INFP mistaken for ESTJ

**bebeserene** · 12-04-2009 04:03 AM

Has any fellow INFP been mistaken for an ESTJ? I just found out that two of my friends MBTI typed me on a quiz as ESTJ. Seems a bit strange, since I feel like I'm clearly INFP through and through.

Has this happened to anyone else? Is it a good sign or a bad sign? I know I read somewhere that MBTI types under stress start to act like their "shadow" or opposite type...

**Promethea** · 12-04-2009 05:09 AM

Shadow type blah blah blah.. and furthermore: lol.

**Sily** · 12-04-2009 07:02 AM

Not IRL, but online in forums, when I used to just use the name "Sily" people thought I was a guy a lot.

**meander** · 12-04-2009 08:09 AM

If your friends chose the answers for you, there could have been any result because how would your friends know exactly what you would answer? You could go through all the questions together, IMHO then it would be fair. Otherwise maybe the result isn't very important.

**Happy** · 12-04-2009 10:40 AM

When you say friends, do you mean in real life or online?

That is such a huge difference! I have never heard any INFP getting mistaken for an ESTJ before. The functions are all completely opposite.

**bebeserene** · 12-04-2009 12:13 PM

they're friends who know me in real life. but maybe they don't know me that well (obviously). i mean, i guess people who know me primarily in a certain context could maybe see me this way, because for the kind of work i do, i need to be organised, rational, prepared, on top of things, give orders, make quick decisions, and be relatively sociable with lots of different people. i guess what they don't see is that after too many of those kinds of days i pretty much hide out by myself for a week or two or for as long as i can get away with.

has this ever happened to anyone else? where for whatever reason you're required to function in a very different way than your "natural" preferences? and then i guess as a result people perceive you differently? i've had it happen before that most people who don't know me extremely well just assume i'm an extrovert because i'm not really shy and i have no problem talking to people or being quite social--but only for a limited amount of time, because i get tired of it pretty quick and then retreat into my shell where nobody sees me for a while.

**Thracius** · 12-04-2009 01:00 PM

ESTJ is a kind of "business suit" for an INFP, a defensive mechanism, in my opinion; I read it somewhere but I can't really remember where

I imagine it's quite taxing for an INFP to keep acting like an ESTJ

**SpankyMcFly** · 12-04-2009 07:00 PM

At work I am a different person. This is common for most people. I am expected to be an ESTJ. I supervise 15-25 grown men, depending on work load. I have to be able to roll with the daily stresses of work while keeping people in line and on task. I deal with all manner of people and their negative character traits. Smart asses, the people who question my authority, jerks, the passive aggressive snipers, and all manner of in-fighting, backstabbing and politicking.

This is very draining to me. It takes me 1-2 hours after work to decompress and relax. I often feel like a automaton at work because if I allow myself to be "real" I'd not be very effective at my job.

Truly a "growth" type job for an INFP

.

**bebeserene** · 12-04-2009 07:44 PM

I think I experience a bit of the same thing, except I'm in it for a few days/weeks at a time and then I need a few days/weeks to decompress and swim about in my own head for awhile in order to feel normal again.

Do you think this kind of work is good for an INFP? I guess it does teach a lot of skills what we wouldn't be normally inclined to use, but is it healthier/more productive to stick to work that is more naturally "suited" to your type? Or does this kind of situation just make you a more well-rounded person?

**WyldFire777** · 12-04-2009 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by bebeserene

I think I experience a bit of the same thing, except I'm in it for a few days/weeks at a time and then I need a few days/weeks to decompress and swim about in my own head for awhile in order to feel normal again.

Do you think this kind of work is good for an INFP? I guess it does teach a lot of skills what we wouldn't be normally inclined to use, but is it healthier/more productive to stick to work that is more naturally "suited" to your type? Or does this kind of situation just make you a more well-rounded person?

I think in the beginning when my friends and I just started to learn about Myers-Briggs types, my best friend and I thought I was a Rational. Like an INTJ or INTP or something. I don't think anyone could ever confuse me for a Sensing person. I live in my head way too much and I'm kinda clumsy and not all that sociable. So I don't think I'd be mistaken for a extravert too much. Although my ENFJ friend said to me once he thought I was more outgoing than him. Ha. So perhaps on occasion I do act like an extravert because I'm usually comfortable with talking to any person if I have to or I want to get to know them or whatever. But if I don't feel I click with them off the bat, it's difficult. Generally I like being organized, but I was more organized years ago. I kinda don't put in as much effort nowadays to be all that organized. But for the most part, especially in the last few years (and coincidentally, the first few years of my life too, I think), I've acted quite a lot like an INFP. If I have less responsibilities and I'm able to act how ever I wish, I act like an INFP. It's my nature.

To answer the question whether work that isn't natural for INFPs is good or not, I think it might be. As long as you have the will to put in the effort for it, I think it'll expand your mind and, like you said, teach you some skills you wouldn't normally have. Perhaps it would help you to see from another person's perspective, so it helps you to be an even better INFP - more empathetic, able to see from different viewpoints, and therefore have better diplomatic skills.