INFP Cognitive Functions

Introverted Feeling bestows us with the gift of feeling. It navigates through the deepest corners of our thoughts and emotions. Fi flows through our values and seeks an in-depth meaning of life. It allows us to stay in the lane of our boundaries and identity amidst external pressure. This intensive cognitive function feels the pain of others and likes to be the knight for those in need.

The dominant cognitive function is the core of our ego and consciousness. Also called the ‘Hero or Heroine', the dominant function is our most natural and favorite mental process and primary mode of interacting with the world.

Introverted Feeling (Fi) in the dominant position endows INFPs the gift of feeling. It naturally tunes them into their inward thoughts, morals, and principles. Being authentic is better than conforming to societal trends and expectations. Despite being introverts, they know how to stand their ground and come from a place of conviction. Fi enables them to thoroughly introspect and relate to the situation of others even without fully experiencing it. INFPs tend to be selfless and nonjudgmental due to their great ability to see through people's sufferings.

Extroverted Intuition bestows us with the gift of imagination. It empowers our life visions and sets us free from our limiting beliefs and built-up boundaries. It utilizes patterns and trends to connect with the tangible reality. Extroverted intuition is sensitive to impression and ambiance rather than specific details. This function thrives on venturing into the world's awestruck mysteries. It leads us to intuitively flow through the stream of anticipation on what is yet to be unleashed.

The auxiliary cognitive function, known as the 'Mother' or 'Father', helps guide the dominant function in perceiving the world and is what we use when comforting others.

Extroverted Intuition (Ne) in the auxiliary position grants the dominant Fi the gift of imagination. It sparks boundless curiosity among INFPs, who rigidly confine themselves to their inner thoughts and feelings. As Ne develops, they become more explorative with their ideas and more determined to break their limiting beliefs. It allows them to adapt and comfort others by becoming more open and accepting of differences. They may start to ask questions like "Am I missing out something in this situation?", "What else can I do with this?", or "Is there another way to handle this?"

Introverted Sensing bestows us with the gift of details. It consults the detailed past to gain wisdom while living in the present. We recall and revisit memories and acquired information through this function. It constantly stores sensory data to balance our current views and opinions. Introverted Sensing teaches us to credit proven facts and life experiences instead of mere instincts. It counsels us to avoid committing the same mistakes twice.

The tertiary cognitive function is what we enjoy using to relax, calm, and take the pressure off our overused dominant and auxiliary functions. Known as the ‘The Child or Relief,' it feels like taking a break from ourselves and is playful and child-like. It is what we use when feeling silly, natural, and accepted.

Introverted Sensing (Si) in the tertiary position grants them the gift of detail, relaxing their dominant Fi and auxiliary Ne. Si refreshingly interlinks their present situations to their past experiences, revisiting the simple joys and learnings. Through this function, INFPs rest from too much introspection and overthinking and simply rely on their acquired knowledge, honed skills, and talents. It rekindles them to their old favorites or once loved habits that bring comfort and familiarity to who they truly are. Si may spark their interest in learning more specific details about their family history, culture, or general history.

Extroverted Thinking bestows us with the gift of efficiency. It employs our analytical reasoning and objectivity. Te is forged in the supremacy of external systems, knowledge, and order. Extroverted thinking adheres to facts rather than fleeting emotions. It gives no time for silly chit-chats and focuses on purely significant matters. It boosts our passion and enthusiasm for informative discourse to expand our horizons of wisdom and knowledge.

The inferior cognitive function is our weakest and most suppressed cognitive function in the depths of our ego and consciousness. We hide this part of ourselves, embarrassed of our inability to wield it effectively. As we age and mature, we embrace and develop our inferior function, providing deep fulfillment from coming to the pinnacle of our personal growth and the end of our own hero's journey.

Extroverted Thinking (Te) in the inferior position holds the least concern in the minds of INFPs. They would much rather align their lives with their deeply-held values than make them efficient and structured. Scheduling and planning their days may sound dull and uninteresting. When they try to set themselves to follow a logical order in doing things, they may end up being disappointed and embarrassed with their inability to do it right. INFPs may also tend to project their frustration to those who openly use their Te as rigid and tryhards.

Extroverted Feeling bestows us with the gift of empathy. It advocates for the greater good than focusing on individual desires. It entrusts a strong sense of integrity and ethics. We instinctively tune in to moral and cultural values to maintain peace and harmony through this function. Fe enables us to feel for others even without fully experiencing their situations. It motivates us to keep and nurture our social connections and relationships.

The opposing shadow function, also known as the Nemesis, calls out our doubts and paranoia and acts in opposition to our dominant function, questioning the way it sees the world.

Extroverted Feeling (Fe) in the opposing function frustrates the introspective INFPs as it contradicts their dominant Fi. They feel confused and exhausted trying to live up to everyone's expectations. Trying to agree and be in harmony with others drains their inner selves as they feel duped and needlessly opposed. Fe overwhelms their inwardly-tuned nature causing them to set stubborn boundaries. It inflicts paranoia and doubt about the real intentions and motives of those around them. They may start to overthink if they are being disrespected and undermined.

Introverted Intuition bestows us with the gift of intuition. The world of the unconscious is its working site. It is a forward-thinking function that intuitively knows without trying hard. It allows us to experience the unpredictable excitement of “eureka” moments through our unconscious processing. Ni also enables us to see beyond what meets the eye. It follows through an abstract pattern of how the world works and lingers on the whys of life.

The critical shadow function criticizes and belittles ourselves or others and thinks nothing of humiliating and ridiculing in its search for control.

Introverted Intuition (Ni) in the critical shadow position attacks the ego by casting negative intuition out of frustration or embarrassment. Their critical function leads INFPs to ridicule their inner values including those around them. Ni belittles and inwardly casts doubt to paralyze them from materializing any of their goals. It discerns to directly insult their flaws. They may start to ask questions like "How could you fail to see this beforehand?" or "Why could you not focus on one thing?". When others criticize INFPs, Ni also comes to the rescue by coming up with fault-finding patterns and counterarguments.

Extroverted Sensing bestows us with the gift of senses. Tangible reality is its default battleground. Se conquers life through sensory experiences, enhancing their sight, sound, smell, and bodily movements. It lets us adhere to the stimuli of the physical world. Extroverted sensing ignites courage to seize moments while they last. It urges us to act right instantly instead of staying idle in the what-ifs.

The trickster shadow function is sly, malicious, and deceptive, manipulating and snaring people into our traps.

Extroverted Sensing (Se) in the trickster shadow function irks INFPs with the gift of senses. They find ‘carpe diem' or spur-of-the-moment fun as fraud, silly, and childish. When they try to live in the present and tune in to their sensory experiences, they end up ridiculing themselves for making such folly. With their trickster function, they may also tend to project their frustrations onto dominant Se users who embody that attitude. INFPs may try to debunk the carefree and realistic insights of Se dominant people by trapping them into their own abstract theories just to stop their "nonsense".

Introverted Thinking bestows us with the gift of logic. Interrelated knowledge and patterns gear it up. Ti conquers life through an internal framework built by experiences and educated trial and error. It drives us to logically interlink everything we come across. Introverted thinking thrives in the act of rational troubleshooting. Ambiguity holds no place in it as it constantly pursues learning and growth. It empowers us to grasp how things work from the nitty-gritty to the most profound complexities.

The demon shadow function is our least developed function, deeply unconscious and far removed from our ego. Our relationship with this function is so strained that we struggle with relating to, and often demonize, people who use this as their dominant function.

Introverted Thinking (Ti) in the demon function is the least developed function of INFPs. Ti haunts them with their logical inconsistencies and finds faults in their beliefs and principles. These personalities may get confused and tripped up by their own definitions of things and feel vulnerable upon realizing. Being conscious and attuned to their values, they end up loathing themselves for being a fraud to what they claim to be. INFPs may project their frustrations to those who use dominant Ti by pointing out logical mishaps in their opponent's arguments.