[Berdudget]

For those who won't want to read this much, my essential question is this: Are you an NF who initially believed your 'N-ness' and natural benevolence/altruism basically made you superior whether you realized this inclination at first or not but who have spent more time and effort looking at the facts and come to realize this isn't true? Or are you another type who has seen a tendency of NFs to see themselves as superior and been frustrated by it? I'm not sure where to begin. About nine years ago I was tested as an INFJ. I trembled to the depths of my soul. I laughed and cried. All the contradictions were finally given cohesiveness. My confidence was put in place because I realized all the ppl who'd looked at me sideways just had a different way of communicating and thinking. I could be defined. I could be understood. There was the hope of that possibility. It was a life-changing event. Unfortunately, after years of being misunderstood and overly sensitive to it, I overcompensated and overidentified with the definition of me. I saw Ss as inferior intellectually. Over time, I have matured. My nature wouldn't allow me to continue seeing the world that way. I investigated and observed and read til my heart bled and I found the rationale and the evidence to convince myself that we are all equal but different. It's a much happier place. My hypothesis for why this seems to be common is 'abstract' concepts are hailed as 'intellectual' things. And because fewer ppl are naturally given to delving into them with ease, in a school setting, this is emphasized. In the 'real world' abstract concepts, though great, are not always entirely useful. Someone too lost in abstraction cannot function in society. I'm not even going to touch NTs in this post. In my opinion, that would be slightly off topic. I hope I'm being clear. I am tired.

[chaeriean]

i guess it has to do with uniqueness. when you're unique, you're different. in today's society, "different" is bad, but "unique" is good, so i think because nfs are different - they are considered abnormal, so instead of focusing on being different, they begin to focus on being "unique", and this gives them a sense that they are valued, so they begin valuing themselves. which is good, it's a healthy coping mechanism, but it can turn unhealthy when that value starts to shift to "valuing myself over everyone else/certain group of people". especially since most nfs with this view see themselves as persecuted by sensors, it's easy for them to say, "i'm unique, i can see things you can't see, i'm smarter, so i don't need to feel persecuted. i'm better than you." i don't know if that makes much sense either. and yes, i'm only talking about nfs who feel this way and who are unhealthy about it. most of the nfs i know though aren't like this. i've seen like maybe four or five on this site altogether. the rest of the typist comments just come from ignorance, not superiority.

[Berdudget]

i guess it has to do with uniqueness. when you're unique, you're different. in today's society, "different" is bad, but "unique" is good, so i think because nfs are different - they are considered abnormal, so instead of focusing on being different, they begin to focus on being "unique", and this gives them a sense that they are valued, so they begin valuing themselves. which is good, it's a healthy coping mechanism, but it can turn unhealthy when that value starts to shift to "valuing myself over everyone else/certain group of people". especially since most nfs with this view see themselves as persecuted by sensors, it's easy for them to say, "i'm unique, i can see things you can't see, i'm smarter, so i don't need to feel persecuted. i'm better than you." i don't know if that makes much sense either. and yes, i'm only talking about nfs who feel this way and who are unhealthy about it. most of the nfs i know though aren't like this. i've seen like maybe four or five on this site altogether. the rest of the typist comments just come from ignorance, not superiority.

It makes perfect sense and that played a part as well.

[Mr.Xl Vii]

Lol, a thread about NFs feeling superior and not NTs. Finally haha

[Paradox of Vigor]

NT response: I've always thought I was superior to just about everybody in the world. Of course I didn't go spreading it around, but it's clear that all iNtuitives feel different from the majority of those around them, obvious forcing them to differentiate themselves from others. We know that we are different, and better than most at coming up with ideas, whether they are directed at morality or improving things. We see these things are more essential, and we automatically find ourselves seemingly more important than others.

It's nothing the truth can't fix, but it's obvious that iNtuitives are natually able to grasp more complex ideas, and work with them. I will not insult Sensors by lying to them, as though they cannot handle it. Just as I have a hard time paying attention to anything not in my inner world, Sensors have a hard time paying attention to what is not in their external world, which holds true regardless of the functions.

[Hastings]

I don't think NF's are superior, because I've witnessed in person how screwed up some intuitives' sensoring abilities can be. For crying out loud, somebody has to relate to the actual world we are living in and it's obviously not going to be us. That said, I do love the NF temperament.

[Paradigm]

Are you an NF who initially believed your 'N-ness' and natural benevolence/altruism basically made you superior whether you realized this inclination at first or not but who have spent more time and effort looking at the facts and come to realize this isn't true?

Well, not the N-ness part of it, no. I don't believe myself superior to Sensors, ever. Like Paradox mentioned, Ns do have a habit of feeling fundamentally different from Ss, thus leading to issues with superiority. I never had any of that, the reason probably being that I already was different by my appearance alone (being handicapped). Though I felt smarter than 90% of my peers, I didn't (and still don't) connect that to my intuitiveness. I don't feel superior because of my intelligence, simply frustrated that I had to wait while everyone else was trying to understand.

As for feeling like my benevolence made me superior... well, yeah. Honestly, yeah. I still do. In a way, I don't feel like I need to justify this because it seems obvious (to me) that if everyone was kinder to each other, strangers and family alike, the world would be a better place.

[abster]

im proud to be NF, but i dnt think im superior compared to others but i do believe that i have strengths and better at some things than other just as i have weaknesses and crap at things compared to others. Im glad there are different personality types, otherwise the world would be so boring.

[Tridentus]

i know exactly which strengths sensors have that i don't so no. however, that doesn't stop me getting frustrated at a sensor's weaknesses as well..

[susurration]

I don't attribute every little nuance of human nature to typology, and think many manifestations of specific functions readily attributed to "feeling types", "sensing types" or what have you, could more accurately be explained by other things, like- the situation, actual pragmatic brain functioning, pms, mental health, life experiences, temperament, IQ, EQ, satisfaction with life, culture etc.

I don't know how or why people isolate one specific function, or element of a type and say "look! that is the only cause of this trend or external manifestation". When it could, and is most likely, the result of many related or non related factors.

I personally don't see types/functions as being polarised. They are interrelated. I see there to be no need to elevate/lower types on a hierarchy of worth, when every type is dependent on functions of other types for their inherent definitions.