explaining why J's can appear as P's and visa versa

I never used to test as an INFP. It would usually be INFJ or INTJ. I have been developing my Se over the last couple of years and now I test as an INFP everytime.

Are you saying this may be connected? How so?

 

Ni is very future-orientated, and so tends to encourage forward-planning (a "J" trait). Se OTOH is all about experiencing things in the moment, the stronger your Se is the less likely you are to try to plan ahead, and so the more "P-ish" you'll appear to be.

 

So if I'm a high P does this mean I'm underdeveloped?

 

Eh, I'd be wary of translating it so directly, because it seems like it would be an oversimplification to me as it wouldn't take into account how well you were using your other functions, just how often. But it can, perhaps, be used a very rough guide to your developmental level.

Better though, IMO, to think about it in terms of the cognitive functions themselves. For an ISTP that would of course mean looking at themselves and checking how well they use Ni and Fe, both of which encourage "J-ish" traits and directly balance their more preferred Ti and Se.

 

I am very much a forward planner. I have my life for the next 8-10 years mapped out step by step.

I carry my plans out too.

I've been wondering about this as despite me testing as INFP almost exclusively now, VH insists I am an INFJ (even based on my function scores from when I've tested as INFP)

The description of an INFJ also fits me better that INFP.

One of the main points appears to be that INFP's have a strict moral code and woe betide anyone who disagrees with it. This isn't me at all. I am INCREDIBLY understanding of different points of view. I find it hard to be angry with anyone for pretty much any reason as I always understand why they think the way they do.

Someone with a different moral code is interesting to me and I like to find out more about it.

The only thing which gets me angry is someone taking advantage of someone who is unable to stick up for themselves or someone deliberately twisting the facts the get their own way.

 

An INFP with a well-developed Te will tend to be a lot more organised than the regular kind, but any plans they make are still likely to have quite a lot of flexibility written into them. I can't imagine having the next ten years of my life mapped out like that, it would be so dull. :shocked:

There's the difference maker. :lol:

Well I'm a big fan of people using the decriptions to type themselves, so IMO that's really strong evidence that you are indeed an INFJ.

For INFPs it depends on how well-developed their Ne is. If their Fi is calling all the shots then they can get in the mindset that they are "Right" and anyone who disagrees with them is "Wrong". When they learn to use their Ne better though that's when they start to see things from other people's perspectives, and so develop more tolerance and flexibility. They'll still tend to hold themselves to thier moral standards, but not necessarily other people.

I think that's more of a general maturity thing than anything type specific. The reasons why you get angry at those things might give some clues as to type though.

 

This could be me

I have a very high T and my plans are definately flexible. They are more of a general direction than a set in stone blueprint. I will follow the plan until something better appears then the plan is adjusted. 4 years ago my plan was to become a website designer as I have always been very creative. Whilst on this journey I was presented with an opportunity to change directions so I took it.

This is a key ingredient to my future career plans.

I like the saying " If you aim for the moon, even if you miss you'll be among the stars"

I don't care if I miss as I feel I have already succeeded. Any further is just gravy

I have a strict moral code which I hold myself to but I don't expect anyone else to so this also could be me

 

Also me

I don't know. How do I tell?

I know why they do it. because they think they can take advantage of an easy target and feel they can use a persons insecurities or lack of resources against them. It's cowardice and maliciousness. A combination which really gets me wound up.

They want the appearance of being powerful but don't want to put themselves ar risk so choose people they percieve as weak to massage their huge but fragile egos.

Narcissists in particular are prime examples of the type of person which makes me blow up. Not if they attack me though. I can handle it. I remain patronisingly polite. It's if they attack someone who can't handle it. Bullies and me don't get along.

 

I think INFP's supposedly have a much more far reaching moral code than just one or two points which they consider untouchable i.e. a code for most situations.

Maybe????

Exactly.

I don't even hate narcissists (most of the time) I just want them to stop doing what they are doing. I could quite happily be friends with a narcissist if they cleaned their act up. I wouldn't hold their past issues against them if they simply stopped doing it.

 

Yeah, pretty much, though in my experience it sort of works the other way around. Because INFPs are Fi dominant, whenever we encounter something new we feel like we have to check in with our Fi to make sure that it fits with our value system (and if we change our value system, we then have to re-evaluate what we've already encountered, to see if all those things still fit).

 

Yes.

J and P does come from our cognitive functions, and it largely emerges from how much gets filtered into the extroverted functions. Ni Ti Fi and Si themselves don't impact the J/P axis that much, however how much they get filtered does. Everything I think and do eventually gets filtered through my Fe in some way, which is why my J is so damn high, in addition to me using Fe first then linking it to the other functions. My Se usually gets kicked in the dirt so I ignore most of it.

 

possibly. I think environment has so much more to do with this. If you're raised in a very J atmosphere, you're likely to take on those characteristics and use them more often in your day to day. E.g. If you're raised by P parents or family, you're probably more likely to develop your P over your J, unless you're cognitively more J than P.

It's always that pesky little nature v. nurture argument isn't it . . .

 

Cognitive functions are like 90% nature, and I will not be convinced of this otherwise

 

I think a well developed Te coupled with Fi looks like Fe, which seems INFJish for an INFP.
Rebuttal.