What is the dark side of an INFP? (3 insights)
This blog post aims to answer the question, “What is the dark side of an INFP?” and explore the various dimensions of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type named INFP that will help understand the answer.
What is the dark side of an INFP?
The following are 3 insights into the dark side of an INFP –
- Critical ideas and insensitivity.
- The INFP’s shadow.
- Mistrust and isolation.
These 3 insights into the dark side of an 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 3 insights into the dark side of an INFP?
Critical ideas and insensitivity.
The negative side of INFPs begins with their critical ideas, which subsequently spread to the outside world. When forced into a rut, destructive INFPs retaliate with zeal and no remorse. They grow insensitive and unconcerned about the feelings of others.
The INFP’s shadow.
When different personality types are under their shadow, they behave very differently than usual, which can be unhealthy in some situations and difficult for others to understand. This could be considered the negative aspect of the personality type.
It can be difficult to be around or actually handle the INFP when they are deep in their shadow and don’t know how to respond. When the INFP is under great stress, the shadow state emerges, drawing functions that they don’t consciously use or understand.
When the INFP is in good health and allowing their natural functions to take over, they are often more at ease with their own decisions and easy to relate to.
INFPs are mostly guided by their Fi (introverted feeling), which aids them in making significant decisions. As a result, the INFP is prone to relying largely on their inner emotions and morality, always wanting to do the right thing.
They care about being a good person, someone who does the right thing, even if it isn’t always the easiest thing to do. They act in accordance with their moral convictions and have a strong sense of self.
Because they believe in turning internally to make decisions and relying on their own views, this helps the INFP navigate many obstacles in life.
INFPs also rely on their Ne (extraverted intuition), which aids them in recognising patterns and connections in the universe. They use their intuition to discover new connections between objects, assisting them in finding solutions and solving problems in novel ways.
This allows the INFP to perceive possibilities in the environment around them, which helps them open up more. It’s what makes INFPs such naturally creative people, always on the lookout for what’s next.
They may see possibilities rather than just what is obvious or in front of them. This allows the INFP to see possibilities and broadens their horizons. This is why INFPs are seen as inventive individuals who are open to new ideas and possibilities.
Although Si (introverted sensing) is not the INFP’s strongest function, it is part of their natural stack. It allows them to connect to objects using past patterns, and it can cause them to hold onto memories.
This function may not be used to make decisions, but it can make the INFP more sentimental about things. They enjoy looking back in time and might grow nostalgic about certain situations, which helps them hang on to emotions and even plan their next step.
The INFP’s weakest function is Te (extraverted thinking), which is concerned with processing external information and facts and aids the INFP’s ability to recall details.
This isn’t a function that the INFP is particularly fond of, and they don’t use it to make important decisions in their lives.
When it is a dominating function for a type, it causes them to be more factual and detail-oriented, whereas, for the INFP, it just allows them to keep track of information for later use.
In the shadow, INFPs no longer employ their dominant and auxiliary functions in the same way, instead relying on shadow functions that don’t respond in the most healthy ways.
Instead of using Fi, the INFP focuses on other people’s emotions, thoughts, and views. They’re employing Fe (extraverted feeling), which usually focuses on other people’s emotions and how to comprehend them.
Before making a decision, Fe analyses the feelings of those around them. It makes compassionate and understanding people who are exceptional at figuring out ways to make others happy for a type who uses this naturally.
This enables the INFP to place far too much weight on the opinions of others, allowing them to base their own moral beliefs on a group. This can be chaotic, and the INFP may lose their sense of self as a result.
When they rely largely on the ideas and morality of those around them, the INFP becomes indecisive and unsure of which course they should take.
They begin by appealing to the beliefs of a group or someone in a higher position of power in order to create an argument. Because they aren’t standing firm in their own inner principles and belief system, this might make the INFP appear much more passive-aggressive.
Instead of relying on their Ne, the INFP frequently begins to rely on Ni (introverted intuition) in dangerous ways. They begin to grasp at spontaneous realisations or epiphanies, which they do in a haphazard manner.
Ni’s regular concentration is on collecting facts and drawing helpful conclusions from them. It aids the kinds who use this as their more dominant and natural function in making predictions about future events and giving them a sense of what will happen down the road.
The INFP develops hunches about things without having any solid evidence to back them up. Instead of their Ne assisting the INFP in creating helpful patterns, they begin to receive bursts of knowledge and clutch at notions that aren’t solid or natural for them.
It can also make them wary of others, since they have these preconceived notions about them due to their shadow state, and the INFP is unable to see the truth in this person.
Mistrust and isolation.
INFPs may have misgivings about individuals and see them inaccurately, which can lead to mistrust and the INFP’s alienation from others.
Instead of employing their inherent Si, shadow INFPs use Se (extraverted sense) in the most chaotic of ways. They find themselves paying close attention to physical aspects but not picking up on things as accurately as they would want.
They attempt to detect small changes in the environment around them, and they sometimes find themselves rashly leaping into activities without properly comprehending everything.
Instead of employing Te, which is the INFP’s weakest function, they might start using Ti (introverted thinking). As a result, they have a calculating and uncaring approach to cold hard facts.
They may utilise these facts to illustrate a point, but they do so in a harsh manner that often hurts everyone’s feelings. This is not typical for the INFP who cares and understands others, and it might be a harmful function for them to handle.
Conclusion –
This blog post aimed to answer the question, “What is the dark side of an INFP?” 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 dark side of an INFP is. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments you may have.
References –
Mathias, M. The Dark Side of INFP Personality. (2021, July 13). Retrieved from https://www.mathiasway.com/infp-dark-side/
The Dark Side of INFP. Tumblr. (July 27). Retrieved from https://thestarsinmycupofcoffee.tumblr.com/post/93012961675/the-dark-side-of-infp
Stafford, S. INFP Under Stress (Shadow Mode): The INFPs Unhealthy Dark Side. (2019, June 9). Retrieved from https://personalitygrowth.com/infp-under-stress-shadow-mode-the-infps-unhealthy-dark-side/
Munoz, J. The Dark Side of the INFP. (2021, February 17). Retrieved from https://psych2go.net/the-dark-side-of-the-infp/
Umesi. The INFP Dark Side- Here’s What You Should Know. (2021, May 22). Retrieved from https://personalityhunt.com/the-infp-dark-side-heres-what-you-should-know/
What’s the dark side of an INFP? Quora. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-dark-side-of-an-INFP
