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What do the letters in INFP stand for? (5 insights)

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Page last updated: 09/01/2022 | Next review date: 09/01/2024
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This blog post aims to answer the question, “What do the letters in INFP stand for?” and explore the various dimensions of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type named INFP that will help understand the answer. 

What do the letters in INFP stand for?

The letters in INFP stand for Introversion (I), Intuition (N), Feeling (F) and Perceiving (P) respectively. The following are 5 insights about the letters in INFP –

  • The first letter in INFP (Introversion) is how INFPs get their energy.
  • The second letter in INFP (Intuition) indicates how INFPs learn.
  • The third letter in INFP (Feeling) is about how INFPs make decisions.
  • The fourth letter in INFP (Perceiving) indicates how INFPs organize in life. 
  • The INFP’s four cognitive functions include Introverted feeling (Fi), extraverted intuition (Ne), introverted sensing (Si), and extraverted thinking (Ti).

These 5 insights about the letters in INFP will be discussed in further detail below after taking a deeper look at what INFP means. 

Who is an INFP?

The INFP personality type was developed by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers, the authors of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®). INFP stands for Introversion, iNtuition, Feeling, and Perceiving, which are four key personality qualities based on C.G. Jung’s work.

Each of the four letters of the INFP code represents a significant personality feature of the INFP personality type. 

INFPs are stimulated by alone time (Introverted), focus on ideas and concepts rather than facts and specifics (iNtuitive), base their decisions on feelings and values (Feeling), and like to be spontaneous and flexible rather than planned and structured (Perceiving).

Because of their empathetic idealism and gentle concern for others, the INFP personality type is often known as the “Healer.” The INFP is also known by the following nicknames:

  • The Thoughtful Idealist (MBTI)
  • The Mediator (16Personalities)

An INFP prefers an unstructured and free-spirited lifestyle. INFP is an introverted and ultra-creative Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type. The INFP is sensitive, creative, and loyal to their values.

INFPs are creative idealists who are guided by their primary ideals and beliefs. A Healer who is preoccupied with possibilities; the actuality of the time is merely a fleeting concern. INFPs see the possibility of a brighter future and seek truth and purpose in their own unique way.

INFPs are sensitive, loving, and compassionate people who are highly concerned with their own and others’ personal progress. INFPs are individualistic and nonjudgmental, believing that each person must forge their own path. 

INFPs like spending time investigating their own ideas and ideals, and they gently encourage others to do the same. INFPs are creative and frequently artistic; they like discovering new ways to express themselves.   

INFP Personality Type Characteristics Are –

  • INFPs are introverts who are quiet and reserved. INFPs find that being in social situations depletes their energy, thus they prefer to connect with a small number of close pals. While they like being alone, this should not be mistaken for timidity. Rather, it simply implies that INFPs get energy from alone time. INFPs must, on the other hand, devote energy to social circumstances.
  • INFPs rely on intuition and are more concerned with the overall picture than the finer points of a situation. INFPs can be quite thorough about things that are important to them or tasks they are working on, yet they tend to overlook little or insignificant details.
  • INFPs value personal sentiments above everything else and their actions are affected more by these concerns than by objective data.
  • INFPs prefer to keep their choices open when it comes to making decisions. INFPs frequently put off making key judgments in case the circumstance changes. The majority of judgments are made based on personal ideals rather than reasoning.

What are these 5 insights about the letters in INFP?

The first letter in INFP (Introversion) is how INFPs get their energy.

I is an abbreviation for Introversion. Individuals with this personality type are energised by their inner world. Introverts, as opposed to Extraverts, expend their energy engaging with people and things and gain energy by spending time alone and in their brains. They normally want to think out all of their thoughts before sharing them aloud.

E is an abbreviation for Extraversion. People with this personality type are motivated by their surroundings, both people and objects. They usually communicate their thoughts verbally and “recharge” by being with other people.

You utilise both inclinations throughout the day, so no one individual is entirely extraverted or completely introverted. It’s just that one comes more easily to you.

The second letter in INFP (Intuition) indicates how INFPs learn.

The letter N stands for intuition (because we already used the letter I for Introversion). 

The N in INFP stands for Intuition which means that INFPs focus on ideas and concepts rather than facts and specifics and learn by seeing the big picture and themes and thinking about how specific information is connected. 

INFPs are intuitives who give heed to their intuition, instinct, and ability to make sense of seemingly unrelated data. They are skilled at reading between the lines and identifying connections between seemingly unrelated data.

The N (iNtuition) in INFP corresponds to INFP’s cognitive auxiliary function stack of extraverted intuition (Ne). 

The third letter in INFP (Feeling) is about how INFPs make decisions.

The letter F denotes someone who prefers Feeling, which means they make decisions depending on how their decisions may influence other people.

The alternative letter T stands for “Thinking.” People with this inclination tend to make judgments based on pros and disadvantages and analyse logical repercussions objectively.

Just because you prefer Thinking or Feeling doesn’t imply you can’t see things from a different perspective. It simply implies that while making a decision, you will utilise one preference first and may or may not use the other preference (depending on how self-aware you are, if someone else involved brings in the opposite preference, etc.).

The fourth letter in INFP (Perceiving) indicates how INFPs organize in life. 

Perceiving is represented by the letter P. People that have this choice demand flexibility in their life and in how they handle their time. They prefer to be open to new event chances and appreciate making decisions on the fly, and they might occasionally enjoy working on things at the last minute or on their own timetable.

INFPs, as perceivers, like to be spontaneous and flexible rather than planned and structured. INFPs are flexible and versatile at work and in life. INFPs, as perceivers, are also more concerned with possibilities than with reaching conclusions.

The INFP’s four cognitive functions include Introverted feeling (Fi), extraverted intuition (Ne), introverted sensing (Si), and extraverted thinking (Ti).

The INFP function stack is abbreviated as FiNe, which offers information on the stack’s first two functions, introverted feeling and extroverted intuition. The INFP function stack is based on the Jungian theory of personality and includes the following cognitive functions –

Dominant Function: Introverted Feeling (Fi) – 

The primary function of the INFP personality connects them to their own feelings and thoughts, and they may appear reflective and introspective, but they are also very aware of their surroundings and environment. 

Auxiliary Function: Extraverted Intuition (Ne) – 

The second function of the INFP function stack acquires information by identifying patterns and underlying principles in the concepts supplied to them by their surroundings and connecting them when they talk, write, or create. 

Tertiary Function: Introverted Sensing (Si) – 

The third function, the introverted sense function, ensures that the majority of their knowledge and information is based on their personal experiences, which may cause the INFP to spend a lot of time in the past trying to replicate it. INFPs will employ tertiary introverted sensing to anchor all of their thoughts and processes in their life experiences. 

Inferior function: Extraverted Thinking (Te) –

The last function in the INFP function stack operates in the background or subconsciously and may not manifest until they are considerably older. 

The extroverted thinking function is normally in charge of thinking in a more logic-oriented fashion while addressing problems, but because it is so low on the INFP function stack, they may not use it as much. 

Conclusion – 

This blog post aimed to answer the question, “What do the letters in INFP stand for?” and reviewed the features and functions of the introverted and extremely inventive Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type named INFP to help determine what the letters in INFP stand for. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments you may have.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What do the letters in INFP stand for?

What does the T stand for in INFP T?

The T variable in INFP T stands for “turbulent”. INFP-T personality type appears to be more common among INFPs.

Is INFP a rare personality?

INFP is the ninth most common type in the population. They make up: 4% of the general population.

What does F mean in INFP?

The letter ‘F’ in INFP stands for ‘Feeling.’ Personality types Intuitive (N) and Thinking (T), noted for their rationality, impartiality, and intellectual superiority. Personality types Intuitive (N) and Feeling (F), noted for their sensitivity, diplomatic abilities, and ardent idealism.

What do the letters in personality types stand for?

It indicates one’s personality preferences in four dimensions: Where you focus your attention – Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I) The way you take in information – Sensing (S) or INtuition (N) How you make decisions – Thinking (T) or Feeling (F) How you deal with the world – Judging (J) or Perceiving (P).

Are INFPs lazy?

The personality struggles with knowing when to make a commitment—and they’re eager to please and will bite off more than they can chew. They might be quite sluggish. They will never tidy their rooms, pile up dishes to the moon, or have their spouse or roommate handle all financial worries if they are not developed.

What is the 2nd rarest personality type?

ENFJs are the second-most uncommon personality type, accounting for only 2.2 percent of the population. These perceptive, persuasive individuals have a knack for knowing just which buttons to press in order to drive others to achieve their objectives.

References –

Cherry, K. INFP: The Mediator (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving). (2021,  July 23). Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/infp-a-profile-of-the-idealist-personality-type-2795987#:~:text=INFP%20(introversion%2C%20intuition%2C%20feeling,the%20Myers%2DBriggs%20Type%20Indicator.&text=People%20with%20this%20kind%20of,and%20driven%20by%20high%20values.

INFP. Dictionary.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dictionary.com/e/acronyms/infp/

Melissa. What do the letters in the Myers-Briggs test stand for? (2017, July 11).  Retrieved from https://www.mbtionline.com/en-US/Articles/2017/July/What-do-the-letters-in-the-Myers-Briggs-test-stand-for

INFP, The Healer. Truity. (n.d.).  Retrieved from https://www.truity.com/personality-type/INFP

INFP. Urban Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=INFP

Mediator Personality INFP-A / INFP-T (WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?). 16 Personalities. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.16personalities.com/infp-personality

MBTI® personality types. The Myers-Briggs Company. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://eu.themyersbriggs.com/en/tools/MBTI/MBTI-personality-Types

Personality Type Explained. Humanmetrics Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality/type