The INFP personality type is mostly known for their quiet, yet creative
and caring nature.. But what about those annoying stereotypes of this introverted type
being emotionally unstable and possibly delusional hippies who are out of touch with reality?
Ya.. those are the ones we’re going to be debunking today.
Welcome or welcome back Psych-o! In today’s video we’ll be talking all about the typical
INFP stereotypes. Before we start, have you liked and subscribed to our channel? Go ahead.. And
be sure to click the notification bell while you’re there, so that you never miss a video!
Alright, let’s get right into it starting with.. Number 1: They’re emotionally unstable
One of the most common INFP stereotypes seems to be emotional instability. Whether it’s deemed as
being overdramatic, sensitive or emotionally out of control, some people seem to think the INFP is
a walking, talking drama queen that can’t quite get a grasp on their fluctuating emotions. Now,
we’re not saying this intuitive personality type doesn’t have strong-willed emotions that run very
deep, but they actually aren’t keen on displaying their raw emotions for everyone to see. In fact,
INFPs rather not seem any more vulnerable than their quiet and reserved demeanor may cause them
to seem. And luckily for them, their more dominant feeling function is introverted, meaning they are
much more likely to deal with emotional matters independently, rather than taking them to others
for advice. Of course, like most people, INFPs can reach a breaking point in stress and bottled
emotions where they need to just let it all out - but it’s rarely done outside of their own company.
Number 2: They’re illogical With introverted feeling at the forefront of
the INFP’s most dominant functions, they do tend to make decisions based on their internal morals,
values and emotions on the matter rather than logical facts and figures. However,
this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re incapable of logical reasoning. As a matter of fact,
the INFP can actually be quite good with reason, especially the INFPs who’s extroverted thinking
function is well developed. Yet, they still don’t look at logical reasoning as their first and most
important factor in decision making like thinking types may do. Instead, INFPs tend to intuitively
grasp facts of a situation and then use that to prioritize how the situation will affect everyone
involved. For example, if an INFP manager is challenged to fire an under-performing coworker,
they may look to see how being fired could affect that person personally,
or how it could affect the job-satisfaction of the remaining coworkers. It may seem logical to
immediately let go ‘weak links’ of a team, but the empathetic INFP knows there’s more
to it than that. And more often than not, this additional reasoning always works in their favor.
Number 3: They lack motivation Motivation comes and goes throughout life, for
just about every personality type. And so, it can be quite unfair to deem the imaginative INFP
as having an overall lack of motivation attached to their personality traits.
Although many perceiver types may struggle to follow through on certain projects,
it’s not to say that they can’t overcome this challenge to achieve the dreams they hold close
to their hearts. Actually, that’s the exact key to the INFPs motivation.. Passion! When something
feels absolutely right for this introverted feeling personality type, it can be hard to slow
them down. For example, if an INFP is job-hunting for a position in a deeply-desired job sector,
they can spend day and night perfecting their applications and interview skills. Yet, if an
INFP is pushed to find a job because they feel pressured by other people, motivation can plummet,
making it extremely difficult for them to push forward. For the INFP, passion = motivation.
Number 4: Their needs are always above other people’s
Despite the INFPs deep empathy for the people around them and their willingness to do just
about anything for their loved ones, they do actually tend to listen to their own needs
first and foremost.. but it doesn’t affect them in the way you’d expect.
As we’ve mentioned, naturally INFPs are drawn to their own internal emotions, and because of this,
putting others above themselves is a decision they make intentionally, rather than it being a natural
occurrence. They don’t put the needs of others before their own because they feel obligated, or
because it’s the logical thing to do, but instead because they sincerely want to. So, this INFP
stereotype of putting their own needs above other people’s is actually far from the truth because
unlike other types, their empathy and generosity overrides their introverted feeling functions in
order to ensure people around them are happy. Number 5: They can’t stand up for themselves
Contrary to the INFP stereotype of putting their needs above everyone else’s, some sources actually
claim that INFPs are known to live their lives being constantly walked over by others. Although
some people with the INFP personality type may agree that they can be guilty of people-pleasing,
it doesn’t mean they don’t know how to stand up for themselves
when the situation calls for it. Through trial and error, INFPs eventually develop boundary-setting
habits that act to decrease their chances of absorbing other people’s negative energies..
They just may not do it in the same way other personality types may go about things.
Because they’re able to feel other people’s emotions in a way that others can’t, INFPs are
able to gauge the most ideal way to stand up for themselves without being too blunt or offensive.
Number 6: They’re idealism is delusional
This idealist daydreamer personality type has been assumed time and time again to be out of
touch with reality. And while it’s not totally far from the truth in terms of the INFP’s preference
for their idealistic viewpoints, they know how to play human when they’re expected to.
In other words, INFPs are aware of the reality that exists beyond their passion-filled daydreams,
they just prefer to live without losing sight of their desire to live a meaningful
and purposeful life. Sure, to some it may seem unrealistic, or too optimistic, but for the INFP,
it allows them to stay focused on their desire to create a real impact on the world. In fact,
if you think of famous INFP writers such as William Shakespeare and J. R. R. Tolkien,
you can see that their fantasized imaginative inner worlds fueled their most famous pieces that
we’re all familiar with today. Of course, nothing in this world is
perfect or comparable to imagination, but INFPs aren’t oblivious to that reality.
Number 7: They’re completely unorganized
Okay.. the key word here is ‘completely’ because there’s no doubt that there's some
truth in the fact that INFPs can be slightly disorganized in certain aspects of life.
In fact, people with perceiving personality types such as the INFP tend to prefer a flexible
and spontaneous way of life with a desire to experience life rather than control it. Therefore,
things like decision-making, organizing, and planning can pose a challenge. Because of this,
they tend to take on more than they can handle and may get easily distracted when trying to
focus on tedious tasks. However, it doesn’t mean they don’t know how to organize their lives and
surroundings in other ways. For example, not all INFPs have sporadic schedules, chaotic home-lives,
and a track-record of being unpunctual. Most INFPs have certain areas they struggle to keep in
an orderly fashion while other areas get their entire focus. Sure it requires a little more
effort, but it doesn’t mean they’re incapable of maintaining their lives in an orderly fashion.
Number 8: They’re overly indecisive
There’s no doubt the INFP can indeed struggle with indecision in life,
but it doesn’t mean they avoid all decision-making because of it. INFPs often challenge themselves to
make the most moral decision in every aspect of life, which may require them a little more
time to decipher exactly what that decision may be. This extra needed time is often what gives
the INFP the stereotype of being unmotivated or uncommitted, when in reality, all they need is
time to weigh out all of their moral options. They may be considered to be overthinkers but it’s only
because they often find themselves in a limbo of being on 1 of the 2 sides of the spectrum,
and never somewhere in between. They don’t jump to conclusions and they don’t rush to decisions
because they want to know the deeper meaning behind why they’re choosing what they're choosing;
rarely making decisions just for the sake of coming to a conclusion.
Well, that's it for today, psych-os. Let us know in the comments below if you agree
with these debunked stereotypes. Also, please don’t forget to leave us a like,
share this video with your friends and also subscribe to our channel for more psycho videos!