According to the MBTI® Manual, INFPs are overrepresented in preferring reading as a leisure-time activity. This matched up with the surveys I conducted as well, with the average INFP reading a whopping 68 books per year!
In fact, an INFP is usually so good at reading people that we might even be able to know what they are thinking before they say it.
No, INFPs aren't slow learners.
They often take their time to take in and process new information before speaking up about it, but they typically learn very quickly.
INFPs keep their emotions and feelings tucked away and hidden from the outside world. They view their values and feelings as private and guard them closely. In fact, most typology books describe Fi-dominant types as appearing “aloof, cool” or “hard to read”.
#11 – INFP
INFPs are introspective types who tend to listen more than they speak. However, when their imagination is stimulated, they can become quite chatty, exploring ideas, possibilities, and musings.
Talkative and a bit self-absorbed, ENFPs aren't always the most polite personality type. ENFPs have a tendency to talk about themselves a lot and they're not great listeners.
ISFPs are introverted. They tend to be reserved and quiet, especially around people they do not know well. They prefer spending time with a close group of family and friends. ISFPs are very private and keep their true feelings to themselves.
INFPs typically do well in careers where they can express their creativity and vision. While they work well with others, they generally prefer to work alone. Because they have strong ethics and values, INFPs also become passionate about advocating or defending their beliefs.
Because their standards are so high, INFPs have a hard time forgiving themselves when they fail to meet their own expectations. They may also become indecisive and fall into a perfectionism so extreme that it cuts off their flow of creativity and makes it impossible for them to excel and achieve.
Although Mediators are warm and accepting, they don't always find it easy to make friends. This may be because superficial, casual relationships can leave these personalities feeling a bit empty.
INFPs are introverted. They do not strive in group work, they will do best in individual studying, usually being creative in their own form, or reading the material from a book.
We aren't particularly assertive, and tend to be soft-spoken, so it's easy to get drowned out or ignored.
INFPs have a very imaginative, conceptual, and creative learning style. They are often drawn to independent learning or one-on-one coaching environments. They need a lot of time to think and process information privately before speaking or “thinking out loud”.
INFPs are often deep thinkers who need quiet time alone to reflect on things that happened throughout the day. They can also be very sensitive to other people's emotions, so when someone is struggling, it might make an INFP stressed out and cause them to want space from that person for a while.
INFPs and Boredom
Free-spirited and individualistic, you feel the most bored when you're forced to think about things that lack meaning. You can easily let your mind wander when you're washing the dishes or taking a walk, but having to listen to a bunch of meaningless small talk can quickly cause you to feel restless.
The most commonly mentioned personality type found among the gifted was INFP.
Popular hobbies for INFPs include poetry, creative writing, music, photography, theater, and visual art.
Are infp smart? Very much so. Studies have shown that in the likelihood of intellectual giftedness, INFPs are placed third smartest overall of all 16 types, behind INTP and INTJ and just ahead of INFJ. These are the 4 most intelligent types.
Mediator (INFP): Good with Children and Animals
People with this personality type are highly intuitive and empathetic, and they possess the gift of understanding those who aren't able to verbalize their thoughts and feelings.
INFPs are most compatible with the other Intuitive-Feeling types—ENFJ, ENFP, and INFJ—as well as ESFJs.
INFPs are unique individuals with a rare set of abilities — including the power to masterfully understand emotion and the human experience. At their best, INFPs bring emotional healing to others and inspire incredible change in the world. INFPs are also rare, making up about 4 to 5 percent of the population.
Those who are extroverted, sensing, feeling, and judging are often identified as one of the kindest types by experts. "ESFJs have extroverted feeling as a dominant cognitive function," Gonzalez-Berrios says. "This makes them rule by their hearts. They are kind, polite, friendly, and sensitive."
Dark personality traits include psychopathy, machiavellianism and narcissism, collectively called the "dark triad".
The INFP. One of the most imaginative of the types, INFPs hold a childlike wonder for the world beyond the senses.