What does the T stand for in INFP T? (5 insights)

This blog post aims to answer the question, “What does the T stand for in INFP T?” and explore the various dimensions of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type named INFP and one of its subtypes named INFP-T that will help understand the answer. 

What does the T stand for in INFP T?

The T in INFP T stands for ‘Turbulent’. The following are 5 insights into the INFP-T personality type –

• The T variable in INFP-T stands for “turbulent,” and they appear to be more prevalent in INFPs.
• INFP-Ts keep striving to improve themselves. 
• INFP-Ts are idealistic overthinkers.
• INFP-Ts are extremely self-critical and prone to overextending themselves and becoming overwhelmed.
• INFP-Ts are highly sensitive individuals.

These 5 insights into the INFP-T personality type 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 into the INFP-T personality type?

The T variable in INFP-T stands for “turbulent,” and they appear to be more prevalent in INFPs.

INFP-Ts are one-of-a-kind people with a rare collection of skills, including the ability to perfectly grasp emotion and the human experience. The INFP-T personality type is imaginative, idealistic, empathic, and self-assured. 

INFPs are among the most open and inquisitive of the 16 personality types, bringing an exploratory mindset to their life and work. INFP-Ts focus on forging their own path in life. 

They work hard to ensure that their job and relationships reflect their sincerely held ideals and who they are as persons. Many people are driven to artistic, religious, or humanitarian endeavours in search of a life that motivates and inspires them. 

INFP-Ts believe they must “discover themselves” before committing totally to a profession or relationship. As a result, many INFP-Ts are well-described as “seekers,” eagerly seeking self-insight and self-direction. 

According to Google data, approximately 80% of web searches are for the INFP-T, implying that the bulk of INFPs is more turbulent and less forceful.

INFP-Ts keep striving to improve themselves. 

INFP-T personality types are Turbulent Mediators. Turbulent personality types are often dissatisfied with their existing circumstances. They frequently utilise their unhappiness to strive to improve themselves.

When applied to Mediators, however, this Turbulent property spins them in a certain direction. They are inclined to appraise where and how they need to improve using a very idealistic perspective. 

This desire to rectify what they perceive to be shortcomings frequently drives individuals to work hard.

INFP-Ts are idealistic overthinkers.

INFP-Ts tend to overthink the future because of all the concepts whirling around them. INFP-Ts have a tendency to be too idealistic. They come up with brilliant concepts. They want it to happen. They have a strong desire for perfection.

However, when they need to act, the dread of failing overcomes them. They get stuck and unable to achieve their goals as a result of their worries.

The most exhausting and perhaps unpleasant aspect of being an INFP-T is overthinking. They obsess about finding a solution to problems that haven’t arisen yet. They exaggerate circumstances and invest a large lot of emotion in them, to the point where it hurts their minds or creates uneasiness.

INFP-Ts are extremely self-critical and prone to overextending themselves and becoming overwhelmed.

However, idealism is a difficult requirement to meet. Turbulent Mediators are prone to overextending themselves and becoming overwhelmed. They are prone to be harsh on themselves if they do not accomplish their inflexible objectives.

Any Turbulent individual is capable of self-criticism. However, for these individuals, their imaginations and sensitivities may amplify the harm caused by negative self-talk.

Even the tiniest error may appear to be more serious than it is. They are more inclined to see a mistake as a cause for self-doubt.

Turbulent Mediators, for example, are inclined to describe themselves as “lazy.” However, an unbiased review may demonstrate that this is not totally correct.

All else being equal, turbulent individuals tend to strive extra hard to compensate for what they perceive to be a weakness. Typically, the epithet “lazy” does not apply. Poor self-evaluation of their work ethic is as much a product of their negative bias as it is a measured truth.

INFP-Ts are highly sensitive individuals.

INFP-Ts are also “highly sensitive individuals” (HSPs), which implies they are more sensitive and have greater reactions to a wide range of stimuli than other personality types. 

This, along with their emotional sensitivity, causes INFP-Ts to experience inner surges of feelings and emotions (i.e., “turbulence”).

INFP-Ts’ sensitivity helps them to perceive life in a richer and more complex way than other personality types, which contributes to their success as authors, artists, parents, therapists, and other professionals.

Thus, their sensitivity is best viewed as a strength, one that not only improves and enriches their own life, but also the lives of others around them.

This INFP subtype is more concerned with their idealistic character and is far more critical of themselves than their counterparts INFP-A or Assertive Mediators.

They have unbounded desire, and on top of that, they have perfectionist inclinations, which appear to be an ideal prescription for a stress hold.

Conclusion – 

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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What does the T stand for in INFP T?

What does the T in INFP T mean?

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

How rare is the INFP T personality type?

INFPs are one-of-a-kind people with a rare collection of skills, including the ability to perfectly grasp emotion and the human experience. At their finest, INFPs help people recover emotionally and inspire amazing change in the world. INFPs are similarly uncommon, accounting for about 4 to 5% of the population.

What does T stand for MBTI?

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).

What is bad about INFP T?

INFPs who are very ill or immature might have a distorted introverted feeling process. They might be extremely sensitive, quick to take offence, and certain that only their perspectives and ideals are genuine.

What is the rarest MBTI type?

The ENTJ – The Rarest MBTI Type. Making up a mere 1.8% of the population, ENTJs are the rarest of all the 16 personality types.

Are INFP 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.

References –

Assertive Mediator (INFP-A) vs. Turbulent Mediator (INFP-T). 16 Personalities. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.16personalities.com/articles/assertive-mediator-infp-a-vs-turbulent-mediator-infp-t#:~:text=Assertive%20Mediator%20(INFP%2DA),%2C%20impartiality%2C%20and%20intellectual%20excellence.

What does the T stand for in the INFP-T personality type? Quora. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-T-stand-for-in-the-INFP-T-personality-type

Drenth, A. J. INFP-T vs. INFP-A Personality Type. Personality Junkie. (n.d.).  Retrieved from https://personalityjunkie.com/05/infp-t-vs-infp-a-personality-type/

INFP-A (Assertive) and INFP-T (Turbulent) Personalities Compared In-Depth. HIGH5TEST. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://high5test.com/infp-a-and-infp-t/

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

INFP-T Meaning (What Does It Mean To Be An INFP-T). PsychReel. (2021, June 23). Retrieved from https://psychreel.com/infp-t-meaning/

What is Infp T personality? FindAnyAnswer. (2020, June 9). Retrieved from https://findanyanswer.com/what-is-infp-t-personality

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

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

What does the T stand for in Infp T? FAQ-ANS.  (2021, August 23). Retrieved from https://faq-ans.com/en/Q%26A/page=a7ef010b3f2c5f064c479fe45af57dcb