[apanimesh061]

I don't mean to offend any INFP but we are idealistic dreamers, so, people might mistake our idealism as our naivete and hence, consider us as an immature person. I am saying this because we generally try to find meaning or may be I would say a personal bonding in whatever we do ....which is not considered very beneficial at least in this world as a result of which we make (imagine) our own ideal world ..... !

[Audur]

Some people always try to destroy, harm or neglect the ones they can't understand. What does being mature really signify? For me, it means always trying to stay true to oneself and the others, keeping one's word, protecting the weak and standing up for what one believes in. In my opinion, the incarnation of maturity is, paradoxically, the one of a true idealist (and I'm not talking only about the personality type), who never gives up fighting not only for preserving the good in the outside world, but his inner one's balance too. A naive, quixotic, brave human being. One can be mature and brave only after putting himself out there, in the open, with no mask on, with all his strenghts and weaknesses, in the middle of an ocean of falsity- trying to make it more similar to its inner, perfect world.
The ones who call us immature without understanding what we are made of don't relate to anything I've written above. They envy us for our courage to be ourselves- there's no immaturity, only shockingly hypocrite social standards.

[Mattylad]

Maturity is an aspect of growing up and developing yourself, both physically and mentally. Of course physical maturity happens at a fixed period. I guess we could be considered immature, but the loud mouth ES who can't shut their mouths can quite easily also be seen as immature. I think to be seen as mature you have to develop your strongest points as well as your weakest points, rather than focus on a certain idealised personality type and change who you are.

It's an aspect of growth rather than personality type IMO.

[Lesley Drakken]

I have actually always been told I'm far more mature then my peers. My teacher this year is applying Metacognition to our curriculum and there's only one other person besides me that already grasps the concept. I always have sought to become wiser.

In general, idealism isn't as immature as some people like to believe it is. Never lose hope, and never lose your sense of wonder.

[InternalWonderous]

Some people always try to destroy, harm or neglect the ones they can't understand. What does being mature really signify? For me, it means always trying to stay true to oneself and the others, keeping one's word, protecting the weak and standing up for what one believes in. In my opinion, the incarnation of maturity is, paradoxically, the one of a true idealist (and I'm not talking only about the personality type), who never gives up fighting not only for preserving the good in the outside world, but his inner one's balance too. A naive, quixotic, brave human being. One can be mature and brave only after putting himself out there, in the open, with no mask on, with all his strenghts and weaknesses, in the middle of an ocean of falsity- trying to make it more similar to its inner, perfect world.
The ones who call us immature without understanding what we are made of don't relate to anything I've written above. They envy us for our courage to be ourselves- there's no immaturity, only shockingly hypocrite social standards.

You are awesome.

[InternalWonderous]

I think a truely mature and developed INFP will always be an idealist, yet he may come off as a little more down to earth than less developed ones. This is because he has put himself out there and accepts that everything can't always be perfect, and that not everything can be the way he wants it to be because imperfection is a way of life. A lot that what happens in life is out of your control, and we need to accept that if we ever want to be at peace with ourselves.

[thompidoo]

I am a teacher, and I have a tendency to be quite silly in class. While some of my students regard this as immature, or, insane (one student actually asked if I was 'really insane'), the truth of the matter is that I balance the serious business of teaching with a bit of fun. Sure, if the principal walked into the room at the moment when I was pulling faces and speaking in a bad fake Irish accent, his conclusion would no doubt be that I am immature. However, and quite fortunately really, the times that he has come to my room have coincided with more seriousness - discussions about student behavioural expectations and serious lessons on stuff and things - so the idea in his mind is that I am mature and responsible. So, basically, I think the answer really comes down to context and perspective. I feel that there is a time and a place for silliness and fun, but also for seriousness and work, and that the two should not be confused. I feel that knowing the difference and acting appropriately according to time and place is a sign of maturity.

As for idealism coming across as immature - I think that some of the greatest and most inspiring people of history have been idealistic (as well as some of the most evil and misguided). The measure of greatness, I guess, is how their idealism has been balanced with some grounding in reality and a dose of compassion. The idealism of Gandhi in his bid to free India from British imperial oppression is always going to be more favourably looked upon by the majority than the idealism of Adolf Hitler, which completely lacked compassion and was grounded in hatred. I think that in my younger years, my idealism was quite immature, but as I have grown older, I tend to think more about the practical side of my idealistic visions, which grounds them more in reality.

[Wanderlust94]

It depends on who I am with honestly. Although I like to think of myself as mature, If I'm with some very close friends, I can act rather goofy. I suppose that can be anyone regardless of type though. It's nice to let loose every once in awhile. I wouldn't consider idealism to be immature though. To have a belief in making something better takes some level of maturity in my opinion. Immaturity would be caring ONLY about you all the time. On the flip side, it is also selfish and immature to not know when to care for yourself.

[IcarusDreams]

Any immature type can be considered immature, yes; including INFPs. However, if you are mature but perceived as immature due to some unfair bias, that doesn't make you immature. And no type is inherently anything (mature or immature), as they just see things differently-not better or worse than each other.

[wisdom]

Idealism that is totally unrealistic is immature. Otherwise, it's not immature. I think the extreme self-centeredness and emotionality sometimes found in INFPs are stronger markers of immaturity, but I believe that most of us eventually get that under control.