[Nightsun]

Can anyone help me the difference between INFJ and INFP, my wife seems to have some characteristic of both and I'm trying to sort it out.

[Doom]

INFJs will tell you that you're wrong when you two disagree. INFPs will be fascinated by the difference.

[Sinequanon]

There's a whole website on this:
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[Kisai]

	Originally Posted by Sinequanon To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	There's a whole website on this: To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Ah! That's Vicky Jo. I got in a whole argument with her about whether or not MBTI can change for an individual. She feels that MBTI reflects a spiritual counterpart like a soul and I feel that people's consciousness are more like faceted jewels.

[Audball]

I think I may be able to help you. I had the same confusion about my mother for a while, as I thought she was quite the INFJ.

I was say the main characterizing difference between the two (on a visible level) is their focus ability. An INFJ is more in tune with reality, I think, and is more prone to make their ideas (which they're very adamant about) happen. An INFP is more fascinated by the ideas, and will ponder them, share them, but move to the next in a fleet of fascination. I'd say that INFPs are a bit more fickle, and are more prone to mysticism and more captivated by things like blurbs, anecdotes and poetry. The INFJ is more grounded, and the INFP can be an airhead.

[Nightsun]

	Originally Posted by Doom To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	INFJs will tell you that you're wrong when you two disagree. INFPs will be fascinated by the difference.

Ok, so she is absolubtly INFJ :D
She is very grounded and we are similar in many ways, we are both stubborn and we think in very similar fashion, the main different is how we weight "feelings" into the equation.

[athenian200]

INFJs are either philosophical philanthropists who champion causes and want to make a positive difference in the world... or jaded, paranoid, detached loners (sometimes even hermits) who've lost faith in humanity and over-analyze people's actions in suspicion of their motives.

INFPs are a little emo, and obsessed with "authenticity" and "depth." They tend to be creative in terms of making and exploring the meanings in art and poetry. They're pretty much an NFs NF.

The real difference is, INFPs are NF thorough and through, while INFJs might take a while to discern from an xSFJ due to their pragmatism, and from an INTx due to their intellectual side. INFJs are typologically "muddier," if you will, and often look like several different types at various times. For instance, they might look INTP-ish when analyzing something, INTJ-ish when planning something, ExFJ-ish when in formal settings, and ENxP-ish when feeling silly. INFPs tend to be themselves more consistently across the board.

[Nightsun]

	INFJs are either philosophical philanthropists who champion causes and want to make a positive difference in the world... or jaded, paranoid, detached loners (sometimes even hermits) who've lost faith in humanity and over-analyze people's actions in suspicion of their motives.

Depending on the mood it's oscillatory for her... as for looking like other type, well she is pretty good at analyzing (a master degree in physics) she really looks like an INTJ "overwhelmed" by feeling and "obsessed" with what people thinks, etc.. also she is very philanthropist (she really can't stand injustice and always try to help others).

[athenian200]

	Originally Posted by Nightsun To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Depending on the mood it's oscillatory for her... as for looking like other type, well she is pretty good at analyzing (a master degree in physics) she really looks like an INTJ "overwhelmed" by feeling and "obsessed" with what people thinks, etc.. also she is very philanthropist (she really can't stand injustice and always try to help others).

That sounds about right, then. Being more affected by feeling and being especially concerned with what people think is basically what differentiates INTJs and INFJs. In the stressed mode, they look similar because they "retreat" into Ni.

The main difference between an INTJ overwhelmed by Fi and an INFJ is the degree and orientation. INTJs will obsess over their own emotions and reactions in a sort of brooding way. INFJs will tend to obsess over how other people feel about them, and whether they're a good person or not. Also, the INTJ will tend to see the feelings as interference, while the INFJ will tend to see them as useful information.

The other thing that's hard to explain is... there's a tendency for INFJs to respond to feelings in a more goal-oriented way, and to have the feelings be more impacted by external factors. INFJs tend to be hurt more easily, but get over it more quickly, while INTJs are hard to hurt but find it hard to heal.

It should be noted that both INJs have perfectionist tendencies. INTJs tend to want total competence, while INFJs tend to want moral perfection.

[Audball]

	Originally Posted by Nightsun To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	also she is very philanthropist (she really can't stand injustice and always try to help others).

She's definitely INFJ. No mistake there.

---------- Post added 12-21-2009 at 02:18 PM ----------

	Originally Posted by athenian200 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	It should be noted that both INJs have perfectionist tendencies. INTJs tend to want total competence, while INFJs tend to want moral perfection.

I would say that this statement is exceedingly accurate.

[adjectivenoun]

	Originally Posted by Audball To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	She's definitely INFJ. No mistake there.

The average INTJ probably does less philanthropic work than the average INFJ, but if you are serious about it being a "definite" way to tell one from the other, I disagree. There are many reasons why an individual INTJ might engage in regular philanthropy or volunteer work. What distinguishes an INTJ from an INFJ is the process by which they decide to do so.

In my experience, an INTJ under the influence of religious precepts or a moral code is especially likely to engage in behavior that appears to indicate a Feeling preference but is actually the result of a conclusion arrived at through Ni and Te.

[wotsamattaU]

I don't see any of the things mentioned here as being concrete enough to determine the type difference.

The web site Sinequanon posted is likely the best resource for helping to determine the differences.

Perhaps the most effective way of looking at this is via the
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.

Go to the drop down heading titled: 'Tertiary Talk'. See if the distinctions between INFP's Introverted Sensing and the INFJ's Introverted Thinking clear up the matter for you. All else seems to blur the line for me, as many of the INFJ traits can seem somewhat true for myself (INFP) as well.

It's the Si and Ti differences which may help you the most.

[adjectivenoun]

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of Vicky Jo's is worth a look, too.

What's your wife's opinion on her own type?

[Nightsun]

I've seen a site where they told that INFJs have a directive style while INFPs have an informing style. Well my wife is directive 100% (our main reason for arguments is basically this, because we both want to do things "our way" and make others do the same).

To reply adjectivnoun answer, from both tests and self-report my wife identify itself as an INFJ, actually IN are the strongest (around 70% I, 50% N, 40% F, 35% J) in online tests.

We raised the topic because she has some problem with depression and many times people thinks that she is rude, have impulsive behaviour and many times feel overwhelmed by her feeling. She usually do everything for people/animals in needs but she also "judge" people that doesn't act that way, given the fact that she doesn't like to "show up" her philantropy many people see her like a "misantropy" because only listen to her "harsh" judgment without considering what she does.

I feel really "linked" to her, we are both "system thinker" but we also have a problem with "understanding" many social things (we have both a "splint" of autism if you want to say it that way). So many times she somewhat "fail" in her intent to help messing up things. Is it possible that you are pushed toward a function "Fe" but you are not "skilled" in using it? For istance I always think that her "T" works somewhat better because she is very intelligent and can grasp and produce ideas quickly. For a short time I've thinked that she could just try to use thinking more and not their feeling (like we do) but it's just impossible to her.

She used for istance to jump on conclusion (expecially about people) faster than me, the number of "good insight" is high but I make less error expecially of interpretation in the long term because I tend to "study" people behavior while she tend to focus on their emotion/wishes, etc..

I also tend to be more forgetfull.

So how can she develop better her "Fe" and then her tertiary?

[rain]

INFPs are creative enablers.

INFJs, on the other hand always have to be right, and like to argue minute points on the most inane of subjects.

[Cygnus]

Originally Posted by athenian200 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

That sounds about right, then. Being more affected by feeling and being especially concerned with what people think is basically what differentiates INTJs and INFJs. In the stressed mode, they look similar because they "retreat" into Ni. The main difference between an INTJ overwhelmed by Fi and an INFJ is the degree and orientation. INTJs will obsess over their own emotions and reactions in a sort of brooding way. INFJs will tend to obsess over how other people feel about them, and whether they're a good person or not. Also, the INTJ will tend to see the feelings as interference, while the INFJ will tend to see them as useful information. The other thing that's hard to explain is... there's a tendency for INFJs to respond to feelings in a more goal-oriented way, and to have the feelings be more impacted by external factors. INFJs tend to be hurt more easily, but get over it more quickly, while INTJs are hard to hurt but find it hard to heal. It should be noted that both INJs have perfectionist tendencies. INTJs tend to want total competence, while INFJs tend to want moral perfection.

Can you give an example of "moral perfection" and why you think this is a trait of INFJ? I personally hold myself and friends and loved ones to a high ethical standard. I do see some people display an agrumentative nature and an overwhelming need to be right and "win" at any cost, though I am not certain this is attributed to personality type.

I would also wager most people get frustrated when they encounter incompetence, I do not think it is anything exclusive to being an INTJ. INTJ, I feel are most interested in "close enough", complete competence is not required, only competence enough to get the job done. We expect more of ourselves but have varied expectations of others, many INTJ are very good at not focusing on what an individual person is not good at, instead, at what the person IS good at and putting people in positions to be their best.

[Functianalyst]

	Originally Posted by Kisai To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Ah! That's Vicky Jo. I got in a whole argument with her about whether or not MBTI can change for an individual. She feels that MBTI reflects a spiritual counterpart like a soul and I feel that people's consciousness are more like faceted jewels.

You argued over who had the better analogy to describe MBTI? Interesting!! I personally like her a lot and how she teaches Berens' way of determining type. I am somewhat surprised that Vicky Jo would argue MBTI with anyone since she prescribes to Cognitive Functions/Temperament/Interaction Style to determine best fit type. MBTI is a completely different system based on dichotomies and whole types.

[Scatterbrane]

	Originally Posted by Functianalyst
	I am somewhat surprised that Vicky Jo would argue MBTI with anyone since she prescribes to Cognitive Functions/Temperament/Interaction Style to determine best fit type. MBTI is a completely different system based on dichotomies and whole types.

I don't see any fundamental discrepancy. More a matter of level of abstraction and approach to practical testing. MBTI does not prescribe fixed Cognitive Functions/Temperament/Interaction to personality types, but rather overall tendencies. MBTI testing focuses on generalities rather than specifics.

[Takeru]

You know, I find it really funny that Vicky Jo believes ADD is more so of an XNFP trait than an XNFJ trait (ENFP even more so with the ADD.)