The INFP Personality (the Healer) According To Carl Jung

The INFP personality defines introverted, intuitive, sentimental, and perceptive people. According to Carl Jung, they would be profiles endowed with great sensitivity, creativity and independence and who also present a high idealism. They are close, compassionate and are defined as healers because they care about their own personal growth and favor that of others.

When we read Carl Jung’s book on Psychological Types and his theories about personality, we appreciate a breakthrough in its time. At a time when psychology was still in its teens, the famous Swiss psychiatrist wanted to lay the foundations for a personality model based on a singular and revolutionary approach at the same time.

He introduced the concepts of introversion and extraversion. However, he established these dimensions as the result of a continuum, where other subjective and perceptual phenomena can intermingle, in turn. Starting from this, we understand that no one is properly “introverted” or “extroverted”, but rather that we are all within a spectrum where more dynamics, entities and traits define us.

In this way, his theory of personality, defined in eight typologies, would give rise decades later to the so-called Myers-Briggs indicator (1944), where up to 16 subtypes were determined. Thus, and despite the fact that these models lack the popularity of others that are based on popular instruments, such as Raymond Cattell’s 16 PF, it should be noted that for the field of personal growth they continue to have a high interest.

Studies, such as the one carried out by David J. Pittenger (Marshall University), in Virginia, for example, show  us that it is a very suitable tool to promote self-reflection. Therefore, knowing each of its typologies never hurts, so in this article we are going to take an interesting journey through them.

What characteristics define the INFP personality?

The INFP personality, according to the Myers-Briggs model, is the result of the interaction of four basic dimensions:

• By the way you use and channel your energy, attention, thoughts and interaction ⇒ introvert.
• The way he processes his reality, in which he draws conclusions and appreciates the small details ⇒ intuitive.
• Also, the way the INFP personality makes its decisions is through ⇒ feelings.
• When it comes to organizing and responding to their environment, they do so through spontaneity and always relying on a basic dimension ⇒ perception.

This type of profile therefore responds to the acronym INFP (Introverted-iNtuitive-feeling-perceptive) . Thus, the creators of this measurement tool, Katharine Briggs and Isabel Meyer, defined it in turn as the healing typology. They did not mean that he was a medicine-oriented personality type. In reality, they are idealistic people, highly involved in generating happiness, in favoring their own personal growth and that of others.

Let us therefore see those characteristics that define them.

They are idealists, they see the good in the world

Idealists of mind and heart do not abound in excess. Hence, the authors of this scale indicated that this sixth typology within the Myers-Briggs model defines only 4% of the population.

• They are people who live by their ideals, who trust the natural goodness of the world.
• Now this idealism is far from passive. This profile is also characterized by a firm but silent commitment. In other words, they are still introverts. Not many therefore know the depth of their ideals and personal commitments.

• They do not hesitate to trace their personal path based on these principles, despite the fact that many do not fully understand or know them.

Ethical and compassionate

His sense of ethics is very high. They are very clear about what is right and what is not, and they do not hesitate to always be faithful to their beliefs. Now, they are not “banner” people. They exercise respect, compassion and care for others through simple but always profound acts. They generate good from calm and absolute discretion.

Independent

We could say that the INFP personality usually draws a life plan from their own heart. They are sensitive people, but sure of themselves. They are introverted and reserved men and women, but never indecisive when it comes to making decisions. They do it through intuition, they trust their inner voice and they do it, moreover, because they are idealists, because they believe that the world, in its purest essence, is noble and good.

Artistic, sensitive, careless

The INFP personality is usually oriented towards art, writing, photography, as well as any artistic expression in which the person can express their emotions, ideals and that inner world, confident and optimistic.

They are, in turn, very sensitive profiles with everything that surrounds them. They appreciate the details, the sensations, they know how to connect with people in a very simple and magical way at the same time. They are not great talkers, but they are very good at knowing how to listen, support and be there when they are really needed.

On the other hand, it should be noted that they like to act instinctively. They are not going to have to plan things in advance, keep agendas, schedule tasks, keep an order with their belongings and objects. Hence, they are often those people with somewhat messy homes and closets because they prioritize other things.

To conclude, as we see, the INFP personality is defined first and foremost by his confident idealism, kindness, and artistic interests. Hence, often one of the phenomena that these people suffer the most is disappointment.  Feeding and sustaining expectations about the world and those who inhabit it also causes them to suffer severe disappointments. Carl Jung’s model of psychological types, and especially the Myers-Briggs indicator, are resources that are within our reach and that, to say the least, are curious.