Introverted Feeling (Fi) Explained
By Michael T. Robinson
Founder
CareerPlanner.com Inc.
| Ni | Ne | Si | Se | Ti | Te | Fi | Fe | Overview |
Introverted Feeling (Fi) is one of your 8 cognitive functions. How you experience it and how useful it is for you depends on how well it is developed and that depends on mostly your age and what your 4 letter personality type is.
Click here for a simple explanation of cognitive functions
Introverted Feeling (Fi) is one of the hardest cognitive functions to understand, explain and observe.
Because it's an introverted function, it's hard to observe it in people. It's taking place in side the mind where others can't see it.
Unfortunately, the time Fi becomes easy to observe is when it's in its negative aspect and people are acting selfishly and emotionally.
Let's explore this.
Fi is a judging function where the individual makes decisions based on their own personal value system.
Thus people with a dominant Introverted Feeling function will normally be making decisions based on emotions rather than objective facts and data.
Many times, people with Fi do not recognize or understand their own personal values until someone accidentally steps all over them.
Introverted Feelers are the most sensitive of all types. They can react emotionally for no obvious reason. It takes some effort to drill down and uncover these personal values that are so easily insulted.
Now if that all sounds bleak and negative, it's because we have not talked about the strongest benefits of having a dominant Fi.
Introverted Feelers are able to tune into individuals who are in need of help. They can have the highest level of empathy of any types. Why? Because they know what it's like to be hurt, or to be in pain.
Thus Introverted Feelers are often found in nursing, healthcare and counseling careers where they can help people in a one on one fashion.
How does it work? If a person is emotionally mistreated or hurt by a spouse or partner, the Fi can look deep inside themselves and relate to how that must feel.
Because Introverted Feelers are so easily insulted or offended, they know what it's like to be hurt and they will treat others with sensitivity, caring and warmth.
If you wanted someone to empathize with you, a person with dominant or auxiliary Introverted Feeling would be a good choice.
Let's say you were feeling down because your significant other did something to hurt your feelings or your boss picked on you. You can tell your story to an Introverted Feeler and they will relate to you better than most other types.
Personality Types where Fi is dominant are: INFP and ISFP.
Personality Types where Fi is auxiliary are: ENFP and ESFP.
If Fi is your dominant function, please realize that not everyone is going to be like you. In fact there are certain personality types that are just going to make you crazy. But that's another subject.
Well known people with dominant Introverted Feeling are:
- John Kerry (INFP) US Secretary of State
- J.K. Rowling (INFP) author of the Harry Potter series
- John Lenon (INFP) singer, song writer, member of the Beatles
- Jonathan Ive (ISFP) leader designer at Apple
- Michael Jackson (ISFP) singer song writer
- Beyonce (ISFP) singer song writer
For more examples of famous people and their personality types, go to www.celebritytypes.com