The INFJ personality type is known for their empathetic nature,
strong intuition, and ability to understand and connect with others on a deep level.
However, like all personality types, INFJs also have a shadow side that can manifest in ways that
are less desirable, potentially affecting their behavior, relationships, and overall well-being.
So lets explore What the INFJ SHADOW LOOKS LIKE.
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INFJs Conscious Side
Those with a basic understanding of the MBTI
might be familar with an INFJs primary cognitive functions.
Introverted Intuition (Ni)
Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Extraverted Sensing (Se)
These functions allow INFJs to be extremely empathetic and compassionate people who combine
intuition, empathy, and logic to form deep insights into people and their environment.
However there is a darker side to this personality type that is rarely discussed.
INFJs Unconscious Side
The deepest recesses of an INFJ's mind are occupied by the shadow functions,
which can surface unexpectedly and cause an INFJ
to feel as though they are behaving in an unfamiliar or out-of-character way.
According to the philosophy of Carl Jung, the shadow functions represent the obscured,
enigmatic aspects of our individual personas. They’re driven by our primal instincts,
and are often projected onto people we perceive as adversaries.
INFJs Shadow Functions
An INFJs shadow functions are in opposition to their primary functions. They are
1)The Opposing Role: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
2)The Critical Parent: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
3)The Trickstar: Extraverted Thinking (Te)
4)The Demon: Introverted Sensing (Si)
These shadow functions usually show up when an INFJ is experiencing high levels of stress,
intense pressure, or when confronting a situation that challenges their sense of identity.
Extraverted Intuition (Ne) as The Opposite Role
Extraverted Intuition (Ne) is a cognitive function that focuses on exploring possibilities,
generating ideas, and making connections between seemingly unrelated concepts. Ne
is future-oriented and thrives on change, novelty, and innovation.
For INFJs, Ne is considered their "opposite role" because it is the
reverse orientation of their dominant function, Introverted Intuition (Ni).
While Ni focuses on converging insights and synthesizing complex ideas into a
singular vision, Ne is about diverging and exploring multiple ideas and perspectives.
When an INFJ uses their shadow function Ne, it can potentially have negative effects on them.
They may experience overwhelm due to numerous ideas and possibilities,
leading to difficulty focusing and increased stress.
The engagement of the Ne function may also cause them to neglect their Ni strengths, such as deep
insight and long-term vision, hindering their problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
Ne's novelty-seeking nature can also lead to INFJs becoming easily distracted,
resulting in shifting between ideas or projects without completion. This
can create anxiety and stress for INFJs, who generally prefer a clear vision and direction.
Introverted Feeling (Fi) as The Critical Parent
Introverted Feeling (Fi) is a cognitive function that focuses on understanding
and evaluating personal values, emotions, and beliefs. Fi is concerned with authenticity,
harmony, and the development of a strong moral compass.
For INFJs, Fi is considered their "critical parent" because it occupies the sixth position
in their cognitive function stack. The critical parent role tends to
emerge as a source of internal criticism, often highlighting perceived weaknesses,
inconsistencies, or flaws in one's own behavior or values.
When INFJs engage with their shadow function Fi, they may experience negative effects such as
questioning their values and beliefs. This can result in internal conflict and confusion for
INFJs, making it challenging for them to find inner harmony or make value-based decisions.
Fi can also cause an emotional intensity that may be difficult for INFJs to manage,
given their preference for Extraverted Feeling (Fe) for emotional processing. INFJs as a result
might internalize their emotions and struggle to effectively express or communicate their feelings.
Extraverted Thinking (Te) as The Trickster
Extraverted Thinking (Te) is a cognitive function that focuses on organizing,
structuring, and implementing logical systems to achieve goals and solve problems. Te is objective,
efficient, and seeks to create order in the external environment.
For INFJs, Te is considered their "trickster" because it
occupies the seventh position in their cognitive function stack.
The trickster role is often associated with unreliable, inconsistent, or
unexpected behavior. It may manifest in ways that unintentionally undermine an INFJs intentions.
This can cause inconsistency in their decision-making and make
them act in a way that dosen’t align with their long-term goals or values.
Using Te can also cause INFJs to appear blunt, impersonal,
or critical, potentially leading to misunderstandings or conflicts with
others, especially given their natural preference for Extraverted Feeling (Fe).
Introverted Sensing (Si) as The demon
Introverted Sensing (Si) is a cognitive function that focuses on internalizing
and recalling past experiences, data, and details to create a stable and reliable
perception of the world. Si is concerned with maintaining routines, traditions, and stability.
For INFJs, Si is considered their "demon" because it occupies the
eighth and last position in their cognitive function stack.
The demon role often represents the least developed and least preferred function,
and its influence can lead to negative and destructive behaviors and outcomes in INFJs.
When INFJs engage the Introverted Sensing (Se) function, they may begin dwelling on past
experiences, leading to rumination, regret, and difficulty adapting to new situations.
Si's preference for stability and routine can cause the to be resistance to change and hinder
exploration of new ideas, contradicting their dominant function, Introverted Intuition (Ni).
This can result in inaccurate or distorted recollection of past events
or details, negatively impacting decision-making and relationships.
Projecting Shadow Functions onto others
Projection occurs when a person attributes their own feelings,
thoughts, or characteristics to someone else, often as a defense mechanism
INFJs may unconsciously project their shadow functions onto others when they
are not fully aware of or accepting of these aspects within themselves.
For example when using thier Extraverted Feeling (Fe) functions they might perceive others as
being indecisive, scattered, or constantly jumping from one idea to another without focus,
even if those individuals are not displaying such behaviors.
Attracted to Shadow Functions in others
INFJs may be attracted to shadow functions in others for a variety
of reasons. While shadow functions can be a source of challenge and growth,
they also represent the less conscious and less developed aspects of an individual's personality.
This means they may be attracted to their shadow functions in others,
as they may percieve them to be intriguing, mysterious, or challenging.
An INFJ may be fascinated by the unfamiliar aspects of human
behavior and drawn to people who offer new perspectives and experiences from them.
Integrating Shadow Functions
Shadow functions usually manifest negatively in INFJs because they are rarely integrated properly.
However when integrated consciously and healthily, shadow functions can can help
INFJs to become more balanced and well-rounded individuals, who can
appreciate different perspectives and approaches without losing their core identity and values.
However, integrating their shadow functions can also be challenging and uncomfortable for
INFJs, who may prefer to stick to their familiar and comfortable main functions.
Do you think you might be struggling with your
shadow functions - let us know in the comments below.