Introverted Feeling | Fi | The Intropersonal Intelligence

Introverted Feeling can be used by any type, and is associated with empathy and taking on the feelings of other people as if they were your own. Introverted Feeling drives the process of understanding and defining feelings and being able to soothe and manage your feelings to find harmony and greater emotional stability. Because of this, introverted feeling is the archetype of a healer or a counsellor or protector. These types tend to fear authority and power, instead preferring to take on a supportive and balancing role in a group.

Nickname: The Healer, Protector, Counsellor
Found in flow types: INFP, ISFJ, ISFP, INFJ
Cognitive function: Introverted Feeling
Variations: The Guide (IXFJ) & The Listener (IXFP)
Intelligence: Intropersonal Intelligence
Body language: Open and relaxed lower lips
Key terms: Sensitive, Introspective, Pensive, Personal, Purposeful

Introverted Feeling at its best

Introverted Feeling types tend to carry the emotions and feelings of the group. Because of this, they tend to take on a supportive role to the group. They protect the harmony of the group, making sure everyone is in good spirits. We see introverted feeling as helping those who show emotional distress or who struggle with something. The healer types are described as understanding, forgiving and accepting.

In a conflict, the introverted feeling type tends to become quickly drained. They absorb everything, and find their mood changing with the mood of the tribe that surrounds them. In this, they can make the problems of other people their own. This can pull them in one of two possible directions, either to proactively help and anticipate other people’s feelings, or to catalyse growth and help people process through their feelings in an open-minded approach. The IXFP will ask you questions and troubleshoot your emotions. They’ll ask for honesty and help you process through your feelings. The IXFJ will try to directly control your feelings. They tend to act in advance to give you what you need and help guide you through a difficult situation or conflict. One will anticipate your needs, the other

At its best, introverted feeling types tend to be described as harmonious and peaceful, even when everyone else is at conflict. These types are able to maintain some sense of mindfulness and inner harmony, where other people might detach. The introverted feeling type is sensitive and sometimes meek. What I mean with that is, they tend to be careful with how they talk to people. Sometimes to the point where all the edge of their words disappear, and it’s hard to know what they really mean.

Because of this, they are not prone to argument or conflict, and don’t tend to be competitive or forceful. They try to stay in good spirits even when things go dark, and while they may be feeling just as bad as anyone else. They still seem to maintain some balance and calm in a difficult situation or conflict.

Introverted Feeling at its worst

At its worst then, the introverted feeling type can show a struggle to assert and stand up for themselves. This type sees as its purpose to maintain harmony and peace around them. But that doesn’t mean they can’t sometimes numb themselves to pain and shut off their emotions to run away from a conflict or a difficult situation. It’s not uncommon for this type, when stressed, to detach as a coping mechanism.

The thought process is that, if I can just shut down and remain calm, the conflict or disharmony will go away on its own. More than this, this type fears hurting other people with their actions. This fear of causing pain or emotional distress or disharmony can cause them to be submissive. They may fail to stand up for their own needs and feelings and can let others push them aside.

It is important then for this type, to learn to stand up for themselves and to set boundaries in a conflict, without contributing to said conflict or adding fuel to the fire. If a conflict becomes a competition of wills, the introverted feeling type will typically be the first to back down. Or more likely, they will withdraw and become avoidant of the other person. This bad habit can cause them to avoid important challenges and to fail to progress when healthy conflicts emerge.

It can also be hard for this type to remain productive in a disharmonious environment. Criticism and competition can have the opposite effect of this type. Where others would be inspired by it, the introverted feeling type will often focus on the negative feelings in the conflict. They will reflect on the tension of the group, finding it hard to do anything productive with their time until they understand it.

Dwelling on a conflict, and making it bigger than what it is. For most people conflict is just a natural, healthy, short-term way of letting out steam. But the introverted feeling types tend to say they hold on to conflict a lot longer and take harsh words and actions during a conflict a lot more seriously than other types. They are more sensitive and respond more strongly to negative emotion. They do it because they try to describe and find meaning in all emotions, good and bad.