[prufrok]

As an INFP, I cannot help but find the ISFP type fascinating. It seems to me that we are a lot alike. I like that we're both primarily introverted feelers. Our biggest difference is that we experience the outer world in different ways--the ISFP comes off as more sensual than the INFP, more immediately in tune with the richness of the physical world.

I find it also interesting that the ISFP is called "the artist," because as an INFP, I like to think of myself as an artist as well. Perhaps the art that the INFP is more frequently drawn to is of a slightly different nature. Where the ISFP might enjoy the more physical acts of painting or sculpting, the INFP might have a more innate appreciation for, if we can call them in this way, the "softer" arts (vis-à-vis the "soft sciences"), such as music or poetry.

Now I don't want to generalize here. I don't mean to throw borders between our camps, delegating certain arts to each group. After all the MBTI is not meant to be used to exclude; it is a spectrum, and as a spectrum of human nature, I'd like to think that even our positions on the spectrum is in a state of flux. At our core we are beings of energy, so it makes sense to me that our natures can flow about within the confines of the parameters of our identities.



That is all to say, an INFP is certainly capable of being "sensual"; an ISFP is equally capable of being "intuitive." We may have our predilections, but like many boundaries, they are meant to be liberating.

[Surreal Breakfast]

Don't you mean sensing instead of sensual?, I have have an ISFP sister, and she has no signs of intuition and is pretty cruel to the pets while not even noticing that they are distressed.

Just something random

Fuctional analysis:

INFP:

FiNeSiTe
Introverted Feeling
Extraverted iNtuition
Introverted Sensing
Extraverted Thinking

ISFP:

FiSeNiTe
Introverted Feeling
Extraverted Sensing
Introverted iNtuition
Extraverted Thinking

[slightlybatty]

I find it also interesting that the ISFP is called "the artist," because as an INFP, I like to think of myself as an artist as well.
my thoughts on this would be artist tend to do... infp have ideas. i have a horrible time coming up with ideas. but i have no problem doing an art... if that makes sense

i do not like animals. i love them in nature i just do not enjoy taking care of them. nor do i like little children.

[prufrok]

Don't you mean sensing instead of sensual?

My apologies. As an English grad student, and a nerd, I have a special affection for the history of words, for their etymology. Thus, I sometimes use words as they originally were used, or with the meanings that their roots imply. "Sensual," at least when it was first used, carried with it the idea of "having to do with the five physical senses." But to be truthful, I think such an understanding of the word's origin can be helpful (and if you're a nerd like me, fun).

An INFP, with their extroverted intuition, understands the world around them in an intuitive way, letting all their sensory input blend into one melodic impression. From what I can tell about myself and about others, the following analogy might be helpful. Think of our five physical senses as various colors of paint--red, blue, green, so on. A sensing person absorbs the distinct sensory impression of each color individually; an intuitive person lets the colors swim together into a rainbow of paint on the white canvas of our consciousness. (I welcome respectful, considerate of my feelings responses to this metaphor by sensing and intuitive folk alike.)

So simply put (but still using the metaphor), sensors appreciate separately each brush stroke of the painting of their understanding. Intuitives can see a painting even where one is not, such as if a person dropped a bunch of paint cans on a floor, letting spill forth an accidental rainbow onto the tiles.

I have have an ISFP sister, and she has no signs of intuition and is pretty cruel to the pets while not even noticing that they are distressed.

It pains me to hear this. Do you know why she is this way? I would be loath to attribute this simply to her being an S and not an N.

You raise an interesting point, though. It is one that I have thought much about. Does the ISFP, The Artist,
have difficulty empathizing with other beings? The reason I have wondered this will be made known immediately. Before we get there, let me issue the following caveat: the following will be a generalization. It is not meant to hurt or offend anyone; it is used simply to gain understanding.

Many of the artists I have met in my admittedly short life have come across to me as superficial. Regardless of their artistic talent, many of them have shown a desire to create beauty through the use of such physical media as paint, clay, fabric, etc. However, I have been amazed to discover just how "unfeeling" many of my artists friends have been capable of being.

Again, this is not said to offend anyone. I am no saint myself; I'm not saying these things to judge. Anyway, back to the discussion.

What I'm getting at is this. I have a tendency to romanticize beauty and its creation. I have a tendency to idealize (predictably enough, given that I'm an INFP) art and artists. It is my instinct to believe that all artists are good, caring people, that anyone who dedicates his or her life to the creation of art (beauty) is a deeply feeling person. I have been proven wrong on more than one occasion.

The question remains--why? Why isn't a person who dedicates him or herself to beauty not by definition a good person, one who cares about the feelings and well being of this planet and her life? If artists are not worthwhile people, then who is? Of course, maybe the answer is no one. *shudder*

I would like very much to hear people's thoughts on this topic.

[slightlybatty]

Does the ISFP, The Artist,
have difficulty empathizing with other beings?
i do and do not... having empathy i think doesnt come naturally to everyone. i struggled when i was younger but as an adult i have learned to really open up and learn how to connect with others. i think it is hard for artists... or anyone... to really feel and understand another person because it takes a certain amount of vulnerability to relate and care

[Spooky]

I agree with Slightlybatty. I think INFPs are capable of coming up with great ideas, but I know that I, personally, have difficulty finding a sufficient avenue to express them. I don't have any artistic talent in drawing or painting. I'm not musically inclined either. I would not consider myself a great writer, by any means, but I am capable of expressing myself in written form. In fact, it's the only viable way to share my ideas with others. I've written a few stories and have a few more floating around inside of my head, but I have really been struggling lately to pen my ideas. I think poetry is an art form, as much as songwriting is.

I remember in high school, whenever we did group projects, I was usually the one to come up with a great idea that everybody agreed on, and then somehow a more abrasive extrovert would get the credit for it when he presented my idea to the entire class. (This happened on more than one occasion.) Needless to say, I wouldn't allow myself to get walked on like that anymore. I've learned how to stand up for myself. I am more than capable of wearing an ESTJ facade if the situation calls for it.

[Surreal Breakfast]

Do you know why she is this way?

No I don't, but she's only 13 anyway, so that's probably why

I think INFPs are capable of coming up with great ideas, but I know that I, personally, have difficulty finding a sufficient avenue to express them. I don't have any artistic talent in drawing or painting. I'm not musically inclined either.

That's weird because I'm also INFP, but I have artistic talent, I'm very good at drawing and not a bad painter, I am musically inclined too and I play the guitar alot.

my thoughts on this would be artist tend to do... infp have ideas

I can execute my ideas, even though it may be an ISFP thing (eg. if I have an idea for a painting, then I will paint it, if I have an idea for a guitar riff, then I'll play it.)

[slightlybatty]

im not trying to say it is that way with all infp... i dont think anyone is just their personality type. was not trying to be offensive or say that your personality type could not express itself....

[Surreal Breakfast]

No worries, it didn't come off as offensive at all, sorry that I made it sound that way

[Sleepy]

the INFP might have a more innate appreciation for, if we can call them in this way, the "softer" arts (vis-à-vis the "soft sciences"), such as music or poetry..

Hi, About music and poetry... If we generalize, I think music is more an ISFP thing and poetry more an INFP thing. Poetry is conceptual, abstract, intuitive. Music is about sensing, in a way concrete. it's not conceptual.