[Eric B]

No INFJs are not extraverts. However their main action/rational function is Fe.. Introversion and extraversion by this system have little to do with how social a person is. I and E distilled to their most basic components mean where a person derives their energy.
Es get charged up being around others. Is need time away from others to recharge.. Both can be shy or gregarious.
Introversion directs it's energy inward. So for the INFJ , Their perceptions are introverted Ni..Their presentation to the world is extraverted.. Fe.

And it's also their "parent" function where they tend to reach out to others. Hence, some have thought I was extraverted from the way I "parent" with Ne.

[Stray_Arrow]

That's the "directiveness" (connected with the NJ part) that makes them that way. The NFJ's are the only directive Feelers. Directiveness (task focus, low responsiveness) usually goes with Thinking. They're one of the "enigmatic types" for that reason.

Can someone explain this for me simplified, please?

[Stray_Arrow]

No INFJs are not extraverts. However their main action/rational function is Fe.. Introversion and extraversion by this system have little to do with how social a person is. I and E distilled to their most basic components mean where a person derives their energy.
Es get charged up being around others. Is need time away from others to recharge.. Both can be shy or gregarious.
Introversion directs it's energy inward. So for the INFJ , Their perceptions are introverted Ni..Their presentation to the world is extraverted.. Fe.

Oh OK. That makes sense then, I knew the difference between the I & E sorry, it was a stupid question. Can you explain what you mean by, "So for the INFJ , Their perceptions are introverted Ni..Their presentation to the world is extroverted.. Fe" please?

[Stray_Arrow]

You know.. This also illustrates what I am trying to covey.. I do enjoy helping others and I enjoy watching people bloom and realize their potential.. However a few posts later you quote Keirsey as saying they like to help their "COMPANIONS" and that is the key..

Ask any INFJ if they extend themselves to just anyone who asks.. Ask INFJs if they are picky and choosy when it comes to people.

That's why all this system can do is give you clues.. An INTJ is likley to be interested in theories or conspiracies. Never does it say what those theories or conspiracies are or say that ALL INTJs will be into these subjects.

I understand what I do about this system because I treat it like science. I look for facts.. Every description might say something different.. But they also say many things the same. It starts to become easy to discern what is empirical data and what is loose interpretation.

People will say this a theory.. Yes it is.. But it is not based on nothing.. It's a theory that is based on empirical data and fact. The theory is not in the data and facts but rather in how people translate those facts into language. A scientific theory has to have ground to stand on.

I can say with authority that every single bit of Literature I have read on this subject starting with Jung and encompassing all else; States...
This type is subtext to the person.. The person is not subtext to the type.
In other words.. You don't fit a Type.. a Type will fit you.

That is why people are mistyping and misunderstanding.

I am picky and choosey, I like to help people reach their potential.
I am interested in theories and conspiracies and I am INFJ.


"I understand what I do about this system because I treat it like science. I look for facts.. Every description might say something different.. But they also say many things the same. It starts to become easy to discern what is empirical data and what is loose interpretation."

That is exactly how I function, I look for the truth amongst all the false answers, I find a pattern that I follow to give me a rough idea of how much of what I am reading is, 'right' enough for me to go by on my journey to find the truth and 'type' myself correctly. People who translate it wrongly are usually not looking hard enough at the details in order to understanding it all as a whole.

"This type is subtext to the person.. The person is not subtext to the type.
In other words.. You don't fit a Type.. a Type will fit you."

That should be made into a thread topic. So clear, maybe it will stop a lot of people from becoming so 'lost' with typing themselves.

[Arclight]

Oh OK. That makes sense then, I knew the difference between the I & E sorry, it was a stupid question. Can you explain what you mean by, "So for the INFJ , Their perceptions are introverted Ni..Their presentation to the world is extroverted.. Fe" please?

I can try..

I/E and J/P are indicators of energy direction.. The real meat of functions is in the T/F S/N .. S/N are how people perceive. How they take in information and data. T/F are how they rationalize.. What data and information they will focus on and give the most value to when they present their perceptions to the world.

Each type has two conscious perception functions and one action function.. or two action functions and a perception function. This is before we get to the inferior which always be the mirror of your lead function.

INFJs are perceivers.. Ni leads.. So to compensate and balance.. The next two functions are rational actions functions. Ni Fe Ti
Like wise an INTP leads with an action function so it is balance by two perceiving functions. Ti Ne Si..

Nobody can live completely inside or outside of themselves.
INFJs would be in a coma state LOL if Fe didn't balance their perceptions. Likewise INTP would be a perpetual machine if their perceptions did not balance their need to rationalize and act. (think a of calculator left to run on it's own) Something has to see and record what is being calculated.

Confusing? You bet.. LOL

Sorry .

You don't fit a Type.. a Type will fit you."

A thread should not really be needed.. Every single web page and book I have ever read makes this disclaimer.. People just choose to ignore it,.

Click those links in @Eric B signature .. they will help

[Eric B]

Can someone explain this for me simplified, please?

From Berens herself:

Chart-the-Course™ & In-Charge™ have in common Directive Communications - Give structure, direct
Behind-the-Scenes™ & Get-Things-Going™ have in common Informing Communications - Evoke, draw forth, seek input

Keirsey himself described it as tending to "define the relationship", where informing lets the other person define the relationship.
So directing obviously will have a tougher edge to it, and she describes it elsewhere as connected to "task-focus", while Informing is "people-focus". People focus would normally go with Feeling (Which is basically more "personal/interpersonal" compared to Thinking's "impersonal" nature), but for NFJ's, this doesn't line up. The "Directive" NJ preference essentially overrides Feeling's people focus (Which then is relegated to the conative area of the NF temperament).

Here I just found an article by Berens I hadn't seen before:
http://www.interstrength.com/blogs/b...raction_styles

[Stray_Arrow]

From Berens herself:

Chart-the-Course™ & In-Charge™ have in common Directive Communications - Give structure, direct
Behind-the-Scenes™ & Get-Things-Going™ have in common Informing Communications - Evoke, draw forth, seek input

Keirsey himself described it as tending to "define the relationship", where informing lets the other person define the relationship.
So directing obviously will have a tougher edge to it, and she describes it elsewhere as connected to "task-focus", while Informing is "people-focus". People focus would normally go with Feeling (Which is basically more "personal/interpersonal" compared to Thinking's "impersonal" nature), but for NFJ's, this doesn't line up. The "Directive" NJ preference essentially overrides Feeling's people focus (Which then is relegated to the conative area of the NF temperament).

Here I just found an article by Berens I hadn't seen before:
Social Styles and Interaction Styles | The InterStrength Group

Hmm, OK. Thanks.

[Stray_Arrow]

I can try..

I/E and J/P are indicators of energy direction.. The real meat of functions is in the T/F S/N .. S/N are how people perceive. How they take in information and data. T/F are how they rationalize.. What data and information they will focus on and give the most value to when they present their perceptions to the world.

Each type has two conscious perception functions and one action function.. or two action functions and a perception function. This is before we get to the inferior which always be the mirror of your lead function.

INFJs are perceivers.. Ni leads.. So to compensate and balance.. The next two functions are rational actions functions. Ni Fe Ti
Like wise an INTP leads with an action function so it is balance by two perceiving functions. Ti Ne Si..

Nobody can live completely inside or outside of themselves.
INFJs would be in a coma state LOL if Fe didn't balance their perceptions. Likewise INTP would be a perpetual machine if their perceptions did not balance their need to rationalize and act. (think a of calculator left to run on it's own) Something has to see and record what is being calculated.

Confusing? You bet.. LOL

Sorry .

You don't fit a Type.. a Type will fit you."

A thread should not really be needed.. Every single web page and book I have ever read makes this disclaimer.. People just choose to ignore it,.

Click those links in @Eric B signature .. they will help

No I get it. Thanks. That was clearer. I guess I do see myself as more of a strength in leading with my perceiver. and balanced with my rationals. Thanks both of oyu @Eric and @Arclight, you've been great help, if I have any more questions I'll be sure to ask you as you seem to know what's what.

[Mountain Climber]

That doesn't really equate to INFJ's always being, 'nice' though. I translate it as just meaning that they are so interested in the potential and making the most out of something or someone, they try to make others better themselves by aiming high and full-filling their goals etc. Which is how I feel about things, not an actual 'researched' note.

I don't believe "anyone" can be all nice. I genuinely believe we are all naughty and nice. I would bet years of my life on this theory. And... I don't like words like "all, none, never, etc..." I find them to be too confining.

At the beginning of my career, I learnt there is an exception to every rule in grammer. Lately, I am out of practice and my grammer is sloppy. *wink*

I changed my name. I wonder if "anyone" can guess why? LOL I do love Jolly Rancher candy, been sucking it dry since I quit smoking last year, but thats not why...

I was embarassed. *wink*

By the way, my life is dedicated to helping the homeless and needy, activism and education. But, I have my "own" at the moment. I can't help others when I can barely help myself, can I? :)

By the way, when I was fourteen, I felt a calling to be a Daughter of St. Paul Nun. :)

My favorite actresses are Carrie Fisher, Audrey Hepburn and can you say, Shirley MacLaine?

My favorite movie is: Terms of Endearment

As a Mommy: I am deeply focused on "needs."

I'm always looking for clarity and illumination

I mask as an INTP, yep... I know a lot about INTP's, have one in the house, my son ... he's really, really intelligent

[Adriana]

Hello everyone!

I might have had a mistype revelation the other way around, I now think I may well be an INFJ mistyped as INFP. Here's my thread about it.

So, you'll seeing more of me around here, and if I decide I belong here, I'll stay!