that was it, but I was curious and wondered if I was an isfp. I was sure I was an NT type because I'm a excellent abstract thinker and am intuitive, but when I think about the patterns of behavior in my life, the cognitive functions of the isfp are the closest match, especially "trying to match an archetype", which I didn't even know other people did. Nice vid!

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thank you! So glad the video helped :)

[@northwestwind85]

I have a question. I do relate to what you're saying about ISFP's. I tend to look at characters and artists and reflect on them being something I have the potential of being. I definitely have a singular vision for what I want to be and have. I need the art I do to have a tangible and visible touch to it, music that can be heard, art that can be seen for example. But I seem to tend to hold onto people very much, and I tend to see a future where that person is with me, and I can easily feel attached and stuck on a friendship that I've internally decided I want to be 'real' and lasting, people tend to latch onto my inner world. Is that more Si or Ni?

[@CognitivePersonality]

Sounds more like Ni and Si 'dipping' from an Fi-Si position - sounds like quite a precise limbic dialogue with the Se and Ni characteristics being extensions of cognition rather than a central force. These are just first impressions, however :)

[@kimpastabowl1058]

@@CognitivePersonality so would this be infp..?

[@Abstractor21]

@@kimpastabowl1058 probably yes.

[@fivehead]

this is tough. i seem to have traits of both types. i feel disconnected from my physical environment and think of my self as a holistic person with a wide range of interests and generally struggle with details, and what you said about allowing multiple possibilities to exist alongside each other really resonated with me, i can be quite "objective" in this sense and it's why i thought i was a thinker for a long time. but i am constantly striving towards the actualization of an ideal self that i am constantly redefining and i do not like or feel comfortable imposing myself on others. my feelings are deep but vague and i typically define them as sensations in the body. i dont prioritize my emotions in determining truth and though multiple possibilities can coexist, they are part of a larger truth, i often see that many things are variations of the same thing and that everything is connected. i am cautious and do not lose myself to what is going on around me because i am hyperaware of the consequences of my actions, though i am also naive and can lack common sense because of my lack of attunement to the physical world. i know the steps needed to become who i want to be but i struggle with execution. i have virtually no connection to the past. im confused to be honest. i am an introverted feeler and that's all i am certain of.

[@lolaandmocha]

Ur Me 😂 I'm currently typing as ISFP if that helps

[@fivehead]

@@lolaandmocha haha that's good to know

[@fivehead]

Update for anyone reading this who relates, have been typed as intj

[@lolaandmocha]

@@fivehead I was officially typed as ISTP!

[@2005online]

dude same.

[@_VISION.]

Maybe it's best to say that INFP deals with feelings while ISFP deals with moods. Feelings integrate the emotions after thinking about the emotional sensation. Feelings are more “cognitively saturated” as the emotion chemicals are processed in our brains & bodies. Feelings are often fueled by a mix of emotions, and last for longer than emotions. Moods are more generalized and is heavily influenced by several factors. They’re not tied to a specific incident, but a collection of inputs. Moods can last minutes, hours, probably even days.

[@TK-kf8zc]

Feelings versus moods, exactly, well put! I think feelings are very personal, tied to the ego, whereas moods are more like a state tied to your surroundings. It is so true that ISFPs can lose themselves in the moment. I seek out specific experiences precisely in order to do so ! "What am I in the mood for?" is our question.

[@TK-kf8zc]

In saying a combination of your own feelings and surroundings you have exactly described the top two functions in the stack, Fi and Se 👏

[@Moodboard39]

Make sense

[@amalksuresh286]

Exactly

[@hollyniemand3645]

This was really informative! I struggled quite much with determining my MBTI type, and settled on INFP, because it seemed to be the closest fit, but some things appeared to be off. This video makes me think I‘m probably actually an ISFP. When I did several tests I got almost every possible result, and I thought my Se would be quite bad, because I tend to not see things (my visual perception isn’t good, but it’s not because of my eyes). But I’m actually really attuned to the things around me, adapt quite naturally to a given situation and can get lost in the moment. I need to be alone to reconnect with myself, because when I’m with others, I’m so attuned to them and the whole situation, that it makes me fear loosing touch with myself, and it can become exhausting. That I easily adapt to other people made me often think I would have high Fe, and that’s also what tests mostly suggested, but no type with high Fe seemed to fit, especially not the J types, because I’m way too chaotic for any of them, and way too introverted for any E type. In many comparisons the ISFP is described as more practical or handy, while the INFP is more theoretical and verbally stronger, what made me more identify with the INFP. But in your comparison everything seems to point much more to ISFP.

[@traditionalgirl3943]

As an ISFP I can relate to your discussion. As I have gotten older, I have come to see the teachings of the Catholic Faith as worthy of directing my life- An archetype per se. ( I do mean the teachings of the Faith not necessarily personalities, even prominent ones, in the Church.) I also see a strong Ni in the way I tend to view the world as an on-going battle between Good and evil. Yes, this gives me strong convictions and allows me to make decisions and to change as needed to keep myself in line with my goal of being an authentic Catholic. I accept that each person has his/her own journey so I am not pushy or judgmental but I do not shy away from clarifying the Truth, to the extent I can, for those who don’t see it. I see that as not so much a righteous attitude as fulfilling a responsibility incumbent upon me as a Christian. I’m still a ‘live and let live’ type. Thank you for the thorough exploration and specific insights you have shared; obviously you expended a lot of effort. Well done!

[@CognitivePersonality]

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing :) Cheers!

[@Fliptheonly]

It's hard to not fall for these theories when they hit the nail on the head so often. I always felt it was a kind of weird thing that i was able to clearly see my emotions and supress them more or less at will. Made me feel like some sort of manipulative psycho at times because i often do that in conversation with people of very diffenrent types to model my reaction to what i feel like the other person would want to see. Nice to hear some context on that.

[@avamcrae7263]

The test gave me ISFP and then a year later it gave me INFP.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Tests can be unreliable, and I even made a video complaining about them! For example, if a person becomes more 'open' throughout their life they will receive a higher score on the Intuition scale of many tests. I know an INFP who receives ISFP, as the opposite example of this :)

[@shirsu7824]

Ava McRae your personality type can change the test even says: “you should talk this every six months” or something. but your always changing

[@GabrielHR55]

Same here... But I'm for sure INFP... Did the test again and again and it now stays infp.. Watched a lot of videos. Definitely INFP

[@rolo3125]

I've taken the test and it keeps going me ISFP, it says they're very creative and such and that just isn't me, I went searching the the whole spiel of this video talking about hiding our emotions and wanting to make feelings tangible leads me to believe I am most definitely an INFP

[@paulbudnowski]

This was the most helpful video to really determine if I was INFP. Most definitely am... there were a few ISFP things I slightly related too, but my default is 100% INFP, at least right now as a 20 year old

[@CognitivePersonality]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hpbruin]

The very first time I took the test (in graduate school) I was ISFP. A few years later I took it again and got INFP. It stayed that way every time I took the test (over a few years). Last year I got ISFP again and I've been getting that the last few times I've taken it. First, this is by far the best explanation of ISFPs I've found. I'm so happy that it's not just another "ISFPs are amazing artists and they put all of their energy into making art". As someone who has been typed as ISFP on many different tests and have zero talent in any type of artistic activity, that's very disheartening as the only thing to hear about over and over again. Second, I'm still having a very hard time figuring out what my true type is. Watching this video (I've probably watched it three times now) for the first half I completely identify with everything you say about ISFPs. I do tend to project a lot of confidence but am not really very confident, I build myself based off of archetypes or people I admire, I hate making decisions for other people, and I can act like a completely different person if I'm with a different group of people (and can easily switch back and forth if needed). Then about halfway through I start identifying with everything you say about INFPs. I tend to not let my emotions take over (I can turn my emotions on and off), I don't know if I detach myself from the physical world and live in a "dream-like state" but I have a very active imagination that I love to live in and I have been known to go through a whole day without even thinking about eating, I tend to not be very impulsive and will usually try to think through things, and I tend to always see the good in people. I just feel stuck. I don't know if I really am ISFP or if I am INFP. I even did the two tests that you recommended in another video. One gave me ISFP, one gave me INFP. I honestly feel like I'm a complete hybrid of the two and would be considered IXFP.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Truly many ISFPs have a fair degree of 'Si-dipping', just as many INFPs have a fair degree of 'Ni-dipping', from the dominant position. Thus, some people will be more 'in between' than others, but the origin from which this dip stems will always remain on either end :)

[@siunkii]

oh my gosh i'm only at 7:15 and i have yet to ever find a video that represents myself so clearly!! wth how are you in my head. i don't like it but i'm also incredibly happy for it. - apparently an ISFP // Edit: i'm at the end and... well. this was me to the T. finally!!!! i've been so confused with mbti for years due to only seeing american-based behavioural comparisons as well as non-extensive explanations of how each function work on each type. everything has been so wishy washy it was impossible to type myself until now. thank you!

[@siunkii]

also you're funkily robotic, but it's cute at the same time. what is your own type?

[@julimari5272]

This is a wonderful and coherent video! I have been lacking a good overview and understanding of the ISFP type. Getting to know types through comparisons is very helpful.

[@PlutonicFriends]

Best video I’ve seen on the subject

[@mylittlegardenplace2832]

Sooo interesting that you mentioned "back burner". I have always done this with my emotions. Especially during my early to late 20's. I always silently in my mind referred to this action as "shelving". Holy Cow! I always wondered why I defaulted to this type of action during very stressful times in my life. I'm in awe of how much I'm learning about myself from your videos. Years back I went to counseling on & off. Was pointless. Now I find your videos. They're remarkably helpful!

[@Fxirie_harper08]

Incredibly insightful and intelligently expressed, well expressed video. I was nodding along throughout. Thank you!

[@brendsbirdseyeview6982]

Holy crap…I always thought I was INFP or INTJ but two typists have said ISFP. I didn’t see it at first because I felt way too in my head to be Se aux. Then I realized that almost every text I put into an mbti analyzer is isfp or INTJ and I knew my Fi and Ni were off the charts. I always use movies, mbti, or a vision to drive myself and I constantly try to relate with characters, be like them, or focus on their personalities. Movies drive my daydreams and I’ll get a vision about who I want to be. Mbti drives my actions. I tend to leave people behind in my past because they don’t align with my idea for the future. I’m always working towards my idea of being a single dad and focus on it non stop and think a ton about who I want to become and non stop about how I come off on social media and my appearance…I never realized this was pure Fi-Ni.

[@janemorrow6672]

I’ve just had an interesting experience with listening to a number of these videos. I am a little hard of hearing and I’ve found it hard to listen to most of them partly because they are so information dense and partly because of the complex language. But when you started talking about the ISFP I could actually hear and understand what you were saying. I did a few online tests and got INFP but now I’m certain I’m ISFP.

[@writerducky2589]

Due to a recent discussion with someone I came to the conclusion I'm ISFP. I literally felt my insides solidify a bit when I decided that. The vaguely human shaped jelly that inhabits this body, you know. Still, I do resonate with that INFP description of watching myself living my own life. Never felt quite at home in the Se descriptions - I like personal experience, but don’t rely on it in the "see it to believe it" type of way it’s often portrayed - but also realized more and more that I’m not quite an ideas person at the level Ne seems to be. The more I tried to fit with INFP the less it seemed to work, but once I accepted being an ISFP I’ve been realizing little bits of, "I *am* actually doing that thing." Anyway, I have a question. Whenever I try to act or speak a certain way, I always channel a person or character I know who does what I'm trying to do. Is that what you mean by modeling on an archetype? In regards to acting anyway. Don't really resonate with it in daily life, see. After all, one of my mottos, is: "I am me and no one else!" 😏

[@CognitivePersonality]

Yes channeling a person or character is a good example of Fi-Ni!

[@franhorvat2895]

Wow, that was nicely explained. I should watch it again to fully understand, but I can still relate to a lot of infp and isfp functions you just explained. So confused rn.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thank you! I the re-watch clears things up a bit :)

[@INFPHD]

Thanks Harry for the vid! Love your style / vibe, and wish you the best in 2020! 👍🏻 Love INFJs! Sean

[@CognitivePersonality]

Hey Sean - cheers! I've yet to properly check out your own channel but I can already tell you have great content, and look forward to doing so soon :) Likewise love INFPs! - Harry

[@INFPHD]

Yeah it’s a cool place I feel to just let out our creative side. On another note...please don’t judge me for using Frodo as a deemed INFP in my latest character vid lol. But yeah, look forward to your future stuff which is very informative/ joy to watch. My boy Mentos Jones (Brett) got me over to you!

[@CognitivePersonality]

@@INFPHD Ahaha no worries - I type the original Frodo of the books as an INFP so maybe there's less contention than is initially apparent :D Mentos's own comment is just a few below yours here - I hope he sees this as I appreciate him sharing the channel with you! Likewise I'll be keeping up with your content :)

[@CognitivePersonality]

​@@INFPHD I went to shoot you an email but noticed you don't display it on your channel - I wanted to let you know I've added your channel to my 'friends & collaborators' list and was also going to ask you whether you fancy collabing at some point! Shoot me an email if so! :)

[@INFPHD]

Shot you an email - hopefully you got it.

[@FreeJulianAssange23]

You know more about me than I do. Thank you so much.🌹- INFP.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thanks for the comment! :)

[@myelixir]

I thought everyone could choose whether to express what they're feeling or not? I have a friend (who I like to discuss things with - we have interesting discussions) who once told me that if someone shares a viewpoint with her that she feels strongly about, she has to disagree or make what she feels known. I thought this was an unusual position. I don't have to say anything. And I could be feeling really angry, scared or trapped, but if I want to only let the room feel calm and like I'm content and happy - easy peasy! One of the things I find difficult in discussing personality is when there is talk about the future. In most respects, the future doesn't exist to me. I live in the past. When I am lucky, I momentarily live in the now. But most of the time I live in the past. I rarely live in the future. The only good thing about that is I don't much worry about the future. Or at least if I ever do it is more of an awful foreboding that eventually passes.

[@annatexashumming7517]

Awesome rly! Excellent analysis, I am impressed by your level of understanding! Big thank you, this is invaluable to me in so many ways.

[@gracehannum4608]

Hi! I think I am INFP and I am blown away by your videos. Can you do a video on INFP vs. ISFJ? I would definitely appreciate that since I get confused with these type's Si cognitive function. I thought I was ISFJ for a long time. Please go over these two types because that would really help me pinpoint my type. Thank you!

[@meggui]

Great video! Really interesting information and you present it very well. The only thing I would say is that as an INFP I don’t always feel like I can control my inner Eye of Sauron! Sometimes I end up dwelling on feelings or memories that I would rather ignore or forget. I think this is the Fi-Si loop? It’s very unpleasant when it happens though I feel I’m getting it a bit under control.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thank you! Yes that's fair enough - when such a loop occurs both Fi dominants find it very hard to exert the emotional control they may otherwise possess. Feedback loops can occur between all functions and orientations, and they can be extremely hard to break! I would say, as a default, the Eye of Sauron (thank you for humouring my analogy!) is under control, but as with any codec-lens combination there is a potential for complete and irresistible fixation on a single element :)

[@ErikAdalbertvanNagel]

I've got INFP on MBIT tests most of the time (1st time INTP and later once INFJ, and ISFP never). I feel like I'm a slave of my emotions rather something I can control. And this is a huge anchor in my life.

[@enfieldjohn101]

Very helpful. This detailed description helps me understand it better. Makes me think that my wife is more likely to be ISFP rather than INFP.

[@Gabrielcezar94]

I was in doubt whether I was a INFP or ISFP due to receiving both results from different tests, but now your description of the types definitely made me understand I’m the latter. Thank you 😊

[@CognitivePersonality]

Glad I could help!

[@rachelmcgahey6302]

i am an isfp and my entire life i have felt like im acting rather than just being authentic and 'myself', its rly messed me up. Originally considering myself as too loud and expressive i practically morphed into an intp for a few years and have since lost all sense of self. Currently im stuck in the loop of trying not to play a character yet have some personality and its rly recked my relationship with myself and others. If anyone has some advice for how to deal with this id so soooo appreciate it, tho it definitely ties into a deeper personal level for me id rly like some light shined on any aspect of it

[@coffeefrog]

Idk if you’re still experiencing this, but here are my two cents: First, try new things, and focus on your feelings in the process. Do you like it or not? Why or why not? Write about your values and opinions and what drives you. Check in with your opinions and values when you’re conversing with other people. Lastly, explore various personality typing systems. I normally wouldn’t recommend that, but typology has greatly helped me find validation in who I am in contrast with everyone else and where I naturally fit into society.

[@cuemonga]

I am aware lf my emotions but I wish I had THAT sophisticated ability to control and shut down my emotions some times. Wow.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Me too!

[@authenticme7351]

I've always known i was isfp. So glad to actually understand myself it helps me to have the patience to try to understand others

[@Muddy120]

I agree that the past means alot to the INFP usually with their Si and affects there's decisions for the future greatly. ISFPs can care about the past too but there less and more emotionally detached in comparison and focus on the present moment more but they do feel strong things about things still and hold onto what matters to them. But they forgive and forget faster I think. Its really interesting.

[@andyroobrick-a-brack9355]

After looking at your video about gaining the traits of other types, I think I've concluded that I'm an INFP who has developed at least some Se over the years. When I was younger, I have extremely disconnected from reality, and it wasn't until I really started maturing that I've begun to feel more anchored. After all, even the most intuitive person cannot stay in the abstract ALL the time. Plus, when analysing the external world, I need that broad, plerhoric lense. Viewing reality just through the lense of Se feels claustrophobic. I need the area in that lense as well as the picture surrounding it. The same applies to how I read. I hate reading through an entire book, so I often jump around the internet trying to nonlinearly (IDK if that's even a word, lol) obtain that information. It's just an easier way of gaining info for me in general. Sometimes I hate having Fi and Ne, because I cannot seem to find a particular sense of identity. Everytime I come to a conclusion, I always want to change it, even if the imperical data says so. It seems to want to take all of the past experiences and focus on examples of me not fitting into/engaging in other functions besides FiNeSiTe (which, ironically, seems to be an Si thing, based off of how I interpreted your description of it,) I want to reconcile my past self with my current self, and I have to do that in order to be satisfied.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Thank you for this comment - I'm glad my content has helped you in your type journey :)

[@laurasophia2138]

This is the most in depth explanation of my type I’ve come across so far, I thought “yup, that’s me” every few minutes. Also love how you used Saurons eye as a metaphor! 😄 I’m an INFP.

[@CognitivePersonality]

Heh, I'm a total LOTR geek so couldn't resist! Thank you :)

[@laurasophia2138]

@@CognitivePersonality So am I, LotR is the best. 😊

[@dave23024]

As an ISFP, I'll say there's also a sense of "conquering" challenges like learning how to do something. When I learn how to do something, I've already lost my interest in it. Like being able to play a guitar. I'm not interested in being able to play someone else's songs. I just wanted to learn how to look like I've been playing for years. It's kind of like the saying, "Jack of all trades, master of none."

[@graeschnahmoffski5716]

I get you, but you might be surprised at the level of bliss you can reach if you keep at it beyond a mere superficial level. There comes at time where all strains of talent come together, feed into each other, and the resulting flow states get really addictive. Improvisation is my major Ni-ing common denominator, it might work for you too since you don't like playing others' stuff.

[@dave23024]

@@graeschnahmoffski5716 Definitely. It's becoming more enjoyable now. In essence, I'm a guitar player with 3 years of coordination practice, but I'm just now beginning to understand the guitar tabs.

[@graeschnahmoffski5716]

@@dave23024 It only gets better from there! Watch out for tendinopathies, and try to get into drumming if you haven't already, that's the freeest feeling I manage to get in music (I started with guitar but having only one musical dimension to worry about instead of three is great). Have fun.

[@Tiogar60]

Also been a problem for me, I go into something, learn to do it and just slowly loose interest. I have to focus on the goals that actually have long-term impact or i just end up hoarding skills

[@dave23024]

@@Tiogar60 Yep. That's exactly what I'm talking about.

[@russellmcdonald7777]

This guy is a genius. Wow!

[@jezswly919]

this is such a helpful and informative video!! i have always been typed as infp and i was getting scared that i’ve been mistyped but this helped me confirm that i am :)

[@CognitivePersonality]

Great stuff! :)